Tu144,
If you do a search (
) you should get plenty of hits to give you details of cadet schemes around in the last few years.
Most programmes in the UK currently (OAT/NJE, OAT/TCA, FTE/TFly, FTE/Flybe etc) work by pre-selecting people before the course starts but the cadet still has to fund everything, though there are some nuances around tax breaks & sometimes some up-front costs covered but then repaid from starting salary. Check out OAT and FTE's websites for more details on those schemes
There are a few exceptions however; Bond Helicopters recently ran a scheme which was genuinely sponsored though the cadets still have to find £30k upfront towards the total costs. With total costs a multiple of that the scheme is still extremely attractive and probably the best UK one I've seen since 911. CTC Wings is another sponsored type programme, though I believe that starting salary may be lower for the first 7 years or so for people who've come through that route (?).
I don't know what the schemes outside UK are like though. Suggest you look directly at US airlines to find out
. Don't know about your chances on the schemes I've mentioned above because they are EU-based, usually require EU citizenship and the unrestricted right to live and work in the EU. Have a look at the websites...
There are also some Asian & Middle East schemes such as MEA, Singapore & Quantas (among others) but you usually have to be a national. Have a look at their websites & see...
Generally cadet schemes are extremely competitive to get on to. Eg Netjets Europe's first request for applications through OAT was answered by c400 I believe, for 18 slots eventually offered. The recent Bond helicopters scheme was >200 for 12 slots offered etc. When I applied to BA in 1995 (their first programme since 1st Gulf War) they told me at interview that 57000 people had rung in response to the newspaper ads & they were culling that down to find c120 for slots! That isn't really indicative of the norm though
Best of luck. BM