CTC Aviation grads land jobs
Above: The CTC Wings Diamond Cadet of the Year Award Winner James Knowles with Carolyn McCall and Rob Clarke.
With the aviation industry needing to find 235,000 new pilots between now and 2020, the company says that three quarters (75%) of its graduates have already been placed with their airlines, and – with the company’s reputation for placing over 99% of its graduates over the years – it is confident that it will soon find roles for the remaining ‘CTC Wings’ graduates who completed their training during Q4 2013.
This year’s graduation ceremony for cadets who have completed the two-year ‘CTC Wings’ training programme was held at CTC Aviation’s headquarters in Nursling, Southampton (UK) on 13th December, and was attended by a number of senior managers from major airlines. These included special guest speaker, easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall.
EasyJet has taken 119 of the 243 graduates. In a move to further ensure that the airline continues to attract some of the best new pilots in the world, Carolyn McCall used the graduation as a platform to announce the launch of two new initiatives that easyJet will be jointly running with CTC Aviation through the ‘CTC Wings’ programme – an ‘easyJet Degree’ and a new pilot sponsorship programme.
Carolyn McCall, chief executive, easyJet said: “ I believe that it is absolutely vital to easyJet’s future that we have a pipeline of talented young people coming through and that’s why I am delighted we are now working in partnership with CTC Aviation and Middlesex University to offer a degree course for our pilots.
“Pilots joining easyJet will be flying on a modern fleet of aircraft, with industry leading punctuality, high quality training and an unrivalled European network.
“By offering a clear career path for pilots with faster promotion opportunities pilots joining easyJet can be confident of a long and successful career.”
“CTC Aviation is one of our most important partners, having responded to our needs and provided innovative solutions to the challenges we have faced since our first flight in 1995. We look forward to extending our relationship to ensure the very best opportunities for our future pilots.”
Developed in partnership with CTC Aviation and Middlesex University, the first two years of ‘the easyJet Degree’ will be undertaken through the normal ‘CTC Wings’ programme and the third year is achieved by undertaking jet-type rating, line training and two modules of easyJet-centred directed study whilst flying at easyJet, rewarding successful pilots with a BSC (Hons) in Professional Aviation Pilot Practice.
Additionally, Ms McCall announced plans for a new sponsorship opportunity to help tomorrow’s easyJet pilots fund the whole training programme, including the Airbus 320-type rating. Details of this initiative will be finalised early in 2014.
First British Airways Future Pilot Programme Graduates from CTC Aviation
Also graduating this year from CTC Aviation’s ‘CTC Wings’ cadet pilot programme are the first graduates from British Airways’ flagship Future Pilot Programme (FPP) that was launched in 2011. Managed and delivered by CTC Aviation, the FPP is a bespoke British Airways programme for first time pilots leading to a career as a First Officer with British Airways. These first graduates will be commencing their flying duties early in 2014.
Monarch Airlines MPL pilots also graduate
This year has also seen the first ‘CTC Wings’ pilots graduate with a Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) into Monarch Airlines. The MPL is a ground-breaking alternative to the traditional Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) that is being increasingly widely adopted by airlines worldwide. The MPL equips crews with the core competencies required to handle the challenges of the more complex aircraft being produced by manufacturers today. Of the 44 ‘CTC Wings’ pilots graduating into Monarch Airlines this year, six completed the ‘Monarch Wings’ MPL programme and commenced flying with Monarch Airlines during summer 2013.
Speaking at the CTC Aviation Graduation Day, the company’s Group CEO Rob Clarke said: “The world of aviation has a huge gap to fill in the number of pilots it needs. Globally, there are currently around 22,000 commercial jets and this is forecast to grow to 40,000 by 2030. Our research also reveals that our industry anticipates a double digit percentage rise in the number of air passengers between now and 2018.
“Given this, we are on our biggest recruitment drive ever to find cadets, and our business is booming. Our sales were up 46% for the year ending 30th June 2013 when compared to the same period last year, and we are the 14th fastest growing UK private company for international sales.
“The number of our graduates this year is up 30% on 2012, and we are hopeful that the number of people we train will continue to increase.”
Special Awards
Each year CTC Aviation recognises the highest graduate achievers with two special awards. The first is the CTC Wings Ground School Award, presented to the pilot within the year's graduate group who has achieved the highest average pass mark through Ground school. The second and most prestigious is the CTC Wings Diamond Award presented annually to the most outstanding pilot to graduate from the CTC Wings programme.
This year's winners and runners up were:
CTC Wings Groundschool Award
Winner: easyJet Thomas Hemsley
Runners Up:
Monarch Samuel Deane
easyJet Aaron Crute
The CTC Wings Diamond Cadet of the Year Award
Winner: easyJet James Knowles (pictured right with Carolyn McCall and Rob Clarke)
Runners Up:
easyJet James Applegarth
Monarch Filip Hein
CTC Aviation trains in the region of 2,000 airline pilots each year for more than 50 client airlines around the world. The company delivers a comprehensive portfolio covering aircrew selection and supply, cadet pilot training and a full range of advanced courses for airlines and experienced pilots.
