Thinking of becoming a pilot? Exotic countries; pretty air hostesses; jet set lifestyles; great uniform! Unfortunately, this stereotypical view of a pilot – one that is often portrayed as such by the media and film – is not, in reality, the truth. It has been revealed by the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) that many pilots have debts amounting to £100,000 or more and are still repaying the cost of their flight training and qualifications, leaving many with just £500 a month on which to live… and that’s if they have an airline job!
The Association’s research showed that more than 50% of cadet pilots had to stump up between £75,000 and £100,000 just to fund their training; one in six were said to be paying more than £100,000. On finding a job, the majority of newly-qualified pilots are often left with little more than £500 and £1,000 a month just to keep a roof over their head and a meal on the table.
A glamorous lifestyle and exotic locations? Definitely not! But Balpa’s general secretary, Jim McAuslan, urges aspiring wannabe pilots to take heart. He said: “The message I will be giving to aspiring pilots is: don’t let dreams become your master. You will need resilience, dedication and a willingness to move between continents to find work. In the cold light of day, look beyond the apparent glamour and hype and only commit to the profession with your eyes open.”
So, if you do follow your dream of becoming a pilot, what can you expect to earn? Well, according the Balpa, newly-qualified pilots who secure a job with a major airline, such as British Airway, can expect to earn £27,000 to £29,000 per annum which, following over 10 years’ of service, could rise to £56,000 to £66,000 – a captain’s salary – before allowances. It is a different story for pilots working for British Airways on short-haul flights from Gatwick or Heathrow; in this case, pilots can expect a starting salary of around £52,000, which could to up to around £102,000 if you put in 20 years’ of service.
Still interested? Then I suggest you get yourself along to Heathrow and Balpa’s Professional Flight Training Exhibition this Saturday where you can learn more about the training, the nature of the job and all other aspects of working as an airline pilot. But make sure you do your due diligence and research – it’s hard work, expensive but can also be very rewarding.