Teenager Luke is youngest pilot in country

Nineteen year-old Luke Elsworth would struggle to get into many bars in Derry but he has no problem flying commercial aircraft.
Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.
Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.

Newly qualified easyJet pilot Luke is one of the youngest commercial aircraft pilots. Just a month after completing his final training, he is now in the front seat flying easyJet passengers to hundreds of destinations across Europe.

Luke, originally from Greater Manchester is now based at London Gatwick Airport, where easyJet have over 60 aircraft and operate 106 routes.

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He has flying in his blood – his father is a Manchester based easyJet Captain.

Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.
Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.

At just 17 and a day after sitting his last A-level exam, Luke was selected by easyJet for a full day of testing and interviewing for a Multi-crew Pilot’s License.

After passing with flying colours he spent time honing his skills by undertaking 14 months of training with the airline and training provider, CTC in Hampshire and Phoenix, Arizona in the US before completing a final stint of line training on easyJet’s Airbus A320 aircraft. Having graduated he was offered a full time role last month piloting easyJet’s fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft and in doing so fulfilling a life-long ambition.

easyJet First Officer, Luke Elsworth said: “I have always wanted to fly aircraft for a living. It’s taken hard work and dedication and I know I have gone through the most rigorous training in the industry.

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“I now want to encourage others who share a passion for flying that it can be a realistic, achievable and highly rewarding career. There are some great opportunities available with easyJet for those finishing A- levels and considering career paths – the easyJet the Multi-crew Pilot’s License offers a really accessible route.

Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.
Nineteen year-old easyJet pilot, Luke Elsworth.

“I’m getting a great deal of satisfaction in flying easyJet passengers off on their holidays. I love the fact that every day is different, whether I’m flying short hops to the likes of Paris and Amsterdam or longer flights down to the Canaries – the amazing views from the cockpit window are always changing!

“My only remaining goal is to fly a passenger flight with my dad which would be a proud moment for us both.”

In April this year, easyJet announced that it will recruit more than 450 new pilots.

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Available positions range from Cadet pilots starting their career, experienced co-pilots from other Airlines to Direct Entry Captains and as well as introducing new talent to easyJet, opportunities will also be available for more than 140 of the airlines current First Officers to be promoted to Captains.

Candidates can apply now at https://careers.easyjet.com/pilots/