For Parents

Hello and thank you so much for visiting our website.

It may seem a bit strange, perhaps, that there is a section ‘For Parents’ on a website dedicated to Airline Pilot careers. In fact, it is not a bit strange; it is essential.

I know all too well just how important you, the parents of future airline pilots, are to the process of getting your children started on the right airline pilot career pathway. During my time as Head of Training in Ryanair, I have trained over ten thousand young people to fly the B737 to an industry leading standard.  Due to the industry’s phenomenal growth over the last 20 years, Ryanair and other high growth airlines, have recruited thousands of young pilots who had just completed their initial licence training. Sadly, many young qualified pilots who applied for these jobs were not successful.

The pass rate at airline assessments is consistently hovering around 55%. This means that 45% of licenced pilots who apply for an airline pilot job are not up to the standard required by airlines. What does this tell us? Surely the fact that my son or daughter has a professional pilot’s licence, issued by a National Aviation Authority, means that they can become an airline pilot? There are two aspects to the answer:

• Not everyone has the attributes to develop airline pilot Competencies. These Competencies have been developed by ICAO, EASA, the FAA and other expert bodies. They are well understood and are fundamental to the ability for an airline pilot to perform safely. There is a vast difference between being able to pass a test to get a professional pilot’s licence and having the Competencies to be able to perform safely and effectively in a modern airline cockpit. That is why we in APC have developed our Indicative Assessment. This is designed to give your child an early indication as to whether or not they have the right aptitudes and personality traits to develop these necessary airline pilot competencies. The Indicative Assessment has been developed by APC and AON, who are experts in pilot talent assessment. We cannot advise you more strongly to have your child take our Indicative Assessment and to listen to the outcome. As an APC member, your child will receive personal development guidance based on the result of their Indicative Assessment which will increase their chances of becoming an airline pilot.

• Not all flying schools are the same. This is a terrible thing to say, but it is a fact. While there are great flying schools out there who have high standards and are dedicated to providing the best training possible to their students, there are other schools who are not near the same standard. Yet, they are all authorised to issue the same professional pilot’s licence. This is where APC can really help you. Using our experience in dealing with students and airline pilot training, we will only recommend the best schools to your child. We have selected our partner ATOs after a thorough examination of their performance and their pedigree.

We know COVID has scared a lot of people and changed so many things. In the Blog ‘Control the Controllables’ and the related interview with Ian Seager, Andy sets out his thoughts on how the industry will recover from COVID and how APC will help that process. Already, some of his points are coming true.

We wish you and your child the very best of good fortune in the pursuit of an airline pilot career. It is a fantastic career, one that offers great financial rewards, professional satisfaction and amazing opportunities in an exciting industry.

We should know, we have lived that dream.

Andy and Petter.