4-Nov-2010 5:19 PM
UK facing shortage of pilots: BALPA
British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) warned that the UK could face a future shortage of airline pilots due to the increased cost of pilot training (BBC, 04-Nov-2010). BALPA stated trainee pilots could no longer count on airline sponsors to fund costs of up to GBP100,000 to obtain a commercial licence adding that the number of recruits at flight colleges is declining. BALPA is conducting a campaign encouraging individual airlines to shoulder more of the responsibility for training.