Originally Posted by
Chris the Robot
I hope they take the best people for the job out of those who have the right to work here. If economic background is looked at too much it'll end up like the Monty Python Four Yorkshiremen sketch.
There's a lot of us who couldn't afford cadet schemes a decade ago so got careers elsewhere and through hard work we're in with a chance of being able to fund modular training. I wouldn't want us to be disadvantaged in the process as a result of that.
From everything that has been said in the presentations I do believe they are focussed on hiring the best people. For BA this is an investment in getting a pipeline of quality new pilots, not an altruistic gift to a marginalised group. There are plenty of other industries where professional qualifications are funded by employers, and those employers seek out the best people they can to maximise the value of their investment. They don't take on the neediest in society to maximise the social impact.
I think people are getting mislead by the whole ATPL theory issue, but there are plenty of reasons for this other than penalising people smart/rich enough to have started the exams. The fact that TUI have abruptly changed their approach to match BA demonstrates that there must be issues from their side that make this difficult.