A prospective student talks with a representative from TUI at the LCGHT Future Pilots event
A prospective student talks with a representative from TUI at the LCGHT Future Pilots event

UWL hosts a Future Pilot Skills event with Flight Pad for those seeking an aviation career

Intro

Industry experts and leaders from major airlines such as British Airways, EasyJet and TUI, as well as leading flight training schools including Leading Edge Aviation and the Bristol Ground School, gathered at UWL’s Ealing site to offer advice to aspiring pilots. More than 200 prospective students attended.

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The Future Pilot Skills event organised by UWL’s London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT) also gave people the chance to experience UWL’s in-house flight training technology first hand.

Ruaridh and Finn attended the event to figure out their next steps. Ruaridh said:

It’s been really great to hear some feedback from commercial pilots and see how they got to the point in their careers where they’re at.”

Finn really enjoyed Flight Pad’s simulator:

The event’s been great so far today. It’s been amazing to get on the simulator and have a go at that. It’s been interesting listening to the talks as well.”

Members of the Women Pilots Association

Another attendee, Kaylee, had already started her pilot’s journey and came to the event to progress her career:

Getting my PPL [Private Pilot’s License] last year was a dream come true, but the dreams don’t have to end there. I’m still considering becoming a commercial pilot and doing it as a job.”

Charlie, a flight operations officer and student, is part of the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA). She offered advice for women starting their career in the aviation industry:

It’s hard to research things when you don’t know where to start, so become members of BWPA or other social media groups and meet people – network.”

Interior of the Flight Pad simulator at UWL

Umar and Amir from Flight Pad were there to answer questions throughout the day and talk about their own pilot training experiences. Umar, who recently appeared on Sky News in an interview about flying during Storm Isha, commented:

Everyone is always in a rush to get there but if you speak to any commercial pilot they will say, 'I really miss my training days' […] Being a pilot is all about the journey and not the destination.”

A prospective student talks with a representative from CATS at the LCGHT Future Pilots event

A career in aviation can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding. UWL offers integrated courses with practical experience. Kanchana Gamage, course leader for pilot programmes at LGCHT, notes:

It’s really important to us that students succeed. Is it easy? No. But nothing ever is that is worth having!”

If you are interested in applying for an aviation-based course, you can find out more by looking through our prospectus.

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