insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 09 - November 2015 | Page 91

EDUCATION

LIFE AFTER A-LEVELS:

A ROUTE LESS TRAVELLED

If you, or your children, have ever dreamed of
becoming a pilot, flying a commercial aircraft
is one of the most rewarding, exhilarating jobs
you can have. Forecasts from Boeing show
that 235,000 more pilots will be required
worldwide over the next seven years to meet
the growing demand for air travel. The Office of
National Statistics annual survey of Hours and
Earnings for 2013 listed ‘airline pilot’ at number
two on the list of the highest paid jobs in the
UK. With competitive starting salary prospects,
it’s possible to make a good return on your
pilot training investment and take a shorter
route into employment.
With degree maintenance grants due to be
scrapped in 2016 and replaced with loans,
the cost of a traditional degree is rising, and
there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it.
A bursar at the University of Oxford recently
stated that the cost of a British university
degree “isn’t worth it” for many students.
According to a BBC Newsbeat article, a recent
report showed that 58.8% of graduates are
now working in a job that doesn’t require a
degree.
By contrast, pilot training is highly vocational
and there’s the option of taking a degree whilst
learning to fly. But how do you become a
pilot? To qualify as a first officer for an airline,
you’ll need to take a commercial pilot training

course with a reputable flight school. At FTA,
we offer commercial pilot training courses, with
or without degree qualifications. Our Integrated
Flight Deck Programme takes student cadets
with zero flying experience through to ‘frozen
ATPL’ (the air transport licence required to
act as a first officer with an airline). With
standard entry requirements of five GCSEs
(including Maths and English) and preferably
two A-Levels, students can join an integrated
course from the age of 18.
With courses starting from £64,995, it’s
possible to qualify as a commercial pilot after
16 months, take a role with an airline and start
earning an attractive salary. If you have a son
or daughter who’s interested in a career in
aviation, it’s worth comparing the return on
investment of pilot training versus the overall
cost of a university degree. With current
employment statistics at FTA running at 88%
(this is the number of pilot training cadets in
2014 who have secured jobs; a figure that
is rising), the prospects of finding a job after
training are good. FTA’s Integrated Flight Deck
Programme with a foundation degree (that
can be upgraded to an honours degree with
extra study) in Air Transport Management, is a
full-time integrated course which will enhance
career options whether you wish to be a pilot,
or work in other fields of aviation management.

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This course enables students to develop the
pilot skills and knowledge required of a first
officer and an understanding of the commercial
and operational challenges facing the fastpaced aviation industry. The course is delivered
continuously throughout the year in conjunction
with Buckinghamshire New University.
It’s important to think carefully about where
to learn to fly. Good flight instructors, like
those at FTA, help students to become the
best pilots possible. FTA has a modern fleet
of training aircraft and an excellent safety
record. Students train on similar systems to
those found in modern commercial airliners.
We work hard to make our courses accessible
to everyone; we offer payment in installments
and finance options. The UK and global job
market is ever changing, but what does remain
constant is the demand for highly skilled
people.
FTA
Wingfield House
Brighton City Airport, West Sussex
BN43 5FF
01273 455177
www.fta-global.com
/FTAGlobal
@FTA_Global