The goal posts have moved quite considerably for these CTC cadets recently.
Two years ago they were all but guaranteed a permanent contract following a six month period of "training". Now the contract is pay-by-the (scheduled block) -hour with no guarantee of any flying whatsoever.
But they do have a choice. I know of at least one cadet who has decided to get a job outwith aviation so that he can pay his loan payments which are approxmately £1200 per month. HSBC are losing patience of course with people constantly deferring and are putting pressure on some to declare bankruptcy so that the debt can be written off. At least a dozen or so have done just that and are only now finding out the true cost of having zero credit rating.
My own feeling is that these cadets started out with a belief that a job would be there at the end waiting on them. Most of us who have trained to be airline pilots had no such guarantee and knew that ultimately an alternative career may become necessary. It is this rather immature and naive mentality which has forced these cadets into the situation they find themselves in.
They would rather cling to the hope that easyJet will offer a permanent contract at some time in the future than face up to there responsibilities. In doing so they are only fuelling their own demise as the whole thing is self perpetuating. As the realisation slowly dawns easyJet will find themselves severely short of pilots and it only then that the cycle will break.
Last edited by Man Flex; 22nd Feb 2010 at 17:37.