With still only around 6% of pilots worldwide being women, easyJet has been focused on tackling this industry-wide challenge for a number of years through initiatives including recruitment campaigns, its pilot school visits programme and Summer Flight School.
As a result, 7.5% of easyJet’s pilots in the UK are women compared to the UK industry average of 6.5%, with around 300 women including 99 Captains now flying for the airline, which has continued to work on tackling stereotypes and misconceptions around the job and encouraging more women to apply.
The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is now open for aspiring pilots to apply at Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE
Earlier this month the airline launched an online test which assesses some of the key skills required to become an airline pilot, after research revealed that half of Brits (50%) don’t know what qualifications are needed to become an airline pilot and learn to fly a commercial jet.
To apply to easyJet’s Pilot Training Programme, aspiring pilots need to be aged 18 or over by the time they begin training and have a minimum of 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of Grade C or above (or equivalent), including Mathematics, Science and English language – no higher qualifications or degrees are required.
Training takes place with the airline’s training partner CAE at its aviation academy locations in Gatwick, Milan, Brussels, or Madrid, with flight training taking place in the US. On successful completion of training, graduates begin their careers flying as a co-pilot with easyJet.
Captain Kate West, Pilot Training Manager at easyJet said: “We are delighted to reopen applications for this year’s Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme as part of our drive to recruit 1,000 new pilots and encourage more people to join this fantastic profession.
The training to become a pilot focuses on skills such as communication and problem solving, so when working as a team in the flight deck, diversity is incredibly valuable.
Tackling stereotypes about our job is critical to driving this and while we are proud to have many more women flying with us today, we know there is always more to be done to increase all forms of diversity and remain committed to leading the industry in this.
I joined easyJet over ten years ago as a growing airline with opportunities for career progression and a fantastic reputation for training. This is as true now as it was back then and we look forward to seeing many more new pilots joining easyJet in this rewarding career in the months and years to come.”
Be aged 18 or over to commence training (by course start date) The right to work with unrestricted access across EEA, EU, UK and Switzerland Hold a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above, including maths, science and English language Be fluent in English (verbal and written) Minimum height 5’ 2” (157cm) with maximum commensurate with Airbus flight deck requirements Be able to obtain an EASA or CAA Class 1 medical as required for the relevant license.
The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is now open for aspiring pilots to apply at Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE
The programme will take aspiring pilots from ground school training to the full-flight simulator under 2 years. Aspiring pilots, on easyJet Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) course will complete their ground school classes in one of CAE’s European aviation academy locations including CAE Brussels, CAE Madrid, CAE London Gatwick. They will then take to the skies, at a CAE fair weather flying location, before completing their training by learning to fly commercial jets on state-of-the-art full-flight simulators at CAE Milan and CAE London Gatwick training centres. Cadets will then join easyJet flying Airbus A320 aircraft across its network.
