Potential pilots urged not to bother training by union

‘It would be irresponsible if we did anything other than warn people to consider delaying their flight training at this time,’ says Balpa

Trainee pilots are being warned they will struggle to find jobs (Getty Images)

The UK’s leading pilots’ union has warned wannabe pilots not to start training for the foreseeable future.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said that those who are thinking about embarking on a pilot training course should think again, as the coronavirus pandemic has decimated future job prospects.

The union said it would be “irresponsible” to encourage trainees to pay upwards of £100,000 only to find they cannot get employed as a pilot when they complete their training.

There are currently 10,000 unemployed commercial pilots across Europe, 1,600 of whom are in the UK, according to Wendy Pursey, head of membership and careers services at Balpa.

She estimated that around 200 people who are already in flight training schools and were lined up for jobs with easyJet no longer have a clear path into employment, or even to obtaining their licence.

“This is not a positive picture for anyone whose heart is set on entering this profession,” said Ms Pursey. “There will be fewer jobs, with more people competing for each one even once this pandemic is over.

“In this situation it would be irresponsible if we did anything other than warn people to consider delaying their flight training at this time.”

She encouraged those thinking about the profession to postpone their training and get experience in another profession first to “give them another avenue to fall back on”.

And for those determined to start their training regardless, Ms Pursey recommended doing a modular route rather than a full-time course, which means participants can study or work alongside their training.

It comes as Balpa warned that the national lockdown and accompanying travel restrictions were “destroying” the aviation industry.

Brian Strutton, general secretary of the union, said: “If the government were determined to destroy the airline industry they couldn’t be doing a better job.

“Hundreds of pilots and thousands of other workers have lost their jobs, and thousands more have taken pay cuts or are working part time.”

He added: “The prime minister’s announcement that domestic and international leisure travel will be banned during the second lockdown is yet another body blow for the airline sector and the thousands of people who work in it.

“Airlines, airports, handling companies and many others who provide services to this vital sector are struggling to survive and are desperate for government support.”