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Discover & Prep hub (pre-application)
British Airways funds the £100,000 cost of integrated pilot training for up to 160 Speedbird Pilot Academy places in the 2026 intake, with training at FTEJerez or Skyborne. The 2026 window ran from 14 to 23 April 2026 and is now closed. Selection starts with a preparation hub, then runs through three stages: online assessments with a speaking activity, in-depth psychometrics with a half-day group session at Waterside, and a full assessment day. Facts checked 25 October 2026.132
BA Speedbird Pilot Academy selection: stages, tests and how to prepare
British Airways pays the £100,000 training cost for up to 160 places in the 2026 intake, which closed on 23 April 2026.
- Cost to you
- British Airways covers the £100,000 cost of pilot training over two years for those who win a place; the airline committed £18m to fund up to 160 places in the 2026 intake1
- What the funding includes
- Training to a frozen ATPL, accommodation, food at FTEJerez or a food allowance at Skyborne, a subsistence allowance, support to obtain the Class 1 medical, and the type rating onto a short-haul fleet2
- Course
- A 70-week integrated course, full time at the flight school3
- Progress rule in training
- A first series pass at ground school with an 85% average and no more than 3 resits, plus a first series pass at CPL and IR3
- Places and applicants
- Up to 160 places in 2026; previous years saw in excess of 25,000 applicants1
- 2026 application window
- 14 April to 23 April 2026 (now closed); British Airways intends to run a cadet scheme each year1
- Education
- Six GCSEs at grade A to C or 4 to 9, including Maths, English Language and a Science, or equivalent; higher qualifications do not replace the GCSE requirement; no English Literature GCSE needed2
- English
- Fluent in English; IELTS 5.5 is not needed to apply but must be obtained before training starts2
- Height
- 1.57 m (5'2") to 1.90 m (6'3"); outside this range a functionality check may be required2
- Medical
- Able to obtain and hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions and meet British Airways medical criteria; British Airways pays the initial Class 1 if you do not hold one2
- Right to work and passport
- Right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship and to remain in the UK for more than 6 months; passport that permits unrestricted worldwide travel2
- Flying experience
- None needed; anyone who has completed any EASA or CAA ATPL exam cannot apply3
- Flight schools
- FTEJerez and Skyborne; you give a preference during assessment and British Airways allocates places. According to Aeros Flight Training, it will deliver elements of the 2026 training3
- Retake rule
- Candidates can reach stage two (the flight school stage) a maximum of three times3
- Reapplying (general British Airways pilot recruitment rule)
- British Airways' general pilot FAQ says candidates stopped at the initial application screening can apply again after 6 months; after attending Waterside the wait is 12 months from the date of testing, or six months from any other stage, whichever is greater5
- Where each stage happens
- Stage one; stage two has online assessments, an in-person group exercise and an online interview; stage three is in person at Heathrow3
- Pay after training
- Starting salary of £37,081 a year plus allowances (British Airways FAQ, April 2026), with an initial 6-year freeze on the short-haul fleet3
About British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy
British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy is a pilot training academy based in the United Kingdom. British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy is part of British Airways.
Training on offer: Speedbird Pilot Academy. On 10 October 2026 the programme was listed as closed. The careers portal for pilots is linked in the profile on this page. You will find the listed requirements on this page: age, education, right to work and medical certificate. This page sets out the selection in 4 stages.
The four phases
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Application, online assessments and verbal speaking activityPractise this phase
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In-depth psychometric testing, group exercise and multitasking assessmentPractise this phase
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Full assessment day at Waterside
Train at British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy
One flight school has a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
Skyborne Airline AcademyUnited Kingdom · British Airways Speedbird Pilot AcademyCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy at a glance
Part of British Airways- Country
- United Kingdom
- Cadet programme
- Speedbird Pilot Academy (closed as of 10 Oct 2026)43
What does British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy ask of pilots?
- Age
- 17 to 58 when applying, and 18 by 1 January 20272
- Education
- Six GCSEs at grade A to C or 4 to 9, including Maths, English Language and a Science, or equivalent2
- English
- Fluent in English; IELTS 5.5 needed before training starts2
- Height
- 1.57 m to 1.90 m; a functionality check may be required outside this range2
- Medical
- UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions2
- Right to work
- Right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship2
- Flying experience
- None needed; anyone who has completed an EASA or CAA ATPL exam cannot apply3
What the Speedbird Pilot Academy is
The Speedbird Pilot Academy is British Airways' fully funded cadet programme. The airline covers the £100,000 cost of training over two years, and in the 2026 intake it committed £18m to fund up to 160 places. Previous years have drawn in excess of 25,000 applicants. You train full time on a 70-week integrated course at FTEJerez or Skyborne, and British Airways says that successful flight training leads to joining the airline as a pilot.
The funding covers a frozen ATPL, accommodation, food at FTEJerez or a food allowance at Skyborne, a subsistence allowance, support for the Class 1 medical and the type rating onto a short-haul fleet. You stay responsible for any ongoing personal expenses such as a mortgage. Once you join as an employee after flight school, the starting salary is £37,081 a year plus allowances.1342
Who can apply
You must be 17 to 58 when you apply and 18 by 1 January 2027. The education requirement is six GCSEs at grade A to C or 4 to 9, including Maths, English Language and a Science, or an equivalent; a degree or A levels do not replace it, and English Literature is not required. If you studied abroad, British Airways checks equivalent qualifications through Ecctis.
You need the right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship, the ability to remain in the UK for more than six months, and a passport that allows unrestricted worldwide travel. Height should fall between 1.57 m and 1.90 m; outside this range a functionality check may be required. You must be able to hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions, and the airline pays the initial Class 1 if you do not yet have one. IELTS 5.5 is needed only if you are successful, before training starts.
No flying experience is required. Anyone who has already completed an EASA or CAA ATPL exam cannot apply, because the course expects you to pass ground school in the first series; hours already built are not credited. A 30-minute trial flight is recommended so you know you enjoy flying.23
When to apply and how many attempts you get
The 2026 window opened on 14 April and closed on 23 April 2026, a ten-day window. British Airways states an intention to run a cadet scheme each year and encourages candidates to sign up for job alerts to be notified when the next window opens. When applications reopen, you register an account on the Discover & Prep hub before you apply.
You can reach stage two, the flight school stage, a maximum of three times. British Airways' general pilot recruitment FAQ adds that candidates stopped at the initial application screening can apply again after six months, and that after attending Waterside the wait is 12 months from the date of testing, or six months from any other stage, whichever is greater. Feedback is given to candidates who reach the flight school and British Airways stages.1352
What happens after selection
Ground school takes 6 to 8 months and covers 13 pilot exams. Basic flight training takes 6 months and takes you from never having flown to flying solo. Advanced flight training takes 4 to 6 months, moves you to twin-engine aircraft and starts instrument flying. Upset recovery training is three flights, and the APS MCC phase takes 3 to 4 weeks. Your type rating onto a short-haul fleet is covered, and you join British Airways or BA Euroflyer depending on business need, based at Heathrow or Gatwick.
British Airways asks for a first series pass at ground school with an 85% average and no more than three resits, plus a first series pass at CPL and IR.23
Other ways into British Airways, and how the pages fit together
This page covers the Speedbird Pilot Academy cadet selection. The British Airways airline profile covers the airline itself, its fleets and bases and every route in. British Airways continues to recruit direct entry pilots, self-sponsored pilots and military managed paths alongside the academy, and the number varies each year with business need.
Two self-funded pathways sit next to the academy. The Post Instrument Rating pathway is for qualified pilots, who attend an assessment at head office with a computerised test, then an interview and group exercise before being placed into the hold pool, where a conditional offer may be made. The With ATO pathway is a self-funded programme for trainees at Skyborne, Aeros, Leading Edge Aviation or FTEJerez. Eligible trainees receive conditional job offers before they start training or before they graduate, and to qualify they go on to complete their ATPL exams with an 85% average, no more than three resits and a first series pass at CPL and MEIR.34
Interview and group exercise
British Airways says technical skills matter, but behaviours set candidates apart. It looks for passion and motivation to excel in the training programme, the ability to stay calm under pressure, strong problem solving, and collaboration as a team player. It describes its pilots as passionate and enthusiastic about connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.
Turn those words into evidence. For each quality, prepare one short example from school, work, sport or volunteering: a moment you stayed calm when plans changed, a problem you solved with others, a time you helped a team finish something. British Airways names the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Air Training Corps, sports teams and customer service experience as useful preparation. Keep each story to about a minute: situation, what you did, result.
For the group exercise, practise the habits that show how you work with others: invite quieter members to speak, summarise progress, check timing, and change your view when the evidence changes. For the interview with the flight school, a useful tip is to be ready to explain why you want to be a pilot, why British Airways, and what you have done to test that goal, for example a trial flight or an air cadets programme.3
Example items
Example item 1: numerical (written by our editors)
A short-haul aircraft carries 7,200 kg of usable fuel and burns 2,400 kg an hour. How long can it fly with this fuel? Answer: 7,200 divided by 2,400 gives 3 hours. Check the units before you divide, then check that 3 hours is a sensible magnitude for the situation.
Example item 2: situational judgement (written by our editors)
You are working with two others on a planning task. One teammate is dominating the discussion and the other has said nothing for ten minutes. Time is running out. Which response is strongest? (a) Finish the task yourself. (b) Ask the quiet teammate for their view, then agree a time check with everyone. (c) Tell the dominant teammate to stop. Answer: (b). It keeps the task moving, includes the whole team and addresses time without creating conflict.
Example item 3: interview question (written by our editors)
Why do you want to fly for British Airways rather than another airline? Strong answers link one concrete fact about the airline, such as the funded academy route, the fleet or the Heathrow and Gatwick network, to one concrete step you have already taken toward flying, and then say what you would bring to a crew.
Frequently asked questions
When do Speedbird Pilot Academy applications open?
The 2026 window opened on 14 April and closed on 23 April 2026. British Airways states an intention to run a cadet scheme each year and encourages candidates to sign up for job alerts, so set one and register on the Discover & Prep hub when applications reopen.
How much does the Speedbird Pilot Academy cost?
British Airways covers the £100,000 cost of training for those who win a place, including accommodation, food or a food allowance, a subsistence allowance, the initial Class 1 medical and the type rating. You cover your own ongoing expenses, and you need IELTS 5.5 before training starts if you are successful.
What are the Speedbird Pilot Academy requirements?
You need to be 17 to 58 when you apply and 18 by 1 January 2027, hold six GCSEs including Maths, English Language and a Science, stand between 1.57 m and 1.90 m, be able to hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical, and have the right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship.
What is in the Speedbird Pilot Academy online assessment?
Stage one is a series of online assessments, followed by a verbal speaking activity. Prepare for the speaking activity with Interview preparation (31 questions with tips), and go into the online assessments with good concentration and a calm routine: a quiet space, a rested mind and steady breathing.
Is there a Speedbird Pilot Academy practice test?
Yes. There is a practice plan for this selection with Interview preparation (31 questions with tips), Group exercise practice and two interactive multitasking tests, Fast multitasking and Multitasking with callsigns.
How many times can I apply to the Speedbird Pilot Academy?
You can reach stage two a maximum of three times. British Airways' general pilot recruitment FAQ adds that after an unsuccessful initial screening you can apply again after six months, and after attending Waterside the wait is 12 months from the date of testing, or six months from any other stage, whichever is greater.
How many places are there and how many people apply?
The 2026 intake has up to 160 places, backed by £18m. Previous years have seen in excess of 25,000 applicants.
Which flight school will I train at?
FTEJerez or Skyborne. You give a preference during assessment and British Airways allocates places. According to Aeros, it will deliver elements of the 2026 training.
Do I need flying experience or a PPL?
No. Any flying shows motivation but is not part of the requirement, and a 30-minute trial flight is recommended. Anyone who has completed an EASA or CAA ATPL exam cannot apply.
What is the difference between the academy and British Airways direct entry?
The academy is the funded cadet route: no flying experience is needed, and anyone who has completed any EASA or CAA ATPL exam cannot apply. British Airways also recruits direct entry pilots, self-sponsored pilots and military managed paths, varying the number each year with business need, and runs the self-funded With ATO pathway for trainees at four approved training organisations.
What you get
A practice plan for this selection that shows which parts you can practise online
Interview preparation with 31 questions and tips
Group exercise practice in text, with feedback on each reply
Fast multitasking and Multitasking with callsigns, interactive tests
The Pilot Pass starts at €9.99 for a week with no automatic renewal, and opens the interactive tests, the full Interview preparation and group exercise practice
- 1British Airways fully-funded pilot training programme opens for applications for fourth year running (British Airways Media Centre, 14 April 2026)
- 2Your Speedbird Pilot Academy application (British Airways Careers)
- 3Speedbird Pilot Academy FAQs, correct as of 14 April 2026 (British Airways Careers)
- 4Future Pilots (British Airways Careers)
- 5Pilot FAQs (British Airways Careers)
- 6Aeros supporting British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy 2026 (Aeros)
