Singaporean self-sponsored CPL holders - where are you?

[prodi9y]

To play the devil's advocate here. For every successful case like Sonic69, X number of others would have failed.

What if you have completed your CPL and there's no job. Either you had screwed up the chances given to you at the interview or industry is just not hiring. What are your options?

Getting the CPL/MEIR is not rocket science but some effort is needed of course.

[Maverick16]

I think SQ's relaxed the age threshold. So it may not necessarily be 31. What matters most is you meet the personality and health requirements. In regard to studying flying in the US, there are only 7 accredited flight schools in the US. It does make a difference when applying to the airlines where you got your license from, so choose carefully. An accredited school I know of that is relatively alright in terms of cost is Phoenix East. You may want to check out that school.

[glideapproach]

There is an important difference between being a self-sponsored cadet (traditional CPL/ME-CIR or MPL) vs getting a licence and looking for a job after.

In the former, you would have already been interviewed by the airline and given a conditional job offer by the company before commencing your training. I.e. you are already a number in the airline's resource planning.

Now, if an airline had planned ahead and catered for crew resourcing in the next 2 - 3 years (because it can take that long to train a pilot), what circumstances would then make the company source for pilots beyond their already established pipeline?

Circumstances now is not what it was 2-3 years ago. Consider all that when you, for whatever reason, decide to venture out to get a licence on your own.

[ianoasis]

Hi All, I am very new to pprune

Hi All, I have been following you guys for some time now, but never signed up. I would like to know about folks like us aviators. Like Sonic69 and Flying Monkeyz, I am not very young and very much searching for my big break to become a pilot. Any updates from you guys? The last time you guys posted was last year. - Ian

[dream747]

Ian

Do first and foremost apply for all the cadet programmes that are run by the airlines now - SQ/MI, TR, 3K, TZ.

[cruisercruiser]

Need a Big Break

Most people got their "big break" after years of hard work, patience, perseverance, rejection, uncertainty, planning, sacrifice etc... the last two pages sums up what one has to do before getting the big break.

Those I know who got their "big breaks" are still doing pretty well in the airlines!

[Sonic69]

I'm here! 😁 Still breathing rare air and loving it 2 airliner ratings and 3000hrs later.
Dream747 and cruisercruiser we meet here as well as airport and monthly makan session?! We must like each other 😂
I hope you guys pursuing the dream get lucky like we did as well. Sometimes that's what it comes down to. A smidgen of luck. No license no talk. After that it's timing and luck and who you know (if you know). It's a big risk for sure! I never said it wasn't and for some the dream didn't turn out the way they wanted.
I've just night stopped in Cairns and scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef during my stay. I can cross that off my bucket list. I'm enjoying my job and my life and my family is happy because of that also. Life is great (except for a couple of annoying colleagues) but like my wife pointed out we're only stuck with them for a day, not like office colleagues

[ianoasis]

Thanks Guys

Thanks all for replying. Good to know that I am not the only one fighting for our passions! Yes I agree, it has been almost 5 years since committing to this decision. I have to say it is quite daunting to face rejection after rejection - reason I perceive is that (maybe, not sure) I seem to have a problem with my quick math, and overall COMPASS test performance. I did buy some books which I will be catching up on as I have been away from school for sometime. Other than that do you guys have any advise to deal with it?

[ianoasis]

don't lose heart

Hey CptWizard,

I had a first round back in 2011, they spoke about the bond and even a shared portion of training fees - back then they were heading into a financial crunch due to ops loss. Then I got cut for I don't know what reason - I attribute it because I did not do well at all during the interview.

You got a call for this years 1st round! I applied on 31 July but no reply yet so you are blessed really, until you get that reject email, you should not give up that option.

If you do, yes the road ahead still has other routes - I am preparing for that as well. Recently spoke to a chap who works at the A320 Simulator place at Orchard Central... he recommended even paying your own at SFC will cost the same as what he did in Oxford, UK (as long CAAS approved, if you plan to base in SG). Like you, it is scary to make that financial commitment because, I am by nature a risk-adverse person when it comes to money... but hey bro, this is our dream, so as long as our heart is in it, we should not fear. Let's take it a step at a time - when there is a will, there is a way.

I have been following the hardwardzone forum too quite closely in regard of SQ's current round. Keep in touch ya? How old are you this year? Do you have any flying experience or gonna be an ab initio like me?

Cheers.
Ian

[flying.monkeyz]

If you think SFC is badly run, you haven't seen STAA yet. At least SFC had some good instructors.

STAA is now famous in the industry. Most airlines in Singapore shy away from recruiting self-sponsored CPL holders from this school. Good luck.

[maddogcc]

flying.monkeyz

I know STAA is badly run too.. that is why i didnt even bother including them in the post.. i know for a fact CAE and CTC is pretty good in treating cadets as their customers and respect them.. that is why some cadets transferred over to CAE from STAA.. I did research on them and that is why i chose SFC. But i learnt my lesson that is why i am sharing my experience..

SFC treats self sponsored cadets as if they are sponsored, and makes them do unnecessary duties, does not take into consideration the fact that every single flight is a paid flight, and so, incurs more cost into the self-sponsored cadet..

Most self sponsored cadets chose SFC because their parents are from SQ or MI and naturally they will choose to let their kids attend the same college that they went through but things are definitely different now.. For self sponsored cadets like myself, taking a bank loan is already a huge burden on me and i will try to save every penny i can.. my friend took the CAE route and eventually saved up to 70000sgd..

SFC has good instructors, but like i said, they are all leaving, or have left.. i can name you all the good instructors that have left or are leaving but just pm me if you want to know..

[ianoasis]

Maddogcc and Flying Monkeyz,

Good to hear from you both. I too heard about STAA; though that was the only school that granted me entry in 2013 (I didn't take it up at that time due to other reasons) and I would not have thought the place had such a bad reputation. What is wrong with STAA?

Maddogcc - Thanks for the heads up, I will consider CAE and CTC once they open up again... and I really hope things will get better for you.

Flying Monkeyz - I have read your posts since sometime ago, and you have been very encouraging, thank you for that. Where are you at now and who are you flying with now? If you can share that would be great.

Regards,
Ian

[N5748E]

Just remember what I told you at Suntec, you'll be fine

[Stallone]

I think N5748E is the CAE grad working for Scoot now huh?

[N5748E]

I'll neither deny nor confirm that, but I think I know you, if you are in the east, gimme a buzz for Kopi

[pwnnn]

hey guys, i'm a female who's turning 20 at the end of the year. Just graduated with a US degree in Business Admin but i've always wanted to be a pilot (business degree coz parents + relatives say so, so bo bian).. I wear specs, but degree not more than 400. I can't apply with RSAF or SIA coz of my height -.- i'm 160 while they require 162 or 163.. so i'm looking at being a private candidate for CPL! Any advices for me? :/ i'm still unsure coz I will have some financial issues, but I could take up a loan for it i guess!

[Sonic69]

Hello everybody (a la Gru)
Glad to see so many still have the passion to fly. I'm still around. I get updates whenever my nick is mentioned in a post haha.
I'm in the east too. CptWizard, I got your PM. Sure we can have kopi and shoot the ****. There's no club or anything that I know of except this forum. Our little group of makan kakis were just like you guys now. 4 of us met up at McDonalds at Junction 8 for the first time 7 years ago while still figuring out how to fulfil our flying ambitions. So we went through blood, sweat and tears together. In the end, we all ended up in SFC in different courses. Now, 2 flying for J* and the other ended up my buddy for Type Rating and Line Training.
The decision making process is one of the toughest obstacles (which school/program, how to finance). The next biggest obstacle is getting the first flying job. Doing the course and passing the tests is a matter of course after the decision is made. You will hear many opinions and outdated information, ultimately you have to decide, just like the Commander of a flight after dispatch. Take ownership and responsibility of the outcome. In the meantime, do research and seek information from reliable sources. The Dream is Everything. Is yours strong enough?

[dream747]

Indeed, Sonic69. How times flies!

To all aspiring to this profession, don't give up on your dreams. I agree with Sonic69, coming to a decision on whether to do the course was really a tough call, especially when it involves a huge sum of money and uncertainty. Waiting for a job without knowing if I would eventually land one after completion of the course was the hardest of all for me.

It's worth weighing the risks, and have a backup plan for the worst case scenario, then consider whether it is worth taking the plunge in your own circumstances!

Don't forget to take a look at all the cadet schemes that are around now with 3K, TR, SQ/MI & Scoot!

[CptWizard]

I've definitely researched other possible routes in case things don't go so smoothly with SIA,

In no order of preference:

TigerAir, last opened cadetship in 2013 I think? Don't know when they'll open again, no rumors or dates floating around but since their A320neos are scheduled to arrive in 2018, minus 18 months, I think I can venture a guess that about mid of next year they'll be open again? Of course, got to note that their maximum age limit for cadets is 30 years old. As of right now, I am threading very precariously close to their age limit.

Jetstar Asia, last opened in Apr this year, no expansion plans whatsoever. And wow, I heard that they turned down an entire batch of cadets even though they passed their course, citing oversupply of pilots?? Planning issue? Or unexpected market downturn?

Scoot, last opened about 2 months ago which I unfortunately missed.. (It's always a good idea to follow the facebook page of the airline you want to sign up with LOL) Rumoured to open cadet intake again in.. Some say Dec, some say Jan next year, some say October which is just next month. I'll wait and see

If I still fail the interview cadetship for all 4 airlines, then time to truly stop everything, self reflect and see what is wrong with me lol

After reflecting, I still wanna pursue this dream without the safety net of an airline cadetship (although still no guarantees even with a cadetship, as in with the case with Jet Star Asia), I would go to one of these schools which is recognised by the CAAS.

CAAS website is currently down, but I remember they are (again, in no order of preference):

1. Singapore Flying College (SFC), Singapore and Perth
2. CAE Aviation Academy, Singapore and Melbourne
3. CTC Aviation, London, NZ or US (please correct me if I'm wrong)
4. STAA, Singapore and Perth

And IF going for all 4 interviews to enter the flight school and STILL get rejected (meaning fail 8 interviews in total), still got one last hope

1. Malaysia Flying Academy
2. Johor Flying Club
3. FRAS

And if the Malaysian schools also don't want me, NEVERMIND, still got 1 more last last last last hope. This one I know confirm won't get rejected one:

1. Pro Flight? Simulator Cockpit for PC | Saitek.com
2. Flight Experience Singapore Store | Flight Experience Singapore
3. SGFlight Simulations


This is the info I have gathered for myself so far. Of course in reading this thread which I am relatively new to, I learnt and read that you can be bush pilots, mountain pilots, ga pilots, flight instructors etc etc. For schools, there are modular training and all that, although I personally feel that going through the entire MPL program from day from one of the 4 schools would be better structured. I might have missed out other possible avenues?

But a lot of the ideas being brought in this thread dates wayy back to 2006, and back then the only way was the SIA way or no way. Now, we are lucky in the sense that if one door closes, there are still other doors to be knocked.

[N5748E]

Good plan, just a word of advice, do research more on the options involving schools in Malaysia. Especially those in Senai, Melaka, and Langkawi, most are only capable of training you to a DCA PPL standard, closed down, or have questionable operations.

I've heard mixed success with the school down in New Zealand known as Messey. Go check it out. Quite a few of them in the airlines now.

Just keep at it, work hard, and you should get there some day.