BECOMING A PILOT

If you have an interest in becoming a pilot then here are some resources to get you started.

To become a commercial pilot, you will need a licence, this could be:

  • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with a Multi Engine Instrument Rating (I/R) 

  • Multi Pilot Licence (MPL)

  • Airline Transport Pilots Licence(ATPL).

There are a number of ways to go about achieving one of these so you will need to see what works best for you. Training for a licence averages about two years and can cost as much as £115,000. You will therefore need to research all your options before you commit to the path you will take to get there.

To get into flying school you will need to have completed school and achieved decent grades.

Flying schools will all have different requirements for actual grades or subjects required.

British Airways current requirements are:

  • 5 GCSEs A* - C (9 - 5), including Maths, Science and English

  • 112 UCAS points

You will also need to be able to obtain a EASA Class 1 Medical Certificate. Your vision doesn’t need to be 20/20 but it does need to be correctable to that. It is worth taking your medical assessment before committing to anything to ensure you won’t later find something that would prevent you following this career path when you have invested money and time in it.

Civil Aviation Authorities information about obtaining a Class 1 medical - CAA

There are a number of different ways to get into flying and there is no right answer, you need to do the research and find what works for you.

Cadet programme pathway (integrated course) - 

  • Apply to one of our approved training providers.

  • Designed for new starters with 0 flying hours and will train to A320 type rating.

An integrated course at one of our approved training providers is a popular option. It takes you through an intensive ground school and flying programme to emerging nearly two years later with a frozen Airline Transport Pilot Licence(ATPL). This is an expensive option though so will need some thought as to how to pay for it. There is a limited number of scholarships available and these are worth looking into.


Modular Course -

This route allows you to build flying hours while carrying on working. It can take longer than two years as it is usually done by breaking down a course into separate modules. This is a much cheaper option to follow and allows you to work and earn money while gaining your licence.

Multi Pilot Licence (MPL) -

This allows you to act as a copilot on an aircraft that requires a copilot for commercial air transport. This is a relatively new route that involves a lot more simulator training than traditional routes, preparing you to fly as a copilot in an airline. It may be a little quicker and more cost effective than some traditional routes. The downside being your licence involves training in the standard operating procedures of one airline so you are generally committed to that airline until you have the hours logged to upgrade your licence to an Airline Transport Pilot Licence. It is usually offered by flight schools to candidates who have performed well in initial assessments and have gone on to be assessed by an airline.


Degree -

There are a number of universities now offering a degree in Aviation that includes some element of flying training. The high costs of training still apply however you may be able to apply for government loans to assist with some of the costs. This option allows you to have a degree also, therefore offering employment opportunities.


Type Rating -

Depending on the route you took into flying, you may now also need a type rating. This is a certification to fly a particular type of aircraft, it may make you more employable in the event you can’t get a job once you have done your initial licence.

Scholarship information:

  • British Airways Pilot Recruitment and Speedbird Academy (SPA) - BA Careers

  • Speedbird Z - BA Inspire

  • The British Airline Pilots Association Guide to becoming a Pilot - BALPA

  • The Honourable Company of Air Pilots incorporating Air Navigators - Air Pilots

  • Royal Aeronautical Society - Aerosociety

  • Royal Air Force Air Cadets - RAF ATC

  • Royal Air Force University Squadron - RAF University

  • Flying Scholarships for Disabled People - FSDP

Specifically for females interested in flying:

  • The British Women’s Pilot Association - BWPA

  • A project aimed at inspiring young women to get involved in flying - Elevate Her

 MYTH BUSTERS

I’ve heard you need perfect eyesight to be a pilot?
• That may have been the case for fast jet pilots in the past but in commercial aviation you need to have eyesight correctable to 20/20 vision.

Do you need to be good at Maths and Science to be a Pilot?
• Neither of these is a requirement, having a background in these subjects might help your technical understanding but don’t be put off if you don’t and you are willing to work hard. Most flying schools don’t specify either as a requirement. Some airlines will include GCSE level Maths and Science for their own programs initially but that doesn’t mean you can’t work for someone else and get a job later in your career with the same airline when you have built up the flying hours required. There are many pilots with very varied backgrounds from Politics, to Geology and Geography!

Do I need a University Degree to be a Pilot?
• No, you need to have worked hard and attained good grades in school. A university degree might help you stand out from the crowd on your CV after training when applying for jobs but it is certainly not a requirement. Some universities now offer combined flying training and a university degree in aviation though.

Flying isn’t a job for girls
• A massive misconception we are trying to change. It is a great job for girls in the same way it is for boys. There is not many girls, but girls are equally capable of doing the job.

Integrated courses at flying school are better than modular courses
• The two routes through flying school are very different and both have positives and negatives. In the past the bigger airlines tended to hire from integrated courses rather than hiring people who had taken the modular route. Those people tended to get jobs at smaller airlines or had to pay for type ratings to get jobs and then they could move to the larger airlines later in their careers. That has changed now though as airlines such as British Airways have opened up employment opportunities to people who have followed both paths. Do your research into all paths and schools and choose what is right for you.

Do I need to be good at computer games to be a Pilot?
• No. You will need to have good hand eye coordination but otherwise you will receive great training to help you with the flying skills you will need. A good Pilot is one who can communicate well, is good at critical thinking and problem solving, has great people skills, is both a leader and a team player, knows their limitations, is calm under pressure, and can work hard as it requires a lot of study.

A FINAL NOTE

For parents whose offspring have their head in the clouds.. Make sure you do your research into the many paths there is to take to become a pilot. No one way is the best. Have your child look at all opportunities, military and commercial and then they can decide what is right for them.

Make sure to look at the safety record of any flying school you are researching, are they credible and recognised? Are they financially sound? Many a flight School has disappeared overnight. Are they seeking all payment up front or will it be in instalments as training progresses? Are all costs included? Will the school assist in job finding and the application process or have they got an association with an airline? Do they have payment plans or will they assist in helping you secure funding. Is there any professional loan schemes they can assist with? Hopefully the answers to these questions will help in this important decision.

Most of us who get to fly airplanes for a job would joke that it beats working for a living and that we are very lucky to do what we do. We do have the best office view in the world after all! It requires hard work and dedication, that will continue throughout your career with yearly medical exams and 6 monthly checks in a simulator. But it is an extremely rewarding job, that involves meeting new people, travel, being part of a team and of course the magic of flying.