New Partnership Aims To Tackle BAME Pilot Shortages

FTA Global, a pilot training school based at Brighton Airport on the English South Coast, has entered into a partnership with Fantasy Wings, a programme that aims to get more Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic people and Women into aviation.

FTA Flight school taken proactive steps to address career development and financial barriers to study by committing to publicising relevant FTA global positions to all existing and Alumni Fantasy Wings participants; developing access to employment opportunities and job interviews and offering of one bursary per year to one Fantasy Wings participant for £10,000 off a Dual Licence integrated ATPL Course at FTA. This will be known as the ‘FTA Fantasy Wings Bursary’

Fantasy Wings participants past, present and future will also receive a reduction from the list price of any course or package at FTA. With FTA Discounts off the Flight Instructor Course aimed at developing employment opportunities not only at FTA but with other training facilities.

“We are a flight school open to all, providing opportunities to students of all nationalities, from a variety of backgrounds," said Sean Jacob, FTA Managing Director. "We’re delighted to announce this exciting partnership with Fantasy Wings, which opens up even more opportunities for women and those in underrepresented communities to access more training and jobs in the commercial airline industry.”

Jackson Smith, Founder and Managing Director, Fantasy Wings, said: "Our partnership with FTA is a key step in the right direction when it comes to addressing a number of important barriers to diversity within the Pilot / Aviation industry."

"It is great that through our partnership with FTA, our young people will have some of the financial restraints of training eased which is a key step forward in making the industry more diverse and representative. We look forward to this being a long and successful partnership between FTA and Fantasy Wings."