Flying visit: First year student pilots tour British Airways Global Learning Academy
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A group of 26 student pilots from UWL's London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT) recently visited the British Airways Global Learning Academy at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 building. The students were given talks about careers at BA and employability skills, as well as getting to experience the airline’s Boeing 747, 777 and 787 flight simulators.
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Course Leader for Pilot Programmes Kanchana Gamage said that the visit provided an early insight into their chosen career:
They found out more about the key competencies for pilots and each of them spent several hours in one of the full motion simulators with a British Airways instructor.”
Students also toured the Academy’s facilities meeting engineers and cabin crew, as well as other pilots.
It is rare for students to be allowed into what is a real working environment. We were particularly grateful to be able to give them a feel for life as an airline pilot,”
Kanchana added.
One of those attending described the experience of flying in the British Airways 747-400 full-motion flight simulator as truly unforgettable:
Preparing for take-off and landing provided me with invaluable insights into the functions and responsibilities within the cockpit.
Witnessing first-hand some of the training that pilots undergo at BA has significantly broadened my understanding of the aviation industry.”
Aviation companies are keen to recruit graduate pilots and many offer scholarships to help students achieve their qualifications.
Airlines including DHL, BA and Ryanair are all recruiting. There are cadetships now open for British Airways and TUI and we hope other airlines will also follow,”
Kanchana said.
Aviation students are encouraged to work at airfields or aerodromes so that they get a feel for the industry, and some second and third-year pilots are qualified as instructors for UWL’s own FlightPad simulator.
This means they can work as simulator instructors alongside studying,”
Kanchana adds.
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