No calculator I'm afraid, just pen, paper and brain :)

Qatar Airways will, apparently, be taking a number of CTC cadets over the coming months. Initially this will be around 20 but I'd imagine it will increase afterwards.

ctc/Qatar
 

Stevie W

Where did you hear about CTC and Qatar tie up?

I think there was something about CTC and Qatar in their latest internal newsletter. Apparently Qatar require quite a few pilots over the next few years and there will be a requirement for 20 so cadets towards the end of 2012. I don't know whether this will be FO's for their short haul fleet, or SO's for their long haul fleet.

cheers for that!

For the CTC wings cadet course, on application through the online facility, are A level predicted grades accepted or will I have to finish my application upon receiving my grades?

This is something that I think you will need to ask the selection team directly. However I would imagine that it would be best to wait until you have official examination results.

Is anyone else starting as a Cadet in February 2012?

Transcendental:


Outstanding post. Thank you very much.


WWW. :D:ok:

Just going through the online application for CTC, on the part where you enter schools and grades, do you need to list a subject twice if you got 2 GCSE's in it?

Also, if I complete both GCSE and A level at the same school, do I list them seperately with one as a secondary school and one as a college?

AQC
 

Anyone who starts the AQC next 14th of November?
Please contact me.

CTC wings offer
 

I've just successfully passed CTC's selection & I am now weighing up whether or not to start training with the company, does anyone know the number of people starting the CTC wings cadet course each year compared to the number that fail?

“We are very proud of our training record and more than 98% of our cadets complete training with flying colours. However, when you are investing significant funds into your career, it is good to know that a considerable amount of the financial risk is reduced where possible. By increasing our ‘Bond Protection’ to £40,000 we believe we offer the best such safeguard available for aspiring pilots. In addition to our strong track record, this ‘Bond Protection’ offers the added reassurance that your investment will be protected in the event of failure during training” explains Captain Lee Woodward, Executive Director of CTC and Head of CTC Wings.


CTC Wings announces bond protection | CTC Wings

thanks STREETY that was really so helpful.

CTC Flexicrew
 

Is anyone currently a CTC Flexicrew pilot after training on the wings couse? Just wondering what the average hours per year are?

Plan on 0 because that's what's in the contract. Expect around 700-800 depending on base and how many more they take on this spring. I had 30 hours in november and 40 in december.... not enough to repay the loan. Good luck.

But I thought it was £45 per hour? Surely with that you'd have enough? Sorry to hear you're struggling! Any sign of a permanent contract for you?

Just realised how tight that must be, sorry man. Were you busier in summer months?

It's £43 an hour. Loan repayments are £1200 a month, living costs (rent, council tax, bills, insurance, breakdown cover, tv licence, phone bill and BALPA subs) are just over £500. That excludes petrol, road tax, MOT, clothes, a social life (who wanted one of those though right?) and food. So actually I tend to spend around £1900-£2000 mainly because my car has needed a bit of work lately.

Remember you will also need to pay for your own medical, your own uniform (and topups), your own loss of licence insurance and term assurance for your loan. I can't afford medical insurance so if for some reason I just can't fly but don't lose my licence I won't get anything.

Also, your student loan payments will be relatively high because it's taken out before you pay your professional studies loan.

So to be able to live "comfortably" (without saving anything and really without going out at all) you need about 65 hours a month. Each standby counts for 3.5 hours. So 60 hours and 2 standbys would be ok.

November was exactly 24 hours plus several standbys. December isn't much better. Yes, during the summer I was working about 75 hours a month, but had to pay off some of the professional studies loan - which I couldn't pay off during the initial 8 month period where we all get £1200 a month. So had nothing saved. But now, once again I'm unable to make full payments on my loan so am back into arrears.

Anyone who is considering flexicrew, unless you live at home and have wealthy parents to feed you and clothe you I would think twice. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention I had to borrow £8000 for the inital Type Rating? Still paying that back too.

For those who are going to say "well you shouldn't have done it - you knew the risks" because I know you're out there, then yes, you're right, I shouldn't have. But then I'd still be working behind a bar on minimum wage, with the loan STILL sitting there in the bank. At least I've started paying it off and I'm doing a job I love (once the door's closed), but would I do it again, or recommend it to someone starting out? Hell no. And it wasn't anything like this when I started training - remember that.

Mate I'm sorry it's so tight. Did you get a choice to take the flexicrew or wait for a cadet entry contract? How long we're you in the holdpool? Could we maybe have a chat tonight either on Skype or phone? I've got alot of questions and you have already been a massive help! Cheers