average-punter

Don't forget any contracts on the continent require you to forfeit the bond

dingue

A question regarding the minimuum academic qualifications required to be eligible to apply to the CTC partner airlines.

Does anybody definitively know which ones do/don't require A-Levels?

I got a string of A* and A's at GCSE, but flunked my A-Levels and got 3 D's. Which partner airlines would still consider interviewing hold pool candidates who essentially doesn't hold any A-Levels.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

gbotley

The criteria for airlines changes all the time.

At the moment however, the only one I'm aware of requiring A levels is easyJet for their Generation easyJet Routes 1 through 3. Route 4 it doesn't appear to be a requirement and the same goes for those pilots they take straight out of the hold pool.

Hope this helps you dingue.

dingue

Hi planesandthings,

Many thanks for taking time to offer your advice.

I sat my A-Levels as an 18 year old in 2006 - eleven years ago.

Since then I have taken professional exams in the field in which I currently work, and passed them all with good marks. I definitely have the aptitude to sit exams - it just so happens that I did my A-Levels at a time where I didn't particularly value the importance of getting good grades.

As far as a 'fall back' option incase of anything going wrong, the field in which I currently work is fairly niche, so although jobs are quite rare, when one does pop up there is very little competition for the roles.

I'm already certain of going ahead and applying for the course. I was just trying to gauge which airlines have a pre-requisite as to minimum A-Level requirements, before looking at ATPL marks etc.

planesandthings

Dingue

I apologise for my assumption! I wrongly assumed you were another school leaver perhaps with the bank of mum and dad standing by.

Sounds like you've got it all planned, your fall back option sounds perfect if it's niche and has little competition. I wish the same could be said for pilots!

All the best.

tech log

CTC give you a CV template you need to fill in to send to partner airliners which has a space on it to note A Level results.

I suggest you call them and ask for specific airline requirements. If they can't answer on the phone ask to be put through to someone in airline placement at Dibden.

SSKERR

I may be! Mid-March is the last update I've had. Coventry too!

Momo199850

Great, Email me!

BlueBaron949

Hi guys,

Just interested in how long it takes between sending your application and getting a date for selection.

Cheers

SSKERR

After passing the application process it depends on the next available selection dates. I waited around 2 months!

matt_wizz

I applied to CTC/EJ in the middle of August 2016 if I remember rightly and was offered Stage 2 end of October 2016, but on checking the website very regularly sincen then it continually says 'no spaces currently available - try again later.' which is getting frustrating!

Best of luck with your application.

MiggHD

Dont worry, I flopped in my GCSE's. I know I wont be going down the whitetail route, instead I will go down the Intergrated CPL/IR with takeoff.

But the main thing is the ATPL's. you cant afford to fail them or your career is over.

Bealzebub

No it isn't! However it is not a good idea.

BlueBaron949

Cheers, I'll be looking to apply about Juneish then!

I'm aware of a now first officer, that resat 5 ATPL exams!

planesandthings

I hope failing your GCSEs was tongue in cheek! If not sorry to be the one that bursts your bubble but I am not much older than you, I had mixed results and pulled myself together and eventually got most of the results I wanted, if you can't even meet the basic requirements for whitetail you need to go back and make sure you can, basic education comes over aviation.

Failing your ATPLs is one thing, but most of us have Level 3 Qualifications like A Levels at a minimum to fall back on, many have degrees. Enough people struggle with ATPLs with very reputable education and I've heard even at Intergrated schools in the last few months there have been failures.

But to not even have 5 passes at GCSEs is asking for a disaster. Lose your medical? Where next? Stacking shelves won't pay off the debt. I know no Cabin crew educated to below GCSE standard and I'd be even more worried if commercial airline pilots were, there's been enough experience already cut out of training...

If you do want to against all odds take the risk though, at a minimum you should be going for some form of aptitude testing, I believe it can be done at the RAF Aircrew assessment center by one of the aviation bodies. They will be able to tell you if you should be investing your life and money into it.

Best of luck

MiggHD

I didn't fail all the GCSE's, I passed Maths and English.

planesandthings

Ok well that at least makes a consolation, but my point is still the same, I'd suggest gaining some professional advice, minimum requirements for CTC wings are not there to make life a misery, they're there to ensure people are the right calibre to do the course.

You can very well pay your local flying school to do your PPL without even touching selection, but as a flying instructor I'd be inclined to recommend you for an aptitude test if you have sights on commercial. It is for your benefit and whoever will be loaning you the money.

Sorry to have to be so blunt, but this is a realists view. Maybe even a call to the CTC Careers helpline may set things straight.

MiggHD

still, I will join CTC takeoff this year, I am not going down the loan route as I already have the funds available

tech log

You will not get placed with two GCSEs.

You will struggle to find decent employment at most levels with only two GCSEs.

I'm not sure you appreciate the magnitude of work ATPL groundschool/CPL/MEIR/MCC+JOC/Type Rating/Base training/Line training is. If you can't get past GCSE's, I'm sorry but I really must insist on making sure you realise that you will not be able to handle the learning curve at CTC. People can and do drop out.

You need to be honest with yourself about your lack of success in Year 11 and what caused it.

If it was personal/family issues then fine. Resit all of your exams.

A lack of motivation/attitude? That is not compatible with being a Pilot and you will need to immediately turn that around.

A lack of ability? Sorry but again, the workload dumped on you by CTC is on a different level to anything you would get in the first year of undergraduate studies nevermind GCSEs. The sheer volume of stuff is like drinking from a fire hose and requires total commitment day in day out to keep on top of it.

gbotley

I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Being in the process now, it's much more intense than the majority of my undergraduate ever was, let alone GCSEs. In the run up to exams it's safe to say you lose your entire life and I personally stay at CTC until about 11pm each night.