Aurigny and Norse Atlantic UK, has announced a new, second element to their innovative career partnership announced earlier this year.
The airline duo have now teamed up with Leading Edge Aviation, the Oxford-based flight training academy that supplies high-quality pilots to leading airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, TUI and Wizz UK, to offer a new and unique ab initio pilot programme.
The initiative will give aspiring pilots the opportunity to secure a unique career pathway starting in Diamond Star light aircraft, moving to Aurigny’s ATR72-600, then onwards to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – a fully integrated journey from first flight to wide body jet. The collaboration marks the next step in Aurigny’s long-term strategy to create sustainable career pathways for pilots and strengthen Guernsey’s role in the aviation sector.
Leading Edge Aviation
In this next phase, Aurigny & Norse Atlantic UK recruiters will select aspiring pilots from the Leading Edge Airline Preparation programme (LEAP), for the new scheme. LEAP is a full-time, integrated pilot training programme, designed to deliver the most comprehensive airline pilot career preparation possible.
With this course, no aspect of an all-inclusive pilot education is left out: ground and flight training is specialised, supportive and individually tailored for rapid progress; a far-reaching enrichment programme develops pilots personal and professional skills; the pilot will gain a BSc degree in Air Transport Management with Airline Pilot Training, and will have access to a unique student wellbeing curriculum.
The Aurigny/ Norse Atlantic ab-initio pilot scheme
Four pilots per year will be selected to join this unique programme which takes an ab initio pilot from flying the Diamond Star DA40 and Diamond Twin Star DA42 aircraft with Leading Edge to the ATR72-600 with Aurigny and then to the Boeing 787 with Norse Atlantic UK.
Pilots on the LEAP course at Leading Edge Aviation will be assessed at the end of Ground School phase 1 and successful pilots will join Aurigny once their 18-month basic flying course is complete. Once qualified at Leading Edge pilots join Aurigny as a First Officer, receive their type rating onto the ATR72-600, gain experience operating all routes from Guernsey and after approximately 2 years will move to the Norse Atlantic UK Boeing 787 fleet based in London Gatwick.
The Norse Atlantic UK & Aurigny Career Partnership
Earlier in the year, the airlines announced their new collaborative approach to pilot recruitment and retention, aimed at establishing a distinctive career pathway for Aurigny’s current First Officers and source of talent for Norse. Aurigny has confirmed it is currently in the process of assessing the first pilots that will be released to Norse Atlantic UK this coming Winter to fly the 787 Dreamliner.
Philip Smallwood (pictured), Chief Operations Officer at Aurigny, said: “It’s great to be able to launch this new and exciting element of our career partnership with Norse Atlantic UK, a fully integrated pilot pathway from first flight to wide-body jet. It places both Aurigny and Guernsey firmly at the heart of pilot careers, helping to ensure a long-term source of aviation talent for our islands’ air services.
“We’re also proud to be recruiting from the first-class Leading Edge Airline Preparation programme (LEAP), which we’re confident will give us a source of high-calibre First Officers for the future.”
“This pathway sets a new benchmark in the pilot training industry,” said Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation. “Our collaboration with Aurigny and Norse Atlantic UK not only addresses the increasing global demand for skilled pilots but also delivers an unparalleled opportunity for our students. There is currently no other route that offers such a clear, structured, and accelerated path to the long-haul flight deck.”
