Maximum age for cadet program Ryanair/Easyjet
 

Hi,
Does anyone have any idea of the maximum age you can have and still be accepted on the cadet program for a company like Ryanair or Easyjet? They don't mention this in the list of requirements.

I'm a bit of a late starter :)

Thanks

grogalong

I don't believe there is a maximum age limit as such, I think you are limited by the age at which you can hold a Class 1 Medical.

I presume the real limiter will be down to common sense i.e. will you be able to work for enough years to make the £100,000 outlay worthwhile. Also, whilst airlines cannot discriminate over age, they would clearly prefer someone who has the potential for command etc as opposed to someone who will complete line training then retire.

Good luck!

Do 40 to 60 sectors after type rating with Ryanair, and then retire? :hmm:

I always find it peculiar, this constant reference to £100,000 of debt to the point of being able to fly for Ryanair.

In fact, if you play the game right, you can go 0-ATPL + RYR type rating for less than the cost of an integrated course alone. It really baffles me why people don't do this... perhaps a lack of understanding of money...?

When you mention "cadet program" I hope you understand what Ryanair mean by this. Its not a cadet program like old where they would train you from zero hours and pay for it. A Ryanair cadet is someone with no airline experience. They have already got there CPL MEIR which they would have paid for themselves before joining Ryanair.

Maybe I have mis interpreted your post but I get the impression you think a cadet is a zero to hero sponsorship. I appologise in advance if I have mis interpreted your post but seeing as your new to this site I though I should mention it.

RYR do not do any intitial training , besides the line training after you have paid for your TR .

There is no maximum age limit, certainly as far as RYR are concerned (I looked into it, paid the £10 for the RYR Open Day at EMA, then bailed out!). I personally know of one ex-FI who is now an FO with RYR, and was 40+ when he started his SSTR.

HW

I'm sure if you pay in cash there's no upper age limit. Getting a job after training might be a slight problem though...

PM

Hey ei-flyer, when you said Could you specify a little more where and how you can do that reliably. I am in my final year at uni (22yrs old) and it was my plan to try and get my ATPL after my degree. Could you advise me maybe on what to and what not to do, as I heard badly managed modular course are not very well seen by airlines. They'd rather see someone straight out of Oxford then someone who trained all over the place.

Thanks a lot

Modular route, priceless - in comparison??
 

Hi checkxp,
I did my training all modular and came out with the same pieces of paper in the end as any intergrated fATPL holder, for less than 1/2 the price (if it costs £100,000!! above)

2 years! - PPL for £6200, 45hrs
6months - ATPL groundschool fulltime Cabair £2250 + living exp. = £3,200 (good name, would recommend groundschool @ Bournemouth).
5months - Hour building @ £70ph + landing fees etc = £8500 - UK based
3months - Multi CPL/IR at PAT, Bournemouth = £26,000inc exams - (great name, instructors) + living exp.£1,600
1 week - MCC @ European = £1,900 living exp £120

Modular route......priceless!
(Total: £48,170)
under 15months taken out from completing PPL.
200.1 hours total.

I think my training was picking the best of each stage in my view. The level of training was as high as I believe it can get and I feel that each training organisation above was providing a tailor made course to suit my needs.
At the end of the day though I am not guaranteed an interview, as I believe some intergrated course offer, but I would prefer to go to an interview saying I managed my training on both cost and a hight level of training, than to turn up to an interview that was included in a package.

In answer to your question, I would have £51,830 left for a Type Rating until im evens with a intergrated students price.
If only I had that money left over!

Thought this may be of some interest. Good luck with the training.

G-FATTY

thanks a lot.

can I ask you how old you were when you graduated.

Did you choose everything by yourself, or did you get some "orientation" help for choosing which school etc.

thanks again


(got exam - Avionics - in 2 days... I should revise for it and go to bed !! )

Who told you this, Oxford's Marketing Department? Normally an airline will consider someone who has been to no more than two different providers on a modular course as perfectly acceptable. It is someone who has jumped all over the place doing modules here and there that are treated as suspect.

haha, no it's a friend that did Oxford, and he got nearly straight in to Ryanair, and that was in early 2009, so full on during the recession. He just told me that it was very well organised, and that he's got that to show for when he applies to airlines.
But yeah, I guess that's his view, but he was happy with Oxford.

Yes very well organised, yes and very expensive to boot. May I ask why you are doing a degree? If you want to be a pilot why the hell waste your time tossing it off at university with your chums? Why waste mummy and daddies hard earned wonga? This industry is :mad:, the last we need is more muppets with bags of cash knocking down the door of oat looking for 'the dream'. Talk to anyone who has had the pleasure and they will tell you oxford is the greatest. Truth is you will be :mad: the moment you 'graduate' as there are NO jobs for you and your mates. If you have to, I say stick it to the airlines and go modular, there will be no jobs for you at BA etal, why waste your money if all you are aiming for is the likes of ryanair? Any man and his dog can go there.

Its all about the folding stuff these days my dear chap.

Any man and his dog can go there?


Not a **** like you.

sidenote reply
 

Well Mr Shaun... I have to tell you that I'm doing a degree as a backup, and I must say, I would have never dreamed of not doing one. My four years at University was probably the best experience I had in my life yet! The amount of people you meet, the things you go through with exams, heavy drinking and all that (nearly getting kick out your own house by the police), you don't get that if you don't do a degree at university.
No2, I also applied to jobs, and I'm ensured now a place with a 40k pay when I graduate, rising to 60k after 2years, and that's with no help of my parents or anyone... it's just sheer work!

So i'd cut back on the :mad: words and idealism that people have on those doing a degree, but the fact is I don't wana earn 40k, i want to be a pilot. if it takes me 5years working for this company to earn enough to pay my training I will. But I know I can always fall back on my feet when I have an accident or any kind of medical problem once I'm a pilot.

Or even when there will be no pilots anymore, as I have some friends that seriously think that planes won't need pilots in the next 20years. Personally I don't think that will ever happen, but only the future will tell!

So yeah... and there is one question I have about this entire foroum, why are there so many people giving insults to others when they differ in opinion. Isn't that what makes a world great? Differences of opinion!!!

I thought only Bush striked on people who don't agree with him! ;)

So yeah... please be nice when you answer posts... thanks

Checkxp:

If I was in your position I would forget flying commercially for a while, if you have a job lined up paying 40k then 60k year two, why not save up for a while? That is a bloody well paid job! I've been flying jets since 2006 and I earn less than your year two wage. Do your PPL whilst working, see if you enjoy flying. Then once you have saved up enough, go modular at a time that the industry seems in better shape if you still want to, without going into debt.

Regarding airlines and modular, the first airline I worked for didn't care that I went modular, or that I trained at 3 different schools to get my fATPL (HGFC PPL, ATA Cov ATPL theory, Westflight CPLMEIR). I did instruct for a while and paid for a type rating at a good time. Also, once you have a thousand hours under your belt, where you trained is forgotten anyway.

Or another idea, why not get just your PPL and actually get to enjoy flying? That is a different topic entirely...

Hey thanks for that reply.

You're probably right, but I'm pretty sure I want to become a Pilot eventually. I mean i do gliding for fun, but also I just enjoy being in a plane. As I study abroad, I fly home regularly and it's just always an exciting experience. I know for sure I don't wana be an engineer all my life somehow. Maths and stuff... I'm good at, but it just aint the same. I design planes, it's fun, it's pretty, it's rewarding, but it's not the real thing :cool:

Concerning the industry, you are right that it's not really the moment to be looking for jobs, but people told me that it's the time to get trained, as in 2 years the industry should be booming again (and I think they might be right).

But it's true, I'm not yet decided to start training (such as Shaun suggested that I should just run for it), I'm still hoping to look for and attempt free scholarship. On those, I'll run for it if I get it!

My only major concern is age, I'm 22, so I'm still ok, but I can see how time flies FAST!!!

So yeah... I'm at a wall :ugh: how long do I work for, and I guess the 40k job, they expect me to stay if they train me and employ me for that money, so that's not too nice to accept, and then send your Thank you letter after 2years.....!!

Right.... I should really revise now if I wana get my 2:1 cya

checkxp, what nationality are you? Obviously your home country might help with the job hunt compared to, for example, English people who can only speak English.

Whether the industry is in a better position in 2 years is guess work at the moment, historically the industry runs on a ten year cycle, so if and when it picks up you can train at that time, if you have your PPL already and some hours under your belt, finishing the ATPL theory, CPL/ME/IR will not take long. Also, you will learn your multi engine instrument rating skills quickly, but alas you can also forget them quickly... It is important to try and get a job soon after your training finishes.

Concentrate on getting a good degree for now, worry about aviation later, you are very young and in no rush what so ever. You never know, if the upturn takes longer that you think, eg 4 years after you start working, you could perhaps organise a career break, get your training done, and go back to work whilst job hunting.

I've seen aviation destroy the lives of people, both financially and emotionally. I know people who have gone bankrupt personally, I know people who never passed their training, I know people who never found a job, ran out of money to keep up their flying skills to a good standard and have given up. I also know people who had very good flying skills, but not the other 'soft skills' required to be a multicrew pilot; therefore failing all airline interviews.

Good luck.

Any man and his dog can go there.. Hmm that's funny enough I went there last week with 2 other guys from my school and only one got it.. Imagine if we had taken our dogs.. There were also many others on the day(humans) who didn't get it 2 out of 8 successful.. Just because you more than likely lost your job don't take it out on others. Oh and by the way if you still have a job I hope ryanair eat it up and spit it out this year as pax numbers increase from 66 million to 73. Hmm imagine 73 million dogs.

Shaun Ryder, Any man and his dog can go there??

Go and :mad:!! Funny how this any man and his dog airline has never had a fatal accident. Have a little respect for Europes largest airline in terms of passenger numbers please! :ok:

To second AirbusFreak I hope Ryanair does chew up and spit out whatever airline you fly for if thats your attitude. In the words of MOL as Ryanair continues to expand BA, Latehansa and all the others will all be screwed!

thanks a lot.

Well don't think my own country will help, cuz it's small and doesn't really have airlines anymore, but the fact I speak french+dutch might help indeed. I was hoping to try out Airfrance's Sponsorship... but their last entery was 2009 :(

That was one of the thing, 23 was already an age limit for Airfrance 'zero experience' sponsored entry, but I think that was without a degree.

My little question (all my friends here tell me this), does an Aeronautical Engineering degree help at all for the pilot profession, or do airlines really not consider this an advantage at all. I mean, I know more than a lot of people how things work, how they were designed and what's behind concepts some people might find weird.

Thanks again.

checkxp, A degree is good. It's honorable to get your degree first to have a qualification which gets you a salary to pay for your training. It's also a very mature way of thinking. I bet there are a few chief pilots out there liking that idea as they have gone down the same route.

I think it's true that if you go modular and train with more than two schools you might be treated as suspect. But only in times like these. When pilots are sought after no one gives a damn. All you need is a valid ticket.

I myself trained with six different schools in three countries: PPL, taildragger, IR, ATPL's, CPL, ME and IR conversion. When I began training I wanted to see as many places as possible while paying as little as possible. And I did. Did it disqualify me from getting jobs? Not really.

Came out of flight school in late summer 2008 and have never been without a flying job. It's been a helluva struggle but it's been so much fun. First job I got through word to mouth and the same with my current one. That being said, I also think I've been extremely lucky because I always met the right people pointing me in a different, most of the times, right direction. But make no mistake about it, there's not a single day where I am not contemplating my next move to create options. It's your own effort and willingness to sacrifice which counts. No more, no less. You need to be very proactive and basically be ready to eat :mad:. I get the feeling a great many in western societies are no longer ready for that. They want it all right from the start.

While a few of my training buddies are already flying for the airlines and taking home much more cash than me I am slowly progressing and building up the hours and that ever so important network. There are times when I wish I would be in their shoes but what I like is the idea of slowly advancing but flying as many different aircraft throughout my "career" as possible. Why? Because it's fun. I think it's the first few jobs you do that you wish back once you have flown the line for many years. It also makes you appreciate much more what you have later on in your career (assuming you got somewhere!).

I am not kidding when I am telling you that in the midst of one of the worst post-WWII recessions aviation has seen I have a definite job offer flying a little twin, my hands on another twin flying job (my present one), on the waiting list with a European regional flying TP and a possible interview coming up with another TP operator. By no means am I trying to brag as I haven't achieved jack**** at this point but what I am trying to show is that it is possible to advance, even in times like these.

When the airlines are not hiring you need to find a way of getting the hours up and yourself known in the industry, most likely GA. You need to come across as a decent pilot, but more importantly, one must like you and want to spend a day of work with you in the cockpit. The easiest way of achieving this is by starting off at the bottom of the chain.

But then again, isn't that with all jobs?

EI-CON, your cheerleading for Ryanair is many things and amongst them is endearing.

Its so gauche seeing you boasting about fatal accidents that I am literally frowning and squirming. Many airline pilots can name at least three out of the many airport where Ryanair have had serious incidents in the last decade. Their past safety record is good, and like all airlines, gone in a heatbeat.

Ryanair are Ryanair. When you're an airline pilot in work for an airline then you might be qualified to have an opinion. Until then you're a naive numpty championing the destruction of the job you covet.

Be quiet.


WWW

Who do you fly for welshman?

WWW, Sorry but I find what Shaun Ryder said insulting to a very professional and hard working Ryanair crew. As for the accident reference Im simply stating fact.

Secondly I wouldn't comment on my personal circumstances when you know nothing about them. I have an airline job if you must know and to second AirbusFreaks question who do you fly for?

Two other members have disagreed with Shaun Ryders comment so I think my last post was perfectly in line.

One should never wish a bad safety record on any airline.

The comments from some above posters are a reaction to a comment Shaun Ryder made previously.


A little bit haste maybe.

Perhaps Shaun Ryder is the one who should be quiet.


The majority(cadets) that apply fail. That is reality.


But if Shaun Ryder wants to believe that "every man and his dog" can get into FR, if that keeps him feeling somewhat aloof, good luck to him indeed.

Any man and his dog can get a job at FR?

I take offence to that comment .................. that is a complete insult to dogs.


At least FR cadets have a lot in common with dogs, they get spoon fed everything they want from their mummy and daddy, they sit up and beg, and they obey everything their master(MOL) says!!!!

Shouldn't this thread be called, "Maximum width of wallet for cadet program?"

Stop questioning WWW's qualifications! If he didn't know what he is talking about he wouldn't have been made a Moderator of the Wannabees thread.

Okay, he does go over the top sometimes but he is an ex-FI and a current airline pilot. I know who he flies for but, if he doesn't want to say himself, I won't either.

checkxp - I'd second tom775257's advice whole-heartedly; sensible. No-one knows when the upturn would come but you can start training at that point and not miss it. Take the grad job you have lined up; build life experience, a fallback career and some capital:ok:.

As regards worrying about loyalty to that company; I've both been through a grad training scheme and recruited for them. Your concern is honorable and your company may not be like this ... but many companies simply see their big grad intakes as 'cannon-fodder' because they know that most will leave after a few years. Whether it's the accountancy firms, engineering, banking or law, it seemed to work the same way - there are only a limited number of higher jobs to go for when you finish the scheme and until you're performing on the scheme no-one really knows who will be the stars. People leave, people swap companies etc and no-one feels 'slighted' by it; it's just the reality of the job market these days.

Grogalong - apologies for the threadcreep. Back to the point & to try to answer your question. I got a job a few years ago on a 'cadet' or 'tagged' scheme with a UK carrier when a bit older than most. In the selections I undertook (5 airlines, mainly UK) I never saw anyone over early 30s get onto the scheme. My age was always something I had to convince the airline interviewers was not a problem.

I don't know about the other routes, other than that there are success stories out there from people your age but that now is a horrendously bad time to be trying to get in:}.

Best of luck, BM

smith,

Your comment makes me laugh. You remind me of two Ryanair bashers who went to my flight school, later I found out they had both failed Ryanair interviews.

Ryanair has revolutionised this industry. They brough low cost travel to the masses in Europe and it was because of there influence that many many other airlines started up trying to copy there low cost model which in turn let to lots and lots of jobs in the good times. I know many pilots flying for Emirates, Ethiad, Aer Lingus, private jets etc who all got there start with Ryanair. Ryanair kick started there careersand they will tell you this.

Maybe you should read MOL's book especially the bit where pilots praise Ryanair. Before Ryanair the only flying jobs in Ireland were Aer Lingus, which was largly based on who you know not what you know, and Iona. No offence to Iona they were a great company but if its an airline job your after...........

Example, 4 years ago two friends of mine were newly qualified. One guy went to FR the other went instructing and eventually joined RE. 4 years on the FR guy is in the left seat, the RE guys is sitting at home on the dole. Both of them trained modular. The FR guy is now debt free the RE guy is far from it. Which one would you rather be????????

Given that you were doing your MCC in August last year I'm guessing the only airline that could have hired you was Ryanair under the Brookfield deal - correct?

The novelty will, eventually, wear off. I promise you.


WWW

WWW, seeing as you wont say who you work for why should I? But to answer my own question from my last post I would rather be the FR guy. Which one would you rather be?

was that to me or ei-con www. as i did actually do my mcc in august. you are correct in what you are saying. i only have one option. so im asking you honest advice refuse it or take it?

I really didnt want to get involved in another FR debate, I agree their busienss model has worked very well and they have bought travel to those who had never flown. However, I if we change and apply Flybe's 'low cost but not at any cost' eco motto to 'low cost at any cost' I think we will be getting a bit closer to what FR have done to the industry and T&C's.

To see EI-CON clearly so proud of FR not having a fatal accident, I have to agree with WWW, comments like that are nothing less than worrying! Im afraid to say their safety record sadly isnt that great and I hope things change for the better sooner rather than later as they sadly have a worrying trend to always be in a rush which causes proven safety probs. This was proven to me when I was taxiing and an FR capt said if we were taking the p:mad:s or just lost. Happily my skipper came back with, larger aircraft always look like they are going slower, anyway our cabin crew are busy clearing away the champagne glasses.

CABUS:ok:

The only fruit?
 

The clues are there ... :bored:

Guys I agree my accident reference was a little out of context but it was written hastily in response to what I deemed a very insulting post by Shaun Ryder.

Dry your eyes EI-CON, you will get over it.

I second the post by CABUS regarding hyperactive or possibly aggressive behavior on the ramp by some FR captains. Just recently we were cleared to push in front of an FR meat wagon. A somewhat irked irish accent inquired over the RT if we were actually ready to push even though we were already doing so? (the captain stepping in for his eastern european FO on this occasion). Call me old fashioned but have you no eyes I thought? Anyway once we were almost out of the way, our hero opened up on the thrust levers in act of angry unprofessionalism nearly adding a winglet to our flightdeck.

Nice one.

well Ryanair are probably contributing more to that airport in terms of passenger numbers than your airline so they should be given priority! :p