wiggy

Explains why I came across so many Chinese staff working for Finnair when in Helsinki.

"I really am astonished at how broken the funding system is for pilot training, and that nothing seems to be done about it. If it cost over 100k upfront to become a doctor or teacher there would be an outrage (and rightly so)."

Who will fund it? Other than for the air force and when legacy airlines were owned by their respective governments, the governments have never really gotten involved in what is a private qualification. I can't see the transport department allocating anything to it when there are so many funding training on their own, and that supply of people is unlikely to dry up ... we're on our own and should plan accordingly.

I am not suggesting outright funding in the form of a grant as such, rather making loans accessible without re-mortgaging your parents house. I do understand it is a supply and demand issue, and that there are plenty of people who can afford the training costs. However, £13 billion is loaned to students each year, with many going on to work abroad with big investment banks etc. It’s not so much about the government getting involved with a private qualification, rather the equality of opportunity for people to succeed in their chosen career.

I’m not an idealist and understand that this issue will not be fixed overnight, but steps in the right direction such as tax savings, pressure on airlines etc is achievable.

Well, they did once allow VAT to be reclaimed on "commercial" pilot training but it got abused by so many PPLers that it was scrapped.

Definitely one of the greatest programs out there, other airlines should follow Air France's footsteps... Good luck to those applying!