Ask Captain Lim - Is University really the way to become an airline pilot?

Hi Capt Lim,

I found your site while researching planes for a school essay project. I found it really helps and also contains a lot of information on the flying career.

I*m a 17-year-old English student currently in my year before attending University. I really want to become a commercial airline pilot. I will be applying to universities in England to study an aviation management and operation degree with pilot studies that gives you all the needed licenses to become an airline pilot.

My main question is to ask you, is University really the way to go to become an airline pilot?

I am quite interested in the scholarship programmes such as those in Singapore Airlines but from what I know, there are no similar programmes for English airlines in England.

Do you have any information on the subject of scholarship programmes in England?

Thanks

Greg Pooley

London, England

Hi Greg,

Whilst it is not specifically mentioned that a University degree is a requirement to join a good airline, most employers would look for one with this higher educational qualification. That said, every aspiring pilot that satisfies the basic requirement, has an equal chance if he perform well in the selection process. Of course, in a competitive world, the one with a good academic qualification will always have the advantage!

In England, there are currently no exact equivalent to the cadet pilot programmes that are being offered by Singapore Airlines (SIA). Yes, British Airways used to sponsor cadet pilots before but they no longer do so today; the company can attract sufficient suitable good quality direct-entry pilots to satisfy their needs.

However, British Airways do work closely with Cabair, CTC, Flight Training Europe and Oxford Aviation Training to identify suitable candidates reaching the BA standards before they actually graduate.

Other UK airlines known to have sponsored pilots (full or part sponsorship) are :-

a. bmi ? British Midland (www.personnel.flybmi.com)
b. easyjet via CTC (www.ctcaviation.com/wings)
c. First Choice via Cabair (www.ccat.org.uk)
d. FlyBe via Cabair (www.ccat.org.uk)
e. Monarch Airlines (www.monarch-airlines.com)
f. My Travel (www.airtours.com)
g. Thomas Cook Airlines via CTC (www.ctcaviation.com/wings)
h. ThomsonFly via Flight Training Europe (www.flighttrainingeurope.com)