sponsorship requirements

Future Airline Pilot>Sponsorship

If you have little or no flying hours and you are thinking about a career as a professional pilot, you can choose to take one of three main routes to make your dream a reality.

Join the Royal Air Force.
The RAF will train you to an exceptionally high standard and dependant on your ability, you will be selected to fly fast jet, multi engine, or helicopters. After a career in the RAF, normally 16years, you will have the experience and hours necessary for a smooth transition into the commercial pilot world. Many airlines look favourably on the training that you will have received. Although the RAF has schemes afoot to help this transition, you will still have some examinations and flying to do to get your professional licence. You will be eligible for different exemptions, dependant on the type of aircraft that you flew. If you decide on this route, please take a look at the link on the banner below. A site set up by an ex-RAF pilot and worth a purchase of the information regarding selection. All proceeds to charity.

Self sponsorship.
This means that you will have to fund yourself through all the ground and flying training required. Dependant on where you go for this training, it will cost you between £50,000 and £60,000 to complete, over a period that suits you (although there are some Aviation Authority time constraints on some elements). If you are planning to take this route, follow through the next few pages to find out what you need to do. You can also download information on starting up from the links section in our forum. Please register to obtain this advice.

Full or partial sponsorship with an Airline.
As a general rule, to be accepted on a sponsorship program with a particular airline, you will need the following:

little or no flying experience;

2+ A levels or equivalent. A degree is preferable;

the right to live and work in the UK;

pass a JAR standard eyesight test and be capable of holding a Class 1 medical
Competition for these schemes is extremely fierce, as there are few places available, so the more you can do before hand, the better your chances of getting a place. Please register on the forum and go to the links section to get information on who has such schemes available.

Obtaining the right advice and finding the right places to go for training, especially when the funding is tight, can be a painstaking process. For a personal advice service, to make your route to an airline pilot job as painless as possible, using extensive contacts in the industry, see the services we can offer.