The fact is that the pilot employment scene is a market place. The airlines are the major buyers, the FTOs are the smart(ish) shops, selling 'guaranteed' product, and the self-sponsored wannabes are the equivalent of the no-brand stuff on the market stalls. At a time when there aren't many buyers, the FTOs have a considerable advantage when it comes to placing new pilots, especially when (as with the CTC schemes) they offer a type-rated, line trained pilot at a fixed price.
However, as far as I know none of the airlines have declared any intention to recruit exclusivly through these schemes, so there are and will continue to be opportunities for self-sponsored pilots. The trick is to be in the right place at the right time, and a lot of luck is involved! As has been discussed here many times before, there are a host of methods of apparently making yourself more attractive to an airline, but for every example of how a particular method has worked, there's always a counter from someone who's tried it in vain! The best advice seems to be: keep current, keep sending the CVs (and make sure they're acceptable), and try and get an inside contact at your target airline. Lastly, think positive! It's amazing how much benefit a positive attitude can have, from just getting through the average day to succeeding at interview.
Scroggs Virgin/Wannabes Moderator
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