BAA Cadet program with SmartLynx

[Atrain]

Hey guys,

This is my first post, so hopefully some of you fellas can help me out.

First things first, I am a dual Canadian/UK citizen and have, fairly certainly, decided on doing my training and get my license in Europe.

Now BAA Aviation Academy is offering a self funded cadet program with SmartLynx in which you are guaranteed work upon completion.

The course runs you about 62,000 euro plus 25,000 euro for your type rating. Far more cheaper than CTC or Oxford from what I've read.

My question to you guys, would you recommend going that route or should I pursue CTC or Oxford and try to get on with one of their cadet programs?

[777_Lover]

Hey ! :)

Where did you get all of these informations ? The BAA website only shows this : https://www.baatraining.com/smartlynx-cadet-program/

[Planetick]

You get These Information If you fill out the Form on the bottom of the website. You get contacted by one of the project managers.

Assessment is done at BAA in Vilnius and costs 250 Euro for 2 days.

If you have further questions maybe I can find the answer in one of the Mails I got from the project Manager.

[Platypus]

Hi,

I've been there a couple of weeks ago. The school leaves a good first impression, people are friendly and appear professional. BAA is within walking distance to the airport and close to the city aswell (check google maps, you could easily take the bike to the city center), bus station just some hundred meters away. Assessment consists of the usual stuff that you will find in the most ab-initio prescreening tests.. (day 1: psychological questionnaire, basic maths, English, some sort of intelligence test, day 2: psychomotorical testing, mental capability, some mathematic problems, technical comprehension, interview with a psychologist). All doable, especially if you have prepared for other tests (eg Lufthansa or Swiss) before.

If you get a thumbs up from the flight school, your data will be transmitted to Smartlynx and Wizzair and the companies will decide whether they are interested in you or not. If yes, you will be invited to another interview/testing.

For my part, I am still waiting for a reply from the companies..

I think the scheme is very interesting, especially if you consider the relatively low cost of living in Lithuania and low taxation (compared to western europe countries). Both companies offer great practise for young pilots as they fly to interesting airports (lots of TOs/LDGs with Wizzair) and you have the chance to work abroad, also remember Smartlynx wetleases their planes.

[Lynx320]

Platypus, all the best for the selections, hope to meet you here in Vilnius then ;)

[jejojames]

Platypus,

Hi how are you,Im free from Dubai and my assesemnt sceduled date is on April 1sweek.Is it possible i can get some guidelines about the assesment or can you get me contact info and it would be of great help.They said they have physics also.

[jejojames]

Hey Platypus,

did you have physics in the assessment.Is it possible i could contact you as i have the assessment date nearing by.

Thanks

[ABCLUMS]

Hi all,

Can someone please guide me about the test that BAA is currently taking for smartlynx cadet program? it would be a great favour.

[Lynx320]

ABCLUMS,
give a try to SkyTest Middleeast:

SkyTest® - Preparation Software for DLR Test (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SunExpress, DFS), Cargolux, FEAST (Eurocontrol), Austro Control, Skyguide (http://www.skytest.com/SkyTest-Preparation-Software-for-Middle-East-Pilot-Screenings-31.htm)

You will find it very useful for the XT and Compass tests.

Good Luck ;)

[gneel]

Hi Platypus,

Hope your selection process went well!

I just bumped into your post while preparing for my assessment at BAA in August 2017.

I would be grateful if you could shed some light on the questions and structure of the assessment for the cadet pilot program.


Thanks!

[Global_Global]

Far more cheaper than CTC or Oxford from what I've read.

Good boy...

BUT:


the quality of the schools quoted is well known
the quality of BAA is well ehhh well known
the airlines the CTC and Oxford (CAE) work with are the better ones... BAA works with the bottom feeders...
you pay peanuts you get monkeys...

So short term gain (lower price) but most likely better employer and salary with the other schools.

[gneel]

Platypus,

Hi how are you,Im free from Dubai and my assesemnt sceduled date is on April 1sweek.Is it possible i can get some guidelines about the assesment or can you get me contact info and it would be of great help.They said they have physics also.

Hi Jejo,

I am also from Dubai and will be interviewing soon. How was your interview and assessment?

Please shed some light on the topics covered and how everything went about.

[Seabreeze]

"....guaranteed work on completion...!"

Are you sure? Get that in writing, and look for the caveats.

[Officer Kite]

It says that on the letter of engagement, the only caveat is that you actually complete the training successfully which is quite reasonable imho

[Officer Kite]

So short term gain (lower price) but most likely better employer and salary with the other schools.

The rest of your post isn't worth the effort, but just on this.

You are aware there were people who attended CTC and ended up working in McDonald's while with easyJet because they were getting £1200 a month and couldn't live and maintain their loan at the same time?

You are also aware that CTC run the exact same programme as BAA do with Wizz air, except BAA charge 58,000 and CTC charge 128,000? Graduates off both programmes are then put on the exact same salary.

According to what you are saying, Wizz are a 'better employer' if you join via CTC than BAA ... ?

Look, if you do the work and have a brain in between your shoulders then you will do well regardless of school. There is probably no doubting that facilities wise, the 'big 3' may come out on top, also for all the extra things like ceremonies, the way they do their intro etc etc, but if you're looking to do your training on a budget but still want that job, then smartlynx and wizz via BAA are very fitting opportunities.

[furbpilot]

EASA about to implement 1500hrs before airline rule as FAA. Sorry guys you will need to actually learn to fly,

[FerrisBueller]

Where did you get this idea from?

[KayPam]

EASA about to implement 1500hrs before airline rule as FAA. Sorry guys you will need to actually learn to fly,

What will happen to young pilots already flying airlines with less than 1500 hours ?
Haha

And how :mad: are you supposed to fly 1500 hours with no jobs on lighter aircraft ?

[Officer Kite]

Well gentlemen ... you heard it hear first I guess ..

[ZFT]

Rubbish. Just scare mongering

[Apitu]

If you search it a little, you can find it even on pprune that this was just a rumor from 2014/'15

[Alexcarmona99]

Good day everybody!

Could someone give some details about the differents parts of the assessment? For example: difficulty, how many questions...

It is easy to pass the assessment?


Thanks! ;)

[Debora]

Hi Jejo,

I am also from Dubai and will be interviewing soon. How was your interview and assessment?

Please shed some light on the topics covered and how everything went about.

Hi Guys! i am also from Dubai, looking for some news.

Do you have any FB group or WhatsApp one?
If so, add me please, if not, let's make one! 😉

[MaxPilot1]

There is a facebook group feel free to join it "Smarlynx BAA" ;)

[Flotyla]

Hello guys,
Could some of you share some information related to the physics part of the compass, please? Like which of the following modules to focus on - electricity/magnetism/mechanics/optics/thermodynamics/waves? I'm practising in Skytest-ME and I dont want to waste a lot of time on modules that are not necessary. Thanks in advance for your replies!

[uberfly]

Be careful to this program. First of all this is not a Cadet Scheme! BAA Training only using name of the SmartLynx to lure some students which they are successful. However, in reality, there is no cooperation or coordination between airline and training organization. There is no written contract between Smartlynx and BAA regarding to terms and conditions of the program which are offered to students therefore rules and conditions can change in the middle of your training. Both Airline and BAA Training acting the 3 monkeys towards students once it comes to answer some questions and there is no competent and authorized person take responsibility to answer your questions.

Cadets learn everyday new terms and conditions which are extremely unfavorable for them. For example increasing the type rating fee 5,000 euros in the middle of their training. So for example now BAA may present you this program with type rating fee of 30,000 Euros however in the middle of your training this may be increased to 35,000 Euros, so be ready. Recent rumors about this cadet scheme is that airline bond cadets for 3 years to work for them otherwise you pay 10,000 Euro penalty if you leave the company before 3 years of duty.