pilot sponsorships
 

Hello,

I was just wondering if there are any american airlines who offer pilot sponsorships, such as the BA cadet scheme over here. Obviously they probably are not running at the moment, but have they done this at all in the past?

The reason being due to my poor eyesight and thus the inability to obtain a JAA Class 1 medical at the moment. I really want to be a pilot you see, and if I cannot do it here, then I must look elsewhere (unless the JAA drop that -5 dioptre rule for eyesight).

Cheers

CP

the short answer is no, the major airlines did run a scheme back in the 1960's when there was a severe shortage due to the Vietnam war, however only a small few of the people that were selected got to the top of the seniority list, most left flying after a few years, and the airlines have never forgotten this. In any case why would they want to sponsor people when all the big ones have got thousands of qualified applicants already on file.

Another problem is that no US airline will sponcer pilots or FO's for visas. I also have been looking to the US, again for similar reasons. I think the only way to get a visa is to go on one of the cources that include a flying instructor period such as that run by Comair academy in Sanford Florida.

Continental Express did I believe have a cadet programme, which was stopped dead by 11/9.

I've a friend who was at WMU who did a program for Delta. It was not many students, and they were all minorities (an affirmative action program). But I understand that is the cause of all the **** at WMU that resulted in the Dean and Head of Training getting the boot. All sounds like a sorry mess, 'cause my friend's feedback from WMU was quite positive.