<p>For new pilots or those looking for a new employer, having industry guidance at hand is invaluable. When that assistance comes from an association of your peers (current or likely), it carries extra weight. <a name="_Hlk9523203">At the British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA), Wendy Pursey, head of membership and career services, leads the organisation’s efforts to deliver that help.</a></p>
<p><img alt="BALPA Wendy Pursey [square]" src="/getasset/8ec23a06-d954-414f-b111-5b36662b016a/" /></p>
<p>Take, for example, the new candidate process. For many years, being a pilot was an attractive career, but it has suffered against the new opportunities of the internet era, just like many other industries. And the last 2-3 years have brought significant changes, as Pursey has observed. She assesses those years, beginning with new pilot intakes.</p>
<p>“The market has changed quite considerably in the last two years. What we have seen for many years, and the current message is the same, are predictions for a severe pilot shortage globally. But that doesn’t necessarily reflect the situation being experienced by British pilots,” Pursey begins.</p>
<p>“Those who go through flight school and come out with just under a couple of hundred hours flying experience are still having a challenge in securing that first job. That’s against the background of a reduction in the number going through the flight training schools, because aspiring pilots are put off by the training costs and the realities of the job, which are quite different from the images of a jet-setting lifestyle.</p>
<p>“When you have to invest £80,000-£100,000 in yourself, you’ve got to look at the ways to service that debt, what your long-term earning potential is and how the job will fit in with your lifestyle ambitions,” Pursey adds.</p>
<p>For qualified pilots, such as those from the now bankrupt Monarch and flybmi or those simply looking for a change, there is more choice at present, a notable difference compared with two years ago, according to Pursey. “Coming out of the recession, airlines were trying to sustain their crewing levels [while flying more]. That’s no longer sustainable, so they are having to recruit and are looking for more experienced pilots,” she notes.</p>
<p>“When Monarch ceased trading, BALPA contacted several airlines, arranged fast-track interview and selection processes. We ran 10 training courses around the country for Monarch pilots to help them prepare for interview. And everybody who came out of Monarch who wanted a job was re-employed – and the same for flybmi pilots.”</p>
<p>While this is encouraging, there is still the problem of new pilots’ first jobs. “Only a few airlines are taking low-hour pilots,” she comments.</p>
<p>Help is on the way though, in the form of the Pilot Apprenticeship. “To set up an apprenticeship in the UK, you have to work with up to 10 organisations in the same industry. So BALPA and several airlines set up a trailblazer group about 18 months ago to design the first UK Pilot Apprenticeship, which went live recently.”</p>
<p>Participating carriers get £25,000 for the apprenticeship levy, while – as with all apprenticeships – the students would be employees from day one. “As well as pilot training they may also be working in flight operations, HR and other departments, so airlines get a very grounded employee who understands the company’s culture. It’s really good way of entering the profession,” Pursey declares.</p>
<p>“However, because airlines have been used to individuals funding their own training completely, although airlines will get £25,000 out of the levy, no airline has yet come forward to take advantage of the Pilot Apprenticeship, because they would have to fund the difference in training costs,” she continues. “That’s disappointing, but it will happen.”</p>
<p>Having touched on how Monarch and flybmi pilots were helped, Pursey has advice for others on the paths to follow after any lay off, with BALPA being a key hub for help. “We work within 23 airlines in the UK. When Monarch and flybmi ceased trading, we reached out to our pilot members in each and gave the resources to them,” she recalls.</p>
<p>“Outside the industrial legal work that happened, we ran a careers programme for them and immediately got in touch with airlines and organised roadshows, some being as quick as the week after the news came out. Pilots were able to go and speak with flight ops and training departments straight away and have fast track interviews.</p>
<p>“We also offer a crew connected service,” Pursey adds. “If a pilot has an interview at an airline and wants to speak with a pilot already operating there, we can connect them. That’s not to damage the integrity of the interview process, it’s just to give people an insight into the culture within the airline. It helps to raise confidence when entering an interview process.”</p>
<p>Non-UK airlines also get in touch with BALPA after hearing of layoffs, offering the chance to move abroad. Moving overseas can be a really good choice for some, while some don’t want to do that. “What we want to do is make sure our members have as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions,” Pursey reports. “We also have publications, such as ‘The Inside Track to Working Overseas’, which are also part of our careers support. Those books are written by BALPA members who have actually done it and give first-hand experience, tips and tricks and so forth. That’s what our members really want to know, so they are educated when it comes to making decisions.</p>
<p>“We’re lucky that we’ve got over 10,500 pilot members in the UK and have a massive pot of information that we can tap into as a resource. We make really good use of our membership,” Pursey asserts enthusiastically.</p>
<p><img alt="BALPA Wendy Pursey [square]" src="/getasset/8ec23a06-d954-414f-b111-5b36662b016a/" /></p>
<p>Take, for example, the new candidate process. For many years, being a pilot was an attractive career, but it has suffered against the new opportunities of the internet era, just like many other industries. And the last 2-3 years have brought significant changes, as Pursey has observed. She assesses those years, beginning with new pilot intakes.</p>
<p>“The market has changed quite considerably in the last two years. What we have seen for many years, and the current message is the same, are predictions for a severe pilot shortage globally. But that doesn’t necessarily reflect the situation being experienced by British pilots,” Pursey begins.</p>
<p>“Those who go through flight school and come out with just under a couple of hundred hours flying experience are still having a challenge in securing that first job. That’s against the background of a reduction in the number going through the flight training schools, because aspiring pilots are put off by the training costs and the realities of the job, which are quite different from the images of a jet-setting lifestyle.</p>
<p>“When you have to invest £80,000-£100,000 in yourself, you’ve got to look at the ways to service that debt, what your long-term earning potential is and how the job will fit in with your lifestyle ambitions,” Pursey adds.</p>
<p>For qualified pilots, such as those from the now bankrupt Monarch and flybmi or those simply looking for a change, there is more choice at present, a notable difference compared with two years ago, according to Pursey. “Coming out of the recession, airlines were trying to sustain their crewing levels [while flying more]. That’s no longer sustainable, so they are having to recruit and are looking for more experienced pilots,” she notes.</p>
<p>“When Monarch ceased trading, BALPA contacted several airlines, arranged fast-track interview and selection processes. We ran 10 training courses around the country for Monarch pilots to help them prepare for interview. And everybody who came out of Monarch who wanted a job was re-employed – and the same for flybmi pilots.”</p>
<p>While this is encouraging, there is still the problem of new pilots’ first jobs. “Only a few airlines are taking low-hour pilots,” she comments.</p>
<p>Help is on the way though, in the form of the Pilot Apprenticeship. “To set up an apprenticeship in the UK, you have to work with up to 10 organisations in the same industry. So BALPA and several airlines set up a trailblazer group about 18 months ago to design the first UK Pilot Apprenticeship, which went live recently.”</p>
<p>Participating carriers get £25,000 for the apprenticeship levy, while – as with all apprenticeships – the students would be employees from day one. “As well as pilot training they may also be working in flight operations, HR and other departments, so airlines get a very grounded employee who understands the company’s culture. It’s really good way of entering the profession,” Pursey declares.</p>
<p>“However, because airlines have been used to individuals funding their own training completely, although airlines will get £25,000 out of the levy, no airline has yet come forward to take advantage of the Pilot Apprenticeship, because they would have to fund the difference in training costs,” she continues. “That’s disappointing, but it will happen.”</p>
<p>Having touched on how Monarch and flybmi pilots were helped, Pursey has advice for others on the paths to follow after any lay off, with BALPA being a key hub for help. “We work within 23 airlines in the UK. When Monarch and flybmi ceased trading, we reached out to our pilot members in each and gave the resources to them,” she recalls.</p>
<p>“Outside the industrial legal work that happened, we ran a careers programme for them and immediately got in touch with airlines and organised roadshows, some being as quick as the week after the news came out. Pilots were able to go and speak with flight ops and training departments straight away and have fast track interviews.</p>
<p>“We also offer a crew connected service,” Pursey adds. “If a pilot has an interview at an airline and wants to speak with a pilot already operating there, we can connect them. That’s not to damage the integrity of the interview process, it’s just to give people an insight into the culture within the airline. It helps to raise confidence when entering an interview process.”</p>
<p>Non-UK airlines also get in touch with BALPA after hearing of layoffs, offering the chance to move abroad. Moving overseas can be a really good choice for some, while some don’t want to do that. “What we want to do is make sure our members have as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions,” Pursey reports. “We also have publications, such as ‘The Inside Track to Working Overseas’, which are also part of our careers support. Those books are written by BALPA members who have actually done it and give first-hand experience, tips and tricks and so forth. That’s what our members really want to know, so they are educated when it comes to making decisions.</p>
<p>“We’re lucky that we’ve got over 10,500 pilot members in the UK and have a massive pot of information that we can tap into as a resource. We make really good use of our membership,” Pursey asserts enthusiastically.</p>