Interviews, jobs & sponsorshipDo ya feel lucky, Punk? Well do ya? If so, here's the place to swap the hot gen on who's sponsoring or employing, their selection criteria, and where those oh so elusive first jobs can be spotted in the wild. Watch out for the tumbleweeds...
I know that many people are unaware that until the credit crunch HSBC was doling out £80,000 loans to CTC cadets secured against nothing
And it's this type of action of the past that has caused the problems we have now!!
The horse has bolted, escaped and action is being taken after the event rather than protecting things to start off with - well this will limit pilot training in the future, only being available to those who can afford it.
And therein lies the problem. The profession will be accessible only to those who have access to money, rather than those with talent. Flight schools, who once were able to select according to ability, may have to shift their criteria in favour of those with the money in order to stay in business. Is that what we want?
I have a gut feeling that in the long run, the changes which are taking place in the banks, will reassure the banks that people can actually afford things with minimal risk, will result in more sponsorships coming about - but that will be once companies become healthy in themselves again and also a demand.
I think that this is heading towards having both money and ability (but hasn't this always been the case; just harder to get now). Only having one won't get you too far.
Flight schools, who once were able to select according to ability
Oh please, I'd hardly say you ever had to be "talented" to pass flying school selection tests (well I can only speak for CTC & Oxford). Their only real functon is to give naive wannbes the impression that they are in some way special and as such should hand over their cash without delay.
Based on 2007 figures, CTC received over 4000 applications to the Wings programme.
147 places were granted.
Indeed. I don't doubt it clears out the complete clowns (and there are many many of them based on people i've come accoss at various selection days) although somehow I don't think this is the primary purpose....
In the main they only take that number because that's all they can squeeze on the course in any one year with the infrastructure they have. And yes it gets rid of the clowns, of course it does, but anyone who puts the work in on the studying front and has reasonable hand/eye co-ordination shouldn't have too many issues with selection.
What about 2008 and now 2009? Hamilton has been expanded since 2007 so they've got more capacity to generate a return on.
How many's in the hold pool today and how many new swimmers will there be by next April when there may be some summer work experience available? Whose going to get the work experience? The new boys or the ones who got it this year again?
Lots of questions someone should ask at a recruitment day perhaps.
Dont forget CTC also offer places on their ICP course to unsuccesful wings candidates. So I dont think it as hard to get accepted on a course as they make out.
I failed selection for the wings course in early 2008 - but was then offered an ICP place (which, in retrospect, I luckily turned down). Though I get the feeling most unsuccesful Wings candidates are offered ICP places ?
The ICP option is (in their words) self funded and you dont do a type rating at end of it. CTC also dont help with finding you a job after the course, no matter how well you do in the exams.
OK to answer some of your Qs: Take it from me these figures are REAL as I am one of them:
Those who started January 2007 - April 2007 all but 1 got Easyjet summer contracts. Most have finished their 6 months now and have been offered Flexicrew for the winter with a probable contract next summer. Maybe this will go permanent, who knows?
This leaves 13 courses that have now finished training or are literally about to. Average per course is at least 12 but let's be optimistic and say 13 x 12 = 156 cadets in the hold pool. It should also be noted that there are around 8 ATP TR'd guys waiting placement ahead of cadets. This is as we speak so next year, of course the figures will be vastly larger........
The only way the iCP cadets get a job via CTC is if they are lucky enough to make it through to the ATP scheme at the end of it...and even at the end of that they will always be 2nd choice to a long list of existing wing cadets, which makes me wonder why anybody would want to go through that route in the first intance. Paying 70-75k just for a CPL/IR.
Summer contracts/flexiwings is b*llocks. It's not a proper job. You can't plan your life on a temp contract. You can't get a mortgage on a temp contract. Don't be fooled into thinking that a temp summer contract is a good thing.
What counts are full time employment contracts.
So, once, again, how many cadets who started in 2007 are on full time contracts?
If we are talking full time permanent contracts the answer would be sweet FA from 2007. Last course to be offered that is the guys who started in December 2006 and thats only 4 of them I believe with Thomas Cook.
The ICP option is (in their words) self funded and you dont do a type rating at end of it.
As opposed to the Wings programme which is self funded, secured and you don't get a TR at the end of it by the looks of things. Wow, you'd better put big pressure on yourself to make 'the grade'! DO NOT BELIEVE THE HYPE.
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Summer contracts/flexiwings is b*llocks. It's not a proper job. You can't plan your life on a temp contract. You can't get a mortgage on a temp contract. Don't be fooled into thinking that a temp summer contract is a good thing.
And that is if you are lucky, but is exactly the point. It is amazing how that stuff really doesn't matter before pilot training.
I wasn't making a point to solocross, he/she seems aware of the problems building.
My point is that all you new starters seem to be happy to be one of 12 starting every month (the same unsustainable figure as 2007), accepting the fact that there is no chance of a permanent contract at the end, just flexiwings for an undetermined period of time.
One question to you... where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
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