British Airways looks for pilots on YouTube
British Airways has turned to YouTube to find the next generation of pilots as part of its biggest ever recruitment drive in more than a decade.
And, for the first time, the airline will underwrite pilots' training costs of around £100,000, which previously new recruits had to find themselves.
BA plans to take on more than 800 new pilots by 2016, half of which will come through the new Future Pilot Training Programme, details of which have been posted on the airline's dedicated YouTube site.
About 400 applicants will gain a place at one of three approved flight training colleges in the UK and Spain and successful candidates will land a job as a British Airways pilot. The airline will help students to secure sponsorship from Airline Placement Limited to cover the initial training, which they will then pay back out of their salaries over their career.
Captain Robin Glover, head of pilot recruitment at British Airways, said: “The Future Pilot Programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone, from any background to realise their ambition of becoming a pilot and flying for British Airways.
“By removing the barrier of initial training costs and making it more accessible to a wider range of people, we hope to be able to attract the very best talent out there."
The airline is also looking to take on current commercial pilots from other airlines and it is working with the UK Armed Forces to give military pilots a new career in commercial aviation, once their agreed service period has ended.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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