Aviation Skills Partnership with Middlesex University

Aspiring pilots can take a step further towards their dream career with the announcement that the BSc (Hons) Professional Aviation Pilot Practice degree/higher apprenticeship which has been developed by Aviation Skills Partnership with Middlesex University is open for enrolment. The first jointly validated program is offered by Middlesex University and CTC Aviation and they are enrolling candidates now.

The programme, which is also available for existing trainees and pilots, has been developed to meet the requirements of both a degree and a higher apprenticeship. This innovative combination means that when a student is training independently or as an apprentice the requirements for both programmes are met. To be an apprentice, the student will need to be employed by a program partner.

Ray Elgy, UK Civil Aviation Authority, who chaired the Programme Board that helped bring the program to the point of launch said: "This is a programme which makes a significant contribution to increasing accessibility to pilot training and I look forward to seeing airlines and individuals enrolling on this long-awaited initiative."

The enrolment of the first students, who will graduate with a BSc (Hons) degree and a professional pilot's licence which fully meets all UK CAA requirements, is just one of a number of important milestones reached by the Aviation Skills Partnership and it is anticipated that partner airlines for the integrated Multi-crew Pilot License and apprenticeship based elements of the programme will be announced imminently.CTC Aviation Training (UK) managing director Martin Hunt said: "Making this innovative programme available in exactly the same way as other professions do, such as medicine and accountancy, is a real boost to making becoming a professional pilot a genuine career choice. The potential of having student funding available really helps make professional pilot training accessible to a much greater group of people, as it really can make a significant impact on how the whole course is funded."