Cadetship help for teeneager!

[Airlinelover]

Hi guys,

As a year 10 student, I am highly interested in joining an airlines cadetship and was wondering how I can make myself more attractive and better candidate than other applicants. A quick summary of what I have done so far:

- I have chosen Physics and high-level maths for the HSC.
- I have recently completed a week of work experience at REX.
-I will be taking a few flight lessons in the coming months.

I am looking at JQ, REX, SHARP AND VA in terms of cadetships.

ANY HELP MUCH APPRECIATED!

[lo_lyf]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Just try to be patient, it seems like an eternity away but time will go by quick. Forget about Sharp though, its a ludicrous money making exercise designed to purge your parents bank account. All the courses run pathetically behind schedule.

[Keg]

Work on 'non technical skills'. Teamwork, decision making, communication skills such as debating, leadership, management, planning, etc. Stick and rudder is part of the game but what Airlines actually look for when they're picking a cadet is the rest of it because they'll train you on the stick and rudder.

[josephfeatherweight]

Hi Airlinelover - have you considered the ADF? You sound like you're ticking all the right boxes!

[Airlinelover]

Hi Airlinelover - have you considered the ADF? !

The ADF is just too long of a commitment for me

[CoodaShooda]

The ADF is just too long of a commitment for me

Out of interest, how long does it take to go from entry level cadet to captaincy on an airline?

And how long does it take to get to the captain's seat on a RAAF KC-30...and then to a DE captain with an international airline?

From what I hear, quite a few of our KC-30 captains have gone that route recently.

[ACMS]

Airlinelover-----well done so far and good job coming in here and asking. You have guys like Keg in here to give you excellent advice.

Be keen, 100% won't be enough, don't let anything or anyone get in your way. You must be totally committed. There will be frequent setbacks but keep pushing on and up.

Good luck.

[PoppaJo]

I've worked with a lot of RAAF guys who have joined us (Airline) over the last few years, all were mid 40s at the youngest. None have joined as Captain, all FOs. I don't see why they should join as a Captain either without the relevant experience. Why are they so special? I've had that debate ten times over recently. One guy thought because he served our country for 20 years he had top pick of the jobs. Back of the queue buddy.....

Having seen the insides of the recruitment side of things our mob would generally sway away from Air Force guys and select those in GA or Airline ops already, those comments directly from CP. Couldnt comment on why I've never had an issue with them.

If you are interested in the A330 then head to China.

[dr dre]

I've worked with a lot of RAAF guys who have joined us over the last few years, all were mid 40s at the youngest. None have joined as Captain, all FOs. I don't see why they should join as a Captain either without the relevant experience. Why are they so special? I've had that debate ten times over recently. One guy thought because he served our country for 20 years he had top pick of the jobs. Back of the queue buddy.....



I guess there's a chance you could get a contract job or a DE position with RAAF KC-30 time overseas, but if you want a major airline job in Australia? Bottom of the seniority list. Doesn't matter if you were the top KC-30 or BBJ or F-18 pilot in the RAAF, if you join an airline you go to the bottom of the seniority list behind the cadet with 200 hours who joined the day before you.

Out of interest, how long does it take to go from entry level cadet to captaincy on an airline?

And how long does it take to get to the captain's seat on a RAAF KC-30...and then to a DE captain with an international airline?


Entry level cadet to airline captaincy? Maybe 5-7 for Rex. 5-10 for JQ? 10-20 for QF? 10-15 for VA? Those are pure guesses
For the RAAF you'll be very lucky to be getting a DE captaincy unless it's an overseas contract job.

To the OP, if being an airline captain is your ultimate goal, I'd go for a cadetship over the RAAF. Especially since you don't seem interested in the military at all.

With what you've done so far you're definitely on the right tack to an airline pilot career, as others have said work on your non technical skills like teamwork and communication and concentrate on your school studies for the next few years.

[KRviator]

The question to ask at the end of the day though - and this is something only current tech crew for each airline can answer - is "Would you recommend the job as it stands today, based on what you now know about it?"

In talking to a VA FO a couple of weeks ago, he does still enjoy it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a career anymore. Ever-present sim checks, time to command, medicals, and management mentality all play a part in that comment.

Another thing to consider, not just the education side of things: With those airlines mentioned, should you get be accepted into one, where could you conceivably be based, and could you afford a reasonable lifestyle on a cadet wage in that city? Rex pays their FO's around $50K for example. That's not going to come close to a decent place in Sydney. Plus car. Plus power (exxy & going up), etc.

As much as I love flying - don't we all - I am glad I gave the RAAF away and fly exclusively for fun now, when I want, where I want, in a job I actually enjoy more than flying.

Please don't take this as trying to put you off pursuing an aviation career - I say similar things to people when they ask me about driving trains for a job. And my answer is "I love it. But it is not for everyone. The roster can suck, the shiftwork can be brutal and as a result you will get bugger-all family time But even with all that, I wouldn't do anything else - flying included."

[Airlinelover]

If you are interested in the A330 then head to China.

How hard is it for an Australian pilot to get a job in China especially if I have no knowledge of the Chinese language.

[Airlinelover]

Work on 'non technical skills'. Teamwork, decision making, communication skills such as debating, leadership, management, planning, etc.

Do you know any activities or previous as such that airlines look for in applications that relate to those mentioned skills.

[TSIO540]

How hard is it for an Australian pilot to get a job in China especially if I have no knowledge of the Chinese language.

A quick google search will reveal all of the requirements; apart from jet command time you need at least ICAO LVL 5

[Tee Emm]

The ADF is just too long of a commitment for me


The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:

[lo_lyf]

The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:

That's being just a tad emotive towards the young aspiring aviator don't you think? If you have to convince someone (especially via the internet) to join the defence force then they probably don't desire it to begin with.

[Airlinelover]

The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:

It isn't really that, it is more aspire to fly the bigger jets (anything from a 737 to a380) and live at a home

[dr dre]

The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:

Well I disagree with both of those points but that's another discussion.

The OP has stated his goal is to become an airline pilot and that he doesn't want to do it via the military. That's a perfectly fine decision, in fact the vast majority of airline pilots in Australia today did it that way. Do you go up to the other 98% of high school students who don't want to join the ADF and make them feel inferior?

[Keg]

Do you know any activities or previous as such that airlines look for in applications that relate to those mentioned skills.

Airlines don't look for a list of activities that you've completed. They look at the actual skills you've developed as a result of having done those activities. I can look at two different candidates who both have the Air Force Cadets listed as an activity. One of them may be a vastly better fit though on the basis of what they've done in the AAFC. I won't know that until I've spoken to both of you though.

Remember, the aim is to not just look better than another candidate on paper but actually be better in real life. That means actively engaging in your own development. So join the AAFC if you haven't already (although you're approaching the upper end of the ideal age range),engage in team sports, volunteer for virtually everything at school- particularly if there is a teamwork/ decision making/ leadership angle to it.

One of the things to remember is that getting advice is easy but you're the one who has to do the work. So talk to your teachers at school and tell them you're looking to build skills in the areas that I and others have mentioned and what can they suggest or what activities do they have that you can do. Get to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. Work on the weaknesses. Read books on leadership, team work, etc.

Good luck. It's an awesome journey.

[Centaurus]

Hi guys,

As a year 10 student, I am highly interested in joining an airlines cadetship

Full marks to all those who have replied to this lad. It is good to see so many willing to give sound advice based upon their own experience.:ok:

[patty50]

As someone trying to do the journey who's a few years older than you but further along the way, this is what I would tell my 16 year old self.

If you want it, do it, the younger you are the easier it is. I read pprune and elsewhere as an 18 year old reading doom and gloom and it benefitted me naught, I just lost a few years wasting time. Ignore the doomsdayers.

Start as early as you can and while you're living at home pour your money into training. Aim to at least have PPL by the time you finish school.

Relying on getting into a cadetship could prove fruitless when they get huge numbers of applicants with relatively few hired. The GA stream is easier to tolerate if you're younger and if you're at an airline by 25 you'd still be happy.

The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:

Young people turn on the tv and ask if they really want to put their life in the hands of a Turnbull or Shorten. Sure they'll come to your funeral after you get shot down over Syria 'defending the country' but most aren't thrilled with that prospect.

[PPRuNeUser0184]

[QUOTE=Tee Emm;9834260]The best training as a pilot you will ever get and yet you are frightened of a commitment to help defend your country:ugh:[/QUOTE

Classic

Yeah, would love to go and work for Turnbull and his boss, Trump. Not!!

Sound advice given. Don't fear GA if a Cadetship is not on offer. It's a great place to develop all the skills mentioned above and it's a lot of fun. Flying a jet is not as demanding as the flying you will do in GA....I assure you of that.

[josephfeatherweight]

Yeah, it would suck flying a KC-30/C130J/F18/C17/C-27J/Wedgetail/Seahawk/NH90/etc...
Training in a PC9/PC21 whilst getting paid...
Doing some disaster relief/providing humanitarian aid/search and rescue/survivor assistance...
All sounds pretty boring to me...
Give me a clapped out, 32 year old Chieftain on less than minimum wage! That's where it's at!

Look, just trying to provide some balance - for sure, the ADF is not for everyone and everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I doubt there are many in the ADF who would feel or agree that they "work for Turnbull". Except maybe the VIP Squadron - I mean, I guess they "work for" him... :8

And, there's nothing wrong with the Chieftain job if that's what you want to do - each to their own - all part of life's rich tapestry...

Further, I acknowledge the OP has already expressed a desire to pursue an airline path and is not interested in pursuing an ADF option,which is all good!

Joe Lighty
Nobody's ever died from pressing...

[Slezy9]

Give me a clapped out, 32 year old Chieftain on less than minimum wage! That's where it's at!

Sounds sweet! Sign me up!

[josephfeatherweight]

It has been (gratefully) pointed out to me via PM that a 32 year old Chieftain would be one of the newer ones getting around...
I live and learn!