Count yourself lucky, it's been 14 years since I did AS Maths :}

Well done to those of you that saw the light and applied for the FlyBe sponsorship. Good move. There're two of this year's FlyBe sponsored crop writing this so the info is at least half reliable.

The repayments will be taken from your salaries for 5 years. Not a long time in the grand scheme of the possibility of 30+ years available to you in the aviation industry. Plus, if you honour your bond (no reason not to) the type rating is free for an airline with pretty much the youngest fleet in aviation, not to mention the prospect of an Embraer jet to get your hands on.

So to those of you down next week for the tests. :ok: The tests are nothing to worry about. Pretty basic (GCSE and AS Level, can't remember what exactly, speed, distance, time and interpolating tables) Physics (written) and Maths (written) as well as an aural maths/physics combined test (No question paper, just working and answers) sandwiched in between (all multiple choice like the real things but no calculators allowed). After that, aptitude, If you've been to Cranwell for the RAF and passed those then don't worry. Then the interviews.

Best of luck

Good luck to everybody attending tomorrow.

Good luck everyone, I'm not there this year, but hoping to in the future maybe.

Most of you still up doing AS Maths/Physics revision at this time? :}

RR

:) Woohoo. just got a letter confirming I am through to the next stage. Anyone got any tips for stage 3?

Still no letter here. Doesn't look good :(

Anyone from here going on the 17th october? Also, does anyone know how many people are going to the next stage?

Im going on the 17th of October as well Philsy and am also interested in how many of us remain?!?!
It started out with over 200 applications of which 59 sat the exams though I know more were invited but declined the offer. Im guessing that no more than half of us will be through to the next stage, though that is a complete guess. From what I have heard 8 - 12 go to stage 4 to fill 5 or 6 places.:eek:
Have you started your essay yet? :rolleyes:

Yeah I've started the essay but its only about 270 words.

Not sure whether to keep it short and sweet or to go into lots of detail.

I'm bit nervous about the interview as well as it says there will be technical questions!!!???!!!

Have you sorted out where you are staying or are you commuting early in the morning?

I had an interesting call from Cabair the day after the tests... apparently they were looking for 19 to go through to the next stage (so there you go njptvr!) and I was just outside this. I was told that I got a good score, but not quite in those top few, so would I like to be placed in 'reserve', ready to take the place just in case someone else drops out!

Certainly would!

Bit of a blow and a bit annoying, but you never know... Its better than being rejected altogether.

I just hope that whoever got through instead of me deserved to, and that its not just a case of them being slightly better at maths than I am. In common with most of the rest of you, I've worked bloody hard towards achieving my life-long goal of becoming a commercial pilot and it annoys me when I go to these sponsorship things and talk to other people there who clearly don't really know all that much about aviation and aren't really that bothered about a career as a pilot. You must know the kind of people I mean, the ones that are just finishing uni, looking for a job and just fancy the sound of a flying career; or the ones that don't know the difference between an integrated and modular course; or the ones that are surprised when you tell them that BA don't do sponsorships any more.

If one of THEM got through - yeah, I know they'll get weeded out at the next tests or the interviews, but it means that the few of us that really want this sponsorship but just missed the top 19 in the tests don't get a look in.





Rant over...!

Fingers crossed that someone (one of the above) drops out and good luck to the rest of you that do deserve it!

I know what you mean, it is frustrating, but it's the airlines' and flight schools fault, by making this a business, and not a real search for skilled individuals.
There's far too many sponsorships around where the applicants have to pay 100% of the training (plus interest). It has become a business, and as such, those are the consequences.

I would have loved to apply for the flybe scheme, but there's no way I could (and would) be able to pay 40 grand in advance.

Not to mention the selection test fees. A company is looking for a candidate that meets the requirements, and invest in selection for finding them. Why should the candidates pay for it ? HR people and recruiters are paid to do that job. You'll find that companies looking for really skilled people will have free selection, and will also refund you for your travel expenses.

I am sure that, just like me, many wannabes with maybe potential and true interest and passion, were put off the idea of applying, and eventually didn't ! Not surprising, then, to find candidates that don't seem to be that interested.

I 100% agree with you about having to pay for the privelege of selection. I've not encountered any other kind of industry where this is the case and it was a major factor in me not applying for the Cabair/Flybe scheme and OAT/Excel scheme. I was told over the phone by an OAT employee that they have to pay the software company a certain amount of money each time they use the selection software and pay for HR staff present but surely with the possibility of gaining £40k-£60k from those they are selecting this more than offsets the costs for selection. Shame it will continue as people seem to be more than willing to shell out for it.

well I didn't like having to pay for the tests, but that's just how it seems to be in this industry! Quite frankly I'd rather pay £60 now, £40k later and then be stuck with with Flybe for a few years; than pay, for the sake of argument, £70k and risk hanging around for a couple of years trying to get a job...

But knowing that there were only ever going to be 4 places or so and hundreds of applicants, you have to accept that you probably will end up paying yourself. I know that, and am saving up to pay for (most likely) the modular route myself. But it doesn't stop me applying for these schemes on the way; its not the easiest career to get started in (!) and so I think you have to give everything a shot. Alright, Flybe are only contributing £20k (and you have to pay it back) but its better than nothing, right???

If I thought I didn't stand a chance of getting the sponsorship, I wouldn't have paid the money and applied. But I think I do stand a chance and so I'm willing to pay what is a relatively small sum of money to find out.

It's more the big integrated schools I'm having a pop at than the people who pay for selection (would be a bit hypocritical as I paid for CTC selection!!). FTE/Thomsonfly scheme was a free and fairly comprehensive selection process yet other schools charge almost £200 for a similiar process. Just seems to me that these schools are taking advantage of people desperate to break into the pilot career. Guess that's business for you!

In my rejection letter from FlyBE/Cabair I got the offer of returning to sit the tests and PILAPT free of charge for a place on an integrated course. I am of course accepting this generous offer :E I feel a £40k bankloan coming on...

Chins up folks!!
Flybe are still to recieve a large number of Q400s from the manufacturers. At the current rate of expansion and with the current pilot attrition rate (see here) they will continue to recruit for the forseeable future. If you commit to self funded training it is quite possible that you will get a second bite of the cherry once qualified.

However flight training continues to be a risky investment. Don't take the risk if you cannot afford to lose.

sr

It's exactly that risk that worries me, especially having a family to consider. I wish it was possible to have like a list of every graduate from the integrated schools detailing exactly what they are doing just now. All the information and statistics regarding success rates of graduates on this site appear to be conjecture and rumours.

Speedrestriction is exactly right. Some years ago I applied for the flybe sponsorship and was unsuccessful with them. However I persevered and decided to go down the self sponsored route and undertook an integrated course. It has taken me over a year now since finishing to secure an airline job but thankfully I will be starting on the Q400 soon. In some ways you are in a better position than those that are sponsored as you are not on a reduced salary! My point is that the competition for their sponsorship is extremely high and massively over subscribed so don't be too disheartened if you are not sucessfull! There are always other avenues to explore and at the moment the industry does seem to be buoyant however it is very cyclical. Self funding will always be a risky investment but totally worth it if you achieve your goals. Best of luck to everybody!

Good luck to everybody attending this week. :)

Out of interest how much were they asking for? Is it the same rate advertised on their website?