Virgin Atlantic MPL Scheme 2016

[gbotley]

What's that, some needed humour on PPRuNe?

The tribe has spoken.. - brilliant :-)

[SunsetSheepLandings]

Yeah, love having a good laugh
Stratopause...awkward moment when you don't know the movie or tv show that is being referenced... :P (my movie general knowledge is not the best in the world)

[Stratopause]

You should watch the entire Survivor series. That's what this year's group exercise will be based on

[Stratopause]

Is it a reduced salary for cadets who make it compared with say a first officer who funded their own training and employed with Virgin? just curious.

@j.charles: The answer is that, yes, it is a significantly reduced salary compared to a direct entry first officer, less than half as has already been stated. However, the latter requires 3,000 hrs total time, a Boeing or Airbus type rating and 1,000 hrs on type. You could fund your own training, including potentially the type rating, get those hours at a short haul carrier, then apply for direct entry. Depending on how long it takes you to (a) get the fATPL, MCC/JOC & TR (b) get that elusive first job, then build those hours, and (c) successfully compete for a DEP job at Virgin, that might reasonably take 5-10 years or more, assuming all those things happen.

Via the MPL route, you are virtually guaranteed a job after just under two years, provided you meet the performance standards etc, and would be at the same point as the DEP 9 years from now. Between now and then you may or may not earn less (depending on where you get those 3,000 hours), but keep in mind that the repayment of the bond is not likely something you'd get via the other route. In other words, you should compare the ~27k salary PLUS the 15.5k annual security bond repayment with the alternatives. (In fact, it's worth a bit more than a 42.5k salary because the bond repayment is tax free for both you and the employer but that's a different discussion).

I'd offer the opinion that this FFP or the BA FPP are actually superb deals for the few who make it through, despite some of the negative comments that have previously been made. There are costs and risks, including those related to rising interest rates, but they also exist with the alternatives. There are other considerations as well, such as the type of flying and the working environment.

Looking at it another way: given all that, if you got through all selection stages and had a VA MPL offer in hand would you really decide to abandon that in favour of the self funded route based on salary considerations? I wouldn't.

[J.charles]

@stratopause: i couldn't agree with you more. Even if I had the spare 110k and given the offer for the Virgin FPP I'd still take the virgin one. I think most aspiring pilots who are looking at the long haul flying side of piloting would want to work fro an airline such as BA or Virgin and this programme is not only giving you direct entry into extremely prestigious airlines but also from the very start of your career.

I just wondered if anyone knew a bit more about the figures just to compare. i guess theres peaks and troughs to any route you take to the flight deck. Thanks for clarifying it anyway.

[Stratopause]

I think it could range from 20k to 50k+ depending on the carrier, type, location, duty pay, hours, who funds the TR etc etc (or zero if you can't find a job!). BTW - If my calcs are correct, a gross income of just under 51k would be necessary to match the VAA MPL arrangement, if the self-funded training costs were the same and had to be paid back out of after-tax after-NI income. Surprisingly big number. A win/win for the cadets and VAA, bad news for the Exchequer

[JB007]

New cadets should also expect a minimum of 12 months flying on the A320 in the Uk with a certain airline before returning to the A330...

Likewise looking likely my A330 line training will be with VS...!

[pilotfromsheff13]

Has anybody heard back yet? Or does anybody know when they'll start sending emails to everybody who has applied.

Thanks!

[Freeboy]

pilotfromsheff13 - the CTC website is now saying there won't be any screening results until w/c 14/12.

[EDI_75]

Seem to remember seeing something about no info before 5th Dec.

[pilotfromsheff13]

Many thanks Freeboy & EDI_75.

Good luck to everyone applying this year.

[PA28R]

Did Anyone get email from selection team yet ? I got email today saying I have to send photocopy of my transcripts 😬

[irishwing]

Originally Posted by PA28R

Did Anyone get email from selection team yet ? I got email today saying I have to send photocopy of my transcripts 😬

congras PA28R Now the squeaky bum time starts for the rest of us for me the wait is worse thing I would rather know yes you have a interview or sorry you missed out this time try again next year. So did the email say anything else? It’s strange the way ctc have pushed the date back to the 14th of December as their web site says “Please note: Applicants will not receive a screening result until week commencing 14th December 2015” and now they have started to issue replies

[PA28R]

no nothing else, except transcripts from school, undergraduate and graduate universities. I can't believe they need transcript from school as well which i graduated 15 years ago which to me is weird when i have completed undergraduate degree and nearly finished with graduate degree but whatever

Good Luck to everyone

[FlyVeryHigh-]

This happened me with CTC. They emailed and asked for verification of some exam results (certificates etc) and then they still rejected my application from the off after supplying the info. (This wasn't the Virgin MPL)

[PA28R]

sorry to hear that, hopefully this is not the case with me or anyone else

[PA28R]

cant find log in section

i am not able to find log in section where i initially signed up and had to put application number and password, is anyone having same problem or is it me lol, can someone be kind enough to copy paste that link for me. Many thanks!!

[gbotley]

@PA28R, It's http://virgin.ctcaviation.com.

Interestingly, my application says on the right handside "Awaiting Selection" for all 4 stages and I received an email confirmation too when I submitted, but on the left handside it says this..

Unfortunately this programme has now closed. Incomplete application cannot be submitted.

Is that the case for anyone else too? -- Bizarre, as it implies i didn't submit it.

[Stratopause]

@gbotley- yes, I just checked and I see the same message. The 'Thank you for your application' email does say 'your application has been received' so hopefully the website message is a red herring.

[FlyVeryHigh-]

PA28R - Saying that though I did make it to Virgin selection last year! So I've no idea how they work it! Best of luck.