Pilots are calling for the government to act following a new report on the steep cost of joining the profession.
The report, commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT), recommends that the government should cover the cost of commercial pilot training, which can be up to £150,000.
A scholarship or grant could be introduced to pay for the training in part or in full, the report says, while another option would be a loan covering the full cost.
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The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) welcomed the research, pointing out that it has been campaigning on the issue for years.
The trade union’s interim general secretary, Miranda Rackley, said: “We hope the government will act swiftly to remove the financial barriers by putting in place policies and funding that will support the opening up of the profession to all those who have the aptitude but not ability to pay.”
Commercial pilot training is not currently eligible for student funding, meaning most new cadets rely on financial help from family.
The self-funding model acts as a barrier to entry to the profession, the report states, with some demographic groups disproportionately affected.
This will contribute to an anticipated shortage of pilots in the next 20 years, according to the report.
Looking at alternative ways of funding the training, the report suggests a list of “workable and impactful” options.
Aside from government-funded grants or loans, these include full sponsorship by airlines and a greater range of scholarships from third-sector sources.
The report says the alternative funding models should have selection criteria which encourage “high-calibre candidates from under-represented backgrounds”.
Rackley said: “This report recognises what Balpa has been highlighting for years: that the lack of diversity in the pilot workforce cannot be addressed without tackling the financial barriers to entry to the profession.”
Aspiring commercial pilot Danni Parker, a Balpa member, said: “Everyone in the industry is keen to address the lack of social mobility and diversity. Pilot training must become accessible by opening up funding routes, the lack of which currently denies many people the opportunity to ever reach the flight deck.
“Everyone deserves the chance to achieve and realise their dream careers regardless of their circumstances.”
Only 6% of pilots worldwide are women and 4% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, according to Balpa.
The DfT report, called ‘Options for Addressing the Cost of Pilot Training’, was prepared by Systra and Northpoint.
Photo: Shutterstock/Carlos E. Santa Maria