British Airways to spend £6million a year in a bid to boost diversity among its pilots

BRITISH Airways will spend £6million a year to increase diversity among its pilots.

The airline will pay the £100,000 that it costs to train every one of the 60 applicants a year.

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British Airways is to fund the £100,000 cost of pilot training for 60 wannabes a year[/caption]

SIMON JONES

BA work experience students Holly and Priyesh dream of a flying career[/caption]

Candidates will no longer by judged on academic results and whether they can pay for the training themselves.

Simon Cheadle, BA’s Director of Flight Ops, said: “We’re encouraging anyone from lower socio-economic groups to achieve their dream of becoming a pilot.”

Only six per cent of commercial pilots are women.

Hannah Vaughan, 32, BA’s Senior First Officer, said: “Funding pilot training opens the job up to anyone.”

She added: “My friends are all talking about it. It’s fantastic we all have this chance.”

Student Priyesh, 17, has done work experience at BA and is dreaming of a flying career.

“It’s all I want to do,” she said.