The CTC Wings (Cadets) Thread - Part 2.
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CTC wing assessment
Hi
I am new to this forum
I am in the same situation like you... unable to know were to focus and change my approach.
I could not clear interview and group discussion at my previous attempt...and asked to come back 6 months later.
If any one can help ... it will be nice ...
I am new to this forum
I am in the same situation like you... unable to know were to focus and change my approach.
I could not clear interview and group discussion at my previous attempt...and asked to come back 6 months later.
If any one can help ... it will be nice ...
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Hi, my mate went to pilotprep.co.uk and he cruised through his CTC assessments. Said it was defo worth it. You could try asking them for more info if it's not too late.
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for pilot aptitude test prep for CTC use skytest...it costs, yes, but they are exactly the same tests CTC use. Otherwise just practice with any program you can get your hands on, if you can get skytest, I don't think there's anything more relative for CTC. I recommend doing the progressive lessons in it (can't remember what it is actually called, progression something...)
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Hi! First time poster 
Does anyone know if the CTC MPL for Virgin Atlantic is just another name for the latter's "Future Flyers Programme"? Does anybody have any information about the recruitment process for this prgramme (i.e. interviews, group exercises, presentations, aptitude tests etc.)? Any information would be extremely helpful!
X
Does anyone know if the CTC MPL for Virgin Atlantic is just another name for the latter's "Future Flyers Programme"? Does anybody have any information about the recruitment process for this prgramme (i.e. interviews, group exercises, presentations, aptitude tests etc.)? Any information would be extremely helpful!
X
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All the info you need for the selection has been repeated a few times on PPRuNe. It's either in this thread, or in the Virgin thread in the Wannabees forum, currently on the the first page. It's CTC who assess you at stage 2 and 3 so maybe read their preparation guide too. Sorry I can't give much more than than.
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@DelayReducer, Not necessarily, keep your hopes high and the airlines can be known to fund it for you. BA's FPP is one of those. Virgin did mention it in their first in-take but I'm not so certain if they are this time around so do not want to speculate.
P.S. By fund I mean secure your bond for you.
P.S. By fund I mean secure your bond for you.
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CTC Whitetail route bank loan?
Hi everyone, is there anybody here who has taken a bank loan to complete their studies with CTC?
If you have, I am wondering if you can answer a couple of questions for me please...
1. After finishing training, how are you finding paying off the loan on a FO wage?
2. Would you recommend taking out a loan if you do not have the funds yourself to enrol on this course?
I understand many people on here are very much against taking out a loan with BBVA, however it would be interesting to see what current FO's who ahve fulfilled this process have to say.
As for me, I'm currently and Aircraft Engineering with Pilot studies student and doing 1 hour of flying per week. With one year left at university, I'm trying to sum up my options whether to go modular or integrated (with bank loan).
Many thanks in advance!
PFS
If you have, I am wondering if you can answer a couple of questions for me please...
1. After finishing training, how are you finding paying off the loan on a FO wage?
2. Would you recommend taking out a loan if you do not have the funds yourself to enrol on this course?
I understand many people on here are very much against taking out a loan with BBVA, however it would be interesting to see what current FO's who ahve fulfilled this process have to say.
As for me, I'm currently and Aircraft Engineering with Pilot studies student and doing 1 hour of flying per week. With one year left at university, I'm trying to sum up my options whether to go modular or integrated (with bank loan).
Many thanks in advance!
PFS
Hi everyone, is there anybody here who has taken a bank loan to complete their studies with CTC?
If you have, I am wondering if you can answer a couple of questions for me please...
1. After finishing training, how are you finding paying off the loan on a FO wage?
2. Would you recommend taking out a loan if you do not have the funds yourself to enrol on this course?
I understand many people on here are very much against taking out a loan with BBVA, however it would be interesting to see what current FO's who ahve fulfilled this process have to say.
As for me, I'm currently and Aircraft Engineering with Pilot studies student and doing 1 hour of flying per week. With one year left at university, I'm trying to sum up my options whether to go modular or integrated (with bank loan).
Many thanks in advance!
PFS
If you have, I am wondering if you can answer a couple of questions for me please...
1. After finishing training, how are you finding paying off the loan on a FO wage?
2. Would you recommend taking out a loan if you do not have the funds yourself to enrol on this course?
I understand many people on here are very much against taking out a loan with BBVA, however it would be interesting to see what current FO's who ahve fulfilled this process have to say.
As for me, I'm currently and Aircraft Engineering with Pilot studies student and doing 1 hour of flying per week. With one year left at university, I'm trying to sum up my options whether to go modular or integrated (with bank loan).
Many thanks in advance!
PFS
If I had to start training now... quite simply, I wouldn't.
Not with how much it costs, not with the employment/contract conditions.
Just like when flying, you have to consider "what if...?" when looking at paying for training.
What if I can't get a RHS job for 1-2 years? - its not uncommon, even at CTC/FTE/OAA
What if one of my parents loses their job? - Or ends up losing a big chunk of income or of their pension pot. Unless you've got significant savings to live off, you'll probably be relying on parents to support you throughout training and in the first couple of years on the line
What if I stuff up in line training (without a guaranteed job)? - if you're a non-employed pilot and on contract or placement to the airline (as I believe are most cadets until their line check) then if you need additional training, or you screw up your line check, the airline may just tell you to pack your bags, there are always plenty more fish in the infamous hold pool
What if the house value drops significantly? - leaving your parents in negative equity, and unable to move house until enough of the loan/mortgage is repaid or the house goes back up in value
What if I can't afford to make the repayments? - Defaulting on the loan could be long-term disaster. It'll hammer your credit rating for a long time, and that of any guarantors (i.e. parents), plus if you can't make the repayments they can repossess the home
What if I lose my medical? - it happens, I know 6 people in their early to mid 20s who lost their Class 1 indefinitely. Only one has got it back so far, LOTE insurance paid out for one other when the CAA said there was no chance. The other 4 are in limbo, they are recovered and the CAA will eventually assess them as fit once they satisfy all requirements, but no insurance payout as it's not permanent, and no hope of a job anytime soon as they're only part-trained, but with loan repayments looming (one of these people clocked up over £24k in regular private consultants fees and all sorts of regular cardiovascular and neurological medical tests... he is "socially healthy", so NHS said it's not necessary for him to get work and won't cover any of it, so had to go private for it all instead.
I don't mean to scare you off, but it appears far too many people do not seem to have a full appreciation of the implications.
They have access to £130k, either through their parents, or secured on their parents house, without actually calculating whether they can afford to pay it back or not.
It's irresponsible on their part, their parents part, and the banks part.
Oh and don't believe that you'll ever get ANY of your training costs back from the airline. YOU WON'T!
CTC is like any other integrated training school when it comes to money... you pay them the money (they call it a security or training bond), and you get the training.
At best, if you get placed with a CTC partner airline, you'll have a salary that is reduced by exactly the amount of "training bond" they're paying back to you, e.g. they'll give you £12k a year tax free that isn't part of your salary, and you'll just so happen to have a salary that is £12k less than a direct entry pilot.
So my advice... don't go for the loan unless you absolutely have to. And only do so if you can afford to pay it back if things don't go to plan.
A better option might be, if the circumstances allow, for your parents to remortgage their house (which is what the BBVA loan is anyway) and consolidate all the mortgage into one payment (rather than the mortgage payment PLUS the BBVA payment) and that way the payment would probably be more manageable.
But I would not want to put my parents in the position of paying off my loan because I couldn't get a job, whether through a mortgage or a loan.
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@DelayReducer,
In the same boat sadly. One can still dream eh! Nevertheless, passed Virgin MPL stages to date this time, waiting on a final shortlist call for The Base, Gatwick. Fingers crossed. Even so, i'm going in blind with no idea what to expect at the final interview, if called.
Still, at 22, i've many more years of attempts before my time on earth ends eh!
In the same boat sadly. One can still dream eh! Nevertheless, passed Virgin MPL stages to date this time, waiting on a final shortlist call for The Base, Gatwick. Fingers crossed. Even so, i'm going in blind with no idea what to expect at the final interview, if called.
Still, at 22, i've many more years of attempts before my time on earth ends eh!
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In the same boat sadly. One can still dream eh! Nevertheless, passed Virgin MPL stages to date this time, waiting on a final shortlist call for The Base, Gatwick. Fingers crossed. Even so, i'm going in blind with no idea what to expect at the final interview, if called.
Still, at 22, i've many more years of attempts before my time on earth ends eh!
Still, at 22, i've many more years of attempts before my time on earth ends eh!
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P.s. tfin, you got any news yet? You through too?
Last edited by gbotley; 21st Jan 2016 at 17:23.
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It was a no for me . I wasn't suprised really, it was my first time doing any sort of airline assesment day. I've since decided that the virgin scheme wouldn't be for me anyway so no love lost!
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Hi all Newbie here,
I have read with interest almost all posts in this thread in order to gain an understanding as to whether CTC white tail is a viable option for myself. I won't go into details as I very much aware it may be right for some but may not be for others.
A couple of things I did want to add -
Newbies asking for information - you could do a lot worse than read back in this thread all the information is on here for everyone to see. Thank you all that have taken the time to share your experiences. It was nice to have a slight idea what to expect when I went through the selection process, I won't bore you all with it again.
Secondly I take particular interest in @LlamaFarmer's post re: loan repayments in the current climate. This is my main concern at the moment, it would be great to hear how others are coping as I can certainly see it being a struggle to say the least, when you take into account current contracts being offered by airlines to frozen ATPL pilots.
I know wages etc are a taboo subject but it's great to have an open debate about earnings v loan repayments so people can make an educated decision, however hard this may seem when one is trying to follow their dream!
Anyhoo thanks for all the information guys
Tubeflyer.
I have read with interest almost all posts in this thread in order to gain an understanding as to whether CTC white tail is a viable option for myself. I won't go into details as I very much aware it may be right for some but may not be for others.
A couple of things I did want to add -
Newbies asking for information - you could do a lot worse than read back in this thread all the information is on here for everyone to see. Thank you all that have taken the time to share your experiences. It was nice to have a slight idea what to expect when I went through the selection process, I won't bore you all with it again.
Secondly I take particular interest in @LlamaFarmer's post re: loan repayments in the current climate. This is my main concern at the moment, it would be great to hear how others are coping as I can certainly see it being a struggle to say the least, when you take into account current contracts being offered by airlines to frozen ATPL pilots.
I know wages etc are a taboo subject but it's great to have an open debate about earnings v loan repayments so people can make an educated decision, however hard this may seem when one is trying to follow their dream!
Anyhoo thanks for all the information guys
Tubeflyer.
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After all pension/tax/NI deductibles, all essential monthly outgoings (rent/food/bills/fuel/insurances) and a few hundred a month into savings for the house deposit, I don't have all that much left to actually have a life. Certainly nowhere near enough to pay back £1500 a month on £130Ks of loan.
If I had to start training now... quite simply, I wouldn't.
Not with how much it costs, not with the employment/contract conditions.
Just like when flying, you have to consider "what if...?" when looking at paying for training.
What if I can't get a RHS job for 1-2 years? - its not uncommon, even at CTC/FTE/OAA
What if one of my parents loses their job? - Or ends up losing a big chunk of income or of their pension pot. Unless you've got significant savings to live off, you'll probably be relying on parents to support you throughout training and in the first couple of years on the line
What if I stuff up in line training (without a guaranteed job)? - if you're a non-employed pilot and on contract or placement to the airline (as I believe are most cadets until their line check) then if you need additional training, or you screw up your line check, the airline may just tell you to pack your bags, there are always plenty more fish in the infamous hold pool
What if the house value drops significantly? - leaving your parents in negative equity, and unable to move house until enough of the loan/mortgage is repaid or the house goes back up in value
What if I can't afford to make the repayments? - Defaulting on the loan could be long-term disaster. It'll hammer your credit rating for a long time, and that of any guarantors (i.e. parents), plus if you can't make the repayments they can repossess the home
What if I lose my medical? - it happens, I know 6 people in their early to mid 20s who lost their Class 1 indefinitely. Only one has got it back so far, LOTE insurance paid out for one other when the CAA said there was no chance. The other 4 are in limbo, they are recovered and the CAA will eventually assess them as fit once they satisfy all requirements, but no insurance payout as it's not permanent, and no hope of a job anytime soon as they're only part-trained, but with loan repayments looming (one of these people clocked up over £24k in regular private consultants fees and all sorts of regular cardiovascular and neurological medical tests... he is "socially healthy", so NHS said it's not necessary for him to get work and won't cover any of it, so had to go private for it all instead.
I don't mean to scare you off, but it appears far too many people do not seem to have a full appreciation of the implications.
They have access to £130k, either through their parents, or secured on their parents house, without actually calculating whether they can afford to pay it back or not.
It's irresponsible on their part, their parents part, and the banks part.
Oh and don't believe that you'll ever get ANY of your training costs back from the airline. YOU WON'T!
CTC is like any other integrated training school when it comes to money... you pay them the money (they call it a security or training bond), and you get the training.
At best, if you get placed with a CTC partner airline, you'll have a salary that is reduced by exactly the amount of "training bond" they're paying back to you, e.g. they'll give you £12k a year tax free that isn't part of your salary, and you'll just so happen to have a salary that is £12k less than a direct entry pilot.
So my advice... don't go for the loan unless you absolutely have to. And only do so if you can afford to pay it back if things don't go to plan.
A better option might be, if the circumstances allow, for your parents to remortgage their house (which is what the BBVA loan is anyway) and consolidate all the mortgage into one payment (rather than the mortgage payment PLUS the BBVA payment) and that way the payment would probably be more manageable.
But I would not want to put my parents in the position of paying off my loan because I couldn't get a job, whether through a mortgage or a loan.
If I had to start training now... quite simply, I wouldn't.
Not with how much it costs, not with the employment/contract conditions.
Just like when flying, you have to consider "what if...?" when looking at paying for training.
What if I can't get a RHS job for 1-2 years? - its not uncommon, even at CTC/FTE/OAA
What if one of my parents loses their job? - Or ends up losing a big chunk of income or of their pension pot. Unless you've got significant savings to live off, you'll probably be relying on parents to support you throughout training and in the first couple of years on the line
What if I stuff up in line training (without a guaranteed job)? - if you're a non-employed pilot and on contract or placement to the airline (as I believe are most cadets until their line check) then if you need additional training, or you screw up your line check, the airline may just tell you to pack your bags, there are always plenty more fish in the infamous hold pool
What if the house value drops significantly? - leaving your parents in negative equity, and unable to move house until enough of the loan/mortgage is repaid or the house goes back up in value
What if I can't afford to make the repayments? - Defaulting on the loan could be long-term disaster. It'll hammer your credit rating for a long time, and that of any guarantors (i.e. parents), plus if you can't make the repayments they can repossess the home
What if I lose my medical? - it happens, I know 6 people in their early to mid 20s who lost their Class 1 indefinitely. Only one has got it back so far, LOTE insurance paid out for one other when the CAA said there was no chance. The other 4 are in limbo, they are recovered and the CAA will eventually assess them as fit once they satisfy all requirements, but no insurance payout as it's not permanent, and no hope of a job anytime soon as they're only part-trained, but with loan repayments looming (one of these people clocked up over £24k in regular private consultants fees and all sorts of regular cardiovascular and neurological medical tests... he is "socially healthy", so NHS said it's not necessary for him to get work and won't cover any of it, so had to go private for it all instead.
I don't mean to scare you off, but it appears far too many people do not seem to have a full appreciation of the implications.
They have access to £130k, either through their parents, or secured on their parents house, without actually calculating whether they can afford to pay it back or not.
It's irresponsible on their part, their parents part, and the banks part.
Oh and don't believe that you'll ever get ANY of your training costs back from the airline. YOU WON'T!
CTC is like any other integrated training school when it comes to money... you pay them the money (they call it a security or training bond), and you get the training.
At best, if you get placed with a CTC partner airline, you'll have a salary that is reduced by exactly the amount of "training bond" they're paying back to you, e.g. they'll give you £12k a year tax free that isn't part of your salary, and you'll just so happen to have a salary that is £12k less than a direct entry pilot.
So my advice... don't go for the loan unless you absolutely have to. And only do so if you can afford to pay it back if things don't go to plan.
A better option might be, if the circumstances allow, for your parents to remortgage their house (which is what the BBVA loan is anyway) and consolidate all the mortgage into one payment (rather than the mortgage payment PLUS the BBVA payment) and that way the payment would probably be more manageable.
But I would not want to put my parents in the position of paying off my loan because I couldn't get a job, whether through a mortgage or a loan.
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Llamafarmer - Many thanks for your reply - I've found this very helpful, as I'm sure many others will reading this forum.
Does anybody else have any experience with bank loan?
Many thanks
PFS
Does anybody else have any experience with bank loan?
Many thanks
PFS
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I agree - some numbers would be great.
Specifically (if you will) the salary in the first year or so (when I imagine money is tightest). CTC say that they will pay you a 'tax free sustenance allowance' for your type rating training, can anyone put a number on this?
Thanks all.
FP.
Specifically (if you will) the salary in the first year or so (when I imagine money is tightest). CTC say that they will pay you a 'tax free sustenance allowance' for your type rating training, can anyone put a number on this?
Thanks all.
FP.
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Very interesting read. Thanks for that.
BBVAs terms on their loans are changing soon perhaps somewhat to match the new ATPL Finance offering. In having discussions with them of late it is likely to mean payments reduce and the payment duration available increasing. Just keep an eye out on their publications.
BBVAs terms on their loans are changing soon perhaps somewhat to match the new ATPL Finance offering. In having discussions with them of late it is likely to mean payments reduce and the payment duration available increasing. Just keep an eye out on their publications.