Bah, Help please
 

Obviously by my posting here most of you will deduce that I desire to become an airline pilot. Ive stumbled across Air Atlantique and their cadet pilot sponsorship scheme, just wondered if any of you had any information/opinions on Air Atlantique and their sponsorhship scheme. Ive seen a post on it elsewhere in the forum but cant find it again. Also, if some of you dont approve of Air Atlantique's scheme, any recommendations/suggestions on where to look? Thanks in advance.

I would strongly suggest applying to the CTC wings cadet scheme as well. All the pilots I know who have been through any form of training from a CTC scheme have found good airline jobs.

Good luck :ok:

Thanks Alot, I'll check that out. That means I'll have to wait until August when I get my A-Level results. Whilst on that note, It says "2 A-Levels at Grade C or above or a Honours 2.2 (equivalent results will be accepted)", does this mean that my two AS Levels will make up for the fact I may not get 2 C's and only one? As I have 2 A-Levels and 2 AS Levels.

Hmmm. Good question. I'm dont know really, however someone on this forum will be able to tell you Im sure. These schemes are worth the wait, I know of a guy who went straight onto the 757! :eek:

:o God Damn that would be amazing. Im looking at numerous different things...Air Atlantique, CTC (now), also a course at a university, I emailled someone at GAPAN and he didnt seem to encouraging of it, I mean I had my doubts but Im not sure, http://www.bcuc.ac.uk/main.asp?page=129 .

CTC tend not to be very flexible when looking at alternatives.

Hmm right, I mean I still may get 2, but if not, I may just apply anyway with alternatives and see what happens. I just need as many options as possible.

If it is "or equivalent" I am sure you will be fine, but if not, then you are going to have more problems arguing your case.

Solve the problem by retaking one in December if you are stuck!

The exact quote is..."You must have 2 A Levels at grade C or above - or an Honours Degree, minimum level 2:2. (Equivalent qualifications will be considered)". I imagine "considered" will be the key word. Ive contacted CTC to ask them about it. But yeah, the resit is always an option I suppose.

AS levels are a lower grade of qualification than A levels, and would no more be considered equivalent to an A level than would any number of GCSEs. The degree of academic rigour required is simply not the same.

The kinds of qualifications that would be considered equivalent are Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate, and other countries' school-leavers' similar qualifications.

Scroggs

Don't forget the Irish Leaving Cert ;). Have a read of the CTC Wings Cadets thread, there might be something in there on whether CTC are willing to be a bit lenient on academic qulaifications.

It really surprises me when I see the academic requirement:

"2 A-Levels at Grade C or above or a Honours 2.2"

I can't believe some companies consider two C grade A-Level grades are equal to a 2.2 honours degree....because they're simply not. In my opinion this sends out the wrong message to potential university candidates. What if a student left 6th form with 2 A-levels at C or above, and then went on to get a 2.2 honours degree. Does this mean he/she is no better off academically?

I’m not suggesting A-Levels are easy by any means, but compared to the University level, they just don’t compare.

Grice in many ways I have to disagree with you. The key word in that sentence is or. What about an individual that got lower than 2 A levels at grade c but then went onto University and got a 2:2 or above, they can apply. Likewise, someone who got 4 straight A's but got under a 2:2 at a top university. Those academic requirements are the bare minimum, they represent that you can apply yourself to study. In many regards, such qualifications are a tick in the right box. Academics alone will not get you onto these schemes, natural aptitude, your personality, your life experiences/choices and your sheer determination will play much more of an important role when it comes to getting selected or not.

I have to agree that 2 A-Levels or a 2:2 provides more options to the potential applicants for such schemes. So if you f:mad:k up your A-Levels, you can still go on to Uni and make success of your self. And from my Uni days, I've seen folk come in with 4 A grade A-Levels and leave with 2:2's, thirds and even drop out.

But, a degree and A-Levels are not designed to be equal. A university honours degree is the progression on from further education to higher education, and thus the complexity of study is designed to increase.

Even though for example CTC are asking for "2 A-Levels at Grade C or above or a Honours 2.2", I wouldn't expect CTC to hold a 'further' qualification in equal stature with a 'higher' qualification.

But, I know education is an opinionated subject, and people’s views differ hugely.

This is just my opinion. :ok:

eP

Yeah, on thinking about it, its pretty daft to assume that. God Damn my lack of effort at college. Spose I could do as originally planned, get a Maths degree (hopefully a 2.2 at least), do some sort of scheme/training afterwards. I know Im better than my college grades will show but I used to have that "know it all, dont care" attitude and I've found out (with maturity) it doesnt pay off. :sad:

Good on yer for realising that attitude aint good at the age of 18 :ok:

Took me a good while longer than that before I knuckled down to some hard graft at Uni.

Hmm thanks, I realised a while ago, it just really hits home when theres something you wanna do as much as I wanna do this, and it appears nigh on impossible to get into this industry. Pffft! Ah well, no-one likes a quitter.

Tell me about it. It’s a disheartening journey at times. I've wanted to be a pilot ever since I can remember (my parents say I was saying it at about 7 or 8).

I planned to leave sixth form with A-Levels, and apply to BA. Which I did, got through to the final stage, then 9/11 happened and the letter came through saying the scheme had been withdrawn. What a bummer!

So, I went to Uni hoping the industry would pick itself up, and apply after my degree. And to its credit, the industry has certainly come along way since the dark post-9/11 days. However, upon graduation, an opportunity came my way to do an aerospace PhD and a grabbed it with both hands. I'm now 25, and will get my PhD at 27. I'll be taking my PPL, Class 1 and fATPL ground exams at the BGS whilst doing the PhD, then go full time CPL/IR after its finished.

If someone would have said to me at 17 you want start commercial training for another 10 years, I'd have been gutted! But looking back, I'm happy with the route I've followed.

Sometimes when you read about these 19/20 year-old guys already flying (full credit to them), it can make you feel a bit down - a feeling of "I've missed the boat". But, as you say, no one likes a quitter and you've got to stick at it in this industry - and I'll never give up! :ok:

I was about the same age as you as memory recalls, when I 'decided' I wanted to become a pilot, but later in life I was adamantly told I couldnt become one due to eyesight, but obviously as Ive got older, I've checked this with CAA and my eyesight is actually fine to become a pilot, with correction. On discovering this Im actively searching for ways to get into the industry. But now theres the complication of grades, which I didnt think of at college. Theres always other methods of course:

• Find another scheme where one does not require such academic qualifications (Air Atlantique for instance).
• Go to university, come out, apply for other schemes (CTC, BA, EJ)
• Pay a flying school for a 'zero to fATPL' training course. Most probably will have to be done after uni again, as I cant afford £40-£70k at the moment. I could sell my car to afford a PPL ;) But thats it hahaha.

Thats pretty damn unfortunate about BA, but sounds as if it might have been a blessing in disguise, what with the PhD and such like.

LeeH - time is certainly on your side. I left University in 2001 - applied to the BA sponsorship scheme and got the same letter as Easy did. I struggled to find employment but eventually did and after one move I now have a good career earning fairly good money in the City. Whilst working, I have been saving for my flight training. I resigned from my job two weeks ago to take up a place on the CTC Wings scheme. These things do happen, just try to ensure that you maximise the value out of anything that you do. Whether that is University, or a job.

S