Having read this thread with some interest, I thought the view of a current CTC cadet would put a few things straight. I am out in New Zealand doing my training with CTC, and really felt that, while no company is perfect, no company sails on blissfully devoid of problems, complaints or pitfalls, I have been blown away by what CTC are doing and are aiming to do.
Before you read the rest of this, believe me, I am a pessimist and am not trusting by nature. I am not someone easily impressed by company schpiel or propaganda. I didn’t trust the CTC scheme and wasted time trying to do it all alone. If I could go back and change that, I would! I would have gone straight after the CTC scheme with what I know now! I feel I cheated myself out of a years head-start by being too sceptical and searching out other options and methods. Oh well.
The entrance standards are astronomically high, and it is correct that only 2% get through the CTC selection (it currently sits at 2.3%, for those who care). Once out here in NZ, the pace is solid-fuel-rocket fast!
As for the standard of training, I would expect everyone to be able to find niggles or picky subjects to debate over, but at the end of the day, CTC are in a position of strength, they have a very good reputation and from actually being around and knowing the CTC cadets at present, they are an excellent bunch of extremely talented guys and gals who will ALL make excellent pilots.
So far, there is no lacking or deficiency in any of the training offered, and I really don’t have any reason or evidence to suggest that this standard will deteriorate come Simulator training back in the UK. I talked to a whole host of the guys in Bournemouth doing their Simulator training, and they were pushed hard, but comfortable and eager.
As a kind of a side note, CTC have demonstrated over and over again their commitment to their cadets! The CEO himself flies out regularly to NZ and literally sits with us all and talks to us about any problem we may have. No kidding! He actually sits with us and it is open forum all the way!
CTC have spared no expense on the training and well being of their cadets. I only hope more of you guys and gals out there may get the chance to experience it! the investment in NZ and the UK is simply staggering!
Personally, I feel that if CTC is being labelled as ‘cocky’ or ‘arrogant’, perhaps this is borne of a combination of jealousy and envy concerning their strong market position. But hey, if time proves that CTC is carrying on too big for their boots, then so be it. But for now and the foreseeable future, I really do think that CTC have got it spot on.
Need proof? Ok, without giving too much away, I have not been in the CTC scheme for too long at this point, but, I already have been assigned an airline and am heading or interview really soon! I said I was blown away, and I meant it. CTC have as-good-as placed me already. And many others too.
I found it amazing that the cadets here in NZ were sitting around happily comparing their respective airlines in such sensible tones as you would expect someone to talk about an office project! This is the CTC standard – we are grateful for the placement with the airline, but at CTC, lol, its what we have come to expect! And I am pretty sure that the tendency to run CTC down is in no small part due to the fact that they have set a benchmark that few others can attain. Does OAT do better at this game? I don’t know to be fair.
When CTC have me in the right hand seat of one of the latest aircraft in 18 months, and I didn’t have to dig up my great grandfather to pay for it, will I care which training organisation has the best 'reputation'? Hmmm. Will I care what the pass rate was? Is? Which organisation helps the most after training? Well, CTC don’t need to offer help after the event, because it is addressed DURING the training. I have an airline already, as do a number of others! Trust me, it is a huge weight off the mind.
So, please feel free to bombard me with CTC-related questions. Are they perfect? No. Are they better than OAT? Dunno, to be honest. But should we care which of the two we get into? Not really. We are all aiming for the skies, so does it matter how we get there?
I preferred the certainty and honesty of the guys and gals at CTC. I prefer the idea of being given an airline rather than go hunt for it later. I prefer the loan guarantee with CTC and I don’t mind that the training is paid for later on over 7 years. Christ! I remember in my naiive youth writing to BA and a handful of other airlines doing my best to offer to pay for my training out of my salary over the next 15 years if they would just train and employ me NOW! Lol. How things change! Now that’s EXACTLY what is happening!
It is true that CTC look after their own, and of course they are proud and protective of their cadets. CTC does have a real family feel about it!
Look forward to more comments and questions!
Superjet
