BFS Barcelona: From iATPL to CBTA-Compliant MPL
How a flight school redesigned its training architecture with competency intelligence
The Challenge
BFS — Barcelona Flight School is an established European ATO operating integrated ATPL and modular programmes. Like many flight schools navigating EASA’s evolving competency frameworks, BFS faced a strategic question: how do you transition from traditional, task-based training to a Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) model — and how do you do it without rebuilding your entire operation from scratch? BFS had three specific objectives: redesign the existing iATPL programme with CBTA evidence and structure, develop a credible airline-agnostic Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) programme, and position BFS to engage with AESA and prospective airlines with defensible, evidence-based documentation.
The Approach
MPL Framework & Phase Logic
Amris designed a generic four-phase MPL structure. Phase 1 (Core Flying Skills) and Phase 2 (Basic and Intermediate Multi-Crew) were built by converting existing iATPL lesson plans into CBTA-compliant MPL sessions. Phase 3 (Advanced) was built by refreshing BFS’s existing APS MCC programme to MPL-grade CBTA standard.
CBTA & Competency Mapping
Every lesson plan was expressed in ICAO CBTA terms using the Amelia platform: competencies, Observable Behaviours, performance criteria, and Threat and Error Management at session level. Amelia generated competency coverage heatmaps across all three phases.
Instructor Standardisation
Amris designed an MPLI/CBTA instructor programme covering MPL philosophy, ICAO competency interpretation, grading calibration using Amelia’s ICAP outputs, and practical debriefing methodology.
Regulatory & Airline Readiness
Amris produced AESA-ready narrative documentation and a generic airline pitch deck, giving BFS the materials to engage regulators and prospective airline partners with confidence.
"From training activity to competency intelligence. BFS now has a single, auditable evidence thread from recruitment to graduation."
The Role of Competency Intelligence
BFS used the Amelia platform to assess 128 cadets across five domains: personality, cognitive ability, FAST (multitasking and workload management), academic performance, and English proficiency. Key findings: Situational Awareness was the cohort-wide deficiency at 2.49/5, with approximately 54% of cadets scoring 2 or below. Speed-based cognitive skills lagged significantly behind accuracy-based skills. The cohort clustered into four profiles: 44% High Performers, 28% Solid Fundamentals, 26% Developing Candidates, and 2% At-Risk.
Amelia as Productivity Multiplier
A critical element was cost. Converting an entire iATPL library to CBTA standard is traditionally a 200+ SME-day exercise. Amris used Amelia as an aggressive productivity multiplier, reducing SME effort by approximately 75% across AI-augmentable workstreams: CBTA mapping, OB tagging, TEM library design, lesson-plan rewrites, and regulatory dossier assembly. Subject-matter experts curated and validated rather than authored.
Value Delivered
A defensible, EASA-compliant MPL design built from existing assets — not an off-the-shelf product, but a tailored conversion that preserved institutional knowledge.
The school can now approach airlines and AESA with evidence-based documentation, a standardised instructor cadre, and a CBTA backbone.
The iATPL programme was enriched in parallel, so that self-sponsored graduates carry structured competency profiles at graduation.
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