Originally Posted by
RadioSaigon
Yup, that'll work -IF all you want to create is an airborne systems manager.
I'm sorry you're triggered when you hear the word "cadet", but guess what? Almost every airline in Australia has had cadetships of various kinds throughout their existence. Obviously they have no qualms putting an "airborne systems manager" as you call them into the front seats of their jets.
I'll concur with what some others have said, do a class 1 medical, pass physics and maths, take a few trial flying lessons, and speak to some people in the industry to see what their actual job life is like. Don't worry too much about getting a PPL or anything before leaving school, most pilots I know (myself included) might have had lessons but didn't have a PPL or anything before leaving school.
And yeah if airline captain is her goal, apply for every good cadet program out there. Forget what the naysayers say, Australia (and the rest of the world) is different to the US. A cadet program is the best way to get into a major airline.