bow5 - Thanks for your sensible and appraising approach. However, I completely defend my remark about concentrating and thinking. I don't for a moment think that it was childish. This is a game for adults. The standards ARE high. It's not like PPL flying. If someone isn't up to it, they're in the wrong business. Become a hairdresser, a librarian, a market gardener, or whatever - something more suited to their talents. Not better. Not worse. I'm not judgemental. Just something more suited to that individual's talents. Good pilots CAN concentrate. They DO take things in first time. Part of the problem with many of the contributors to this thread is that they think that mere possession of a licence gives them a right to an easy living. Life isn't like that. You have to persuade an employer that you're good - not merely good, but better than the competition. You won't do that if you're a woolly thinker who needs to be told things twice. No, on balance, I think that it was a mature and well-considered remark. I try not to make any other kind.
Token bird - I'm not getting shirty. I just expect higher standards of debate and understanding from would-be pilots. (See previous paragraph). May I also correct a point? I did not say that those who don't get jobs will be transferred to the standard ATPL course and get £11K back. What I said was that I believed that the course would not actually cost £65K to any student. My reasons are as follows:- If you get offered a contract, you will be offered some sponsorship money from the time you are taken on. Because I believe that everyone who completes this course WILL get a job, the only people who don't get a job will be those who have been withdrawn from the Partnership course - in which case, it will have cost them less than £65K to complete their ATPL.
Neil767 - Prior to this course, I would have agreed with you that neither Oxford nor any other school could have guaranteed a job. But I believe that this course may be different because it will make any graduate too hot a property to pass over. This will not be particularly because of the instruction (though this will help), but because of the calibre of the students. Careful selection, 85% or better in every exam, good flying grade, full and detailed reports - this is BA, Aer Lingus, or bmi sponsored standard. They'll be snapped up. I agree, that's not a 100% guarantee - but it's a damned high probability.
To everyone - I now intend to withdraw from this particular thread. The arguments are becoming circular and repetitive and I don't think we are going to see much else that is new. I just hope that those readers appraising the information to be found here will note that when I (and many others not hostile to the idea) have posted, our contributions are cogent and backed up with reasons and arguments. Many of these points are then dismissed by knockers with a snide comment about Oxford, a gibe, or an accusation against my integrity, and (most importantly), no reasoned argument. A case in point is when I explained (in response to a question) why I thought that the Partnership airlines would look no further for their ab initio entrants. I gave a couple of paragraphs explanation why I thought this would be the case. Someone responded with a sneer about a used car. No attempt at fact, logic, or reason. It's not the only case - just one of many examples.
This isn't too much of a problem because I believe that any reader with intelligence and judgement will be perfectly capable of forming his own opinions. and it's only those who do have intelligence and judgement who are the right people to be the next generation of airline pilots.
Finally, whatever you or I think, however well argued, is mere speculation. The only proof of the pudding will be in about a year from now when the first 18 Partnership cadets graduate. If, as I believe, all 18 of them have a contract and part sponsorship, they will be the winners. The moaners, the whingers, the pessimists, the knockers will be what, in most cases, their postings on this site show them to be already - LOS....... No, I won't spell it out, it's too unkind. Work it out for yourselves.
See you again on another thread sometime.
All the best,
Paul Hickley
[ 01 September 2001: Message edited by: Paul Hickley, Gen Nav Spec, Oxford ]
[ 02 September 2001: Message edited by: Paul Hickley, Gen Nav Spec, Oxford ]