Obscene lottery
Because for years Australia's major airlines have been bludging off the GA and military systems for recruits. They got lots of ex military pilots that had been trained at taxpayers expense, and used it as a buckshee training school. Eventually the military woke up and wrote contracts that ensure they get a reasonable return of service.
GA has been flooded by a large inflow of wannabies who just want to use the industry as a logbook filling exercise, and have no interest in the job. Many are working for nothing. Some are paying for ICUS, and this is being used to subsidise cheap charter. This is encouraging a group of operators who exploit them for operations that would otherwise be unviable. It is encouraging the pooer quality operators who, like many of the wannabies are only looking for a short term advantage.
GA needs a return of service too. A continual turnover of apprentice pilots is not good for economics or safety. So- no more free endorsements or training.
They have killed the goose that laid the golden egg.
B Alert
The GA charter industry is not here just to provide cheap training for airline pilots either.
The cadet system at least gives them an assessment before they spend their money, and they have a reasonable chance of sucess.That is the important thing. If the airlines were serious they would contribute to the training of the chosen ones. If they do not they should at least interview and assess and sign an agreement with them.
Outside the cadet system there is just what appears to be a huge confidence trick that takes peolpes money.
All because of the obscene lottery which is being run by our bludging airlines. For every pilot who gets an airline job many, many wannabies are trained to cpl level and beyond, with nowhere to go.
Last edited by bushy; 15th Jan 2007 at 05:39.