For International Cadets.

[betpump5]

I'll answer.

First of all, if you are indeed lucky enough to be promoted to an FO in 6 years (fair enough no reason why not), then that is day 1 of your name being put down on the waiting list. Current waiting lists start at around 7 years until you get your chosen base - especially like London for example. Maybe more now the retirement age has increased. Therefore, from Day 1 as an SO, you could be waiting a minimum of 10-12 years before you ever get to be based where you want. Not to be dissappointed-I'd prepare for 15 years.

In terms of actual salary, there is no difference. Pay scales are the same for ex-pats and locals. The payscales have already been presented by Titan404. The difference is that a DESO/DEFO is (was!) paid a housing allowance of 25K per month depending on seniority etc etc. So it is very likely that a JFO (LEP) in his/her first year would actually be on less than a Year 1 DESO collectively-and you will have 3 years seniority over him.

Now you can analyse this difference and this is what provides the two sides of every argument. What has the DESO done in order to get into CX? Perhaps paid for it all himself? Spent 2 years flight instructing? Then got himself a job flying turbo-pistons in Botswana? How much has it cost him and how much has he lost in those 3-5 years?

These are the two-sides as to the negatives/positives of the CXCPP.

Now Titan 404 has cleverly written the 2 differerences on Page 4 showing the difference between a 35 year career CPP and a 30 year career DESO. He took into account the 5 years it took for the pilot to become DESO and the cost of self-sponsoring. He calculated that the DESO is better off by AUD760'000 over a career lifespan. I'll confirm those rough figures for sure.

Now as someonw rightly wrote - are you prepared to gamble that AUD760K? Especially in this current climate? Because one thing is for sure, if you start training now (as many a UK wannabe has found) it will take far longer than 5 years to get to a DESO position. One could argue that in 2 years time (having self-sponsored) there will be GA jobs available. Again thats the gamble. Will you get into the DESO scheme? Will we have a DESO scheme when you want to apply? Infinite amount of questions where only YOU can deicde your route.

Take what is said here and make your own decision.