CTC Aviation hold largest ever annual graduation ceremony
A total of 320 graduate pilots were joined by family, friends and senior industry figures from British Airways, BA CityFlyer, easyJet, Flybe, Flydubai, IndiGo, Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic. Among the other VIP guests were flying charity Aerobility, Middlesex University, Buckinghamshire New University and the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Guests attended a daytime graduation ceremony hosted by CTC Aviation’s President Rob Clarke and Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger, followed by a celebration ball the same evening; both held in a grand marquee at the company’s Airline Resourcing and Selection Centre – Dibden Manor, in the heart of the New Forest.
Ninety-one per cent of this year’s graduates are already flying or about to start operating with one of CTC Aviation’s Airline Partners, based across more than 30 European airports, and many others in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. CTC Aviation’s dedicated graduate placement team facilitates unrivalled placement opportunities for its graduates – maintaining a 98% placement record. The company’s current placement activity suggests that those not yet placed with an Airline Partner will commence their first flying roles within one month.
Graduates of CTC Aviation’s programmes CTC WINGS, CTC TAKEOFF and the CTC ATP Programme were congratulated on their achievements by the guest of honour Craig Kreeger, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.
Speaking at the event, Mr Kreeger said “I’m thrilled to be here to recognise CTC Aviation’s graduates, including our very own Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers. All of you today have shown amazing character, amazing fortitude, determination and perseverance.
“When we started our programme for aspiring pilots with CTC Aviation, we looked for people with a blend of true passion for flying and the technical and leadership abilities required to operate large machinery in the sky. We place enormous trust in our pilots to deliver on our brand promise of embracing the human spirit and letting it fly; having safety and wellbeing of our customers at the forefront of their minds at all times.
“We have an ambition to broaden and diversify our pilot workforce. We are delighted to continue working on the Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers Programme with CTC Aviation – a path for aspiring pilots that is not predicated on socio-economic background.”
This year’s graduation sees the very first CTC WINGS Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers graduating. These six pilots fought off stiff competition to be selected as the very first to join a unique airline pilot career programme leading to a job as a First Officer on the Airbus A330 – the only known programme of its kind to lead directly to a career on a wide-body, long haul fleet.
In past years the programme has experienced record application numbers and is recognised for its mission to diversify; widening access to training through an innovative funding solution, whereby Virgin Atlantic underwrites loans for successful outstanding applicants who require financial support, and provides full-time employment to all those who successfully complete the training programme.
Addressing the ceremony, Captain Rob Clarke, President of CTC Aviation said “It is our ability to proactively react to the needs of the industry that has made us so successful to date. We do this by having very strong relationships with our airline partners – that’s the secret of our success. Of course, our success is your success as our graduating pilots. Through these relationships we are able to provide you with incredible career opportunities.
“We’ve always wanted to offer a career as an airline pilot to as many people as possible and I believe we’ve made some great strides over the years. This year that’s evident in two outstanding initiatives: the Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers Programme, through which the airline has enabled genuine diversity and opportunity within a broader community of aspiring pilots through loan underwriting for trainees.
“We’ve also launched the Amy Johnson Flying Initiative in partnership with easyJet and the British Women Pilots Association, which provides loan underwriting for female candidates as a longer term strategy by the airline to encourage women into the profession. We are delighted to see an increased level of interest already and to see more women graduating here today; but we’re determined to see that number continue to rise.”
Special awards were presented by Captain Clarke and Mr Kreeger during the ceremony to the highest achieving graduates:
CTC WINGS Ground School Award:
Presented annually for outstanding performance in ground school
Winner: Daniel Bush, easyJet
Runner Up: Oliver Hall, easyJet
CTC WINGS Integrated ATPL Graduate Pilot of the Year
Presented annually for outstanding performance throughout training on the CTC WINGS Integrated ATPL Route
Winner: Simon Pettit, easyJet
Runner Up: Timothy Mitchell, British Airways
CTC WINGS MPL Graduate Pilot of the Year
Presented annually for outstanding performance throughout training on the CTC WINGS MPL Route
Winner: Daniel Morris, easyJet
Runner Up: Oliver Hall, easyJet
CTC TAKEOFF Graduate Pilot of the Year
Presented annually for outstanding performance throughout training on the CTC TAKEOFF Professional Pilot Training Course
Winner: Benjamin Swift, easyJet
Runner Up: Julien Durand, easyJet
EasyJet ‘Orange Spirit’ Award
A special airline award for an outstanding easyJet graduate who has demonstrated optimism, innovation, drive and passion; someone who is friendly, fun and welcoming to all.
Winner: Jacob Edwards, easyJet
British Airways - CTC Aviation Certificate of Excellence
A special airline award for an outstanding British Airways graduate; someone who has demonstrated exceptional ability and attitude, delivering excellence in safety and customer service.
Winner: Edward Picton, British Airways
Closing the ceremony, Captain Clarke added: “Today is about your achievement and I know everyone here will want to join me in saying how proud we are of you, in saying congratulations and in wishing you the very best of luck with your future career in what is, after all, the very best job in the world.”
