Why DO Sponsors Whant A levels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: united kingdom
Age: 35
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why DO Sponsors Want A levels?
I am a 19 year old lad currently in an engineering apprentiship but dremped of flying all my life. I have a Class 2 medical and 11 hours under my belt in 3 different prop aircraft and seriously want to take my flying further. however im not made of money and so am looking into the sponsorships provided by companys such as flybee and Net/Jet. only thing is. they all seam to require A-Levels. Is there any chance of me getting a sponsor/cadetship or am i going to have to study maths and physics again at colage?
Last edited by jaybirdc152; 25th Mar 2008 at 10:05.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: In the SIM
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have to appreciate mate, that if you are awarded a sponsorship scheme, the provider has to be sure that you have all the right attributes and a reasonable chance of coping with the amount of work you are expected to do.
As well as your personality, you must reach a certain standard with your ability to learn. Of course, having a reasonable education from school will show this and initally get your foot in the door, i.e. your application will be accepted. Also, and I don't know this as fact, but I am sure it is used as a filtering system too.
If it is any consilation, I didnt do particularly well at school, however, when I got to college I extracted my thumb from my butt and did some work, to which I got the results I wanted. I think I applied to BA about 4 times, and every time they rejected my application until I got a degree. Then I failed the verbal reasoning test after been invited for phase 2, aptitude testing
.
With the above in mind, you also have to realise that sponsorship is very competitive, and only a few people get through. I lost count of how many times I was rejected, but if you are determined enough you will get there, even if that does mean saving for a few years to fund yourself.
All the best with it.
As well as your personality, you must reach a certain standard with your ability to learn. Of course, having a reasonable education from school will show this and initally get your foot in the door, i.e. your application will be accepted. Also, and I don't know this as fact, but I am sure it is used as a filtering system too.
If it is any consilation, I didnt do particularly well at school, however, when I got to college I extracted my thumb from my butt and did some work, to which I got the results I wanted. I think I applied to BA about 4 times, and every time they rejected my application until I got a degree. Then I failed the verbal reasoning test after been invited for phase 2, aptitude testing
.With the above in mind, you also have to realise that sponsorship is very competitive, and only a few people get through. I lost count of how many times I was rejected, but if you are determined enough you will get there, even if that does mean saving for a few years to fund yourself.
All the best with it.
Last edited by CAT3C AUTOLAND; 9th Mar 2008 at 16:52.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NW England
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
Airlines like to see you have taken education further beyond what is required, gone up a level so to speak where the work load has increased and it is more in depth with a greater volume of work! Also A-Levels are recognised as the step up from GCSE so it seems logical they are set as the bench mark for qualifications.
The ATPL ground school is very in-depth, it involves commitment, in fact a huge amount of commitment due to the shear volume of work, more then GCSE I would say!
It may be work checking to see that the training you are doing as a apprentice may give you some form of A-Level equivalents' if so airlines may accept them.
Cadet places are very very hard to come by and the completion is fierce you could always carry on with your training and use your skills to save up for your flight training and do it that way. Or you could head back to college to do A-Levels, but unfortunately A-Levels are the bench mark when it comes to education requirements for these schemes!
All the best though
Airlines like to see you have taken education further beyond what is required, gone up a level so to speak where the work load has increased and it is more in depth with a greater volume of work! Also A-Levels are recognised as the step up from GCSE so it seems logical they are set as the bench mark for qualifications.
The ATPL ground school is very in-depth, it involves commitment, in fact a huge amount of commitment due to the shear volume of work, more then GCSE I would say!
It may be work checking to see that the training you are doing as a apprentice may give you some form of A-Level equivalents' if so airlines may accept them.
Cadet places are very very hard to come by and the completion is fierce you could always carry on with your training and use your skills to save up for your flight training and do it that way. Or you could head back to college to do A-Levels, but unfortunately A-Levels are the bench mark when it comes to education requirements for these schemes!
All the best though
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jaybird,
From what I can tell by reading various forums, only 3-5% of all applicants are chosen for cadet schemes and that is with A-level requirements in place. Why should the airlines make these odds even worse by expanding who can apply? Apparently they can find enough good people without lowering the application standard. Before trotting off to get A-levels so you can apply, I'd recommend doing the GAPAN assessment to see if you are in the top bracket of aptitude. If not, then just get on with self-sponsored training and quit fretting about A-levels.
From what I can tell by reading various forums, only 3-5% of all applicants are chosen for cadet schemes and that is with A-level requirements in place. Why should the airlines make these odds even worse by expanding who can apply? Apparently they can find enough good people without lowering the application standard. Before trotting off to get A-levels so you can apply, I'd recommend doing the GAPAN assessment to see if you are in the top bracket of aptitude. If not, then just get on with self-sponsored training and quit fretting about A-levels.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: united kingdom
Age: 35
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks guys. i'll take it all into consideration. just seams hard to get into the busness considering the amount of job aplications around. any advice on whether oxford aviation or Cabair at cranfield are prefured by airlines and which offers the best training. i'v looked at the sylibus and different corces they offer but would like advice from a student there or ex student if posible. Thank you.
Jaybird
Jaybird
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cranfield UK
Age: 70
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you cannot see that "dremped" "seam" and "colage" are hopelessly wrong you might expect to have to have higher educational qualifications before some one would risk spending big bucks on you!!! ICAO English is expected at a high level and you will have to study it. Sorry but it's true!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And 'sylibus', 'prefured' and 'corces'. The rest we shall call typos 
On a serious note though, it must be accepted that there is competition for things where the amount of people willing to do it is greater than the amount of places available. Sponsorship schemes are a good example of this. Not only that though, but the training itself requires aptitude and as has been said, why spend money on someone who may not be able to cope?
Regarding to your recent question I would advise you to trawl through this forum, plenty has been said about the integrated schools, whether airlines prefer them and many opinions have been expressed about which one is better. You have to make up your own mind. These sort of questions are asked almost daily and I can assure you that the replies given a few months ago will still stand for today.
PS. you may also want to change 'whant' on the thread title to 'want'. That one really is basic, come on!
On a serious note though, it must be accepted that there is competition for things where the amount of people willing to do it is greater than the amount of places available. Sponsorship schemes are a good example of this. Not only that though, but the training itself requires aptitude and as has been said, why spend money on someone who may not be able to cope?
Regarding to your recent question I would advise you to trawl through this forum, plenty has been said about the integrated schools, whether airlines prefer them and many opinions have been expressed about which one is better. You have to make up your own mind. These sort of questions are asked almost daily and I can assure you that the replies given a few months ago will still stand for today.
PS. you may also want to change 'whant' on the thread title to 'want'. That one really is basic, come on!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leave the poor guy alone......... according to our illustrious government the quality and calibre of students and examinations is as good if not better than in my day of 'O' Levels and 'A' Levels pre-uni. 
Yeah right...............................
Yeah right...............................
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
K.Whyjelly
Please, do not think all of the people going through the education system today are intellectually weak. As has always been the case, it just so happens that you get the 'bell shape' graph that shows intelligence across the nation. This has never changed, and I suspect jaybird is (way) to the left of the peak, though looking at his profile I think this is a joke.
I do admit though, it is no fun having to do such easy exams that ask so little of those my age. I guess I'm the one that's laughing though, eh? They're a piece of p*ss
Please, do not think all of the people going through the education system today are intellectually weak. As has always been the case, it just so happens that you get the 'bell shape' graph that shows intelligence across the nation. This has never changed, and I suspect jaybird is (way) to the left of the peak, though looking at his profile I think this is a joke.
I do admit though, it is no fun having to do such easy exams that ask so little of those my age. I guess I'm the one that's laughing though, eh? They're a piece of p*ss
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh yeah, definitely KY. Leave your job and return to the classroom to be surrounded by rude boys 
Eradicate those lowly Cs and Bs, maybe weigh in with a few A*s. Afterall, you only need about 55% to get a C on the current GCSEs. Just another ploy of Gordon Brown's to make it look like more are achieving 'average' grades, when really I think it's just that the gap between the brighter pupils and the below average pupils is getting much bigger.
ElSupremo,
Your academic quals are good, and you won't ever be pulled up on AAB at A-level or having a Law degree. If I were you I'd consider the academic hurdle 'cleared'
Eradicate those lowly Cs and Bs, maybe weigh in with a few A*s. Afterall, you only need about 55% to get a C on the current GCSEs. Just another ploy of Gordon Brown's to make it look like more are achieving 'average' grades, when really I think it's just that the gap between the brighter pupils and the below average pupils is getting much bigger.
ElSupremo,
Your academic quals are good, and you won't ever be pulled up on AAB at A-level or having a Law degree. If I were you I'd consider the academic hurdle 'cleared'
Last edited by BerksFlyer; 10th Mar 2008 at 21:06.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: BRISTOL!
Age: 39
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They normally favour, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English from what i have been told in the past.
Only one requires good spelling and gramour, otherwise i would have failed Maths and Physics.
The ATPL Theory is a combination of English, Maths and Physics more or less, so asking for those A-Levels could show that you are of lower risk to fail the material. Ontop of that, having done an A-Level, the workload compared to GCSE's is 3 or 4 times greater, so if you can cope with A-Level then i guess you could more than cope with the ATPL's.
However, most people i have met, pilots, wannabes, student pilots, dont have A-Levels. But all i have met on a sponsored course, have had them, i guess they need to filter out applications some way, and why shouldnt people be rewarded for staying in or going back into education.
As for making your results better, do it for yourself, as i dont think sponsors and FTO's really care, as long as they are above a C that is.
Only one requires good spelling and gramour, otherwise i would have failed Maths and Physics.
The ATPL Theory is a combination of English, Maths and Physics more or less, so asking for those A-Levels could show that you are of lower risk to fail the material. Ontop of that, having done an A-Level, the workload compared to GCSE's is 3 or 4 times greater, so if you can cope with A-Level then i guess you could more than cope with the ATPL's.
However, most people i have met, pilots, wannabes, student pilots, dont have A-Levels. But all i have met on a sponsored course, have had them, i guess they need to filter out applications some way, and why shouldnt people be rewarded for staying in or going back into education.
As for making your results better, do it for yourself, as i dont think sponsors and FTO's really care, as long as they are above a C that is.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Cardiff
Age: 37
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So how likely is it that with a law degree etc I could obtain sponsorship? Are my chances significantly higher than others or do most applicants have degrees?
In addition, what is the work load like on these schemes? Will it be as heavy going as a law degree (i.e. I tend to be in uni for 3 or 4 hours/day and then have to work at home for about 3 hours/day... obviously excluding essays, exams etc)?
In addition, what is the work load like on these schemes? Will it be as heavy going as a law degree (i.e. I tend to be in uni for 3 or 4 hours/day and then have to work at home for about 3 hours/day... obviously excluding essays, exams etc)?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK.
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ElSupremo,
It really depends on the individuals skills... I done Law at University because my skills weren't that great in Maths or Physics (even though I got my Highers in both subjects)
Some people will find it easier than others, for example those who studied advanced maths/physics or those who have worked as engineers in various industries.
The thing a degree does is prepare you for the level of work you will need to put into your course. You will know how to study, how to manage your time and understand the quickest and easiest ways of learning things (you have been studying for 4+ years, you must have mastered it by now! :P )
A degree is good to have regardless of what career your going into, as they are a clear example of determination in a particular area they can also be used as a back up incase you don't get the dream airline job you have been chasing.
However, if an airline believes someone is a better pilot than yourself they will easily pick the skills over the degree.
It really depends on the individuals skills... I done Law at University because my skills weren't that great in Maths or Physics (even though I got my Highers in both subjects)
Some people will find it easier than others, for example those who studied advanced maths/physics or those who have worked as engineers in various industries.
The thing a degree does is prepare you for the level of work you will need to put into your course. You will know how to study, how to manage your time and understand the quickest and easiest ways of learning things (you have been studying for 4+ years, you must have mastered it by now! :P )
A degree is good to have regardless of what career your going into, as they are a clear example of determination in a particular area they can also be used as a back up incase you don't get the dream airline job you have been chasing.
However, if an airline believes someone is a better pilot than yourself they will easily pick the skills over the degree.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ElSupremo,
While you were reading law, many successful cadet applicants were studying engineering and thereby getting a better grip on maths and physics. The result is they tend to do better on the technical sorts of aptitude tests. You might do fine and get a sponsorship, but I'd bet more on those with technical/science/engineering degrees. Anyone can defy the odds and I hope you do. They are certainly more on the side of a degree holder of any sort.
While you were reading law, many successful cadet applicants were studying engineering and thereby getting a better grip on maths and physics. The result is they tend to do better on the technical sorts of aptitude tests. You might do fine and get a sponsorship, but I'd bet more on those with technical/science/engineering degrees. Anyone can defy the odds and I hope you do. They are certainly more on the side of a degree holder of any sort.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: united kingdom
Age: 35
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok i admit my spelling is a bit bad guys but is there need to be so harsh. i still got good GCSE's and ONC. i just never could get the hang of spelling. so i gess unless i sort the spelling out im not realy in with any chance? thanks for the help though guys.