BA to never run a sponsorship again ?

[Sagey]

Taken from the ABTN newsletter

Generally speaking British Airways has in recent times secured its pilots via sponsored courses contracted out to a number of
schools (some of which have come and gone), plus Oxford, which seems to have been around for ever. BA inducted into the student pilots a sense of belonging and closely monitored them to ensure its new recruits were worthy of the airline. Completion of the course did not actually mean a guaranteed job and at times of over supply graduates were sometimes offered, on temporary basis, other jobs in the airline, or told to find employment elsewhere.

What may be the last ever BA course is presently at Oxford. For the future BA intends to recruit in the open market at a rate of up to 300 a year. The savings for the airline are considerable. If you want to join British Airways the minimum requirement will be a professional pilots licence before taking even the first step of filling in an application form. However if BA accept you, you will be on the first step of a well paid ladder where you can reach a command position in something like ten years. BA will pay for all your subsequent training. Most British airlines offer similar schemes. It is off course a question of supply and demand. At present there is probably a small surplus of experienced pilots but this often dries up very quickly


Sagey