Oxford Aviation Training (OAT) - Who has got a job?
Thanks, future captain, you beat me to it!
BA seem to be recruiting mostly to the Airbus at the moment with a few going 757/767. Some ex-mil fast jet guys have been offered 75/76 but most go Airbus. Ex-Airbus and mil truckie types go mostly to the 777. 737 is for ab-initios only from what I can gather so ex-Oxfords etc
BA seem to be recruiting mostly to the Airbus at the moment with a few going 757/767. Some ex-mil fast jet guys have been offered 75/76 but most go Airbus. Ex-Airbus and mil truckie types go mostly to the 777. 737 is for ab-initios only from what I can gather so ex-Oxfords etc
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one of my ex-chief pilot instructor told me 90% of pilots he met in his career are not good and should do something else.I fully agreed with him except I said 80%.
But in this business, money is more important than safety! we have FMS to do the job,a pilot doesn't fly a plane anymore. .
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oat a pretty picture but is it all that
im sure all of you have all heard or seen that oat can get you a job and they show their employment stats on their website............but is it all that plain sailing??(im sure they lie a bit because at the end of the day they are a business and they need to make some profit and they never say out of how many got a job they just state the numbers of graduates getting a job at airlines)
also many of the people training to become pilots do not have any fall back plans it terms of university degrees they just have A-levels do they think they are gods or something???how sure can you be that you are going to get a job remember remember approximately £55000 is a lot of money and we wouldnt like to pour it down the drain would we???
also many of the people training to become pilots do not have any fall back plans it terms of university degrees they just have A-levels do they think they are gods or something???how sure can you be that you are going to get a job remember remember approximately £55000 is a lot of money and we wouldnt like to pour it down the drain would we???
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What was the point in that message? Whats the point in putting OAT down? I dont think OAT ever lie, they might strech the truth at times and the marketing is designed for them to shine, and yeah there in it for a profit, and i recon there in it for other reasons too!
So if OAT is to expensive, or you have doubts, dont use them, but there track record and term in business cant be wrong, or they wouldnt be in business, they couldnt ask what they do, and they wouldnt come as one of the most recommended schools around...
A fall back plan is good, but look at stats, a fair few uni leavers dont get the jobs they want, look at internships in the states, there are like 20 people fighting for one place at the end in many cases, and those guys have to fund there lifes whilst they take the 1 in 20 chance of getting a job as most internships asre unpaid...
Your post doesnt really ask a question, so, what was the use, we all have eyes, we can all read pasts post that have covered this in great detail only to find at the end of the topic that the views balance 50/50 in most cases...
So if OAT is to expensive, or you have doubts, dont use them, but there track record and term in business cant be wrong, or they wouldnt be in business, they couldnt ask what they do, and they wouldnt come as one of the most recommended schools around...
A fall back plan is good, but look at stats, a fair few uni leavers dont get the jobs they want, look at internships in the states, there are like 20 people fighting for one place at the end in many cases, and those guys have to fund there lifes whilst they take the 1 in 20 chance of getting a job as most internships asre unpaid...
Your post doesnt really ask a question, so, what was the use, we all have eyes, we can all read pasts post that have covered this in great detail only to find at the end of the topic that the views balance 50/50 in most cases...
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As already said, what was the point 
Incidentally, A levels are surely just as good now as in 2 years if everything goes to pot...and I don't think I'm a god. I don't see the point spending 3 years doing something I don't want to do now when I have a choice...
-sigh-
Incidentally, A levels are surely just as good now as in 2 years if everything goes to pot...and I don't think I'm a god. I don't see the point spending 3 years doing something I don't want to do now when I have a choice...
-sigh-
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not just doing something you don't want to do but also paying for it as well, not cheap when you consider you want to borrow even more to train further as a pilot.
however, that's another story and another argument for another thread
however, that's another story and another argument for another thread
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Good point!
I'm, unfortunately, not made of money. OK, so I'm not actually paying for ATPL training (that'll be Daddy's pension, but then it's what he'd have wanted me to do ) but I would have had to pay for Uni...and Type Rating in a couple of years if a nice airline doesn't fancy paying for it for me!
I'm, unfortunately, not made of money. OK, so I'm not actually paying for ATPL training (that'll be Daddy's pension, but then it's what he'd have wanted me to do
) but I would have had to pay for Uni...and Type Rating in a couple of years if a nice airline doesn't fancy paying for it for me!
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I finished at OAT a few months ago (integrated) and almost all my coursemates got a job within 2 months of leaving. I'm the last to find a job on my course and it took 4 months after finishing. Every one of us is on a jet - most on the B737, some on the A320 and one on the RJ100.
Say what you like about OAT, but the airlines do like their name and I can assure you the stats on their website are not lies.
Most on my course didn't have a degree. That's not what airlines seem to look for. They look for someone ideally to be early to mid 20s with a good flying record.
Say what you like about OAT, but the airlines do like their name and I can assure you the stats on their website are not lies.
Most on my course didn't have a degree. That's not what airlines seem to look for. They look for someone ideally to be early to mid 20s with a good flying record.
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skyflyer737 good for you mate. Nice to see someone sticking up for OAT. I am also an ex integrated student finished a few months before you. I was lucky enough to find out I had an interview the day I finished and within a month was sitting in a room doing a type rating for the airbus. I know I was lucky with regards the short time it took however out of the 20 or so in my class 8 months on everyone has a job with all but 2 on a jet.
Dont get me wrong I got very ticked off with them at times and didnt agree with all methods they adopt however they are a good school and as you said the stats are realistic.
Anyhow best of luck with the flying pal.
For those who are interested I didnt have a degree nor did about half my class.
Dont get me wrong I got very ticked off with them at times and didnt agree with all methods they adopt however they are a good school and as you said the stats are realistic.
Anyhow best of luck with the flying pal.
For those who are interested I didnt have a degree nor did about half my class.
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Thanks Bus319, I just thought it was worth adding a post saying that things actually aren't that bad and there are plenty of jobs out there. For months I read Pprune with most posts being negative, criticising this, that and everything else.
Doing your training and job hunting - like every job in the world - is stressful and worrying and you'll meet idiots who annoy you frequently....but it's worth it in the end and once you're sitting in the sharp end of a jet above the clouds it's well worth it.
Doing your training and job hunting - like every job in the world - is stressful and worrying and you'll meet idiots who annoy you frequently....but it's worth it in the end and once you're sitting in the sharp end of a jet above the clouds it's well worth it.
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No airline is ever going to offer you a job before you start training unless you're sponsored. No one is sure they will get a job when they set out. But if you go to a decent flight training school and equip yourself with the qualifications and skills then there's a very good chance you'll be taken on, as long as the industry continues to expand as it is doing now.
If you want total job security then the airline business is not for you, Ole.
If you want total job security then the airline business is not for you, Ole.
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Very true. Most of us have done it/are doing it/will do it because we are 100% sure we want to be in aviation and because we have the resilience and drive to hope that things turn out well and, if they don't, to pick ourselves up and find something else to do. You've just got to hope, but there'll never be a right time!
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skyflyer727 & bus319
good to hear that it's not all bad! starting down at OAT 26th of march and often wonder precisely how many of the grads are employed from each course etc!
well done for getting through the course, hopefully i'll see you in the skies some day!
cf
good to hear that it's not all bad! starting down at OAT 26th of march and often wonder precisely how many of the grads are employed from each course etc!
well done for getting through the course, hopefully i'll see you in the skies some day!
cf
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Job likelyhood
So what exactly is the likelyhood that a graduate will receive a job when they graduate? Oxford state that most graduates get a job within 6 months, but how much is most? The job figures they post on their website are impressive but how many of these jobs were graduates within the past 6 months and how many didnt get jobs? I emailed OAT last year at a point when they had stated that there had been 80 jobs attained so far that year and asked how many graduates had there been that year and the answer was 92. Seems like pretty good figures but for all I know the ones who got jobs could have graduated 2 years ago.
I always thought CTC was the best option as they place you with an airline before they complete your final training and I liked the financial security side too, however they do have a clause that states:
"Cadets who are not selected by an airline during training enter the holding pool with Wings ATP entrants following the intermediate phase of training. The bond of a cadet in this position is retained by APL and the normal arrangement is that you would enter an airline on a "direct entry" salary scale, from which you will be required to make your bank loan repayments."
How many students does this happen to? Are there any figures? For all the applicant knows, 90% could end up with the loan on their own shoulders rather than getting placed with an airline.
What about other FTO's? OAT and CTC are the main ones I wish to gain entry to but what about FTE and PTC. PTC state on their website that 98% of graduates get a first officer job within 2 months of graduating (too good to be true surely!). I get the impression from FTE that once you graduate you are pretty much on your own and althoough they do try to give advice, finding a job is something you have to undertake on your own.
As someone who is currently applying to FTOs I would greatly appreciate some figures on likely hood of employment within 6 months of graduation, especially for my parents as they are very unsure about the whole process and do not want to remortgage their house unless they are confident I will get a job at the end and I know there are others on the same boat.
I always thought CTC was the best option as they place you with an airline before they complete your final training and I liked the financial security side too, however they do have a clause that states:
"Cadets who are not selected by an airline during training enter the holding pool with Wings ATP entrants following the intermediate phase of training. The bond of a cadet in this position is retained by APL and the normal arrangement is that you would enter an airline on a "direct entry" salary scale, from which you will be required to make your bank loan repayments."
How many students does this happen to? Are there any figures? For all the applicant knows, 90% could end up with the loan on their own shoulders rather than getting placed with an airline.
What about other FTO's? OAT and CTC are the main ones I wish to gain entry to but what about FTE and PTC. PTC state on their website that 98% of graduates get a first officer job within 2 months of graduating (too good to be true surely!). I get the impression from FTE that once you graduate you are pretty much on your own and althoough they do try to give advice, finding a job is something you have to undertake on your own.
As someone who is currently applying to FTOs I would greatly appreciate some figures on likely hood of employment within 6 months of graduation, especially for my parents as they are very unsure about the whole process and do not want to remortgage their house unless they are confident I will get a job at the end and I know there are others on the same boat.
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Nobody can wave a magic wand unfortunately. You might be lucky and get a job, then again, you might not. In a nutshell, you take your chance. You will be competing for a job in a market place that is flooded with low hour CPL/IR's. If you wish to add yourself to the bunfight then you need to make sure you can afford to repay your loan commitments until a job comes along(assuming it does). Its a lot of money and there are no promises. Think very carefuly about it.
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Skyflyer737 said "Most on my course didn't have a degree. That's not what airlines seem to look for. They look for someone ideally to be early to mid 20s with a good flying record."
Those of you that are slightly, ahem, older... Don't be too put off by the comment that they are looking for someone in the early to mid 20s. Firstly this is now ILLEGAL in UK employment law (although I believe this is yet to be tested in court - Flying Lawyer will know). Secondly, any decent operator should be interested in what you can do for them, not necessarily how old you are. The idea that someone in (for example) their early 30s is too old has had it's day. You still have 30 years flying left at this age. Guys and girls of even grander vintage are making it into the airlines these days.
I don't want to start a discussion on how old is too old etc etc, just making a minor point.
Those of you that are slightly, ahem, older... Don't be too put off by the comment that they are looking for someone in the early to mid 20s. Firstly this is now ILLEGAL in UK employment law (although I believe this is yet to be tested in court - Flying Lawyer will know). Secondly, any decent operator should be interested in what you can do for them, not necessarily how old you are. The idea that someone in (for example) their early 30s is too old has had it's day. You still have 30 years flying left at this age. Guys and girls of even grander vintage are making it into the airlines these days.
I don't want to start a discussion on how old is too old etc etc, just making a minor point.
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Hi all
Im also a recent grad from OAT - more recent than the previous posts i think as our course finished last month!
As regards employment - there are 23 students on my course, after 1 month of the first finishing (and a few tail enders to go) 6 already have jobs with Thomas cook, 1 has a job with Air Greenland, 8 of us have BA sim checks of which 2 have aready passed. Potentialy that could leave just 7 people (30%) without employment straight from leaving the course let alone months along the line. I also know the 2 of those stil loooking have job interviews very soon and could secure employment so it looks good reading so far!
For those wondering about age, one of the guys who has a BA sim check is aged 39. It is correct in saying that it does become more difficult but not impossible by any means. Get your head down and work hard and this is what you can achieve!
A lot of people will come to OAT and over half will be knocked back on the assessment. The reason grads tend to do well is that the assessment ensures that 1) the students has the capabilities to complete the course 2) you have the right personality for the airline industry 3) if an airine came to OAt after a grad - they could recommend you without hesitation.
And believe me not all students at OAT can tick the box to those few points otherwise im sure the employment stats would be even higher!
The stats i believe are about 90% have jobs within 6 months and our course is well wel on the way to achieving that if not better!
For me personally the reason i chose OAT was to give myself the best possible chance. I knew if i put my mind to it i could get good results. OAT gave me a shot with BA and i grabbed that with both hands.
I haven't regretted parting with a penny of that cash since day 1 as ive got exactly what i paid the price tag for. Yes other FTO's are much cheaper but i might not have got the chances of employment i have had here. I can now start earning months at least before many others at different FTO's will secure employment and that more than makes up for the difference in course pricing!
we all have our own opinions anyway but hope this is useful
adj
Im also a recent grad from OAT - more recent than the previous posts i think as our course finished last month!
As regards employment - there are 23 students on my course, after 1 month of the first finishing (and a few tail enders to go) 6 already have jobs with Thomas cook, 1 has a job with Air Greenland, 8 of us have BA sim checks of which 2 have aready passed. Potentialy that could leave just 7 people (30%) without employment straight from leaving the course let alone months along the line. I also know the 2 of those stil loooking have job interviews very soon and could secure employment so it looks good reading so far!
For those wondering about age, one of the guys who has a BA sim check is aged 39. It is correct in saying that it does become more difficult but not impossible by any means. Get your head down and work hard and this is what you can achieve!
A lot of people will come to OAT and over half will be knocked back on the assessment. The reason grads tend to do well is that the assessment ensures that 1) the students has the capabilities to complete the course 2) you have the right personality for the airline industry 3) if an airine came to OAt after a grad - they could recommend you without hesitation.
And believe me not all students at OAT can tick the box to those few points otherwise im sure the employment stats would be even higher!
The stats i believe are about 90% have jobs within 6 months and our course is well wel on the way to achieving that if not better!
For me personally the reason i chose OAT was to give myself the best possible chance. I knew if i put my mind to it i could get good results. OAT gave me a shot with BA and i grabbed that with both hands.
I haven't regretted parting with a penny of that cash since day 1 as ive got exactly what i paid the price tag for. Yes other FTO's are much cheaper but i might not have got the chances of employment i have had here. I can now start earning months at least before many others at different FTO's will secure employment and that more than makes up for the difference in course pricing!
we all have our own opinions anyway but hope this is useful
adj