Current Pilot schemes for poor people??

[Captain Spam Can]

Just after a few questions answered please. I’m an experienced Airbus Captain so I’m out of the loop in particulars with regard to current pilot training other than….get BA/Aer Lingus/TUI fully funded sponsorship or pay for it yourself.

My question, if you can’t get one of those three schemes, can you still get an unsecured loan that pays for your pilot training and living expenses. Do they still exist? I came through the old CTC wings scheme where this happened, and you made the repayments after flight training in your respected airline (who also paid the type rating). I understand CTC doesn’t exist now, but the likes of easyjet whom I should be more aware of offer a ‘tagged scheme’ but looking on CAE website they are very coy about how it’s funded. Are loans still available or are they secured or non existent??

Just thinking if Jo (male or female Jo) Bloggs off they street didn’t get the funded sponsorship but want to be a pilot with no property or assests to put down can they still do it via the likes of HSBC.

Thanks

[Contact Approach]

BA and Aer Lingus offer paid sponsorships but generally no, unsecured loans are a thing of the past. This is where the true “diversity” of the airline world shows… if you can pay you can stay. It’s very sad.

[ldepo2]

No. All my pilot friends either have wealthy parents or have parents with assets against which they could secure £100,000+ in loans.

[Chris the Robot]

Bristow run a sponsored helicopter scheme and FTE Jerez did a scholarship the other year. As always, there's the military flying path for those who meet the military's standards and who want the military lifestyle. Otherwise, you need to have wealthy parents/extended family or get a fairly well-paid job in another career path and switch over to flying as a second career.

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[Captain Spam Can]

Thanks for the replies, just been wracking my brains thinking how people can get into the game now and if there’s anything I can do. I remember after the wings scheme went it was ‘you need the money’ or your parents house as security, but in light of the fully funded schemes and huge Pilot shortages I was wondering if unsecured loans had become available now especially for the large MPL schemes like easyjet. Real shame for talented individuals who posses the aptitude but we’re maybe born on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’.

If anyone is reading this please don’t give up if you want it bad enough. You could even stay at home 10 years, make big sacrifices, work for Amazon for 10 years and get a Pilot job before 30 with zero debt. 1k a month away every month. If you want it that bad stick at it. It really only gets difficult if one starts settling down, buying a house, getting married and having children, game over then (not impossible but very difficult).

It really is the best job (not a job) in the world I still pinch myself! How many people pay to play doctor or Lawyer at the weekend…but there’s plenty paying money to fly around in a cessna.

[weep]

Thanks for the replies, just been wracking my brains thinking how people can get into the game now and if there’s anything I can do. I remember after the wings scheme went it was ‘you need the money’ or your parents house as security, but in light of the fully funded schemes and huge Pilot shortages I was wondering if unsecured loans had become available now especially for the large MPL schemes like easyjet. Real shame for talented individuals who posses the aptitude but we’re maybe born on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’.

If anyone is reading this please don’t give up if you want it bad enough. You could even stay at home 10 years, make big sacrifices, work for Amazon for 10 years and get a Pilot job before 30 with zero debt. 1k a month away every month. If you want it that bad stick at it. It really only gets difficult if one starts settling down, buying a house, getting married and having children, game over then (not impossible but very difficult).

It really is the best job (not a job) in the world I still pinch myself! How many people pay to play doctor or Lawyer at the weekend…but there’s plenty paying money to fly around in a cessna.


This help motivated me a bit. Unfortunately missed the Aer Lingus scheme, however I have applied for the BA one! As someone from a lower income background it can be very soul crushing to know your dream job is so far out of reach but you can only try!

Parents don't own our home so cant use that as secured debt unlike some others. and it feels like if I ever save up enough to have 100k to spend on an integrated scheme, it would be a poor financial decision to do that rather than using it as a house deposit. Its tough and I know there are many others like me!

[WindyTurtle]

This help motivated me a bit. Unfortunately missed the Aer Lingus scheme, however I have applied for the BA one! As someone from a lower income background it can be very soul crushing to know your dream job is so far out of reach but you can only try!

Parents don't own our home so cant use that as secured debt unlike some others. and it feels like if I ever save up enough to have 100k to spend on an integrated scheme, it would be a poor financial decision to do that rather than using it as a house deposit. Its tough and I know there are many others like me!

I sent you a PM. Living in London has its merits.

[AlwaysWondering]

There are a lot of options at the moment.

More airline are offering funded programmes than at any time since before 9/11. British Airways offers a fully-funded programme. As do TUI. As do Aer Lingus. If you speak another language and are an EU citizen, there are plenty of other programmes such as DGAC/ Air France in France for example.

There's the military path.

There's good old fashioned hard work and savings. OK, it does mean that it isn't handed to you on a plate aged 18. But it's not too difficult to go from nothing to a pilot job in less than a decade with zero debt just through saving. One guy I know, a Ryanair FO before his 27th birthday, did it by working at McDonald's going from assistant to manager.

Most people will be able to get some sort of unsecured loan one they get a credit history. Though it's not a sensible solution unless it's final mile IMO.

[B2N2]

You should be able to save yourself for half of it then get a loan for the second (ME-IR) portion.

[rudestuff]

If anyone is reading this please don’t give up if you want it bad enough. You could even stay at home 10 years, make big sacrifices, work for Amazon for 10 years and get a Pilot job before 30 with zero debt. 1k a month away every month. If you want it that bad stick at it. It really only gets difficult if one starts settling down, buying a house, getting married and having children, game over then (not impossible but very difficult).
You've answered your own question. Just go for a modular course at £50k instead of integrated at £100k. As B2N2 said, save half borrow half. That cuts your time from 10 years to 2½ years. It means working hard, sacrificing and smart use of credit to build a decent credit history. There are loads of other ways to reduce costs - one of those jobs can be at a flight school, do CBIR I stead of IR etc...

[weep]

I will definitely look into this further. I think ACS Flight School looks like a decent option for the modular route

[Captain Spam Can]

I will definitely look into this further. I think ACS Flight School looks like a decent option for the modular route

If any of my kids show interest in flying and they didn’t get a sponsored course I would say go modular 100% at this time, I would have gone that route had I not got onto the wings scheme as integrated would of been too expensive. It was harder for my modular friends to find employment back then, one guy who started his PPL when I did got his first commercial job when I got my command! Supply and demand nowadays though means that you’re not disadvantaged going modular.

I would say Weep if your heart and soul is to fly, it will happen, don’t start buying houses though yet. Make sacrifices instead to save for the training and a way of keeping current. Even though I was the lucky few I couldn’t get my house until I was in my early 30’s since after my bond was up I had to start saving for a house deposit by that time I was a Captain with a family. But I’d of never earn a six figure salary doing anything else period so delayed gratification is worth it.