http://www.bafuturepilot.com/

The number of recruits to training colleges is falling says BALPA, which is this weekend launching a special guide “Becoming a Pilot – The inside track”.

‘Once young people could enter the profession through airline sponsors’ said Captain Mark Searle, BALPA Chairman. ‘But now they have to fund their own initial training which can cost up to £100,000.’

And it doesn’t stop there. Once trainees have their basic license they increasingly have to find another £25,000 to £35,000 to pay for the ‘privilege’ of building their experience at the controls of a big jet and get their type rating – licensed to fly a specific aircraft.

‘This is plain wrong’ said Captain Searle. ‘These young pilots are desperate for a job and are now being charged by airlines to fly fare paying passengers. Airlines should be ashamed.’

Finding such sums is a struggle. Parents are re-mortgaging and many other young hopefuls can’t even get off the ground restricting access to the profession to the few and undermining social mobility.

Today it is harder, some say almost impossible, for young people from middle and low income families to get into the profession. All are building huge debts that will take years to clear and cause huge amounts of stress for them and their families.

‘This is also bad economics for UK Plc. With the economic downturn showing some signs of reversing, Britain’s aviation industry is going to wake up with a pilot shortage because of the disgraceful way we have been treating young hopefuls.’

BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan said ‘BALPA has a 5 point plan to tackle this real threat to UK aviation which includes:

1. BALPA’s new booklet for people thinking of becoming a pilot spells out the challenges they will face and gives them guidance on the questions they and their families should ask themselves and potential training providers before setting off on this path.

2. BALPA is establishing a new Career Services support service to give feedback to trainees and eventually help them find a job.

3. BALPA will be pressing individual airlines to shoulder more of the responsibility for training. With few exceptions (Flybe being the most notable) airlines have walked away from their responsibilities to put something akin to apprenticeship back into the industry believing the free market will sort it out. BALPA will be pressing the case company by company and naming and shaming those who exploit these vulnerable people.

4. BALPA wants to work with others who believe the Government should do more. Aspiring pilots have to rely on commercial loans repaid over three years and there is no tax relief for a pilot’s own training costs (relief that would be available if the airline paid for it). The Government has said it wants aviation to be better if not bigger and it could start here and BALPA is calling on it to convene a high level summit to sort this out.

5. BALPA will be debating a motion at its own annual delegate conference on Friday 5 November that, if passed, will challenge employers who charge for line training and type rating. The profession will stick together on this. We all have an interest in the best pilots being supported into this profession.’

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 would be interested to see if fair plane, with their connection to BALPA and Govt, will be attempting to seek an end to the Pay to FLy schemes (such as those run by Eaglejet and their ilk).
Given the recent media attention on interns not being paid minimum wage, now would be a good time to seek an end to this despicable practice.

Whilst I do agree with your comments I cannot, unfortunately, take on every wrong practice within the aviation industry, however much I would like to. I began Fairplane singlehandedly following my personal experience. To dilute my efforts to date by taking on every aviation cause would not be beneficial to the original aim of the campaign. This does not mean to say that I do not have strong feelings about any situation that takes advantage of those wishing to achieve their dreams, and should someone wish to begin a campaign about this particular issue I would whole heartedly support it. Incidentally can I point out that to say our “connection” to the government can be misleading as it sounds as though we are “in” with them. This is not the case and we continually work towards another meeting with them to get them to listen to us. It took eight months to get our last meeting with the previous government and we now begin again with the new one.

Teaming up with NUS Extra, the renowned “student card” now means all FL500.com members receive the card entitling them to discounts in hundreds of high street shops as well as web based stores. Discounts for student pilots at last!

Also Will Swinburn and his team are entering into a partnership with Connexions to deliver evening seminars to students interested in flying, fully educating them on a career as a pilot. 1st seminar will be in Oxford City with every student from year 11 to University in Oxfordshire welcome to attend. To find out more visit their site via the link on our partners page

If any of you are from the constituency of David Willetts then would you be able to write to him to try and enlist his support as I think he will be a key figure in our future discussions with the government. if you need any help please do contact me via the website.