BA ramps up pilot training scheme

Prospective pilots can from apply for a place on a new British Airways (BA) scheme that will see the £100,000 cost of their training covered entirely by the airline.

BA states that the national flag carrier’s Speedbird Pilot Academy programme will lift the “previously prohibitive cost barrier of training to become an airline pilot for up to 60 successful candidates a year – helping to level the playing field and make a flying career a realistic option for all”.

It is hoped that by removing the high costs associated with pilot training from the applicant, people from across all communities will be encouraged to apply, said BA.

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.

“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,” says Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO. “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.

“We fly to more than 200 destinations around the world on a range of aircraft types, providing pilots with an abundance of opportunities and making a career as a British Airways pilot extremely rewarding. This first-in-a-generation initiative will allow anyone to make it a reality.”

Applications for the scheme can now be submitted via the airline’s careers website, and applicants are being encouraged to apply quickly, as due to the expected unprecedented demand, will close within seven days. Training will begin early next year and upon completion of the course, recruits will land a full-time, salaried pilot position with the airline.

Following a joint selection process, students will embark upon Skyborne’s UK CAA Integrated ATPL programme with £99,500 of tuition costs covered in full.
Lee Woodward, CEO, Skyborne, says: “As we cement our relationship with British Airways, Skyborne leads as the most trusted airline academy in the industry. Marking our first UK partnership with the UK’s largest international airline is testament to the solid track record of our team and the core values we jointly hold.

“From the very start, Skyborne has been committed to removing the barriers to entry to pilot training and widening the talent pool. As a graduate of a British Airways sponsored programme, I know first-hand the life-changing impact such initiatives have and I applaud BA for its industry-leading Speedbird Pilot Academy.”

Captain Ian Pringle, Head of Flight Training, British Airways, says: “By removing initial training costs, we’re making a flying career truly accessible so we can recruit the best and the brightest candidates. We trust in Skyborne to offer our trainees world-class facilities, innovative teaching methods and a wealth of airline experience, building a crucial foundation for their future.”