I have all the answers regarding the Rex Cadet Pilot Program...
Krusty, I find it hard to believe that a Rex pilot would waste their time monitoring a cadet forum. Who are you and why do you insist on scaring people away from the program and over to Qantas? Perhaps you yourself are tasting the bitter feeling of an unsuccesful application?
Lets set the record straight -
For all of you hopefulls out there looking for answers, I assure you, this is not the place to be finding those answers. Most of the people posting here have absolutely no relationship to the company or program and are therefore only speculating and stirring.
I urge you, if you are interested in the Rex cadet program, speak to someone in the company or even the cadets themselves. Why not even get yourself out to Mangalore and arrange to look around? See and hear for yourselves, straight from the horses mouths.
Yes, do your research, but do it in the right places!
Consider this:
A) How much money would you pay as a private student to get to the level of theory and flying training that a Rex cadet will at the end of their training? Add to that, the cost of rent, food, utility bills etc. Now remember, after all your hard work, you have no guarenteed job, so start looking at air charter companies up northfor potential work (ferrying frieght, tourists or the "locals" around) - because you'll need to bust your gut there for at least a few years until you even reach the minimums for direct entry FO for a highly regarded RPT operation such as Rex.
Or;
B) for $80,000 (which is salary sacrificed over a 5 year term), spend 8 months training at Mangalore and then you're in the right hand seat of a SAAB340 (that $80,000 includes food, rent, bills, books, flying training etc).
Also, one thing that older posts have failed to include is that, you can leave the company before the 5 year term is up, you just have to pay up front the remainder of your "loan".
I know which option I'd prefer...
In a nutshell, every start up program has a few teething problems. They are now sorted. Cadets are hitting the milestones, studying hard, flying often - on track to be the future of the airline. Those of you who speculate and sit back and judge, you are the fools missing out on this opportunity.