Is it a mechanism to avoid VAT, which would otherwise have to be charged?

Hello all,

I'm just curious as to what the hiring situation is currently like at CTC and at which airlines students are currently being placed. I'm aware that patterns change permitting recruitment needs.

With Jet2, TCX and Ryanair all having their own cadet graduate schemes it'd be nice to know if they still take on a fair number of CTC graduates. If not, which airlines are besides EZY and Flybe?

@Maverick97,

Since I started here cadets have been placed with easyJet, FlyBe, AirTanker (A330 commercial charter operations for the likes of Jet2 and TCX long haul), Norwegian, Aurigny and Aegean to name a few.

The bond has recently come under scrutiny from HMRC, affecting at least one airline. Be careful as it may not be available down the line. Be under no illusion you're not sponsored and you pay the full price for the course. The "bond" is just a tax advantage for the individual. If you are based outside of the UK then you cannot claim the tax advantage.

It certainly used to be able to be transferred between participating airlines and I know of several people who have worked for 2 carriers, both repaying the "bond"

Any one attanded the assesment day at 2.6?

did u manage to get the answer? is it the same as pilotaptitudetest.com?

Cadets haven't been placed.
Cadet applied, and got an interview, that is different..

Does anyone have any recommendations for pre-course reading?

I have six months until I start with L3 and have been given access to my Padpilot ATPL iBooks. Do any current or previous cadets have any recommendations on particularly hard topics/ concepts that would be beneficial getting my head around before starting.

I would be in the same position as you Benshaw. I don't have a PPL so might be behind the curve to begin with.

Does anybody know when CTC might be sending cadets to Portugal?

Already started. I believe it's generally Whitetail cadets being sent there over tagged.

benshaw, when do start / what course are you on, I start in about 6 months too?

If I pay for my Integrated ATPL with L3 and then pay for my Type Rating with easyjet for example, will i then have to also pay for line training?

Is there a current/past CTC/L3 cadet who is willing to let me see a copy of their Airline Placement Limited (APL) bond agreement please?

1. Get your maths up to speed. Basic gcse/ a-level stuff is crucial; re arranging formulas, arithmetic and trig are they key areas to be super hot on. The maths is the only thing that you need to have sorted beforehand to hit the ground running. You only get a couple of hours on basic maths the second day and then thats it, if you aren't comfortable with it, it can be really tough.
2. Don't touch PadPilot until you start the course, its utterly pointless. You might think you can get ahead but you can't.
3. Go buy Pukka Pads, coloured pens, highlighters, Post-It notes, a medium size whiteboard with drywipe pens, mechanical pencils and a big laminated world map for your room.
4. Go see all your mates/family beforehand and have a laugh and relax. I went on holiday before starting and it was great because I started nice and relaxed and in a good frame of mind.
5. Get to know your course mates on the first day. Having a social on the first Friday is crucial as its the only real time you can go out and have a laugh as a CP until Module 1 is over. Its astonishing how much the performance varies between CPs that gel well and those that don't. I got lucky and my CP really get on. Your course mates really do drag you through.
6. Keep positive. There is an awful lot of moaning that goes on that you will hear from CPs ahead of you. Most of it is attributed to EASA exam stress, but there is some discontent about the dreaded delays at the end of ground school. Ignore it all, you are 6 months and 14 exams away from finishing Ground school so your only job is to work hard and get good results. I have heard the word "sausage factory" banded about a lot, while its an unkind name there is an awful lot of guys and girls being put through the school, and the pace is relentless. Every cadet is all guilty of a moan at one time or another; just remember to not let it drag you down and try be the fattest and tastiest sausage in the whole factory!
7. Enjoy it where you can. Yes some things will seem so abstract that you wonder how on earth you will ever pass an exam on it, but the key is to keep chipping away at it and it will all fall in to place. The subjects are genuinely interesting for the most part and the instructors are genuinely great, you will have a laugh in lessons.

Good luck.

It seems to be yes. Although around the water cooler you hear of some pretty poor situations for some CPs. The powers that be are certainly aware of it, and the communication about the situation has been good. From the sounds of it the loss of Phenix came at exactly the wrong time, hence the ripples are still being felt. Two new flying training locations have just come online and are alleviating the delays.

More aircraft are leaving the maintenance contractor at Coventry and heading over. Again, things should be on the up from now on.

No, line training is on-the-job. You are working as a pilot so will get paid.

It's not getting better. If anything it's getting worse with the decision to train RAF pilots at what is already the most oversubscribed training facility. Students at Bournemouth have had weeks and weeks of delays and this ripples back through the system.

Even those on MPL courses are seeing huge delays despite needing to be at the airlines. Those of us on Wings have little hope of avoiding months of delays, without the option of getting a job in the meantime.