BA sponsored pilot scheme open again.
Discussion
In case anyone is interested the BA future pilot scheme is open for applications again for a limited period.
http://www.bafuturepilot.com/apply/
http://www.bafuturepilot.com/apply/
MitchT said:
Security bond of £84k required. Can't even get a mortgage for that much on my s
tty wage. Would do it if I could afford to.
If you can't afford the £84k, BA can guarantee a loan for that amount. Smallprint is everything. tty wage. Would do it if I could afford to.
Future Pilot Programme said:
There are a number of ways you can raise the funds to deposit this security bond, for example from your own finances, borrowing from family, or securing a loan. If you’re not in a position to secure an asset-based loan then you could be eligible for our British Airways guaranteed loan scheme. If this is the case, our partner bank will run a thorough check of your credit history. Should this come back clear and you pass the Future Pilot Programme selection process, British Airways could act as your loan guarantor. You will then be able to borrow the money from our partner bank in order to deposit the required security bond with APL. On any loan there is obviously a percentage of interest charged by the lender, but the British Airways guaranteed loan scheme specifically offers a 24-month holiday period before any loan repayments commence. It should be noted however, that it might be cheaper to secure an asset-based loan either through our partner bank or another lender.
Maybe you can afford it now. Edited by JW911 on Thursday 1st November 20:50
Future Pilot Programme said:
... our partner bank will run a thorough check of your credit history. Should this come back clear and you pass the Future Pilot Programme selection process, British Airways could act as your loan guarantor.
Only one way to find out sadly.Edit: ... and I wasn't a trust fund kiddy. In overall terms, if you are able to get BA to act as your loan guarantor, you will effectively be the in the same position as the Cadet pilots from ten to fifteen years ago.
Edited by JW911 on Thursday 1st November 20:53
JW911 said:
If you can't afford the £84k, BA can guarantee a loan for that amount. Smallprint is everything.
I did see that bit, but the risk of failing the course and being left unemployed and owing £84k plus interest is not one which I fancy much. Basically it's a game which you can afford to pay if you see £84k as casino money.... or some who interview (I'm not one) may suggest that if you are prepared to make that call and take the risk, you are committed enough to work hard enough to ensure that you pass. As you say, £84k is a lot to be liable for.
BA can afford to be extremely selective so a demonstration of commitment will be required and from a personal point of view, I would recognise that commitment as being greater from someone without two pennies to rub together who has to get a loan from BA versus the person who's multi-millionaire Dad wrote a cheque. But as I say, I'm not a recruiter.
BA can afford to be extremely selective so a demonstration of commitment will be required and from a personal point of view, I would recognise that commitment as being greater from someone without two pennies to rub together who has to get a loan from BA versus the person who's multi-millionaire Dad wrote a cheque. But as I say, I'm not a recruiter.
SystemParanoia said:
people that actually need a job to live need not apply it seems.
but if you're a trust-fund kiddy, welcome.. we know you don't actually need to work for a living, but we don't like those aspirational poor types cluttering our payroll systems.
hmph
Friend of mine worked in software consultancy, then left and did a BA program. He's now been a 737 First Officer for 7 years and he still does software consultancy to pay the bills.but if you're a trust-fund kiddy, welcome.. we know you don't actually need to work for a living, but we don't like those aspirational poor types cluttering our payroll systems.
hmph
From the FAQs
2. What happens to my security bond once I complete my flight training?
Upon employment with British Airways your security bond will be transferred from APL to the airline and you will, so long as you maintain your employment commitments, benefit from a contracted commitment from the company to repay the security bond to you over 84 monthly instalments.
So you don't need to worry about paying back the bond provided you stay for 7 years
2. What happens to my security bond once I complete my flight training?
Upon employment with British Airways your security bond will be transferred from APL to the airline and you will, so long as you maintain your employment commitments, benefit from a contracted commitment from the company to repay the security bond to you over 84 monthly instalments.
So you don't need to worry about paying back the bond provided you stay for 7 years
A lex said:
I think about £30-£35k gross was about the going rate on these schemes the last time i checked.
A good salary, it is not.
It mentions a salary of £22,700 plus flying allowance of £8-10k (not guaranteed), so basically you're going to be living in a cardboard box and eating beans if you end up based at LHR but living quite reasonably if you're based at LBA (for example). If you paid the bond yourself then that's another £12k per annum coming back to you, albeit your own money.A good salary, it is not.
Basically it's set up for people who either ...
A: Are rich and can have a punt at it, or
B: Want it so badly that they don't care what the financial consequences of trying may be.
I'd love to have a go, but I'm not sure I want it that badly.
Edited by MitchT on Thursday 1st November 21:47
I have offered the information about the BA scheme starting again because for many people BA are the only way outside of the military to gain access to commercial flying now without a pot of cash from family or personal wealth and whilst this scheme is not as generous as those that went before, it is well ahead of the other options ( IMO ). It is best looked at in comparison with other airlines.... oh there are no comparable schemes, so maybe not. If you want to fly heavy metal and you have the talent and attitude, this scheme may help you, if there are better options I'm sure someone can suggest them, but otherwise this scheme is not asset dependant and provides opportunity to match your desires with your personal ambition and as such I think it's a good thing.
If you think it would cost around £75,000 to self-fund (C£50k for fATPL and c£25k for Airbus/737 rating) without a guaranteed job at the end of it, but this is somewhere between £0 and £9k more but you have a guaranteed job and reasonably low interest on the loan (easily worth £9k over 7 years) then it seems a pretty good deal.
I went through applying for the ab-initio scheme in 1988 and of the 8,500 applicants I got into the last 130, from which they wanted 100 cadets.
Unfortunately when my 'A' levels came out I only got one so was eliminated from the running :¬(
So I joined the RAF as NCO Aircrew instead
I went through applying for the ab-initio scheme in 1988 and of the 8,500 applicants I got into the last 130, from which they wanted 100 cadets.
Unfortunately when my 'A' levels came out I only got one so was eliminated from the running :¬(
So I joined the RAF as NCO Aircrew instead
It's a bit sad BA pay their First Officers less than Ryanair and EasyJet. EasyJet FO on a European contract can earn 3 times that.
Still a great way for someone to get into flying as I wouldn't recommend those last two airlines to my worst enemy.
Still a great way for someone to get into flying as I wouldn't recommend those last two airlines to my worst enemy.
Edited by Spoof on Friday 2nd November 09:03
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