Kenya Airways AB Initio Pilot Recruitment
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Futurepilot13
Yes, the minimum degree requirement is frustrating, I know. Thank God my parents advised me to go to Uni first after clearing high school in 2007. Having a degree will really help your career progression in KQ and in any other airline for that matter. I've got a pal who went in for ab initio straight after high school in 2006. He came back and found out that his high school credentials will not take him far within KQ and therefore was forced to enrol for an IBA degree in USIU. Now he's in his final year but has really struggled to juggle his course work and fly at the same time.
My advise to you is to go get a marketable degree of your choice then enrol for ab initio. I'm sure you'll still fall in the 18-28 age bracket when you finish and you'll have the added security of your degree should anything go wrong.
My advise to you is to go get a marketable degree of your choice then enrol for ab initio. I'm sure you'll still fall in the 18-28 age bracket when you finish and you'll have the added security of your degree should anything go wrong.
Last edited by ChegeAviator; 20th May 2013 at 12:47.
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
A KQ HR lady told me that for those who applied last year when the minimum requirements were high school grades and haven't attended interviews, you will be called soon and they'll vet you according to the minimum requirements of 2012. For those who applied recently (2013) will need a degree. Its been a long wait for me, almost a year now. Hope mail comes soon
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Nominated Pilot
I applied for the new Graduate opening in March. The wait is killing me! But I was advised by those who've gone ahead that patience is a virtue when dealing with KQ, especially for ab initio. I've been checking my mail every morning from March 23rd for that invitation email. They really know how to test us...
Join Date: May 2013
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Degree_Progression
@ChegeAviator having a degree does not in any way affect your career progression. They added it to the minimum requirements for ab initio simply because they are looking for older (mature) people.
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@ChegeAviator.
Unless you want to go into management at KQ, I don't think have a degree has anything to do with your progression as a Pilot. I have seen Pilots without a university degree go up to the position of Chief Pilot in many airlines. Like DirectPilot rightly said, I reckon the requirement to have a Degree must be because the company is looking for more mature applicants. This is one of the reasons most major US carriers ask for a university degree too.
Personally I think having a degree is a good backup so one can have something to fall back on if anything goes wrong or if one decides to venture into other things apart from flying.
As a Pilot, having a degree or not doesn't affect your career progression in anyway.
Unless you want to go into management at KQ, I don't think have a degree has anything to do with your progression as a Pilot. I have seen Pilots without a university degree go up to the position of Chief Pilot in many airlines. Like DirectPilot rightly said, I reckon the requirement to have a Degree must be because the company is looking for more mature applicants. This is one of the reasons most major US carriers ask for a university degree too.
Personally I think having a degree is a good backup so one can have something to fall back on if anything goes wrong or if one decides to venture into other things apart from flying.
As a Pilot, having a degree or not doesn't affect your career progression in anyway.
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Having a Degree
Thierry 14, KQ have increased their minimum entry requirements to a university degree.
I do not dispute that you don't need a degree to become a pilot and yes, the main reason KQ have changed the minimum requirements to a University degree is because they are looking for more mature applicants after bad experiences with some high school graduates. But, if you do your research well, you will see that airline pilots who hold managerial positions have a university degree of some sort, some all the way to a Master's degree. I don't think that anyone is applying for a pilot job in an airline just to fly planes and go home in the end without having any other responsibilities; I could be wrong though.
In my opinion, it does not hurt to get a degree, the exposure you get from campus is more beneficial than detrimental to your life.
I do not dispute that you don't need a degree to become a pilot and yes, the main reason KQ have changed the minimum requirements to a University degree is because they are looking for more mature applicants after bad experiences with some high school graduates. But, if you do your research well, you will see that airline pilots who hold managerial positions have a university degree of some sort, some all the way to a Master's degree. I don't think that anyone is applying for a pilot job in an airline just to fly planes and go home in the end without having any other responsibilities; I could be wrong though.
In my opinion, it does not hurt to get a degree, the exposure you get from campus is more beneficial than detrimental to your life.
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Yes, having a university degree doesn't hurt at all and I personally recommend one gets a degree but again, as an Airline Pilot, not having one does not hinder your progress.
Going into management is something different from a career as an Airline Pilot. There are people in the management seats of many airlines who are not pilots.
Don't forget that its not every pilots that will end up in management neither is management for everyone. People have different goals in life. There are lots of Pilots who see out their career as Pilots and are contempt with it. A pilot can be used in different capacity in an airline with or without a university degree, training department, Human resources department, flight operations department.
Again, I am in full support of one getting a university degree and I recommend it.
Going into management is something different from a career as an Airline Pilot. There are people in the management seats of many airlines who are not pilots.
Don't forget that its not every pilots that will end up in management neither is management for everyone. People have different goals in life. There are lots of Pilots who see out their career as Pilots and are contempt with it. A pilot can be used in different capacity in an airline with or without a university degree, training department, Human resources department, flight operations department.
Again, I am in full support of one getting a university degree and I recommend it.
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if and when you are shortlisted for the abinitio and you are interested to get assistance on basic piloting training and how to pass the aptitude tests kindly contact me on 0718242850.....i went through the process successfully and did my flying at 43rd airschool in south africa
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university degree
If you are young..better go this route for self fulfillment as well as insurance against theincreasingly notorious job insecurity in this flying career.I know people with considerable experience who are out of work for four consecutive years.Better study a vocational university degree that can ofer you alternative career placement in case chips fall in your flying career later whether it be due to medical, performance issues or industry layoffs due to poor economy.
Ideally avoid arts degrees and intellectual subjects.The cockpit isn't a pit for intellectual arguments and you might come across as antagonistic for effective CRM especially when the Captain you are flying with has been through the traditional school- flying school kind of "education".Keep your opinions to yorself unless solicited during situations which require creative problem solving.The cockpit is a place where only logic and rules and rgulations...sometimes common sense rules...not education!
That said...the degree wil arm you with minimal qualifications to be nominated for possible career advancement in future. I heard an ex chief Pilot of a major airline was rescinded from his high and mighty post due to the basic fact...he possessed non other form-4 certificate apart from pilot training, to his credit!You don't want to be in that embarassing position.So..even if you gain sponsorship by KQ...do attempt to attend a part time course...even if at Diploma level...in a field you are passionate about...otherwise flying and studying can be one tiring experience!
Ideally avoid arts degrees and intellectual subjects.The cockpit isn't a pit for intellectual arguments and you might come across as antagonistic for effective CRM especially when the Captain you are flying with has been through the traditional school- flying school kind of "education".Keep your opinions to yorself unless solicited during situations which require creative problem solving.The cockpit is a place where only logic and rules and rgulations...sometimes common sense rules...not education!
That said...the degree wil arm you with minimal qualifications to be nominated for possible career advancement in future. I heard an ex chief Pilot of a major airline was rescinded from his high and mighty post due to the basic fact...he possessed non other form-4 certificate apart from pilot training, to his credit!You don't want to be in that embarassing position.So..even if you gain sponsorship by KQ...do attempt to attend a part time course...even if at Diploma level...in a field you are passionate about...otherwise flying and studying can be one tiring experience!
Last edited by Vc10Tail; 3rd Jun 2013 at 10:03. Reason: syntax
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HELP
I really need help....Av been trying to apply for the Ab Initio programme on the Kenya Airways for months now unsuccessfully.Can someone please take me through the procedure for applying for the programme?
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I would say the KQ recruitment process is very canvased. They speak of benchmarks that are higher than a global airline such as Emirates. I myself have been through about five major carrier Interviews and KQ was the least constructive.
Emirates, Qatar, Fly Dubai never ask for high school reports. all they want is Class 1 Medical and Valid Licence. More than that they want to see that the pilots they hire are personality-wise smart.
KQ have a tendancy of either disqualifying on unreasonable grounds or just going quiet on you. The saddest part is that there is a boast of strong KALPA but if you are not in KQ KALPA wont do anything for you. If you are a Pilot, my best advice is join Emirates, Qatar or any other large carrier where senior pilots don't form cartels only because they want to fly the Dreamliner.
true and honest opinion. been there done that...its painful. The Pride of Africa is a dream breaker.
Emirates, Qatar, Fly Dubai never ask for high school reports. all they want is Class 1 Medical and Valid Licence. More than that they want to see that the pilots they hire are personality-wise smart.
KQ have a tendancy of either disqualifying on unreasonable grounds or just going quiet on you. The saddest part is that there is a boast of strong KALPA but if you are not in KQ KALPA wont do anything for you. If you are a Pilot, my best advice is join Emirates, Qatar or any other large carrier where senior pilots don't form cartels only because they want to fly the Dreamliner.
true and honest opinion. been there done that...its painful. The Pride of Africa is a dream breaker.
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SALARY!
God willing i will be graduating with a degree in engineering next year. I will therefore be eligible to apply for the ab initio programme. However, my concern is, how much are we supposed to pay the loan every month? How much roughly will a first officer pocket after tax and the loan deducted at the end of the month?