VA hosts First Flight careers weekend

Opening the doors of their training centre at Cambridge Airport, VA Airline Training welcomed nearly 250 visitors to experience flying an airliner simulator as well as listen to inspirational airline industry speakers at its First Flight careers weekend.

Launching the ‘First Flight’ event on March 16, 2019, wasCaptain Lindsay Craig from British Airways who described his own BA careerpathway from cadet to captain and pilot manager, as well as answered questionsabout the new BA Newly Qualified Pilot pathway.

Further presentations were delivered throughout the two daysfrom VA pilot graduates now flying with Titan Airways and Ryanair who spoke aboutwhat motivated them to become airline pilots and what pathways they followed toachieve their flying career aspiration.

Anthony Petteford, a partner with VA, delivered a series ofgeneral and informative presentations about the current pilot shortage; thechoice of ways to become an airline pilot via the various regulatory pathwaysincluding modular, integrated and the MPL; along with pointers to aid making aninformed choice.

The two flight simulators, Airbus A320 and B737 were busyfor the entire weekend; full of aspiring airline pilots ranging in age from 5to 50 experiencing the thrill of flight. Equally as busy was the opportunity tosit in a real training aircraft and experience where a flying career starts.

“The idea of our First Flight careers weekend was to openour training centre, new simulators and aircraft to everyone and inspire asmany people as we possibly could to consider aviation as a possible careeroption. It was a truly amazing event and we will be holding many more of themin the future,” said Anthony Petteford, executive partner at VA AirlineTraining.