Virtual Aviation & Titan Airways Cadet Scheme.

[portsharbourflyer]

VariablePitch:

There is no shortage of FAA CPL / IR holders in the USA; while it is true the pilot profession being seen as less favourable has reduced the number undertaking training that in itself has not created any shortage.

The FAA after the Colgan incident introduced a rule that anyone flying Part 25 Aircraft had to hold 1500 hours total time. While there is a lot of debate of the logic of this hour requirement; there is a now a shortage of CPL/IR holders with the requisite 1500 hours to fly as FOs on Part 25 aircraft. This has increased the salaries and terms and conditions for Regional FOs. So before making sarky comments suggest you best check your facts. Likewise before JAA took over the CAA system had a 700 hour requirement for the equivalent of modular route at the time.

Interestingly in those days one of the criteria to join BA connect (pre-incarnation of BA Citiflyer) was to hold 1000 hours and there was no need pay any third party 10K for a JOC.

So yes an hours requirement may not necessarily improve safety (a debateable point) it would see T and C improve markedly. If CTC/L3 cadets had to hour build in some way to get a 1000 hours before they could undertake a part 25 type rating then L3 would really struggle to flog overpriced 100,000K+ courses.

Anyway the point is back to the thread, in EASA land people are paying 7 to 10 K for overpriced MCC/JOC courses in hope of a 75 to 90% chance of getting a job; where as in FAA land some airlines are paying the FOs to come and work for them. The VA website makes it clear that you can still get dropped after JOC/MCC. I know of one or two who did the Kura scheme and didn't get placed.