Sharp airlines

[highflyer87]

I haven’t done the cadetship so cannot comment of quality of training but I do have info on the employment side of it. But like most cadetships... they have their own pros and cons:

Pros:
- The course contains all theory and practical components for a start in aviation...cpl, aptl’s, mecir etc..
- 12 months employment after completion of training (only 10 months for the current graduates as they got behind schedule)
- Flying turboprop on RPT and charter in multi-crew environment
Come out with certificates and diplomas in aviation, which if you chose to go to uni down the track they do credit you for
- Good bunch to work with

Cons:
- Course cost is $109k or $98k with salary advance/bond (minus the metro endorsement you could get your cpl, mecir and atpl's for $70k give or take if done privately and self studied)

- Cadets only paid $400 a week for the 12 months employment and you work flat so no time for other second job

-A lot of secondary duties like check-in and ground handling

(all i can think of at the moment)

In the past some cadets have been kept on after their 12 months employment (not very many), and others got jobs with other operators on metros and single pilot twins. But in the current economic climate chances of being kept on are zero as there is another 13 or so cadets waiting to jump in after you finish. Also recent cadets who have finished their employment have found it difficult to get jobs and are looking at having to go back onto singles.


In the end mate, if you got the money to do it and don’t mind living off the smell of an oily rag for 12 months (or have your parents continue to support you) then it’s probably a good way to get a start in the industry. And by the time you did the 27 months (training and employment) the economy should be in better shape. But even when the economy is at its best you won’t jump from sharp into qantaslink.

Just my 2 cents worst... hope it helps