Essential Requirements:
- Young (preferably under 23)
- Have little or no previous flying experience.
- Motivated
- intelligent
- resilient
- Obedient without question
- Uninterested in home ownership
- uninterestd in a secure future for your children
- unintersted in future advancement
You really need to look closely at this scheme. For the candidate, the lure of a position with a regional straight out of flight school may seem like a dream come true. The reality is it's the Gamble of the century.
Cadetships in one form or another have their place. In fact the damage done to the profession over the years has made them more popular than ever. However be warned, this scheme was born out of a desperate attempt to mitigate a problem which was of the industry's own making. It was originally tendered out to third parties and the contracts awarded to the lowest bidder. Only when it's collapse was imminent did the company step in and actually take ownership.
As a cadet, you have no rights under the pilot industrial agreement. You will be required to devote a large sum of money, and commit to what amounts to 6 years service with the airline. Once you have completed your training you will then have to attain the standards expected of a REX first officer. Whether or not your training will prepare you for this still remains to be seen. It should be noted that even some experienced candidates fail to make it through the REX induction program. The endorsement and training process for first officer on the SAAB is, and will remain, tailored to the 2000 hour candidate who has already attained a fair measure of industry experience!
My advice: Look at the alternatives.
QF, although competitive, does offer a well founded career path.
General flying training, go down to your local flying school and see what it will cost for an intergrated program. The money you save may give you the means to climb the experience ladder, that will prove invaluable in the coming years. There are no garentees with this course however, but you will have the advantage of seeing if the game is truely for you, and within a couple of years you may have the aeronautical experience required for future advancement. (the REX cadetship will not provide you with this)
Good luck with whatever you decide, but remember, when gambleing the odds are always tilted in favour of the house!