British Airways continues to pave the way for aspiring aviators with its innovative Speedbird Pilot Academy, offering a remarkable pathway for those dreaming of a career in the skies. Whether you’re fresh out of school or contemplating a second career, British Airways is committed to helping ambitious pilots from diverse backgrounds transition from Cadet to Captain.
Comprehensive Training and Support
The Speedbird Pilot Academy stands out by offering a fully-funded Cadet program to up to 100 candidates each year. This initiative significantly lowers the barriers to entering the aviation field, making a pilot career more accessible to a broader audience. The program involves an integrated flight training course, which is a full-time commitment taking 18-24 months to complete. Graduates who successfully pass their training join the ranks of British Airways pilots, embarking on careers that begin as First Officers on the A320 short-haul fleet at major hubs like Gatwick or Heathrow.
Entry Routes and Recruitment
British Airways offers multiple entry routes into the Speedbird Pilot Academy. For those who have already begun their journey elsewhere, the airline also provides opportunities for qualified pilots who have completed modular or integrated courses at any Approved Training Organisation (ATO). Candidates who meet British Airways’ entry criteria will undergo a rigorous assessment process at the British Airways Head Office. This includes a computerised test designed to evaluate performance under pressure, followed by an interview and group exercises. Successful candidates enter a hold pool, where they may receive conditional offers.
Application and Preparation
The application window for the Speedbird Pilot Academy is currently open until 26th April 2024. Prospective candidates are encouraged to thoroughly review the Preparation Materials provided by British Airways before submitting their applications. The demand for this sponsored cadetship is extremely high, within the first hour of the scheme opening there was a queue of over 1,500 candidates waiting on the British Airways website to submit their application. It’s crucial to apply early as the program seeks individuals with the ability and drive to succeed in a high pressure environment and there is every chance that the application window could close early!
At Airline Pathways we can help you prepare for your application, giving you additional insight into the selection process, writing an exceptional CV, interview and aptitude preparation, or simply providing you more information on British Airways.
The Application Process
Step 1 – Role preview
You will be shown information about being a pilot, including the lifestyle and
what’s involved in flight training. From a selection of responses, choose which one resonates most with you. British Airways are not assessing you at this stage, however, do consider why you want this job.
Step 2 – Choose a flight school
You have a choice of Skyborne or FTE Jerez, choose wisely as you cannot change this, your chosen flight school is going to be you home for the next 18 months!
- Skyborne conduct ground school in Gloustershire, UK and the flying elements in Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
- FTE Jerez conducts the full course in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Step 3 – Confirmation of eligibility
Ensure you meet all of the eligibility criteria to work for British Airways, listed below.
• 17-55 years old, 18 to start training
• Six GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9, including Maths, English and a Science (or equivalent)
• Fluent in English
• Valid passport which permits unrestricted worldwide travel
• Height must be between 1.57m (5'2") and 1.90m (6'3”)
• Able to obtain and hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions
• Have the right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship
Step 4 – Motivational question
This is where the assessment starts, British Airways will ask you to provide a maximum of 250 words on why you want to become a pilot and why British Airways. If you came prepared, you will have this information in the form of a cover letter.
British Airways utilise software that will detect AI. Utilising ChatGPT and other AI copywriting software could result in your application being rejected!
At Airline Pathways we can assist your application by writing writing a personally tailored CV and Cover Letter with a proven track record of applicant success.
Step 5 – Online Assessments
Upon successful initial application, meeting all of the eligibility criteria and uploading your CV and motivational state, you will be invited to conduct online assessments. Each of these assessments is pass or fail, if you fail one then you will not be invited to complete the next, therefore prior preparation is essential!
- Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
- Maths Test
- Detail Checking Test
Step 6 – Passenger Announcement Exercise
Once you have completed the initial online assessments, you will be invited to complete a Passenger Announcement Exercise. In this assessment you will be required to complete an activity where you record some audio, saying a passenger announcement and then answering short questions about customers and safety.
Step 7 – Flight School assessment day
If successful in steps 1 to 6, you will be invited to an in-person Flight School assessment day at British Airways Headquarters, Waterside, Heathrow. This day will involve a maths and physics, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and a group exercise.
Step 8 – Flight School aptitude testing
You will then be invited to conduct an online aptitude test where at minimum you will be tested on your reaction speed and multi-tasking capability.
Although aptitude testing can often be said to be down to natural ability, it can certainly still be practiced, getting used to the style of test and forming your own technique to completing them will certainly benefit you in this assessment process. At Airline Pathways we can help you with our chosen methods of improving you aptitude score to give you the best fighting chance!
Step 9 – British Airways assessment day
If successful in your Flight School assessments you will then be invited to the final assessment day back at Waterside with British Airways.
After your British Airways assessment day you will find out if you have been successful in this application process.
These assessments can all be prepared for well in advance of you applying, let us help you with an all-in-one solution at Airline Pathways.
Partner ATOs and Conditional Offers
For those training independently, British Airways collaborates with four Approved Training Organisations: Skyborne, L3Harris, Leading Edge Aviation, and FTEJerez. Trainees meeting the eligibility requirements from these institutions receive conditional job offers potentially before they even commence their training. To qualify for this opportunity, candidates must excel in their Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) exams, achieving an average score of 85 percent with no more than three resists, and a first series pass at their CPL & MEIR exams.
Conclusion
The Speedbird Pilot Academy is more than a training program; it’s a gateway to a vibrant and exciting career with one of the world’s leading airlines. British Airways’ commitment to diversity, excellence, and sustainability in aviation training ensures that the next generation of pilots is well-prepared to meet the challenges of modern air travel. For anyone with the drive and passion to take to the skies, the Speedbird Pilot Academy offers a unique and promising path to achieving that dream.
Aspiring pilots and aviation enthusiasts, the skies await! Prepare your applications, set your sights high, and you could be the next to join the prestigious ranks of British Airways pilots.