easyJet, the UK's largest airline, is working in partnership with CTC Aviation and Middlesex University, to launch the first ever airline-supported UK degree course specifically for pilots. The BSc (Hons) degree in Professional Aviation Pilot Practice (PAPP) is run within Middlesex University by the Institute of Work-based Learning.
This move means pilots can study towards a degree while undertaking their pilot training. The first two levels of the course are undertaken with CTC Aviation as part of the CTC Wings training programme and the third level is achieved with easyJet through the undertaking of type rating, line training and two modules of directed study while the pilots are flying for easyJet.
Training to become a pilot and completing a degree simultaneously also enables trainee pilots to access government funding for students to help finance their training and degree.
Speaking at CTC Aviation’s annual ‘CTC Wings’ graduation ceremony held on Friday 13 December at the company’s headquarters in Southampton (UK), Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, commented:
""I believe that it is absolutely vital to easyJet’s future that we have a pipeline of talented young pilots coming through which is why I am delighted we are now working in partnership with CTC Aviation and Middlesex University to offer a degree course for our pilots.
""This builds on the easyJet cadet programme which offers a clear career path for all pilots joining easyJet.
""CTC graduates join easyJet as co-pilots and once they have completed their first year with us they can then join easyJet as permanent employees. After flying for a further two years and reaching 2500 hours with easyJet they then become Senior First Officers. From that stage the aim is to achieve their Command and become Captains.
""With easyJet’s continued planned growth the time taken from First Officer to Captain is likely to be quicker than at other airlines. Beyond that there are further opportunities for pilots to develop their career whether that is into a training or management role.
""What this means is that those pilots joining easyJet now could well be looking at achieving their Command within 6 years.
""All our pilots will be flying on a modern fleet of aircraft, with industry leading punctuality, high quality training and an unrivalled European network.
""By offering a clear career path for pilots with faster promotion opportunities, pilots joining easyJet can be confident of a long and successful career.""
Brian Tyrrell, easyJet's Head of Flight Operations, commented:
""Becoming a pilot is an exciting challenge and a great life-long career so I’m really pleased that easyJet is working with CTC Aviation and Middlesex University to offer this university degree course.""
Rob Clarke, CEO of CTC Aviation, commented:
""This is a fantastic commitment by easyJet. CTC Aviation is the only organisation approved by Middlesex University to deliver the Professional Aviation Pilot Practice degree programme and easyJet’s support further enriches this ground-breaking initiative by providing a clearly defined career development pathway.
""Furthermore, easyJet has also enabled diversity and greater access to the career through this move, as cadets completing the degree alongside their CTC Wings training will be able to benefit from government-supported student loan funding. We are delighted to be partnering with easyJet in yet another industry leading initiative.""
CTC Aviation – one of the world’s leading airline training and pilot resourcing companies – is a key supplier to easyJet; the two companies having worked in partnership since before easyJet’s first flight in 1995. CTC Aviation’s world-renowned cadet pilot training programme, ‘CTC Wings’, has supplied more than 1,500 pilots to easyJet over the years and 119 of the pilot graduates from this year’s ceremony have been selected to join the easyJet team.
Dr Darryll Bravenboer, Head of Academic Development from Middlesex University, commented:
""We are delighted that easyJet see the value in enabling their pilots to gain a university degree through the innovative integration of CAA approved pilot training and professional learning. The opportunity to gain academic credit from learning at work towards achieving a degree has the potential to inspire a new generation of professional pilots.""
""The business partnerships that have underpinned this development have also today been recognised through the short listing of this initiative in the 2013 Guardian University Awards.""
easyJet employs around 2000 pilots in the UK and has taken on 300 new pilots during the course of the year.
Anyone wishing to apply for the degree course can email ctcwings@ctcaviation.com
For further information please contact the easyJet press office on 01582 525252 or visit www.easyJet.com
Notes to Editors
Enrolment and Entry Requirements
The usual entry point for the course will be at Level 4 when a trainee passes through the normal CTC Wings selection and meets the Middlesex University entry criteria.
For the eJ degree programme the entry criteria is:
Age 17 or above on application and 18 or above in the commencement of the course
Have 2 ‘A’ Levels at grade C or above or equivalent to 160 UCAS points
Unrestricted right to live and work in the EU in your own right rather than through marriage
Be eligible for the issue of an airside pass
Be able to obtain and maintain a Class 1 EASA medical
If English is not the native language, be able to produce a certificate of IELTS Level 6.0
As it is a degree programme students can also apply via UCAS, on the UCAS website. However, once accepted by Middlesex University, students will still then undergo the normal CTC Wings selection.
About CTC Aviation Group Limited
CTC Aviation is a world leading airline training and pilot resourcing company. As an EASA Approved Training Organisation - ATO (TRTO and FTO), the company trains approximately 2,000 aircrew for more than 50 global airlines each year. United Kingdom and New Zealand based Crew Training Centres house Airbus, Boeing and Diamond flight simulators, hi-tech Computer Based Training facilities and a fleet of the latest, modern technology training aircraft; all supported by one of the most experienced teams of Training Captains and Flight Instructors worldwide.
CTC Aviation’s portfolio spans the full spectrum of airline training and resourcing requirements; pilots and cabin crew; ATPL, MECPL/IR and MPL training, type rating training, command and non-technical skills through to TRE Standardisation; ground school, simulator provision and line training; management and consultancy support; start ups, conversions and recurrent training.
‘CTC Wings’ is a unique, comprehensive, training and career development programme for tomorrow’s airline pilots.
ctcaviation.com ctcwings.com ctcprivatejet.com
About easyJet
easyJet operates Europe's No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports.
easyJet flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.
The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.
