Hope this helps...
Scheme runs in 3 stages:
1.Atpl groundschool and flying training.
2.Hours building on survey/patrol or possible RHS public transport.
3.RHS public transport if not already, with promotion to LHS typically in 2 years.
Stage1: Basic allowance whilst training @£300 per month. Not great if stage 1 takes a while but you get free accomodation so its really just a bit of food andbeer money!
Stage2: At present 13K until you have 700 hrs.
Stage3: First officer 26k basic with bonuses etc to go ontop.
Despite what you may hear, atlantic do not deliberately cut cadets to allow only a small number to graduate from the scheme. It is purely down to the individual, if you pass your exams and flight tests you should be ok. Obviously if you go round failing everything then they wont keep throwing money at you for repeated resits etc!!!
At present the main base is Coventry. There are also bases at Manston and Inverness.
It can be hard work on the fug scheme and yes you do work 7 days a week with no time off etc. But if you like flying and all things flying then it shouldnt be a problem to you. If you think of it as HAVING to go to work each day then it is definately not the scheme for you. Its not as if you dont get any rest, obviously at christmas etc there is time off, they are human!
The days are generally interesting with great variation. One day washing an aeroplane or cutting grass, the next you could be jump-seating on a DC6 or Electra around Europe!
The flying is hard but rewarding. If you like classic aircraft and hands on work then theres no better airline to work for. Yes the hours can be at anti-social times but you cant have everything!
Prospects for promotion are generally better than other places. Typically 2 years in the right before the left.
As some of the others have said already the best advice for you now is to go to AFT and speak to Pete. He runs AFT and will tell you what you need to do to apply.
Typically they'd be looking for you to have a PPL with @100 hours and be able to pass the ATPL! Alot of the selection is about personality, if your prepared to get your hands dirty your halfway there!!!
The scheme is as far as I know the ONLY 100% sponsorship scheme in Europe. Nothing is paid for by the cadet during training and there is no payback from salary when finished.
Hope this helps and good luck.
In response to manx whatever your name is maybe most people do want to get a sponsorship to go straight onto big shiney jets but there are also lots of people who want to actually fly...something you dont seem to be able to master judging by your bleating.
Ive been through the fugly scheme and can tell you it was great and I'd do it again without hesitation. You shouldnt make remarks about something you dont know about which could discourage people from applying for what is a great scheme.