Assumptions being what they are, would suggest that any prospective applicant carefully check the fine print.

Little Napoleon and his bunch of carpet baggers would not have spent a Red cent on anything related to pilots unless there is a supply issue long term.

There is, its name is demographics.

Sorry to correct you Rated De, Joyce does nothing is done without a business plan, he is a startup junkie. I would suggest the strategy here is to milk pilot training as a business by leveraging off the Qantas brand reputation. Expect them to attempt to scale this beyond what is required for the the group, I could even envisage offshore "Qantas Training Academy Centre of Excellence" training being set up in Asia.

Don't get me wrong, demographics come into play, but there will be more to this.

Didn't work for Rex.

Qantas Pilot Academy
 

Hi everyone,

*long post incoming*
I've read through the previous 50 pages of this thread, took me a while! I didn't really find the answer that I was looking for, but knowing me I probably overlooked it in the 50 pages I read :p

I'm currently 18 and have always wanted to become a pilot for Qantas since I was in kindergarten. When I was 16 I disregarded the dream job of a pilot and I really can't remember why I did, I think it was because mum wanted me to stay on the ground if I'm to be honest! So I moved onto something else that was in aviation which was Air Traffic Control, but of course a year later I got rid of that for some reason (but this time I don't know why). Then I moved onto IT in uni (which I'm doing now), even with my GPA of 7, I started to think about the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, long story short I *think* I have my eyes back on aviation again.

I've read a few conflicting thoughts on the actual academy throughout the 50 pages that I have read, some say it's just a gimmick and you'll end up no where whereas some say that it would be good. People say that you should get into piloting whilst your young for seniority (or just get into the airline you want your career at whilst your young), but is it just gonna give me a huge debt and no job at all? Considering that it'll cost me somewhere around $125,000, which I can loan, does it even qualify me for direct entry into Qantas? I was looking at the requirements for direct entry (either as SO or FO) and it seemed higher than what you actually get in the academy? Could someone help answer that? The academy would probably be the best option for me, I don't have the money to train through a flight school in my local area.

I've also read someone said that it is Qantas Group Pilot Academy, so does that mean QantasLink and Jetstar too?

I've read heaps of things online about the life as a pilot, and I understand that this is a Qantas recruitment thread, and whilst I'd be doing it for the love of planes since I have been young and not for the money at all, there seems to be a lot of conflicting information on this thread about the pay of Capt/FO/SO? I've gone through the EBA of Qantas but it's all dutch to me :p

All in all I just really want to know is it worth it? Will it lead into a career with Qantas or just give me a big debt? FO or SO? Do I just apply for jobs after the academy as I'd be qualified from the academy? I see that I can lead into the Qantas Future Pilot Program from the academy, but they're 'selected' people. I assume you need to be a high performer. Surely the application questions into the academy are just a short amount? They were pretty basic, didn't seem like an application at all! I've gone over the website a million times so I essentially know the whole academy website inside out, but I have applied for an ATC job which I should hear back from this week. What's the way to go? I'll still be waiting for months to hear back from Qantas, but even then, what's their selection process?

I think that's all for now, I'd still have a million things in my mind that I needed to ask but I just can't think of it all right now.

Thanks everyone :)

I haven't read the whole thread here and I'm not sure if its been discussed previously (probably has), but going through this Qantas Academy, chances are you won't get the golden ticket into the Qantas Group upon graduation unless they become desperate again. Assuming you don't, you're then going to be packing your bags and heading up north like many others, except you're going to be going with the Qantas academy on your resume which is not a good look in my opinion. Questions might be asked. Why didn't you make the cut? Will you have the Qantas Workday tab open all day at work checking for the next opening? Seems far better to build a solid foundation in aviation through a neutral entity than a group that specialises in selling hopes and dreams.

As for the Qantas Future Pilot Program, once again it all depends on the current job climate. Last year they were desperate and plenty of opportunities for those who met the requirements. Not so lucky for those going through this year, far fewer places being offered and there's a very real chance that you can spend the 10K on the course at FTA and then be given a "Thanks but no thanks" or if you're "lucky", "Congratulations, you've made it through to the hold file, we'll get in contact if we need you".

I wasn't saying that this is the only outcome I wanted, I just thought that must've been the outcome of what the academy would open you up to.

I bet that is one very big hold file.

EASA - CASA
 

Hi guys, just wondering if anybody on this thread currently working in Australia, for any of the major players (Qantas Group, VOZ Group, Alliance, etc.), has gone through the CASA licence conversion process from Europe? I am an Aussie currently living and working in Europe flying regional jets, but my hope is to move back to Australia once I have unfrozen my ATPL, and obviously feel ready.
If you have been through the process, how do you find working in Australia in comparison to Europe/UK?
And; Did the conversion process pose any significant questions during any interviews?

For anybody wanting background info, I did my training in Europe with the hope that I would have a greater chance of gaining employment (greater population + more airlines). It's also (appears) far easier to come from Europe to Aus due to CASA's recognition of the EASA ATPL.

I understand this is a Qantas recruitment thread, so I do apologise in advance if this post doesn't belong here.

Many Thanks,
C

I went through the conversion process about 9 years ago after having flown in the UK for 12 years. It was a nightmare paperwork wise but fairly straight forward. You have to sit Human Factors, CPL Air Law, ATPL Air Law and if you have never held an CASA issued IR before then you also need to do the IREX exam. What was frustrating was that you needed to pass CPL Air Law prior to being able to book ATPL Air Law which was an issue considering I did all 4 exams in 5 days and it was a bit of a variable as to whether I would get an ATPL air law slot. I had to do an IR exam in a Duchess to get the IR initial issued, to do the flight test I had to get a Certificate of Validation issued by CASA based on my JAR ATPL and that took me about 10 months as CASA kept requesting additional crap from the UK CAA. I know that CASA have now introduced the ATPL flight test so I don't know how that works into the process now.

I did all the theory through the Advanced Flight Theory who at the time offered a 'Foreign ATPL' conversion pack that focussed purely on the just the exams for conversion ( Overseas Convert | Advanced Flight Theory, it was initially very overwhelming when it all arrived in the UK but once you get your head around the AIP, CAO's and CAR's it was actually straight forward. Use the Bob Tait book for the IREX study. I had no issues with the exams as there are plenty of practice papers available. The flying portion I did in Perth ad Ad Astra who once again had a 10 hour IR prep course specifically for Foreign Pilots 5 hours ground trainer, 1 practice flight test in the Duchess followed by the real thing. That took me 3 days for the flying component.

As for employment, I got job offers from Jetstar and Jetconnect on the condition that I would get my OZ ATPL prior to starting, Virgin told me that they didn't accept ATPL's from a foreign conversion and if I wanted an interview with them I would have to sit ALL the ATPL exams so they could see evidence of passing the lot so I didn't bother pursuing Virgin any further. Qantas and Air NZ were years away from recruitment at the time so I didn't bother but I have had a number of mates since get jobs with both after a stint overseas. Air NZ even did the ATPL flight test for them during their conversion training.

As for flying in OZ after many years in Europe, be prepared to go back in time. It is very much GA in Jets, the rules, regulations and CASA are like they are in a time warp. The airspace is a mess, ATC will let you fly out of controlled airspace during descent into major airports and then report you for it, on the other hand it is OK to flying high performance jets into uncontrolled airports mixing with GA traffic on a CTAF frequency. Airport facilities are farcical, when I arrived there wasn't a single CAT II or III approach in the country although a few exist now, ATC into SYD and MEL is often a mess, everyone says 'but they are dealing with a lot of traffic', They need to see how it is done well oversea's. On the plus side, the airline I ended up working for is really enjoyable, the crews are good, training has been fantastic and since the change over to Part 61 licences and EBT sim training it is the most enjoyable checking environment I have encountered. (ALL PERSONAL OPINION OF COURSE)

So all in all, contact CASA and get a breakdown of what is needed, if there is anything CASA related then get that underway ASAP as the exam and flying side is quite easy to organise and get underway. The job market has been quite good although may be slowing a bit and be prepared for a lot of head scratching when you are exposed to some of the CASA rules and regs which may suit a C182 charter but don't seem to be appropriate for a Jet.

Good luck