Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme 2023
Join Date: Sep 2023
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Join Date: Dec 2022
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I applied 7th of August and have not yet received a rejection. If any one wants to share their date of application and application status please do!
im guessing today the remainder of rejections will go out. Good luck again to all of us who are waiting.
im guessing today the remainder of rejections will go out. Good luck again to all of us who are waiting.
Join Date: Dec 2022
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More rejections will be sent today and then a second sift will take place next week that will lead to further rejections being sent out. This is just from what others have said in previous messages, I have no direct knowledge myself!
Join Date: Sep 2023
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Hi everyone,
Made an account so I could add some advise. I used to work in recruitment for an airline years ago and we ran cadet schemes. I've since moved onto other roles in aviation but can weigh in here on what the process was like with us. I'll start buy saying you should assume you are unsuccessful until you have an offer in hand, medical and background checks completed!
We averaged around 8000 applications and we could not review every single one. There was some automatic sorting based on how well you did in the online assessments but the majority did well enough to be considered for the assessment day. We had to go from that 8000 to 300 for the assessment days and we simply had to cut that number down by selecting candidates at random for assessment and CV review by someone from the team. This obviously means that while you may have done well with the assessments and have a good CV, it really did come down to luck. In some cases we had a target number of candidates to review by hand but due to how long it takes we rarely met the target.
Even at the assessment days we only had 10-20 spaces to fill so many capable candidates on those days were unsuccessful.
Flying experience and a class 1 medical did both work as a benefit on your CV but are not make or break. We did have some candidates who were offered a place but could not get a class 1 medical.
So please do not get your hopes up or be too disheartened. If it was anything like our process, rejection emails went out over a week due to the volume. For your own sake assume (due to the odds) you won't get a place, even if you get to the assessment day and do not let it dishearten you. It's highly likely a rejection is not personal but simple automated because there are so many applicants.
I did read here someone concerned about age. We offered places to candidates from 18 up to late 40s. Mandatory retirement for Pilots is at 65 which was the only limiting factor. For direct entry CPLs we were hiring people into their 50s.
There were cases when we eventually hired Pilots as direct entry modular CPLs who had previously been unsuccessful at the cadet application process!
Take this as you have entered the lottery and hope to win but please do not torture yourself refreshing emails etc
*my experiences may not reflect that of processes at other airlines
Made an account so I could add some advise. I used to work in recruitment for an airline years ago and we ran cadet schemes. I've since moved onto other roles in aviation but can weigh in here on what the process was like with us. I'll start buy saying you should assume you are unsuccessful until you have an offer in hand, medical and background checks completed!
We averaged around 8000 applications and we could not review every single one. There was some automatic sorting based on how well you did in the online assessments but the majority did well enough to be considered for the assessment day. We had to go from that 8000 to 300 for the assessment days and we simply had to cut that number down by selecting candidates at random for assessment and CV review by someone from the team. This obviously means that while you may have done well with the assessments and have a good CV, it really did come down to luck. In some cases we had a target number of candidates to review by hand but due to how long it takes we rarely met the target.
Even at the assessment days we only had 10-20 spaces to fill so many capable candidates on those days were unsuccessful.
Flying experience and a class 1 medical did both work as a benefit on your CV but are not make or break. We did have some candidates who were offered a place but could not get a class 1 medical.
So please do not get your hopes up or be too disheartened. If it was anything like our process, rejection emails went out over a week due to the volume. For your own sake assume (due to the odds) you won't get a place, even if you get to the assessment day and do not let it dishearten you. It's highly likely a rejection is not personal but simple automated because there are so many applicants.
I did read here someone concerned about age. We offered places to candidates from 18 up to late 40s. Mandatory retirement for Pilots is at 65 which was the only limiting factor. For direct entry CPLs we were hiring people into their 50s.
There were cases when we eventually hired Pilots as direct entry modular CPLs who had previously been unsuccessful at the cadet application process!
Take this as you have entered the lottery and hope to win but please do not torture yourself refreshing emails etc
*my experiences may not reflect that of processes at other airlines
Join Date: Aug 2023
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I am also a flight attendant so don’t give up!! British Airways is opening applications for their pilot scheme at the end of September I believe (I am with them at the moment) if that’s something you would be interested in! x
Join Date: Aug 2018
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that’s not true this was made for you, I got rejected 5 times before I got the job as a flight attendant. Keep trying don’t give up I know right now you won’t feel hope but I promise you I’ve been there and I’m still there right now. You’ve just got to keep pushing and pushing and I promise you’ll get there 
Hopefully they'll run it again next year and with that attitude you'll definitely go far, wishing you the best of luck with it.
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This was my first time also. I'm 34 so pushing it a bit with regards to age but I had never heard of these Future Pilot Programs until I met my wife's colleague's husband lol he completed the course in the 2019 intake and my mind was blown when he was telling me about it. Really wish I had caught wind of it earlier but hey ho. Anyways, I was chatting to this guy who is currently a pilot with Aer Lingus and he told me not to worry and that "nobody gets through it on their first go". I'm sure there would be a rare exception but I understand Aer Lingus are fond of those who are returning applicants. It shows determination, would be my guess. Keep at it!
I was hoping they appreciate repeat applicants.. but doesn't seem that way for me
Applied back in 2019 and got through to video interview, but no further.
This time.. not even through to assessments, despite having more flying experience 🤷🏼♀️
assuming it's because I'm now 36 😢
Join Date: Sep 2023
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I applied 30th July, then completed the assessments 2nd August. Haven't heard anything yet.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Long time lurker, haven't posted in a while. Did OK on the TUI scheme so hopeful that this is an upwards trend!!
As regards Aer, still waiting:
Applied 31st July, received test invitations 1st Aug, sat tests 4th Aug.
I don't remember much about the tests - I sat similar for LEAP+FI and didn't get anywhere, I wonder if this suite is what Jerez like to use? Most frustrating one was the "nav" test with instruments - after the example questions, I didn't understand how the results were reached! Everything else seemed reasonably fine. Shall find out soon enough ... good luck all, remember there is Speedbird and TUI coming up, and who knows what else
As regards Aer, still waiting:
Applied 31st July, received test invitations 1st Aug, sat tests 4th Aug.
I don't remember much about the tests - I sat similar for LEAP+FI and didn't get anywhere, I wonder if this suite is what Jerez like to use? Most frustrating one was the "nav" test with instruments - after the example questions, I didn't understand how the results were reached! Everything else seemed reasonably fine. Shall find out soon enough ... good luck all, remember there is Speedbird and TUI coming up, and who knows what else
Join Date: Jun 2017
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Hey guys, I sent my application on 7th August and completed assessments on the 17th.
I didn’t receive any rejection so far, but neither did I when I applied back in 2019 (I was working for them at the time).
Let’s wait and see, best of luck to everyone 🙂
I didn’t receive any rejection so far, but neither did I when I applied back in 2019 (I was working for them at the time).
Let’s wait and see, best of luck to everyone 🙂
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Belfast
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Long time lurker, haven't posted in a while. Did OK on the TUI scheme so hopeful that this is an upwards trend!!
As regards Aer, still waiting:
Applied 31st July, received test invitations 1st Aug, sat tests 4th Aug.
I don't remember much about the tests - I sat similar for LEAP+FI and didn't get anywhere, I wonder if this suite is what Jerez like to use? Most frustrating one was the "nav" test with instruments - after the example questions, I didn't understand how the results were reached! Everything else seemed reasonably fine. Shall find out soon enough ... good luck all, remember there is Speedbird and TUI coming up, and who knows what else
As regards Aer, still waiting:
Applied 31st July, received test invitations 1st Aug, sat tests 4th Aug.
I don't remember much about the tests - I sat similar for LEAP+FI and didn't get anywhere, I wonder if this suite is what Jerez like to use? Most frustrating one was the "nav" test with instruments - after the example questions, I didn't understand how the results were reached! Everything else seemed reasonably fine. Shall find out soon enough ... good luck all, remember there is Speedbird and TUI coming up, and who knows what else
Join Date: Aug 2004
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I was exactly the same with the nav test - I did the example question like 3 times and I still wasn't certain how they got to the answer. I did what I thought they were asking and I reckon I did reasonably well or ENTIRELY wrong! The sudoku-style puzzle I found fairly tricky too given the very short time limits.
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Totally agree, I did the same with one of the larger grids. It would have been great to know how correct/incorrect guesses were weighted to maximise your score but we will probably never get this. It's hard to even judge - would an airline prefer a slower correct answer or the wrong one but moving onto the next thing. I'd guess the correct one but who knows!