Let's try and look at this in a more open minded way.
You want information such as statistics on pass/fail time to job etc etc. This is understandable and you are trying to do the correct thing by researching thoroughly before parting with any cash in aviation training. Again, laudable and correct. Unfortunately it is not going to do you much good in the case of the CTC scheme.
They are not their like a training school who want to advertise their pass rate in order to get you to part with the hard erned cash, not as far as the scheme goes anyhow. Sure they are selling a product which may be your first experience of them, and them of you and tied to that product is a chance for them to assesss you for possible selection on to their scheme. View it a bit like a 'buy 2 get 1 free' promotion at Tesco's. Is it wrong for them to get you to buy 2 of their products in order to get aniother one for nothing or is it a good thing. It depends upon which side of the fence you sit. They are just employing a carrot and stick which will increase their income, just like any other business. Of course they are there to make money, but they are offering something very enticing in return, a bit like the national lottery. Don't play if you don't want to, but if you do you have to accept that you may lose. If you can't afford their course then don't do it. If you do it and don't get accepted for selection then you have walked away with a product for which you have paid. View it as such. The value of that course to you is down to only you to decide.
If you sign up for their course and perform well on it they may offer you the chance to go for their ATP selection process. It all comes down to ability, determination and desire to succeed. They only want candidates who show these qualities in abundance because they are going to put their neck on the line for you. Their income comes from the airlines, not really much from you. Their reputation is built on the performance of people like you. They hold the controlling hand. Like it or not. If you think this is a scam then don't go anywhere near them, but they have a track record of placing hundreds of successful candidates in partner airlines and they will continue to do so.
The competition is stiff, but human nature being as it is you will find that only a small minority match up to exacting criteria. You have to be prepared to push yourself as hard as you can, to be willing to that little bit extra that others don't, to prove to them that you are good enough and reliable enough and determined enough to get through a jet type rating course with low hours. It is not easy and many people don't succeed. CTC are weeding the possible failures out before investing their time and money in their 'commodity'.
And what do you get in return? If successful you are put into the RHS of a jet saving many years on your peers. After a while you go permanent with that airline and can sit back and build hours on a 737/757 earning a jet salary.
So, from the day you first apply to them you are under scrutiny. You would be amazed at the reasons for people failing; from not following the instructions on the application form to not trying hard enough when in the sim on the type rating course. They will fail you at any stage if you display that you are not up to it. They will not risk their reputation on a possible failure. That's what the airlines like about them - a known product with the risk taken by someone else.
Do everything you can 'not to fail' and you will pass. Fill out the application neatly and correctly, polish your shoes and iron your shirt, don't make a 'tit' of yourself when in their company, be positive ALL the time, be determined to succeed and be mature and understanding, infact, be everything that a pilot should be and you will be exactly what they want. Most of all, rise to the challenge.
So, Askyoda, if 6 months in their holding pool would be too long for you then don't bother applying as they would weed you out for that, you don't want what they are offering enough.
Jellyman. If more airlines sign up to CTC it means that CTC would make more money and those airlines would take less risk. It does not mean that less jobs would be available for candidates to apply for. It also does not mean that standards would necessarily be higher therefore making it harder for newbees - direct entry to airlines is just as hard as CTC selection, it's just that you tend to have more experience for direct entry. This is why CTC have to be so selective, because their candidates don't have that experience to fall back on so they need to have a high level of ability to start with.
those few who get through the CTC scheme could probably have got a jet job directly at a much lower overall cost to themselves.
Wrong. If you are not at that stage yet just wait until you are. Speak to ANY pilot in an airline who wasn't sponsored and see what hardship they have gone through to get their first jet job. Some take years and years with setbacks and layoffs due to no fault or lack of ability on their part. I was one of those who had a 250hr CPL who didn't get one interview out of every single UK carrier back in 1999 when I finished training. I know of only one of my peers who got direct entry into Britannia with 250hrs. Everyone else had to take different routes, including 2 who passed CTC selection for the ATP Scheme.
So do remember that CTC is producing a product and in order for that product to be of the highest quality the ingredients have to be of the highest quality. Forget statistics, if you know that you have what it takes then follow your gut feelings. CTC are very reputable, they would not still be in flavour if what they did was not acceptable in any way. Those who have failed to get through their selection will always use the 'scam' card as a way to justify their failings.
The avaition world is tough and competitive. Welcome to the game.
Good luck Wannabes
PP