First trainees begin studies in British Airways' pilot scheme

The first trainee pilots from British Airways' Speedbird Pilot Academy scheme, in partnership with Skyborne Airline Academy, have begun their studies. The initiative, announced in September 2023, offers fully sponsored training for prospective pilots. Training would have typically cost around £100,000 ($128,000), thus removing the financial barriers for budding pilots. ""By removing training costs British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy levels the playing field for the best and brightest, driving change in our industry,"" said Skyborne CEO Lee Woodward. ""We’re incredibly proud that the Speedbird Pilot Academy is making a flying career a reality for everyone – making a genuine difference to people’s lives,"" said British Airways pilot recruitment manager Lucy Silvester. She added: ""The overwhelming number and standard of applications is helping to ensure we are attracting the very best flying talent for our future generation of pilots."" The application process saw over 20,000 applicants in its first year. The trainees were chosen after a competitive selection process. The airline will soon be announcing application details for its second year of the scheme.