This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-29824064
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic trains no-experience pilots in Southampton and Phoenix | Virgin Atlantic trains no-experience pilots in Southampton and Phoenix |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Virgin Atlantic is to accept trainee pilots with no flying experience, the airline has announced. | Virgin Atlantic is to accept trainee pilots with no flying experience, the airline has announced. |
| The firm has launched an 18-month training programme in conjunction with Southampton-based CTC Aviation. | The firm has launched an 18-month training programme in conjunction with Southampton-based CTC Aviation. |
| The six chosen candidates must pay a £109,000 bond to CTC, which will be repaid to them when they start work. | The six chosen candidates must pay a £109,000 bond to CTC, which will be repaid to them when they start work. |
| Virgin said it would act as a guarantor for loans to some trainees to encourage applicants from lower income backgrounds. | |
| A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: "As this is a brand new scheme, all cases will be assessed on an individual basis. | A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: "As this is a brand new scheme, all cases will be assessed on an individual basis. |
| "The airline will have some capacity to guarantee the loans if required. We're currently working towards guaranteeing the loan for all eligible applicants in the future." | "The airline will have some capacity to guarantee the loans if required. We're currently working towards guaranteeing the loan for all eligible applicants in the future." |
| The initial course of six recruits will undergo pre-flight training, flight deck simulation at CTC's Southampton centre and flight training in Phoenix, Arizona. | The initial course of six recruits will undergo pre-flight training, flight deck simulation at CTC's Southampton centre and flight training in Phoenix, Arizona. |
| 'Virgin family' | 'Virgin family' |
| The £109,000 security bond is paid back to the newly qualified pilots over their first seven years flying with Virgin. | The £109,000 security bond is paid back to the newly qualified pilots over their first seven years flying with Virgin. |
| The CTC webpage on the scheme was not available on Thursday afternoon, with the company blaming "exceptionally high demand". | The CTC webpage on the scheme was not available on Thursday afternoon, with the company blaming "exceptionally high demand". |
| The course leads to the Civil Aviation Authority's multi-pilot licence and a position as a Virgin Atlantic co-pilot on Airbus A330-300 aircraft. | The course leads to the Civil Aviation Authority's multi-pilot licence and a position as a Virgin Atlantic co-pilot on Airbus A330-300 aircraft. |
| Virgin's flight operations general manager David Kistruck said: "They'll be part of the Virgin family from day one and will enjoy an opportunity like no other, as the only trainee pilots in Europe to fly straight on to long-haul aircraft once qualified." | Virgin's flight operations general manager David Kistruck said: "They'll be part of the Virgin family from day one and will enjoy an opportunity like no other, as the only trainee pilots in Europe to fly straight on to long-haul aircraft once qualified." |
| Applicants are required to have a minimum of five GCSEs or equivalent including maths, science and English. | Applicants are required to have a minimum of five GCSEs or equivalent including maths, science and English. |
| Earlier this month, Virgin Atlantic announced that from next year it would stop running Little Red, its UK flight network launched in 2013. | Earlier this month, Virgin Atlantic announced that from next year it would stop running Little Red, its UK flight network launched in 2013. |
| The flights between London Heathrow and Manchester will stop in March, while those between Heathrow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen will end in September. | The flights between London Heathrow and Manchester will stop in March, while those between Heathrow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen will end in September. |