Originally Posted by
RichardH
I have been around long enough to remember the days of proper sponsorships when airlines (including BA) actually PAID (true sponsorship) for you to go and get your Frozen ATPL then you of course would be bonded to that airline for x number of years. These were almost 'guaranteed jobs' assuming you met the demanding standards of the course, you could be asked to leave at anytime should you fail to match up to expectations. However the aviation industry is very much subject to world economics of supply & demand and I was instructor at Oxford when 9/11 happened. Within 48 hours 2 or 3 sponsored courses (BA & Aer Lingus) with 'guaranteed jobs' had been cancelled leaving the students with nothing (mind you with little or no debt). It was extremely difficult to get a flying job for a few of years unless you had 3000+ hours.
I believe true sponsorships are very few (if any), most of the schemes going are based on YOU paying for the course taking all the risks involved. Again you have to meet minimum standards and assuming you get through (not all do) then subject to demand requirements you get taken on. Yes it's better than doing it all on your own but certainly its no 'guaranteed job'. The current demand for pilots will not last for ever, I know graduates still looking for jobs two/three years after completing their courses, others walk into one within a couple of months, almost certainly having to pay for type ratings.
I advise you to really understand the significant risks YOU are potentially taking on and don't believe all the glossy sales brochures and everybody getting jobs. As I keep saying on this forum the last pilot shortage was in 1940!
Well aid Richard H; and if there is a pilot shortage it certainly is not for any grade other than captain.