This is the main V-Flyer Forum for general discussion of everything related to flying with Virgin-branded travel companies.
#886748 by gumshoe
30 Oct 2014, 21:03
How hard can it be? Just make sure the doors are closed, stick autopilot on and chill for 8 hours right?

Seriously though, is this cost cutting? Presumably they don't have to pay someone who's been trained from scratch in-house as much as a fully qualified pilot who's already working for another airline.
#886749 by NYLON
30 Oct 2014, 22:12
I think there's been a general pilot training freeze for about ten years post-9/11, and now that things are changing, the airlines are hiring again, which means new blood is needed...

p.s. Hmmmm...

BA = "Future Pilot Programme"
VS = "Future Flyers Programme"
#886754 by honey lamb
30 Oct 2014, 22:53
Interesting!

Aer John had considered a career as a pilot and had indeed, started flying lessons but abandoned them because of the inept booking system at the local flying school and because he was embarking on the Irish equivalent of A-levels. He is now ensconced with Aer Lingus in their Finance Department and no doubt has his foot in the door there if he so chooses.

Where it is of interest to me is that a friend's son started on an accredited pilot course but when he was in Florida for training, the school collapsed and he and several others were left stranded there. The family (and others) were €80K out of pocket. They could be interested in this.
#886888 by Maximus
01 Nov 2014, 08:46
Me! Me! Me!

Sadly I suspect I am a tad too old now. Am not too good with map reading. Terrible with mechanics. Dislike others in the drivers seat.

Hey ho.
#886895 by RachelCox
01 Nov 2014, 09:37
I would LOVE to do this, however with an eight year old at home I feel 'flying' off to Arizona for some of the training would be difficult for the school run!

Also, last year I flew a 737 simulator as a birthday present and got travel sick!
#886904 by Hamster
01 Nov 2014, 11:51
Interesting.

Finances are different on BA though, they loan you the training costs so you don't have to put anything up upfront, but it is then removed from your salary upon completion.
And the salaries are now VERY low compared to what they once were for pilots.
#887093 by Fuzzy14
03 Nov 2014, 14:01
Hamster wrote:Interesting.

Finances are different on BA though, they loan you the training costs so you don't have to put anything up upfront, but it is then removed from your salary upon completion.
And the salaries are now VERY low compared to what they once were for pilots.


The fully sponsored route was only available to 25 years and under, and it was like you said they would pay for all your training but you'd have to stick with them a number of years on a reduced salary. I was trying to get onto that scheme, I had been down to Waterside for tests, flown the simulator reasonably well, then some people flew planes into buildings in 2001 and it was all cancelled for years. When they re-started the scheme I was too old for sponsored and didn't have the cash for the bond route. :(
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