Posts Tagged ‘pilot hiring’

Flight Training Alert – British Airways Hiring 800 Pilots

Sunday, August 14th, 2011
british airways pilots

British Airways' next hiring phase is their largest ever. Click the image to learn more about becoming an airline pilot

Based at Heathrow Airport in London, British Airways has announced its plans to hire a record 800 pilots over the next five years. The company, which merged in January with Spain’s Iberia to form International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, already employs approximately 3,200 pilots.

According to British Airways spokesman Tony Cane, the new employees will be recruited in anticipation of the airline expanding its existing aircraft fleet in two years, with Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus SAS A380 superjumbos expected to be delivered.

British Airways intends to use existing flight crews to operate the new aircraft, and will need additional personnel to take over the crews’ former duties as they train and upgrade their skills. “We are looking for new pilots essentially to cover training for pilots converting to new aircraft joining the fleet,” stated Cane.

In addition to manning aircraft as new models are added, job openings are also expected to be created due to attrition as numerous pilots reach retirement age or move to part-time schedules.

Staff to be recruited will be a combination of fledgling pilots and seasoned ones from military sources and rival carriers. Cane added, “ It is about recruiting the right mix of new and experienced pilots for British Airways for the years to come.”

To help meet the increased demand, British Airways is launching a training program designed to assist approximately 400 prospective applicants in gaining admission to flight training schools in Spain and the UK.

A sponsor company, Airline Placement Limited (APL), will cover the initial expenses, and British Airways will serve as the guarantor. Those candidates who successfully complete the training requirements will be offered pilot positions with British Airways.

The company also promises other benefits of working as a pilot for them including offering a breadth of aircraft across both the long-haul and short-haul which allows opportunity for developing skills and career advancement.

Newly hired employees will be expected to assist with day-to-day service coverage, and will fly aircraft already existing in the fleet, typically starting out with short domestic and European hauls across Gatwick and Heathrow.

British Airways is encouraging candidates interested in the new pilot positions and training program to apply online at britishairwaysjobs.com .

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Start Your Flight Training Now: Massive Pilot Shortage Looming

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Pilots Needed: DHC-8-402Q "Dash-8"

Pilots Needed: DHC-8-402Q "Dash-8" - photo copyright Brandon Farris, Tail Shots Photography

Airline pilots rank right up there in respected professions with doctors, police officers, and firemen. Commercial pilots enjoy some fantastic pay and benefits as they progress in their jobs. They also get to fly to some pretty fabulous worldwide destinations, and get paid for it at the same time. In recent years, the airline industry has not been hiring very many new pilots. In part due to skyrocketing fuel costs and a weakened global economy, fresh fliers have not had much success landing pilot jobs. Instead, they have chosen to switch gears and search for openings elsewhere, such as in the computer and technology sector.

All of that is about to change dramatically. On the horizon, a surge of unprecedented magnitude is flowing straight for airline companies all around the world. In one extreme example, airplane manufacturer Boeing has forecasted that they will require almost half a million new pilots in the next 18 years. Flight schools would be wise to anticipate this need and begin to offer more classes. At least in the US, many commercial pilots are approaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. There currently aren’t enough pilot training programs to fill the expanding need.

The shortage of pilots getting ready to strike the industry is unparalleled in scope. Never before has there been a coming hiring boom of this size. Those individuals now or shortly beginning a pilot training program will have immense opportunity in front of them, whether it is at a regional airline or as a transoceanic passenger pilot. Typically, when an individual leaves flight training and enters the industry as a pilot, they have a large debt-to-income ratio. All that could change, based on the future shortage of qualified pilots.

Another lesser reason for the pilot shortage is a new change to safety rules. Now, pilots must have more flight training time (1500 flight hours) in order to be hired by carriers. Going along with increased weekly rest times and mandatory rest between flights, stricter flight training standards for all cockpit crew personnel are also new requirements. Signed into law in August 2010, and combined with the other factors building toward a pilot shortage, now is a great time for new commercial pilots to be graduating from flight school.

Source: USA Today
Learn more on the new flight training and safety law

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Airline Pilot Hiring – American Eagle to Recruit ATP Pilots

Friday, July 16th, 2010
By Kyle Garrett
ATP logo

ATP announces hiring event with American Eagle Airlines

Airline Transport Professionals (ATP), the national flight academy with over twenty U.S. locations, announced Thursday that it will host an exclusive hiring event with American Eagle airlines. According to ATP’s Paul Templeton “American Eagle Airlines is sending their top Pilot Recruiters to ATP’s headquarters in Jacksonville Beach, Florida on Thursday, July 22 to meet exclusively with ATP students and instructors.” ATP is upbeat in their prediction that the hiring event confirms “…that regional airlines will resume hiring in 2010.”

At the event, Richard King, American Eagle’s Manager of Pilot Recruitment is scheduled to make a presentation on the state of hiring in the airline industry, additions to American Eagle’s fleet of Regional Jets, and the “flow- through” of senior American Eagle pilots to American Airlines. An ATP press release noted “These factors have increased the need for American Eagle to hire qualified pilots now and into the foreseeable future.”

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Posted in Airline News, Flight Training Info, School Updates | No Comments »