The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has today (Tuesday) welcomed the government’s decision to award the contract to build a third runway at Heathrow. BALPA also called on the government to think creatively about pilot training now to ensure maximum benefits of this expansion in the future.

The union, which represents over 10,000 pilots across the UK, is calling for the government to ensure the country has enough UK-trained pilots by the time the new runway and terminal are built.

Joji Waites, BALPA Director for Flight Safety, Policy and Regulation, said, “The government’s decision to award the contract for Heathrow’s third runway today is excellent news for the UK aviation sector. Expanding Heathrow’s third runway will deliver an extra 276,000 flights to the UK every year, creating new jobs in the air and on the ground.

“To really make the best of this opportunity it is essential that the government takes steps now to ensure that we have a pipeline of trained and qualified pilots, ready to crew the new flights when they come online.

“At the moment anyone who wants to be a pilot has to invest over a hundred thousand pounds of their own money, without access to student loans, with no certainty of a job at the end. That simply prices too many young people out, who might otherwise be perfectly qualified.

“The private sector has stepped up and funded Heathrow’s expansion. Now it’s time for the government   to play their part, to think creatively about the policy changes needed to make pilot training accessible to anyone who wants to fly.”