Failed Asylum Seeker: Taxpayer To Pick Up Tab So He Can Train To Be A Pilot

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2487444/Taxpayers-10-000-teach-failed-asylum-seeker-fly.html

Speechless.

[grasscarp]

I paid for all my own flying lessons. I can remember years ago that lesbians in Camden Town were being offered free flying lessons to help raise their self esteem!

[EDDIE51]

Ok as long as he does not say '' I only need to know how to take off and navigate, don't bother with the 'landing' lessons''

[Hypognosis]

I'd love to learn to fly...

..but I could do without the massive guilt complex from having had it paid for by the taxpayer.

@Eddie51

I wanted to say precisely that but you got there first!

[New Judge]

This is all part of the considerable advantages and enrichment brought to this country by immigration (whether legal or not). It is also interesting to note that he is to be provided with "living expenses" to the tune of about twice that of the basic State pension.

Of course the usual suspects will be along soon to suggest that Mr Kebede could possibly go on to secure highly paid skilled employment and return the nation's largesse by making huge contributions in tax to the Exchequer. Yeah, and pigs might fly (which is more than Mr Kebede is likely to do without the aid of a safety net).

[naomi24]

Groan..........

[askyourgran]

An absolute farce. He'll be flying back with his mates.

[baza]

And who is paying for his legal team? Or am I being silly asking that.

[sandyRoe]

To be brought up in council care and still achieve good GCSEs and A Levels is a remarkable achievement.
The fact that the courts found in his favour suggests that the council was wrong to try and deny him an education.

[grasscarp]

Sandy, since when has flying lessons for a PPL at Elstree aerodrome been a school or college course? In this country there are occasional scholarships for very talented people but these are like hens teeth. The only way to have training paid for is to join the RAF.

[Hypognosis]

RAF training used to be about a million each ('n' years ago though)

So that's 2 mill training Diana's boys and one of them has already announced his intention to leave the services. It only seems like last week that he started on rescue helicopters.

That was good value, wasn't it?

[emmie]

both have been assets, William is King in waiting, and his grandmother is cutting back her duties, so Charles will take on more of her role and William who is his own man will also take on more, Harry meanwhile has been in the service a long while and has served in Afghanistan, what have you done for your country. going on your post i think that you hate the royals yet welcome ten of thousands being spent on someone who had no right to be in UK, what a farce this country has become on immigration.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2418522/Prince-William-gap-year-quits-military-wont-increasing-number-royal-engagements.html

[emmie]

let us hope the bloke and his brother appreciate what they are being given on a plate and don't use their expertise, to turn the tables on those in UK, as some have done.

[youngmafbog]

It's an absolute joke.

And pretty much sums up all that is wrong with this country.

[DrFilth]

it is not often i agree with youngmafbog

[Zeuhl]

It's a student loan

the taxpayer isn't 'picking up the tab' any more than we are with any student loan

this young man is here legally and has done well at school and is entitled to seek a university or college place

Perhaps he should just be stabbing people instead, then the Daily Fail wouldn't have to work so hard at disguising the facts

[New Judge]

Where did you find that out, Zeuhl?

As far as I know Mr Kebede’s immigration status prevents him from applying for a student loan. Apart from that, even if he was eligible the course he intends to take does not seem to fit the criteria laid down for student loans. From the governments website:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your university or college:

This should be a university, college or other institution that offers a qualifying course.

Your course

This must be in the UK and one of the following:

a first degree, eg BA, BSc or BEd
a Foundation Degree
a Certificate of Higher Education
a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
a Higher National Diploma (HND)
a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
Initial Teacher Training
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How does a PPL fit into the above? It is true that it is said he intends to go on (after learning to fly) to study for a degree in aviation. However, as far as I am aware, a PPL is not needed for such study. (In fact, far more people employed in the aviation business are non-flyers than are aircrew). Once again the courts have ruled that taxpayers’ dosh must be used to fund fanciful wishes of immigrants (and this particular one is illegal, remember) and so the UK continues to be a laughing stock.

And per-lease, Hypo, don't make fatuous comparisons between this nonsense and military training for the future monarch. You may not support the monarchy but your comparison hardly deserves comment.

[Zeuhl]

You're absolutely right NJ

Thanks - I must have misheard the radio earlier

It appears to be a consequence of taking children into care and definitions of "expenses connected with education".

/The Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2011/87, meant that those with discretionary leave to remain were no longer entitled to "home student" status. The practical effect of this change meant that the brothers could not access student loans, without which they could not pay their tuition fees and attend university.

Shazia argued that s23C (4) (b) and s24B (2) (b) of the Children Act meant that NCC had a duty to assist the applicants with the payment of their tuition fees which, on a simple statutory construction, were "expenses connected with education"./

http://www.hardwicke.co.uk/insights/case-reports/r-on-the-application-of-1-yonas-admasu-kebede-2-abiy-admasu-kebede-v-newcastle-city-council-2013

[grasscarp]

Also note that the commercial pilots licence is way more expensive. It involves approximately 26 ground exams, many more hours of training, an instrument rating and a type rating. There is absolutely no point in training for a PPL and thinking that is the end of it and they will then be employable. This is all so wrong. I know all about this as I went through route of PPL, night rating, twin rating, Commercial pilots licence, Instrument rating, Type Ratings and ancillary things like medicals costing hundreds of pounds. All self funded from the day job - which is also ground based in the airline industry.

[New Judge]

That’s all well and good, Zeuhl and whilst I accept m’Learned Friends’ decision that NCC had a duty to assist with tuition fees I fail to see how that decision stretches to payment for flying lessons. By the government’s criteria a PPL is not a “qualifying course” and Elstree Aerodrome (or whoever is providing the lessons there) is not |”a university, college or other institution that offers a qualifying course.”.

I accept that the Daily Mail tends to exaggerate when reporting matters such as this. However I have seen reports in other journals confirming the story. No normally resident student would be funded for such a course, nor would they be able to take out a student loan to fund it. So what’s so special about Mr Kebede? And what next after he's gained his PPL? A course with one of the major carriers to move on to muti-engined commercial jets?

If anyone can explain to me why Newcastle City Council should pay to fund basic flying lessons for this gentleman (or indeed anybody else) I would be interested to hear that explanation. Until then I will stick with my contention that the UK is a laughing stock.

[anotheoldgit]

Absolutely disgusting he isn't even from an EU country, how did he get here in the first place, and when discovered why wasn't he thrown out straight away?

No wonder the usual suspect don't care for the Daily Mail, without them we would not hear cases such as this, can't see the any report on this in the Guardian.

/// Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes has warned that the city is on the brink of the "abyss of austerity". ///

/// The council is also planning to shut a string of libraries, reduce funding for youth and children's services, cut the number of children entering care and get rid of 1,300 jobs. ///

If I was a Newcastle council tax payer, I would be asking questions.