FlyingChipmunk
13th Aug 2007, 01:26
I read with great interest how CAE and SimCenter are still lining up cashed up 'cadets' hoping for a short cut into Indigo without telling you what is actually going on there.
Since April this year, Indigo has 'accepted-in-principal' about 40 SOs, a cocktail of wannabes from Aeroprofessional, ICP pilot agency, SimCenter etc.... These guys are still waiting and Indigo has announced last week that SOs are not being accepted without the 100hours on type, AND besides, they do not have (and can't find) enough instructors to even train existing Indian & expat cadets. The 3 instructors who undergo JAA upgrade in October is about all Indigo has and these TREs have enough on their plate with line flying and existing training needs. Can't imagine those who are just undergoing training now, or who have just completed the type rating. Patience in this case is not a good virtue, GO get another flying job!
As far as I know from a current Captain and an HR person in Indigo, they happily accept applications and weave and conjure up positions that cannot be filled due to the lack of pilots, thus, they have a ready pool of wannabes, and are subsequently able to pick the cherries, which are those that meet DGCA's requirement of 100hrs on type. Don't be lulled into believing that you are actually gonna gain employment with 1000+ hrs, bare type rating and NIL hours on type, even though the rules say it is acceptable.......at least for the moment, till the rules change again ( which is almost a monthly occurence).
I just thought I'd write here to let you know that as commendable as it is for you to take the initiative and better your job prospects by getting a type rating, it is PRUDENT to get in writing from the employing airline a contract/agreement, and NOT from the training provider. Also, ask yourself, can you even find a SINGLE person who has done the type rating through a provider who promises employment and has been placed successfully in Indigo or Air Deccan? The ONLY lot of very unfortunate wannabes that paid US$17,000 to SimCenter for 500hrs line training for placement in Air Deccan, and started in March this year, have been doing observation flights even up to July, without a sniff of the right seat and paying for their own expenses.....not to mention being abused.:eek:. I spoke to one of them last week and his expenses, without taking lost income into account, is now US$27k, which includes the US$17k line training,initial air ticket to Bangalore, his shared lodging, simple food, transport and lodging. He said if he took into account lost wages, he'd be way over the $40k mark just by doing observation flights since early April.
Yes I am also A320 type rated since Jan.2007, but thankfully, I opted not to pay Eaglejet or anyone for line training, and I am now happy flying and have carved out another road that might lead to Rome, which is not the "Be All and End ALL' for me anymore. Besides, the twin turboprops are keeping me cool up front at the moment.
Please DO NOT PM me and what I have written above, are personal opinions and also does not include CAE's programs with other airlines, which I have been told first hand are excellent.....its only the Indian operators that have such inherent problems, fickleness and perhaps the Indians have Greenbacks pulled over their eyes :}, just like 'cadets' who have wool pulled over theirs:8.
Good luck to all.
Since April this year, Indigo has 'accepted-in-principal' about 40 SOs, a cocktail of wannabes from Aeroprofessional, ICP pilot agency, SimCenter etc.... These guys are still waiting and Indigo has announced last week that SOs are not being accepted without the 100hours on type, AND besides, they do not have (and can't find) enough instructors to even train existing Indian & expat cadets. The 3 instructors who undergo JAA upgrade in October is about all Indigo has and these TREs have enough on their plate with line flying and existing training needs. Can't imagine those who are just undergoing training now, or who have just completed the type rating. Patience in this case is not a good virtue, GO get another flying job!
As far as I know from a current Captain and an HR person in Indigo, they happily accept applications and weave and conjure up positions that cannot be filled due to the lack of pilots, thus, they have a ready pool of wannabes, and are subsequently able to pick the cherries, which are those that meet DGCA's requirement of 100hrs on type. Don't be lulled into believing that you are actually gonna gain employment with 1000+ hrs, bare type rating and NIL hours on type, even though the rules say it is acceptable.......at least for the moment, till the rules change again ( which is almost a monthly occurence).
I just thought I'd write here to let you know that as commendable as it is for you to take the initiative and better your job prospects by getting a type rating, it is PRUDENT to get in writing from the employing airline a contract/agreement, and NOT from the training provider. Also, ask yourself, can you even find a SINGLE person who has done the type rating through a provider who promises employment and has been placed successfully in Indigo or Air Deccan? The ONLY lot of very unfortunate wannabes that paid US$17,000 to SimCenter for 500hrs line training for placement in Air Deccan, and started in March this year, have been doing observation flights even up to July, without a sniff of the right seat and paying for their own expenses.....not to mention being abused.:eek:. I spoke to one of them last week and his expenses, without taking lost income into account, is now US$27k, which includes the US$17k line training,initial air ticket to Bangalore, his shared lodging, simple food, transport and lodging. He said if he took into account lost wages, he'd be way over the $40k mark just by doing observation flights since early April.
Yes I am also A320 type rated since Jan.2007, but thankfully, I opted not to pay Eaglejet or anyone for line training, and I am now happy flying and have carved out another road that might lead to Rome, which is not the "Be All and End ALL' for me anymore. Besides, the twin turboprops are keeping me cool up front at the moment.
Please DO NOT PM me and what I have written above, are personal opinions and also does not include CAE's programs with other airlines, which I have been told first hand are excellent.....its only the Indian operators that have such inherent problems, fickleness and perhaps the Indians have Greenbacks pulled over their eyes :}, just like 'cadets' who have wool pulled over theirs:8.
Good luck to all.