AC will be not too far behind this one.........

[Norwegianwood]

'Fairer' approach

BA said that its "future pilot programme" aimed to hire 400 trainees.

The cost of training - which BA says can be up to £100,000 per pilot - will be financed by the airline, but repaid by the recruited pilots later in their careers.

"By removing the barrier of initial training costs and making it more accessible to a wider range of people, we hope to attract the very best talent out there," said Captain Robin Glover, BA's head of pilot recruitment.

The pilots' union - British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) - said it was pleased that BA "is allowing the best pilots, not just those with the most money, to fly for them".


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14489148

[vic777]

"By removing the barrier of initial training costs ... "

I think they're talking about "off the street" hiring of zero time applicants here. They would fund all the initial training costs. Not a bad deal if you don't have to pay for the training if you "wash out". Same as the Air Force. Obviously they save a bundle if all the Pilots fly till they die. I wonder when their accountants will figure that one out?

[whiteguy]

I'm sure Westjet won't be either, or how about Air Transat or Jazz? Maybe Sunwings? Why not every airline in Canada?

Why just AC?

[Sea2Sky]

This program is probably meant to substitute their ab initio cadet program, which used to be a paid program.

[twinpratts]

I disagree... there won't be any cadet type program over here until there is a shortage of qualified new hires.

[Joe Blow Schmo]

This isn't much different to their cadet program. Cadets, under their old program, had a lower salary than experienced new hires for the first ~5-7 years. So their training costs were paid off via a lower salary.

[QuincyF]

I think this is just a way to cut costs and pass them on either to the consumer or in this instance, to the workers. I do wonder if the trainees have to sign a contract that they will have to work for BA for so many years and also be responsible for paying back the loan? It sounds like a great program but is basically a loan for the trainee.