Hi Newbie008, check your PM's....

Ive ordered the Speed mathematics book. Thanks for the replys.

I bought the Cockpitweb test software (£50) not realising that there is another company PilotPrep who do the same type of tests for half the price (and they actually make referance to CTC,FTE Cabair). Does anyone know which one bears the most resemblance to the tests at CTC (might purchase the Pilotprep one as well)

Thanks

Spam,

Where can i find this Pilotprep software? Nowhere to be found on google...

Tamesy1

http://www.pilapt-prep.co.uk/

http://www.cockpitweb.com/

From what I know, the Cockpitweb software is much closer to what you will find at CTC than Pilotprep. I have the Cockpit web software and its very good.

Well, I didn't have to wait 7 weeks but I just got the email telling me that they won't take my application any further.

Obviously I'm very disapointed...and I just would love to know where I went wrong. But like we all know they don't give feedback.

Well, it's a shame but at least my math is ****-hot now thanks to Bill Handley.

And I guess now it's looking into alternative ways. Any suggestions pm me :-)

Gwidgery:

The amount of time varies, from sending off phase one to being in newzealand didnt take me much longer than 7 weeks but others were in selection for almost a year, id like to think its because im amazing but sadly i dont think thats the case. Chasing them up pays off. Hassle them, i know they managed to loose a few peoples applications. One guy got a call six months later after he'd moved to america!

Hi,

Just wondering about the minimum age you can be to apply for the CTC scheme. Reading through some previous post's it seems hard to tell what the minimum age is, does anyone know of people aged 18 being accepted on the scheme?

Thanks.

Just to clarify, the 7 weeks i stated to Dolley was from faxing phase 1 questions to receiving the email to attend Phase 2.

Hi everybody,

I've got the following situation:

The reply for my faxed application (phase 1) was that ctc doesn't want to take my application any further. Obviously they didn't give me any feedback.

After thinking about it for a couple of days I started to wonder if they might think that I don't meet the minimum requirements to apply. The reason why I think this is that I stated all my school grades and qualifications in german. Whenever I applied to jobs before (in the UK) I stated the english equivalent but ctc sort of asks you to state your qualification as exact as possible so I did. But now I'm worried that they might not realize what it all means and assume that I don't have A-levels (Well, I don't. But I do have the equivalent!).

Does anybody know if it's worth a shot to send them an email (or a fax) stating this worry? Something in the line of 'I appreciate you can't give any feedback and I don't expect any but I would like to make sure that you know that I meet all the minimum requirements'?

It's just that it would be such a stupid thing to happen that I want to be as certain as possible that it's not even an option...just tell me if I'm just a bad looser! I decided to re-apply one way or another in six month time anyway so I know that already ;-)

Bring on your thoughts!
Thanks for any advice!

Feedback
 

Dolley =>
You have nothing to lose by asking for feedback. The worst they can do is say no. They are pretty friendly folk though and if you ask nicely, they probably will reply.

I would have thought though that if they didn't feel that you met the education requirements, they wouldn't have given you the four additional questions to fax back.

Asking them is the only way to find out for certain.

Hi Dolly,

I was in a similar situation to you as I did all my schooling in South Africa so my grades where quoted in the South African system. I think if they sent you the written questions after your initial online application then it won't be a problem with your school marks. Always worth asking though.

system change?
 

Hi guys,

thanks for your replys!

I believe they must have changed the system because as soon as I sent of my online application I got the fax-questions. And I mean instandly, I pressed the button, next thing on screen was: 'Thanks for your filling out your first part of the application. Here are some questions that we want you to print out and fax them once answerd.'.

So I had the feeling it was automated and nobody ever checked the first part of my application before I got the second (how could they, within seconds?).
Does that make any sense?

Can anybody confirm that or had a similar experience?

I do not have any A-Level passes under any UK examining boards. They are from an EU country, but not UK, and they recognised them.

As previously stated, if they sent you the fax questions, I guess they did accept your basic qualifications. If this is an automated response or not - I don't know.

Best of luck.

Accomodation
 

Hi Guys

Im not sure if this has come up before but thought it might be helpful.

If you need accomodation for your phase at Bournemouth and you have 2 weeks to a month before your up and are driving there, forget the B&B for £40+. Book in at the Ringwood services, A31 Travellodge, if you book a month in advance its £15, 2 weeks in advance £26, BARGAIN.

Im up for Phase 2 reassesment on 5th Feb, good luck to everyone and if there is anyone on the same day as me see you there.

Tom

I do believe you are absolutly right about both parts here mate.

Thanks everybody for your thoughts!

Pilapt test
 

Hi,
Does anyone have any idea if with the cheap one is enough or the expensive one is better?

Thanks
( I'm going to Stage 2 this friday!)

Hi guys,

Ive recently commenced training on the CTC wings course out in NZ and have started writing a blog. The aim is to document all the good and bad points of training as im actually doing it. At this stage, I dont actually know where i'll end up in 18 months, and so have decided to keep a journal to record my progress.

If anybody's interested, visit http://flyingtraining.********.com .

JMOndo

This is really interesting - i've added it to my favourites and i'll be keeping a close eye.

Couple of quick questions:
1) You mentioned a gym - is it close by/CTC based, is it free for CTC people and does it have a swimming pool?
2) How much flying (once it's all settled) do you expect to be doing a week, and how much studying, both in class and afterwards at home?
3) Do you have wireless broadband or any broadband in the accomodation?

Just a couple of thoughts i've had in my mind as my Stage 2 assessment date (26th January) gets closer - any info'd be greatfully recieved and i look forward to reading more about what you've been up to!

Cheers mate,

Apoc

Nice blog there - keep it up!

Barcelona cadet,

I have the more expensive cockpitweb pilapt tests and they are very good. Cant speak for the other product since I haven't seen it but the cockpit web product seems to give you a fairly good basis for the pilapt tests.

Good luck for stage 2 :ok:

Aptitude & Psychometric testing
 

Would like to start preparing myself for the aptitude & psychometric testing at CTC. Could someone explain the difference inbetween these two tests? Also, can anyone recommend books for theses types of testing, please.

I have both, as iv been to the phase 2 before (retake on 5th Feb) i know what their test is and its a mixture of both of the software mentioned. The Cockpit web one is very good and contains alot of that you will do at CTC, however the pilotprep one has three different ones out of its five which also come up at CTC. Therefore if you pnly want to get one get the Cockpitweb and practice them all as they do help, but if you can get both to cover nearly all bases.

Hope this helps

Good luck

Tom

Does anybody know how/when CTC let you know that it's time to re-apply for a phase if you have been invited back?

Regards

AS FOR REINVITATION

You Call them up and ask them to reactivate your login on their website and that enables you to book your phase again.

AS FOR THE SOFTWARE.

I have both the Cockpitweb and PilotPrep software. Iv done the Phase 2 before and i can assure you both programs cover the pilotapt at CTC. If you only want one program get the cockpitweb as there are more tests and they all put you in good practice for your phase 2 assessment. The Pilotprep program does however have 3 out of the 5 programs which is in the CTC pilotapt so to have this as well is useful.

But basically if your going to buy one get the Cockpitweb

Tom

Have read through the following thread, pacificallt eh last few pages

The CTC Wings (Cadets) Thread - Part 2.

BR:

six months!

Good luck :-)

Bit of a short arse aren't you...



Dolley - not necessarily, I have a friend who just failed at phase 3 and he was told 12 months... equally there's another guy out here who failed phase 3 the first time but only had to wait 6 months. Not sure what determines how soon you can re-apply, but it certainly doesn't appear to be fixed.

I'm not sure that there is any checking of qualifications before they review the whole "phase 1" shebang, as an automated system would be a tad... unwieldy... when considering non-standard qualifications. It seems infinitely more likely to me that they just collate both sections of the phase 1 application and review it in one go. Anyway, as mentioned above, it can't hurt to ask politely!

Thanks rusky,

I thought in the same lines... that it would have to be a pretty damn smart computer to understand it all, especially if it's non-standard stuff.
However, I still assume it was the answers to the questions they didn't like but I will ask them about my qualifications. It can't hurt, can it?!

And BR,

sorry, if I gave the wrong information with the six months. I was under the impression it was a fixed amount of time but I stand corrected.

Yes, it's in one of the blocks at clearways. Yes, it's "free". No, not unless you count the paddling pool someone has... There is a pool somewhere not a million miles away, but i'm not sure exactly where personally.

Seems to be totally variable, both from week to week and from foundation course to wings course. Self study time is pretty much basically down to you - obviously though if you don't do enough then you'll struggle.

Yes - wired broadband, not sure what happened to the wireless that was supposed to be in clearways from my hazy recollections of reading about it before I flew out here.


Good luck with your selection.

Thanks pilot recruit and rusty (again),

I did contact them and I recieved an email today saying exactly that, that they have problems with my english qualification.
Wow, I didn't expect that!

Now I will obviously contact them again and see what can be done about it!
It's all a bit silly really as I've been living and working in english speaking countries for the past five years...

Whatever comes out of it now, I'm very glad I contaced them. Feel much less dumb now ;-)

Thanks again everybody for thoughts and support!

Any statistics fan knows how many applications do CTC receive per month? I know that roughly 12 cadets a month get selected.

University and CTC
 

Ay Mates

I have achieved my A levels last year (i.e. qualified for university) and applied to CTC this year, being selected for stage 2.

The grades I achieved in my A Levels (B and C) make me eligible to join any course at University, except Medicine and Dentistry. I only like those two from all the courses at university, so I decided to repeat the year and study to get straight B's to get to the course I want, should I fail CTC.

How do you think this goes down with the CTC people at the interview stage (phase 3), in a sense that, is it a "sin" that I am not going to university, and that I chose those subjects which are not an inch close to a pilot's career?

Thanks.
A.C.

A.C

I'm currently in second year at uni studying Anatomy And Physiology after getting ABB in my A-levels. Obviously not the most relevant degree for a wannabe pilot...

I would definitely recommend going to uni, for obvious fun reasons, and the fact that it MAY possibly give you an edge later in life,

As for CTC, the type of degree you do doesn't matter, as they don't specify anything in particular, but the skills you learn from it are..i.e teamwork, interpersonal skills and possibly leadership. The fact that its not related may show that you are a more "three dimensional" person, with other facets to your personality that may make you a more employable person in future.

However, a good idea would be to show continued dedication to aviation (like UAS, flying lessons and summer jobs at airport etc).

Good luck

Cant say i concur there.

I went to uni and had a blast.

There are however people training with CTC who didnt go to uni and they love it. They are also very good pilots.

Why try dissuade somone from applying to an awsome job?

No mate you dont need to go to uni, it is not a "sin" not to, and ctc seem happy to take people form all walks of life. Uni or not.

My opinion is that it may help - I found that going to University gave me a lot to talk about in my interview which, had I not gone, I wouldn't have otherwise been able to. Of course it's not necessary; if CTC considered it "a sin", as you put it, to not go to university then I think they'd probably list a degree as a minimum requirement rather than just A-levels, and save you wasting your time applying if you haven't got one. I'm in full agreement with Dragonfly; I had a cracking time at university and made some brilliant friends, however there are people training who have never been to university and they're just as good pilots as the ones that have.

Do bear in mind that the minimum requirements as listed here are just that - a minimum. Of course it might help if you've been to university and you've shown you've got the ability to study and learn and work hard, but if university isn't for you then slogging through it for three or four years, doing a degree you're not interested in and making your life a misery in the process is probably going to leave you fed up, unmotivated and probably worse off than if you hadn't gone (and with another 10 grand to pay off further down the road.)

To answer the last point on choosing subjects "an inch close to a pilot's career"... that really isn't an issue. There are people out here with degrees in law, psychology, chemistry, engineering... you don't need a maths or physics degree to be a pilot! (Incidentally I did a maths degree, and although it has helped me think quicker mathematically, not once have I used ANYTHING I learned during my three year degree during training so far. The most complicated I think I've used is early A-level stuff on vectors, but even if you haven't come across them before you'll be taught all you need to know once you're on the course.)

I did not say that he "needs" to go to uni, and nor did i attempt to dissuade him from applying.

My point was that as a young man with time on his side, why not go to uni and enjoy the benefits that it brings, and then apply to CTC as a 21 year old?

If he decides that its not for him or doesn't enjoy uni life, then he should apply and he may make a fantastic applicant, but hat least he gave uni a chance

Thanks for your replies.

As you may notice, I'm not from UK. Here we get paid to go to University, and the course I'm interested in is 5 yrs, i.e. I'll graduate at 24.

I had an experience at Uni as I got in a course I don't like, and got out of it after a couple of weeks. Didn't impress me much though.

I prefer to obtain a pilot's licence earlier in life than, should my pilot's career fail (not finding a job etc), I go back to uni. I just want to see how this goes with CTC. Seems it doesn't really matter but.

Regards.

Great. So you can apply to CTC after 5 yrs even if you get rejected.

Convinced.

Now next is stage 2 then we'll see what happens after that.


Thanks mates
AC