Ab initio training returns for British Airways

British Airways is to once again sponsor an ab initio pilot training scheme that will see the £100,000 cost of their training covered entirely by the airline.

Successful recruits will also have accommodation and food costs covered during their 16-month training period, making it the only airline scheme that removes all associated costs from the individual.  It is hoped that people from across all communities will be encouraged to apply.

The national flag carrier’s Speedbird Pilot Academy programme will remove the prohibitive cost barrier of training to become an airline pilot for up to 60 successful candidates a year. 

The trainees will initially, train up to PPL standard on single piston engined aircraft, then convert to ‘twins’ as they progress to an Air Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) and eventually the right-hand seat on schedule services.  

Previously the training has been carried out at a number of training academies, both in the UK, and overseas, even as far as New Zealand. The airline says negotiations are under way but has no commitment with a professional pilot school at this time.

Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO, British Airways, said: “The Speedbird Pilot Academy will make the ambition of becoming a British Airways pilot a reality for people who’d previously written the option off because of the cost barrier".

“Our aim is to attract the very best talent out there for our future generation of pilots. Whether someone is just leaving school or embarking on a second career they never thought possible, we’re levelling the playing field by removing the initial training cost barrier to make a flying career more accessible to a wider range of people and giving everyone an equal chance".

Training will begin early next year and upon completion of the course, recruits will land a full-time, salaried pilot position with the airline.

British Airways is working closely with Fantasy Wings, the leading UK organisation for diversity in aviation and a member of the BA Better World Community Fund, to promote the scheme to young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, other communities around the country and young women in the aviation industry.

BA was overwhelmed with applications for places as soon as the scheme was announced and has now closed for further entries at this stage. Do monitor the web sites noted.

https://careers.ba.com/future-pilots

https://fantasywings.co.uk

Index/Home page
 

READERS' COMMENT

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 200 words maximum

No one has commented yet, why don't you start the ball rolling?