Women keen to obtain a commercial pilot’s licence are being invited to sign up for Wizz Air’s “She Can Fly” program.
Part of the airline’s pilot academy, the “market-leading” training program is aimed at women over 18 and provides “a unique, simple and financially accessible path to becoming a commercial pilot at Wizz Air”. Applications are accepted from female candidates with “little to no experience”, and the program takes 18 months to complete in cooperation with Tréner Flight Academy in Hungary.
The airline says it is dedicated to providing plus-20 places annually to “those women who also believe that gender barriers should not exist… While only five per cent of pilots are women in the industry, Wizz Air is committed to bringing down gender stereotypes and supporting gender equality within this profession too.”
The integrated ATPL programme begins with Ab-Initio training where cadets gain the theoretical knowledge, skills and attitude required to become a pilot. Cadets who successfully graduate then progress to advanced training, which includes a five-week transition course for the Airbus A320 operations. Following this, cadets undergo Wizz Air specific airline training, before becoming a fully-fledged first officer with the airline.
According to the airline, the “She Can Fly” cadet program provides candidates with a best-in-class deal, with the course offering low tuition fees and recruitment before enrolment to show the airline’s commitment. Cadets are required to pay €800 before the course and the remaining €60,668 fee is prepaid by the airline if they meet the standard requirements following the fifth month of training. Cadets pay the remaining fee in equal instalments during six years once they receive a full salary as a first officer at Wizz Air.
Cadets joining Wizz Air through the program will have the opportunity to operate the airline’s constantly growing fleet of “young, ultra-modern and sustainable Airbus aircraft” on over 900 routes (including Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport) to almost 200 destinations in 50-plus countries. “The recruitment drive for new cadets supports Wizz Air’s ambitious plans to more than triple the size of its fleet to 500 aircraft by 2030, which will see the airline hire up to 4,600 new pilots.”
Candidates can apply directly to the programme on the Wizz Air pilot academy website.
Announcing details of the new launch, Attila Tóvári, head of ATO training at Wizz Air said, “With this comprehensive training and financial assistance program, we are determined to empower aspiring female pilots to follow their dreams and break down gender barriers in the aviation industry… The ‘She Can Fly’ program is designed to give aspiring female pilots the opportunity to pursue their passion for aviation and achieve their career goals without financial barriers. Join us on this journey to break down gender barriers and increase the representation of women in aviation.”