Guys, have faith. The odds crumbs will fall from the table, because the cadets can not be strained fast enough for the demand which will follow, aiation is on the UP worldwide.

Now check for these symptoms on my postings on Richards Bay in the Campfire. Figure out what this has to do with jobs within the aviation segment in Southern Africa.

Keep faith!

nyati

The minimum for command at most airlines is around 4000 hrs. Are you telling me you will only get into an airline when you have 8000 hrs?

We have just employed a 44 year old FO. He will be flying with captains in their early thirties. He is happy to have the job.

Its all in the attitude mate.

In any case, if you never want to fly with an ex-cadet as your captain - don't apply to SAA and you'll be safe.

Nugs

Where do we sign up?

nugpot, I never said that I wont fly with a cadet, I suppose your right - it's more a attitude thing than anything else (attitude for both parties!)

Lets keep faith and hope for the best!

Sorry Nyathi if I seemed critical - it was not the intention.

The cadets get a huge opportunity. One that all of us would have grabbed if we were in the same boat. But, they do have to work to make a success of it. SAX does not lower its standards to accommodate cadets. It is either shape up or ship out - and a few have been sent packing.

The cadets also have to take a lot of flak at work. Can you imagine the frustration of a captain who flies with a 3500hr FO the one day and a 350hr cadet the next. There is no substitute for experience. These cadets still have to gain theirs, but most/some realise their fortune and actually perform above expectation.

Currently the system counts against self-starters like yourself, but the wheel does turn and soon the airlines will be looking for experience in their FO pools so that they can groom their future captains. SAX has already started this process. The last cut-off for interviews was 2000hrs. With larger a/c arriving next year, a pool of senior FO's have to be available to crew these and to be ready to upgrade when required. Cadets will never be captains in SAX, and the airline will always need non-cadet FO's.

In short, the shotgun approach to CV distribution should be followed, frequently. Be a nuisance at the airlines you are interested in. In this industry, an oversupply of pilots turn into a shortage in an instant. Be ready.

And good luck. We all went through that long wait for the first airline job.

True, but alot of the cadets don't appreciate the position they're in. Heard of one complaining because he was stuck flying caravans while the others where on the dash 8/jetsream 41. I know many pilots who would give their left ball to get a job on a van (even to get a job at all:yuk: )

But that's normal too!

The SAAF guys always had the self-starters complaining too, and looking deeper into the case, personally, with an exception here and there, methinks a lot of ex-SAAF goes does the trumpet blowing. Granted.

The issue is, the civies/self-starters NEVER wanted, demanded the loops for them to be lowered!

Or am I missing the point here?! Again, there is no substitute for experience.

MF

Just saying that people who get these opportunities should appriciate it, because alot of people would kill to be in the same position.

Went to a meeting yesterday and had to spend half an hour listening to a SAA cadet bitch about why he has to go on contract.

Never ends does it:*

I'd pay someone if I could get some contract experience. Forget about these cadets pick us self trained guys.:rolleyes: