Pilot Cadet Schemes
 

Hi All,

I am currently an Aircraft Engineer Apprentice (18) working towards a level 3 qualification as an Aircraft Technician. With further goals of achieving a CAA B1.1 Licence. However after achieving this license I am debating of a career change to my true passion since the first time I saw an aircraft. Being a pilot. I am thinking of applying to the BA Speedbird Academy aswell as any other airlines such as TUI that are running such schemes. I just wanted to know if anyone has experience with said schemes and their competitiveness as I would like to know if there is a chance.

My GCSE grades are as follows:
Maths : 9
Comb. Science: 9 9
Further Maths: 7
Geography: 9
Computer Science: 8
English Lang: 8
English Lit: 7

And with a CAA engineers licence in the mix which includes modules such as air legislation, human factors aswell as many other engineering and aircraft knowledge. Would I stand a chance?

Any help really appreciated, have a good new year!

Your best bet is to apply and find out. If your qualifications tick the box, that is all that is necessary for acceptance. The schemes are competitive, but the competition is more to do with the applicant’s flying orientated skills which will be evaluated on an individual basis, rather than their formal qualifications. It is not really possible for someone here to make an evaluation of your likelihood at success from a single post.

This.

Do you have a good chance of getting on a scheme? No. No one does, they’re wildly competitive.

Do you have a better chance of being accepted if you apply vs if you don’t?.. Yes!

You will probably find that as most people do, you'll need to apply to many schemes many times, and whilst you should put every effort you can into preparing, not letting it distract from your plan in life which should be to fund your own training as far as possible (if you really want to do this as a job). Each time you apply you will improve and learn something new.

It is hard to comprehend how low the odds are on some schemes, so do your best but never presume you will end up with the golden ticket until maybe some day you do - most people do not get a place on these schemes until applying several times. You should see the first few attempts as learning opportunities to allow you to turn up the next year better prepared.

This is excellent advice. There will come a point when you need to decide whether you’re going to continue applying for these schemes in the hope you’ll be successful next time, but doing so too much could result in significant delays and/or derailment of the goal. Life gets in the way, age tends to mean roots matter more so your flexibility tends to decrease. People might scoff at this, they might say that you need to be fully flexible at all times. I don’t advocate anyone throwing their personal life away to chase the ‘dream’ that in all likelihood in a year or two you’d find is just another job that, whilst it pays well, it takes a lot of life away. Age matters in this case, the older people looking at this might be best to work it around where you are, trust me you’d be happier for it! Life priorities change sooner than you think. However if you do really want it you will find a way of self funding, I believe the cut off for most cadet schemes is typically sitting an ATPL exam. I think once you’ve committed to an ATPL course it’s vital to focus all your energy into succeeding at that.

The good thing about going through the assessments but being unsuccessful is that getting experience in the airline assessment profiles is something that’s priceless. Practice is key. I know there are courses you can attend, and although they’re well meaning and helpful to a point, they really aren’t the same as the real thing.

I’ve been fortunate in that I built up countless contacts throughout the industry prior to committing to commercial flight training. Even then though it was challenging securing a flying job. Some people are fortunate, they breeze any assessment thrown their way, but most people don’t.

Suppose it’s a long winded way of agreeing with Oleo Strut. Applying is great, but if you don’t succeed at that point then it’s still great as it builds resilience and tends to separate the ones who truly want it from those that just see it as an interesting option.

These schemes are effectively a lottery until the latter stages. Some have had over 25,000 applications for 150 positions.

Given that TUI have discontinued their programme for 2026 and other carriers such as BA are yet to announce if their next intake sizes are being adjusted given the current market. These schemes are only going to get more competitive. If you haven't had at least a trial flying lesson yet in an aeroplane, it'd be worth getting that done sooner rather than later.

By all means try your luck with a sponsored scheme, but if you don't get in well you still save for 5 or 10 years and do whatever it takes to become a pilot? That's how you know if you really want to be a pilot or not.