CTC Open Day

[FlyerJoe]

Hi,

Going to a CTC open day soon. I would like to know what to expect? Should you wear a suit, casual smart or just go in jeans?:confused:

Any advice would be a great help

[AlexDeltaCharlie]

I wouldn't worry too much. I went to one last summer and jeans are fine, it's a fairly informal event. It's an open day, so you're the (potential) customer at the end of the day- it's their job to impress you rather than the other way round.

It looked to me as Joe Public like a great facility and I learnt a lot about the courses, but not as much qualitative information about employment after training. I for one enjoyed the day and came away feeling positive, talked out of going to university and ready to take the plunge. In fact I think I've actually got an application in their system which I started on the day for the promise of a £20 discount.

Since then I've made a firm decision not to go integrated, but going home that day I was completely sold, as were my parents. I had a Cabair seminar in my diary as well, and I think I could have just as easily been impressed by them, borrowed the £70k against our house and lost everything.

[Zippy Monster]

Any advice would be a great help

Leave the rose-tinted glasses at home and go in with your eyes open, expect to be overloaded with slinky Powerpoint presentations and slick salesmanship. Resist the temptation to be pushed into signing up for anything on the day (£20 discount for starting an application there and then?!), and don't lose your sense of perspective simply by being shown an A320 simulator. Take your time, consider your options and don't be fobbed off with nonsense when you ask important questions that require clear answers.

As ADC says, remember they are selling themselves to you - not the other way around.

[offroad7]

Wear a suit

[student88]

I find that going dressed as a panda allows me to maintain a suitable level of anonymity.

[TheFirstDohrnPilot]

^ hahahahaha :D ^

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

I am going as well, if I pay the full course fee on the day will I get a discount?

[AlexDeltaCharlie]

Worth a try- no time to lose with a massive pilot shortage around the corner :}. Better stock up on epaulettes and lanyards that say 'Airbus' on them as well!

[no sponsor]

Once you make it to the dizzy heights of an airline career, you will find that if engaged on airline-related work, but not actually having to be in uniform, (your yearly groundschool session, or SEP) standard dress is typically smart casual (which is chinos, a shirt, and a jumper - no tie). Jeans & t-shirts are generally avoided.

I would say the CTC day should be smart casual as well.

The only time pilots wear suits are for interviews.

I would avoid having to pay upfront fees for any school. Just look at what happened to the Cabair folks.

[TheFirstDohrnPilot]

massive pilot shortage

were you being ironic or you think that's really the case? couldn't tell because of the ':}' face haha!!

[AlexDeltaCharlie]

I don't think there's anything approaching shortage of ~200hr fATPLs at the moment, but I do hope to be proven wrong!

[Lakhan]

According to the CTC open day I attended some time ago, they said there was going to be one.......:E

And so did OAA....:ok:

Looking at the bright side, the 737 sim was fun at CTC :p That was probably my highlight of the day

[AlexDeltaCharlie]

Let's hope they're right about the shortage, there must have been close to 100 aspiring pilots (plus parents!) at the CTC open day I attended, although I'd be surprised if they'd said anything else to someone thinking about spending £80,000 on flight training with them.

The sims at CTC were a lot of fun, busy all day when I went there last year.

[redsnail]

There is no shortage of CPL/IR holders with sub 500 hours.

[BerksFlyer]

And FTOs stating so is incredibly misleading. Unfortunately it's exactly what people attending these days want to hear and so most won't question it.

Let's hope they're right about the shortage, there must have been close to 100 aspiring pilots (plus parents!) at the CTC open day I attended, although I'd be surprised if they'd said anything else to someone thinking about spending £80,000 on flight training with them.


I had no idea that many are seriously considering it. In this economic climate. I dread to think.

For a taste of the attitude towards CTC amongst more experienced aviators, see http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearment/480451-ctc-killing-industry-ej-monarch-thomson.html

[Lakhan]

Sorry I might have given the wrong message. I know there isn't a shortage of 200hr fATPL'ers. I just like the smiley face icons you see ;)