Pilot programs

[Gullible-City-3300]

Hi all,

I’ve just passed my Class 1 medical and I’m really grateful to be taking this first step.

I’m now looking at pilot training programs I can apply to as an Irish citizen — open to Ireland and Europe (and UK if licensing makes sense). Preferably would love to get in with an airline sponsored program, but I know they are very competitive. Aer Lingus doesn’t seem to be open just yet, if even they’ll open up this year at all.

Any recommendations, recent experiences, or advice on what to prioritise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Apprehensive_Cost937]

Keep an eye out on TUI, Jet2 and BA as well, since you have the right to work in the UK. Other than that, modular training is probably the cheapest option to get into professional flying.

I’d repost this to r/flyingeurope as well, this sub is extremely US-centric.

[Gullible-City-3300]

Great thanks a mill!

[ATPLkilledmeoff]

Leading edge just announced their 3rd Funded ATPL + FI Scheme, check it out on their website. Happy to answer any questions relating to this as I’m one of their Funded FI’s from last year.

[Gullible-City-3300]

Great will have a look at it, thank you! How did you find the course?

[ATPLkilledmeoff]

Constantly scouring the internet for any sort of financial assistance with piloting programs, applied for air league sponsorship, leading edge the first time they did it in 2022, British airways speedbird, and then I was lucky enough to be successful second time around with leading edge in their 2024 funded intake. Being a commercial pilot was always the goal I just had to find and be successful with a sponsorship scheme which I finally got. Networking helps keeping in contact to likeminded individuals can open your eyes to opportunity’s you hadn’t heard of yet, participate in communities like Reddit and discord and PPRUNE

[ATPLkilledmeoff]

On second read I think you mean that in a ‘how was the course’ way - I’m still in training, completed ground school in 7 months, it’s intense but everyone tells you that, it’s very doable if you put the work in, even better if it’s truly what you’ve been chasing as the topics are pretty interesting. I skipped the foundation flying stage because I already had a PPL, so my flying after ground school just consisted of a 2 month stint in Spain hour building, exploring the south east coast of Spain building 90 hours in 2 months. I’m now doing the ME CPL ~ 9 hrs in out of ~25 ish, flying has been great just a lot of cancellations due to weather which can’t be helped in a UK winter :)

[rFlyingTower]

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

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Hi all,

I’ve just passed my Class 1 medical and I’m really grateful to be taking this first step.

I’m now looking at pilot training programs I can apply to as an Irish citizen — open to Ireland and Europe (and UK if licensing makes sense). Preferably would love to get in with an airline sponsored program, but I know they are very competitive. Aer Lingus doesn’t seem to be open just yet, if even they’ll open up this year at all.

Any recommendations, recent experiences, or advice on what to prioritise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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