FairPlane

My name is John Heath and I would value your advice.

I am 19 and wish to follow my vocation of being a professional pilot.

Recently after passing aptitude, leadership, interviews, medical and fitness tests was offered a commission in the RAF as a pilot. However, going over my medical records it was noted that I had a past rugby injury. This has meant that my offer of service has been withdrawn.
I am pleased to say that I hold a Class One Medical so can still realise my ambition of becoming a professional pilot.

I have been inspired by my father who was a Tornado pilot to follow this vocation and have taken every opportunity to gain flight experience. The Air League, Swire Group, Air Cadets, and the Caroline Trust have provided excellent opportunities for me gain this flight experience through being awarded scholarships after interviews and aptitude tests. As a result I am now a C category gliding instructor with over 600 flights and have done 26 hours of powered flying, solo on two different types.

To become a professional pilot will require a disciplined single-minded effort. I do have the determination, motivation and enthusiasm to become a professional pilot and and am giving this commitment my full focus.

Now, if I had said that I wish to become an engineer, doctor, geographer, lawyer or chemist there would have been no problem. In fact I have a place at university to study Aerospace Systems Engineering and the government will kindly provide financial support to train and educate me and I will then repay the loan back once in employment.
However it is my aim to follow my vocation of becoming a professional pilot. I have worked hard to achieve my a-levels and have proven myself by being selected by the RAF to become a pilot. I have a place at Flight Training Europe flying school after again proving myself by passing aptitude testing and numerous interviews. This testing and selection is so comprehensive that if I fail the course Flight Training Europe will refund the training costs.
The training costs are £82,500 but depending on the Flight Training Organisation can vary between £55-85k. I understand this is more than the average university course, however this cost can be balanced against future earnings over a 40+ year career.
It is a recognised training course equivalent to that of a degree. Many flight training organisations offer the training as a degree course so why is the student loan company unable to loan the cost of the course fees and living costs as they would if doing any other degree course. City and New Bucks are two universities that offer Commercial pilot training as a degree course.

I am unsure of my path to becoming a pilot and would value advice on on how to approach this goal, particularly securing the financial commitment required.

I recently attended a meeting set up by the RAeS which was attended by many from all areas of the aviation industry. There were presentations given by Oxford Aviation Training, Flybe and Fairplane. Discussion followed during which it became apparent that the general feeling was that there was a real problem for access to the profession on a financial level. The RAeS requested that a small focus group be formed to look at answers to this problem and the airlines were urged to get involved. I am pleased to say that Fairplane were invited to join this group so hopefully discussion will soon commence and a plan of action will form. Will keep you posted.