Increase The Number Of Female Pilots, This Airline Provides Unpaid Training At The Beginning And Offers Jobs After Graduating

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/BriYYZ)

JAKARTA - An airline launched its first UK scheme to train female pilots free of charge and job offers after graduation, to increase the number of women joining the industry.

To qualify as a commercial pilot usually costs up to 130,000 pounds (US $ 154,000). However, Tui Airways said, starting in September they will train 30 women per year in exchange for a pay cut after they graduate and work.

Making an announcement on International Women's Day March 8, the company hopes the cadet program will increase the number of women piloting airlines.

"Even though currently only 5 percent of the pilots are women, it seems that the waves are starting to change and it's not a strange thing to have a crew that are all women," said Tui Airways pilot Amymble, as reported by The National News on March 8.

"The more women who join this industry, because this is an extraordinary job."

"Throughout the industry, we are treated equally, and I am proud to work in a company that focuses on my role, not on my gender," he said.

This training is expected to last for 18 months and is free of charge.

Those completing this scheme will be offered the job of flying the Boeing 737 aircraft, with training costs to be paid through a four-year pay cut.

At the current rate, this will result in an annual salary of nearly 32,900 pounds (39,564 US dollars).

Meanwhile, Director of Tui Airways, Malcolm Sutherland, said the scheme was part of an attempt to "break up barriers" faced by people who wanted to become pilots.

"Pilot plays a very important role and we want to attract the best and most intelligent excited and committed to working harder for our customers," he explained.

"This program is the only unique program, as it is the only scheme in the UK that offers 30 places a year to train pilot free of charge," Sutherland said.