I agree, re REX cadetship, at least you get experience operating into uncontrolled airports, less automation etc. It's a middle ground, with GA obviously being the most 'real' flying experience, and Jetstar being the least.

I will admit, with sums of money like this being thrown in training I can understand why people would want to avoid GA is the can.

Where's a Plus One button.

These schemes are not far removed from the euphemistically labelled "Indian Indentureships" that operated in British Guiana.

Real flying? You've obviously never danced with a jet when you've got a big tailwind, you're held high and cut in by ATC + there's weather. She can get away from you very quickly.

There's far more flexability with a prop.

Different jobs, but for the most of us, they want you to learn your craft on a prop before they give you the keys to the jet.

Just saying :)

As much as some say the value of GA flying is the "real" flying necessary before getting into a jet, the reality is most of the world outside Australia doesn't have GA, trains people straight to the right hand seat of a jet after initial training, and does so successfully. Is anyone going to say an Aussie A320 pilot flies their aircraft better than say a BA A320 pilot because the Aussie pilot had spent time in Australian GA whereas the BA guy was trained straight to the jet? I assume the management and training pilots at JQ wouldn't sign off on the cadetship unless they are confident about the program's standards.

I don't think it's in the manipulation of the jet (few simple rules and methods will keep you out of trouble for a while until you learn from the Capitan), rather everything else that makes the job a lot easier if you have prior experience in other types of flying.

I came from GA and several years of flying turboprops in the left seat to a jet. If I was having to learn things like how to fly IFR at the same time as learning how to fly a jet, I would have found it much more difficult and picking it up would have taken some time.

Cadetships are the future, can't deny it. But Jetstar's isn't a Cadetship. It's a pay for a job program.

morno

Hi guys

Is anyone privy to where the last bunch of cadets were based once they started with Jetstar? Is there a possibility of going to Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific etc.

Cheers

All I'll say is "Employment with Jetstar is not guaranteed at any stage during, or post completion of the Program." enough said ....

C'mon Flyboat, you know you want to...

And Compylot too, surely "you've got a mate who............"

And as for the prior experience before "operating" a jet...............whether it all makes you a better pilot or not, I just am so thankful for all the fantastically fun flying and all the warries that I can think back on, laugh about, and reminisce with my old flying buddies about.
The day the "Local" threw up on me out of Groote, the way too low level stuff through the Torres Strait, the day we got stuck in a bowl in PNG with a failing engine, the drunken nights around the fire in the dessert with the other charter guys, low level orbits around the horizontal waterfall, free accom at Seven Spirit Bay after doing the management a favour, making radio calls like "taxying at Bing Bong for Goomeringbang via Bring Brang" (Yes, all REAL places), playing in the once a year Wave Hill Kalkaringi cricket game and facing fast bowling after 7 green cans, flying into Dum in Mirrie Island then ripping around on the quad bikes, watching an aboriginal funeral service on Elcho (quite an experience), getting to know aviation characters like Bluey the Groote refueller (RIP), etc etc etc.


To me, this is the value of a pre airline career. All those magnificent times that give priceless memories and still bring a smile to my face, while at the same time feeling a twinge of sadness that those days are gone. It sure as hell beats the hell of looking at my little mate next to me who doesn't even shave yet and hearing his "ripper" story of his last VOR in the sim. Aaaah for the good old days. There's a book in me me somewhere of all those great warries.

Having sat in the Jumpseat for direct entry First Officers and Cadet First Officers, I can tell you that once in the right hand seat of the jet, both types of pilots under training make similar mistakes (descent management, flare...) and are proficient in similar areas (SOPs, aircraft systems...) The notion that spending 5000 hrs flying GA/regional before jumping in an Airbus will be a massive advantage is completely false as the operating environments are vastly different. The 100+ pilots on the seniority list who started at Jetstar as cadets and are now in a fanatic career position. Why would you not join an airline in your early 20's and earn up to $200,000 a year?

The majority was MEL but there is a requirement of MEL, SYD, BNE or AKL for the first 12 months (I think it's 12 months.) After that it's open slather. They'll basically put you wherever they need you.

^^Adelaide is now also a cadet base

Thats probably a valid observation from the jumpseat but from the LHS there is quite a significant difference. Yes cadets have good knowledge of SOPs and systems and yes the same mistakes will be made during training but the massive advantage is in the area of SA and the ability to keep ahead of the game. The operating environment when going into a CTAF is the same or worse for a jet and that's the environment your DEFO from GA/Regionals is streets ahead of the cadets. Why Jetstar are opening this up again when Flight Ops were stating that it was finishing is open to all sorts of speculation. The concept of P2F was probably a winner for HR.

Have another read of Trevor's post.

Regarding Trevor's post, granted it sounds like he had some fantastic life experiences in GA. I'm just trying to balance out the argument. There's a lot of cadet bashing on PPRUNE that may put off potentional candidates. This is a fantastic opportunity and the vast advantages of the program ought to be stated.

Kind of sums it up really.

How such schemes can even be accepted as a cadet scheme beats me, because they're not.

These 'cadetships' are kind of like what the law firm in the below article tried to get away with. Charging graduates $20K for a foot in the door to become a registered lawyer.

It was promptly stamped out by the law society of SA a few months later. How airlines get away with it and charge $150K is beyond me...

Law firm Adlawgroup asking junior lawyers to pay $22,000 for job; Fair Work Ombudsman investigating - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Eh? The Cadets require more than double the training hours of a DEFO. You don't call that an advantage?

Love how these threads attract new posters, sounds like someone is a cadet. It's got nothing to do with ability to fly, it's attitude. Most cadets are good guys trying their best, but some think they are gods gift. I guess that's why EK loves these sorts of future employees.

You can easily apply that to non-cadet pilots as well...