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Campaign

Protect trainee pilots from flight school collapses

As seen on the BBC, following the collapse of three UK flight schools in the first half of 2023, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) and aviation industry representatives have launched a campaign to ensure better financial protections for trainee pilots and secure a stable pilot training pipeline for the UK aviation industry.

Earlier this year, students who paid in advance for flight training were left seriously out of pocket when Tayside Aviation and FTA Global collapsed. Some trainees are owed up to £90,000, sums that are unlikely to be recovered from the liquidators.

BALPA joined with other aviation representatives and wrote to Government and will work with them and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure new protections are put in place.

BALPA continues to warn aspiring pilots against paying upfront for flight training courses, but if necessary, only doing so with credit cards to secure some protection.

Note: BALPA revised its statement on recruitment in December 2023 to reflect market positivity but continued to advise aspiring pilots to be cautious, consider all options and to check put BALPA’s website for extensive advice on becoming a pilot and the latest assessment of the jobs market.

£90k
Some trainee pilots have lost £90,000 for pre-paid flying training

BALPA’s Position

Government must introduce new financial protections for trainee pilots to ensure that flight school collapses do not result in loss of trainees’ investments.

MP Tim Loughton briefing MPs on BALPA’s postion:

Latest campaign Updates:

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