Gulf Aviation Academy (Bahrain)
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Hey young hounds!
I guess I have something to share here.
1) They don't want cadets who can only perform well in the rigorous aptitude tests and skill assessment. They want those who combine both the aptitude AND the superior academic history. The priority will be given to the 100 applicants who have the highest Highschool GPA, a plus to those who have completed a respected university degree. I think it carries the essence of perfection when selecting cadets of high caliber for this program.
2) The rest of applicants will be kept in a "hold pool" if you like to call it! In case the initial 100 applicants don't qualify to any subsequent stage, the rest will be contacted with respect to the same priority conditions.
3) One rationale behind limiting the number to only 100 cadets is the overbooking issue in Oxford Aviation Academy. So even those 100 cadets who will successfully pass the assessment/aptitude won't be sent to Oxford all at once. They will be divided into small batches to be sent to OAA over several months.
4) This program is likely to continue sending more cadets in the future. Might be open again in few months!
All in all, I think the process is fair enough since they have expected the overwhelming response from young aficionados! Aviation industry is winning...and other people too!!
Good luck to you all.
I guess I have something to share here.
Why not allow all 300 applicants to prove themselves and go through the selection process.
1) They don't want cadets who can only perform well in the rigorous aptitude tests and skill assessment. They want those who combine both the aptitude AND the superior academic history. The priority will be given to the 100 applicants who have the highest Highschool GPA, a plus to those who have completed a respected university degree. I think it carries the essence of perfection when selecting cadets of high caliber for this program.
2) The rest of applicants will be kept in a "hold pool" if you like to call it! In case the initial 100 applicants don't qualify to any subsequent stage, the rest will be contacted with respect to the same priority conditions.
3) One rationale behind limiting the number to only 100 cadets is the overbooking issue in Oxford Aviation Academy. So even those 100 cadets who will successfully pass the assessment/aptitude won't be sent to Oxford all at once. They will be divided into small batches to be sent to OAA over several months.
4) This program is likely to continue sending more cadets in the future. Might be open again in few months!
All in all, I think the process is fair enough since they have expected the overwhelming response from young aficionados! Aviation industry is winning...and other people too!!
Good luck to you all.
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1) They don't want cadets who can only perform well in the rigorous aptitude tests and skill assessment.
GAA will never know who can truly perform well as they decided they would not give everyone the opportunity to go through selection (even though the applicant would be paying).
That means you might actually have individuals who'll be able to outperform the so called "academics".
It is ultimately the selection process which will determine whether:
a. You've got what it takes to successfully complete your abinitio training
b. You've got what it takes to successfully gain employment as a first officer.
I hope you'll agree with me that you won't be typing up essays to convey arguments validated by evidence at 35,000 feet.
Flight training is vocational in nature. Your high school GPA will not show your potential for leadership, it will not show how well you can recall, it will not show how spatially aware you are, it will not show your hand/eye co-ordination or team working abilities etc.
The rest of applicants will be kept in a "hold pool" if you like to call it! In case the initial 100 applicants don't qualify to any subsequent stage
One rationale behind limiting the number to only 100 cadets is the overbooking issue in Oxford Aviation Academy.
Who's running the show at GAA?
Last edited by Mike.Park; 2nd Jul 2009 at 09:59.
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Mike.Park
Habibi why you have a sense of anger in you words? I've only mentioned the information that I've got from some officials close to the program! I don't defend the program, but my own estimation is fairly positive towards the whole thing.
It's your right to disagree, although I have different analysis.
1) No shame to select cadets based on satisfactory aptitude combined with proven academic path success. The very demanding training process will always appreciate those who can progress faster than others.
2) According to my source, and hopefully he knows exactly what he's talking about, this is just a start, or you may say it's a beta version but with well-defined risk margins. More cadets might have better opportunities with GAA in the foreseen future.
Boys & Girls...Just keep the dream alive!
Habibi why you have a sense of anger in you words? I've only mentioned the information that I've got from some officials close to the program! I don't defend the program, but my own estimation is fairly positive towards the whole thing.
It's your right to disagree, although I have different analysis.
1) No shame to select cadets based on satisfactory aptitude combined with proven academic path success. The very demanding training process will always appreciate those who can progress faster than others.
2) According to my source, and hopefully he knows exactly what he's talking about, this is just a start, or you may say it's a beta version but with well-defined risk margins. More cadets might have better opportunities with GAA in the foreseen future.
Boys & Girls...Just keep the dream alive!
Last edited by WELCO; 2nd Jul 2009 at 19:40.
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Today was the first day of assessment & aptitude tests. Out of 20 applicants allocated for the day, less than 10 were able to make it through the very tough Oxford's selection. Those who passed will be invited to day-2 assessment which is relatively much easier.
I do feel sorry for the ones who couldn't pass day 1. But on the other side of the cruel life, the news bring hope to more cadets in the hold pool to compensate!
I do feel sorry for the ones who couldn't pass day 1. But on the other side of the cruel life, the news bring hope to more cadets in the hold pool to compensate!
Join Date: Jul 2009
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I would like to know more information about how the process is being done. Are they calling 20 by 20 students for each day until all 150 or so applicants are done with? How about the payment, are payments made on the day of the assessment? With regards to the timing, when were these applicants informed regarding the test dates? Any information you would know would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
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Apparently a representative from Oxford Aviation flew out to Bahrain to help setup the screening & assessment process that would have ordinarily taken place over in Kidlington.
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Welco + Che Guevara ,
The joke I m talking about have nothing to do with you, what I was talking about is do they really need them for day1? And how much it cost? It cost you 200BD non refundable 
----- (((that’s a joke in my opinion)))
I hope it's clear now for you.
----- (((that’s a joke in my opinion)))I hope it's clear now for you.
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It cost you 200BD non refundable 
----- (((that’s a joke in my opinion)))
----- (((that’s a joke in my opinion)))
Apart from the price being somewhat steep, I have no problem with paying providing I get my money's worth ie, I get a debrief and run down of my performances on the test areas and how i did, and was given advice at the end of it on what I could do to improve my results for next time.
I'm hoping that has been happening. If not, then the BD200 isnt justifiable.
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I need to make a correction that looks significant. The exact number of applicants who have successfully passed day 1 is only 5 out of 22!!! I've seen the very excited 5 young men (sunday morning) in the simulator building while they were about to start day 2 assessment. On the other side, more applicants were getting ready for their big day, day 1!
As a matter of fact, a complete Senior assessment team from Oxford came over fully equiped with special PC,s and joysticks and pedals! It is intended to be a copy/paste of the orginal version of the assessment taking place back in Oxford.
Nope, not happening a bit. I agree with you.
Average number of applicants invited per day is 20. They shall continue calling applicants until 100 qualified cadets are spotted.
Yes.
Just couple of days before day 1. Those who were there for day 2 have been contacted yesterday at night.
Apparently a representative from Oxford Aviation flew out to Bahrain to help setup the screening & assessment process that would have ordinarily taken place over in Kidlington.
As a matter of fact, a complete Senior assessment team from Oxford came over fully equiped with special PC,s and joysticks and pedals! It is intended to be a copy/paste of the orginal version of the assessment taking place back in Oxford.
ie, I get a debrief and run down of my performances on the test areas and how i did, and was given advice at the end of it on what I could do to improve my results for next time.
I'm hoping that has been happening. If not, then the BD200 isnt justifiable
I'm hoping that has been happening. If not, then the BD200 isnt justifiable
Are they calling 20 by 20 students for each day until all 150 or so applicants are done with?
are payments made on the day of the assessment?
when were these applicants informed regarding the test dates?
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hi everyone
i heard a rumor i dnt know whether it is right or wrong but i need some answers because i heard that the 100 GAA cadets will get a gaurantee job with gulfair after they finish is this even possible ... and what will happen then to the cadets in jordan ?????
i heard a rumor i dnt know whether it is right or wrong but i need some answers because i heard that the 100 GAA cadets will get a gaurantee job with gulfair after they finish is this even possible ... and what will happen then to the cadets in jordan ?????
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The exact number of applicants who have successfully passed day 1 is only 5 out of 22!!!
I also heard that those who are successful will be be offered a BD50,000 (£82,000) loan which will need to be paid back in installments.
Is that figure correct?!
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That would work out to be a failure rate of 77.2% which is pretty high for day 1. I know that the theoretical knowledge needed to pass the maths & physics sections of Oxford's tests does not extend beyond GCSE level (16 years of age in the UK)
The pass rate for day 1 with GAA is yet very poor vs. UK pass rate which is usually 60-65%.
And yes.. around BHD50,000
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And yes.. around BHD50,000
Oh, and by the way Oxford's skills aseesement is only £195 (118BD)
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Any more news regarding the termination of Gulf Air Captains over the age of 60?
Interesting the national students having to pay back the £85K for training and possibly also their accommodation?
I do not think the GF national student in the 1970s at Oxford had to do this.
Interesting the national students having to pay back the £85K for training and possibly also their accommodation?
I do not think the GF national student in the 1970s at Oxford had to do this.