Graduates from the Wings Alliance continue to secure jobs with airlines including Flybe, Thomas Cook and Stobart.

The latest graduate to gain employment is Si Sarkar who received news that he had been offered a job with Thomas Cook starting this month.

Si said: “Training with Wings Alliance schools cost me only £37,000 from my first flight to a job with Thomas Cook! This Alliance is providing a really credible and cost-effective route to airline placement for modular students.”

At the age of 29 Si decided to have a complete career change from running his own business working as a Business Consultant to training to become a commercial airline pilot. He chose the modular training route because he wanted to complete his training in the shortest possible time and, as he was self-funding, it was also important to choose a cost-effective route. The large integrated schools he contacted said it would take a minimum of 18-months to complete his ATPL theory and were all much more expensive than the modular alternative. However, Si believed if he worked hard he could complete his theory training within 12-months following the modular route and he did. He enrolled with Bristol Groundschool, passing all his ATPL theory exams first time and completed his practical flight training with Wings Alliance member Bartolini Air. Si heard about the Wings Alliance from a friend and applied successfully to their Airline Pilot Certificate (APC) course.

Si said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the APC and found it really comprehensive. The course is designed and delivered by current airline trainers and managers, based on pilot competencies and it really focuses on developing the skills you need on the flight deck.

I think the Wings Alliance model is great. It opens a new door for modular pilots. The most frustrating thing is you get your licence and all job applications are linked to the big integrated schools which makes it hard for modular students. Now there is a viable alternative route with really credible schools behind it.

As a result of passing the APC course the Wings Alliance put me forward for an interview with Thomas Cook’s partner IAGO. I received confirmation I passed their Selection and Sim Assessment and I started the following week! I am still coming to terms with this – it just doesn’t seem real or it’s just not quite sunk in yet! This past 4 weeks since being put forward to the airline by the Wings Alliance have been one very fast roller-coaster. My first airline interview and I got in and what an airline to get into!

 I am so glad I trained with the Wings Alliance and completed their APC course, without a doubt it was instrumental in me getting a job with Thomas Cook. The course really gave me the tools to go into a sim and deal with everything they threw at me in a very high pressured environment.”

The Wings Alliance is a trade association of the leading commercial aviation modular training schools offering pilots a connected route to airline employment. Its operation is founded on the principles of honesty, quality and value, providing individuals with a cost effective and direct route to their career as a commercial pilot.

The Wings Alliance training path allows pilots to choose which of their member Flight Schools they attend, always with the assurance of Wings Alliance quality. Throughout their training the Alliance tracks their progress provides support to maximise their success throughout their training. For further information, please visit www.wingsalliance.eu