CTC Social Thread
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Stage 4
I'm going to stage 4 in some weeks and I was wondering if any of you knew which sims they have at nursling. I know they are 737 and 320 but dunno which series. Does anyone know?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hamilton NZ
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Facebook for CP57...14th January 2008
CP57 Facebook.........http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19259150680
Started off by Kierenmp (but he's travelling the world just now)
Started off by Kierenmp (but he's travelling the world just now)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Surrey (NZ 7th November CP55)
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Morning all, gone a bit dead on this post, anyone have any idea of the following?
1 - What is the meet and greet all about? (yes yes clearly to say hi to all your new school chums....) anything else involved? (i understand you go down for the day, and then there is an evening shin dig with guests invited?)
2 - What is the first week out in NZ like? (again I am presuming it is pretty relaxed affair, getting to know the airfield, settling in, SOP's etc etc?)
3 - Is there anything anyone would really recomend taking to NZ? (travel adaptors, clothes etc etc......)
Any info from anyone already out there that they think us that are a little "wet" behind the ears would need to know.....
Cheers
Niagra (CP55)
1 - What is the meet and greet all about? (yes yes clearly to say hi to all your new school chums....) anything else involved? (i understand you go down for the day, and then there is an evening shin dig with guests invited?)
2 - What is the first week out in NZ like? (again I am presuming it is pretty relaxed affair, getting to know the airfield, settling in, SOP's etc etc?)
3 - Is there anything anyone would really recomend taking to NZ? (travel adaptors, clothes etc etc......)
Any info from anyone already out there that they think us that are a little "wet" behind the ears would need to know.....
Cheers
Niagra (CP55)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: With my head in a sandbox!
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The meet and greet is a really good day actually - you get to meet your coursemates and sit down with some of CTC and have a day of power point presentations about CTC, the training, some of the housekeeping bit and pieces and then we spent the afternoon looking at some human factors and CRM based stuff looking at the 'GRADE' model CTC expect cadets to apply in emergencies (will make more sense on the day) and also how humans learn and how you should prepare yourselves. Also looked at some air distasters to set the mood!!
The first week is not really a chill out week!! You have the Friday, Saturday and Sunday to get over the jetlag, but will be expected to be in for 08:30 monday morning for a 2 day induction (full days with lots of info!), then on the wednesday, you will most likely start studying for your first exam, FRTO. You will most likey get that following weekend off before starting the next subject on Monday (Air Law if I remember correctly). At the moment, the newbies are doing the bulk of their lectures at 06:15 which is always fun! May well change, but the last 3 CPs have had the early morning lectures.
Although the weather at the minute is pretty damn awful at the moment, (just look at the synoptics online to see what I mean!!), we are approaching summer and the weather should be pretty similar to UK summer (not the most recent one I should probably add!). Most things are readily available out here so don't weigh your luggage down with loads of toiletries etc. Buy it all here and use the weight to bring a PS3 or something! Sure most are aware but a laptop is a pretty important piece of kit as the ATPLs are monitored online plus the daily schedule is released online each evening. Adaptors all easy enough to get out here.
The first week is not really a chill out week!! You have the Friday, Saturday and Sunday to get over the jetlag, but will be expected to be in for 08:30 monday morning for a 2 day induction (full days with lots of info!), then on the wednesday, you will most likely start studying for your first exam, FRTO. You will most likey get that following weekend off before starting the next subject on Monday (Air Law if I remember correctly). At the moment, the newbies are doing the bulk of their lectures at 06:15 which is always fun! May well change, but the last 3 CPs have had the early morning lectures.
Although the weather at the minute is pretty damn awful at the moment, (just look at the synoptics online to see what I mean!!), we are approaching summer and the weather should be pretty similar to UK summer (not the most recent one I should probably add!). Most things are readily available out here so don't weigh your luggage down with loads of toiletries etc. Buy it all here and use the weight to bring a PS3 or something! Sure most are aware but a laptop is a pretty important piece of kit as the ATPLs are monitored online plus the daily schedule is released online each evening. Adaptors all easy enough to get out here.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Surrey (NZ 7th November CP55)
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Thanks PAJ,
Ok out of the frying pan and into the fire! Can't complain, and i suppose it is good to go over there prepared, rather than with the wool pulled over our eyes! (well mine anyways...)
I presume i read that right.... 6.15 lectures? in the morning?
hmmmmmm this kind of time is alien to me
Yeah i have seen the great weathr you are having at the moment, is there much of a backlog? (roughly how many hours a week are you flying?)
If it is not to much trouble, any chance you could give us a "day in the life of" scenario of a typical day?
I know ill find out for myself pretty soon, be nice to know is all.
Got myself a nice shiny new laptop, debating bringing the PS3 over... (I guess if my luggage limit allows.... ill try and sneak it in......)
Cheers
Niagra
Ok out of the frying pan and into the fire! Can't complain, and i suppose it is good to go over there prepared, rather than with the wool pulled over our eyes! (well mine anyways...)
I presume i read that right.... 6.15 lectures? in the morning?
hmmmmmm this kind of time is alien to me
Yeah i have seen the great weathr you are having at the moment, is there much of a backlog? (roughly how many hours a week are you flying?)
If it is not to much trouble, any chance you could give us a "day in the life of" scenario of a typical day?
I know ill find out for myself pretty soon, be nice to know is all.
Got myself a nice shiny new laptop, debating bringing the PS3 over... (I guess if my luggage limit allows.... ill try and sneak it in......)
Cheers
Niagra
Just agreeing with what EZYramper said I'm not sure how good an idea is to put anything like that in your checked in luggage. The reality is that even with a fragile sticker on its unlikely to be looked at twice...
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I was indeed joking about the PS3, but if you do succumb to a moment of inspiration as to how to get one over here safely without leaving all your other stuff at home, I'm sure lots of us will want to be your friend!!
In terms of the backlog of hours, it is clearing slowly - the recent weather has really made it diffuicult to catch up many hours but summer should make things move along much quicker. New Alpha meant to come on line in the next few days and another is probably only 2-3 weeks away so the aprons are pretty full.
A typical day in the life is pretty hard to describe as rarely is the schedule that similar from day to day! For you new lot, it will generally be a 3 hour PPL lecture which are at the moment being done at 06:15, and often, that's the day at the training centre done! You might some days have a mass brief on an air lesson or start your SEP type rating stuff after, but generally it's the lecture early on then you have the rest of the day to yourselves (although you will need to spend a few hours each day learning the stuff for the PPL exams). The flying programme is designed to start early on in your time here, but it is just not possible at the moment to get people flying in the first couple of weeks. Things will speed up as the days get longer and weather improves, but I think a safe bet would be that you are unlikely to fly until you have been in NZ for at least a month.
Once you start flying and start the ATPL course, a typical (but busy) day could be up at 04:45 to arrive at the airport for 05:45 to be ready to taxi out for your first flight at about 06:15. You will have to get the weather and do your preformace calcs as well as pre-flight the aircraft and brief the flight in that half an hour. You might be back on the ground by 08:00, have an hour to chill out and have a coffee and get de-briefed. Then you might have a 3 hour ATPL lecture at 09:00, before grabbing some lunch. You could be booked in for a second flight in the afternoon which could have you finishing up to 12 hours after you arrived at the airport that morning (although 12 hours is the absolute maximum duty period a cadet can do). Instersperse the odd day like this with days off where you just spend the day going through the ATPL manuals and maybe some exploring of NZ (although anyone hoping to catch the end of the ski season can pretty much kiss that goodbye after Mt Ruapehu erupted last night!!).
As you say, you will find it all out when you get here. Just take advantage of being in the UK as once you get here, you do miss the place a bit.
In terms of the backlog of hours, it is clearing slowly - the recent weather has really made it diffuicult to catch up many hours but summer should make things move along much quicker. New Alpha meant to come on line in the next few days and another is probably only 2-3 weeks away so the aprons are pretty full.
A typical day in the life is pretty hard to describe as rarely is the schedule that similar from day to day! For you new lot, it will generally be a 3 hour PPL lecture which are at the moment being done at 06:15, and often, that's the day at the training centre done! You might some days have a mass brief on an air lesson or start your SEP type rating stuff after, but generally it's the lecture early on then you have the rest of the day to yourselves (although you will need to spend a few hours each day learning the stuff for the PPL exams). The flying programme is designed to start early on in your time here, but it is just not possible at the moment to get people flying in the first couple of weeks. Things will speed up as the days get longer and weather improves, but I think a safe bet would be that you are unlikely to fly until you have been in NZ for at least a month.
Once you start flying and start the ATPL course, a typical (but busy) day could be up at 04:45 to arrive at the airport for 05:45 to be ready to taxi out for your first flight at about 06:15. You will have to get the weather and do your preformace calcs as well as pre-flight the aircraft and brief the flight in that half an hour. You might be back on the ground by 08:00, have an hour to chill out and have a coffee and get de-briefed. Then you might have a 3 hour ATPL lecture at 09:00, before grabbing some lunch. You could be booked in for a second flight in the afternoon which could have you finishing up to 12 hours after you arrived at the airport that morning (although 12 hours is the absolute maximum duty period a cadet can do). Instersperse the odd day like this with days off where you just spend the day going through the ATPL manuals and maybe some exploring of NZ (although anyone hoping to catch the end of the ski season can pretty much kiss that goodbye after Mt Ruapehu erupted last night!!).
As you say, you will find it all out when you get here. Just take advantage of being in the UK as once you get here, you do miss the place a bit.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Surrey (NZ 7th November CP55)
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PAJ, excellent many thanks for taking the time to post that for us, gives us a great insight into a "day in the life" and also a new incentive to get my PS3 out there 
Miss the Uk, hmm well i wont for the first few weeks anyway, miss all the bloody forms that i have had to fill in the last three weeks..... I have writers cramp from it!
Hmm looks like ill have to wait a while before i get to sample the snow then.... bugger
Again, cheers for the post, it certainly begins to open the eyes!
Can't wait.....
Miss the Uk, hmm well i wont for the first few weeks anyway, miss all the bloody forms that i have had to fill in the last three weeks..... I have writers cramp from it!
Hmm looks like ill have to wait a while before i get to sample the snow then.... bugger
Again, cheers for the post, it certainly begins to open the eyes!
Can't wait.....
And here I was thinking I would get away from getting up at 4.30am for a year or so! Can't say that fills my life with joy but at least it will be doing something I enjoy rather than throwing, i mean placing, bags in an aircrafts hold!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Surrey (NZ 7th November CP55)
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GG, i wont take it out in November, as it will be summer, but when we come back in June, and go back out, then ill take my Clothes goggles etc....
Not sure ill take my board though........ I know a ski instructor who works in Queenstown, so ill probably tap him up for a hire
Got to get me some boarding in, missing out on my annual trip in January!
Not sure ill take my board though........ I know a ski instructor who works in Queenstown, so ill probably tap him up for a hire
Got to get me some boarding in, missing out on my annual trip in January!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Switzerland
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Lads I am in desperate need of a Cadet who's not from the UK and that has already gone through the process of doing all the paperwork... the issue is this, am I supposed to send my Passport to the NZ embassy in London even though I live in Switzerland?? Should I then send it to the consulate here in Switzerland?? What if the people here in Switzerland are not familiar with the "special" situation of us Cadets??
What have you done?
What have you done?
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Oh well.....at least 0430 starts will get us into the way of things for when we get all the st shifts when we start with our airline lol
Seniority will indeed have its advantages......one day
0430 starts will get us into the way of things for when we get all the st shifts when we start with our airline lol Seniority will indeed have its advantages......one day
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Phase 2 02/10 and phase 3 21/11
Hi Folks,
Calling everyone who was on the pm phase 2 on the 2nd October!
Has everyone heard back their results? Amp22 - Have you heard? I'm fairly chuffed to report that I've made it through
so it's time to stop worrying about that and concentrate on stage 3. They have offered me a phase 3 date of the 21st November which I should be able to make if I can secure the time off work. So thinking ahead...
Is there anyone who will be at phase 3 on 21st November?
I'm thinking of staying in one of the nearby hotels (no preferance at the mo) the night before. I'm only 1.5 hours away but I think I could do without rush hour travelling stress! It would be good to meet up with other candidates the night before for a chat over a beer (or half!) so if anyone wants to meet up reply back or send me a PM.
Hopefully see some of the guys I breifly met at phase 2 or anyone else on the 21st.
See you then!
Alex.
Calling everyone who was on the pm phase 2 on the 2nd October!
Has everyone heard back their results? Amp22 - Have you heard? I'm fairly chuffed to report that I've made it through
so it's time to stop worrying about that and concentrate on stage 3. They have offered me a phase 3 date of the 21st November which I should be able to make if I can secure the time off work. So thinking ahead...Is there anyone who will be at phase 3 on 21st November?
I'm thinking of staying in one of the nearby hotels (no preferance at the mo) the night before. I'm only 1.5 hours away but I think I could do without rush hour travelling stress! It would be good to meet up with other candidates the night before for a chat over a beer (or half!) so if anyone wants to meet up reply back or send me a PM.
Hopefully see some of the guys I breifly met at phase 2 or anyone else on the 21st.
See you then!
Alex.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Hi Alex. Congratulations on your phase 2 success! I'm pleased to say that I also passed, although I have to redo the numeracy test, not sure what went wrong there. Anyway, my Phase 3 will be the week after yours on 28th November, so I'm going to be doing lots of brushing up before then! Good luck. Andy.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Hi Guys,
Congratulations both of you!
Ye I was there on the 2nd (PM) Not sure if you were AM or PM so dunno if I saw you there or not. Got through though! Was reasonably suprised that I passed the maths, some of them I simply had to take an educated stab at the answer as the choices were so close together, estimation no longer worked!
They have given me a date for the 5th of December for Phase 3 I believe, which is rather a long way away! Although should give me time to recover from the excessive driving I did on Tuesday. I think this time I will do the 6 hour drive the night before! My brain was going into overdrive on the deviation test, had to take about a minutes break after each try!
Good Luck in your Phase 3 guys!
Joe
Congratulations both of you!
Ye I was there on the 2nd (PM) Not sure if you were AM or PM so dunno if I saw you there or not. Got through though! Was reasonably suprised that I passed the maths, some of them I simply had to take an educated stab at the answer as the choices were so close together, estimation no longer worked!
They have given me a date for the 5th of December for Phase 3 I believe, which is rather a long way away! Although should give me time to recover from the excessive driving I did on Tuesday. I think this time I will do the 6 hour drive the night before! My brain was going into overdrive on the deviation test, had to take about a minutes break after each try!
Good Luck in your Phase 3 guys!
Joe
Last edited by Exhibitz; 4th Oct 2007 at 12:22.