Some Perspective!
 

During my climb up the G/A slippery slope, progress went something like this.

• Scraping together enough money each week just to get my arse into a 2 seat trainer. working 2, sometimes 3 jobs.
• Discovering at the end that the ratio of freshly minted CPL's to available jobs was in the order of around 20:1!
• 4 years networking, private flying to stay current, more money for type ratings, and finally casual employment, but still not enough to pay the bills or to build a life, all the while still working in a job I hated.
• Finally after 6 years, a fulltime gig, well Casual but regular work. Company went broke 6 months later. back to labouring. Still paying to fly to stay current.
• Previous contacts and friends paid off. Gradually moved back into flying. Eventually 5-6 days a week, charter then RPT, casual still, and being paid about the same as one of my labouring gigs. Best time of my life. Wife then left me!
• Company folded after a crash. Back to labouring!
• After 3 months digging ditches, a previous Chief Pilot informed me that a new player in Bank Runs was starting up. Because of a string of prangs in recent years, the prime contractor had stipulated a minimum of 1000 hours Multi experience. All this to fly a fleet of clapped out Barons, 5 days a week for the princely sum of $880 per fortnight! I jumped at it.
• 18 months later I received the call from the predecessor of my current employer and was successful. Position, First Officer on a Regional Turboprop.
• Total time from first entering the wonderful world of aviation to achieving what this thread is all about, 9 years.

My journey is not unique, some made it in quicker time, many never made it at all. The point is, no matter what obstacles are in your way, you will either persevere, or fail. It's as simple as that.

Good luck all.:)

wow Krusty... cool story! good to hear that your persistence and hard work has eventually paid off and that you stuck by your dream through all of that! :)

im going to start that 'journey' next year once i get my CPL (hopefully) - wasn't counting on this cadetship... just thought it was a potentially quicker/easier option.

Thanks N.T.

No matter what path you take, if it was easy then every man (or woman) and their dog would be doing it. Cadetships weren't an option when I started out, but either way boys and girls, STICK TO IT!!

And remember, if you end up doing the job you love, then you'll never work another day in your life!

Sorry, rant over. :ok:

But do you really think your career choice was a rational one, regarding time, investment and ROI. You could have done a three or four year degree in business, IT , some allied health type profession and been earning good money , in stable secure employment six or seven years earlier. Or perhaps done some kind of technician/trade in the ADF, and been on good brass(for a trainee) from day one.

Persistence and tenacity can be admirable qualities but it took you nine years to be earning a relatively modest wage as a regional FO, and it doesn't sound like you have any other qualifications or skills.

Your assumption being that pilot's are rational.

If they were they would understand the sunk cost fallacy. Something which a cadetship actually removes and that is probably a good thing in some respects.

Some people just want to be 'up there'. I'm in line next year to hit over 110k sitting at a desk and i'm willing to trade that in for peanuts to fly every day.

The office view is worth more to some people than what's in the envelope from the boss at the end of the month.

Not yet. I haven't been rejected though, so hopefully that's a promising sign...

I've neither been rejected or have received a reply for an assessment. My guess is they will contact people next week or week after. My application says 'Review'. I know when I applied for Jetstar they took 4 weeks to invite me to an assessment. Good luck to everyone! :)

Virgin Australia Cadet Program
 

Hi All,

I am currently 15 years of age and contemplating a career as a pilot! Ideally, I would love to get into the Virgin Australia Cadet Program as it provides good training and a job at the end. I understand that VA receive thousands of applications, any idea on what would be the most advantageous qualifications/background to get in?

Cheers,

Luke

Advanced Maths and Physics

Thanks, I noticed it says limited flying experince up to PPL, would an RAAUS certificate be beneficial? Also, what would be the best uni degrees eg. Business, science, aviation management? Cheers

Focus on 3 things:

1) Academic credentials.

2) Teamwork/Leadership skills.

3) Personal development.


1) There are pre-requisite subjects for intake. You must take these. However, the other subjects that you do at school should support your entry into an airline career. English is a compulsory year 12 subject, so you have to do that. In addition to Maths and Physics, consider subjects like Chemistry, Economics and Geography. The last 2 will broaden your studies away from pure science (giving you writing skills, hopefully) and also explain the sociological/geopolitical/economic background as to why we have aviation in the first place.

2) Get involved in a club or team where you have to engage and work with other people. This could include sailing, gliding, scouts, footy, Air Training Corps etc etc.. Followership skills are just as important as leadership skills and if you can demonstrate participation in club activities all the better.

3) Recruitment involves employing a whole person. Remember that you are a PERSON first and a PILOT maybe 2nd (or 3rd, 4th , 5th...). Develop yourself so as you can learn to accept knockbacks in life and push on ahead. You will only develop this by learning things about your own strengths and weaknesses. Develop yourself by personal challenge: Karate, learning music, gym, bushwalking...I have heard good things about The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Outward Bound-check 'em out.

Good Luck :ok:

Nice wind-up Flyboat North. :E

Pity, there's no LIKE button on here, but I superlike that quote by Krusty. :ok: I've been through two career changes myself before I became a professional pilot and traveled a similar journey to that of Krusty's with going back and forth flying gigs when companies went bust. But it has been well worth the journey, to be flying for a living. It's the only job I've had where I can't wait to get to work.

Luke,

The above reply is excellent comprehensive advice. If you take it seriously it will stand you in good stead.

The only item that I would add is this - many companies value some form of service to the community. Charity work or another form of volunteerism. Not only would this sort of activity help you become a more rounded person, it may help you achieve your goals. Find out what charities your target company supports. If you also believe that they are a worthwhile endeavor, then that may give you some direction as to which one to join.

This will look good on a CV or application form, and you'll be a better person for doing it.

Good luck.

And don't forget to be normal- go to the movies, play sport, chase girls etc.

Being socially well adjusted and having interests outside of aviation all helps when you have 12 hours of cruise ahead of you :ok:

Did anyone else get an invite for wed 21st in Melbourne?

Where were the assessment centers last year, just Sydney and Melbourne? I've done the psychometric testing now fingers crossed for assessment center invite, still under "Review".

Nope!. Haven't got an email yet. Application still under review. Does this mean I may get an invite or no one has told me I've failed? :ugh: