A world of caution in case the uninitiated don’t know the game. The standards BA will require an FPP candidate to attain are significantly higher than the standards necessary to pass the various pilots’ licenses, and the promise of a refund will not relate to whether you pass or fail BA’s expectations.
The same goes for post-graduation employment prospects as the schools are producing significantly more pilots than the industry currently needs. If FPP don’t want you, why would you expect anyone else to? Remember too that if you get something like bar work within 12 months of graduating, the school still counts that as employment.
You’re investing 100K plus loss of earnings whilst training, so be aware that if you’ve done badly on the Compass memory test, you’ll struggle on the exams, emergency procedures, six monthly flight checks and the random questions captains like to ask before each flight. If you struggled on the distraction test – give up now as you’ll need to do ten things at once whilst landing. If maths wasn’t your thing, aviation’s all about the numbers for each operating procedure so you’re going to regret it. If the orientation test didn’t work out, you won’t be able to navigate ………….. and so on. This kind of investment isn’t for the faint hearted or the hopeful. If you don’t get a job out of it, it’s potentially going to ruin your life.
However those failing at stage 2 but intending to reapply should certainly complete the remainder of the tests they’ve already paid for if they can. This is invaluable experience, and there's no danger of you being allowed to attend on the same days as BA’s dedicated selection process. It won't help with getting BA interview experience though, and rest assured that their tests are more difficult.
Then when it comes to next year's application, remember that this years counts for nothing. You have to stand out all over again, and it always pays to make an impression at the Compass event as it could move you to the positive side of the border line.