Costs, Age & Salary
 

The CTC site mentions the Skills Funding Agency as an option for funding the 106k security bond. Does anyone know much about this? Would they fund the full amount? Sounds just like a student loan to me, from the SFA website, but can't find a maximum cap anywhere? Would be great if they do, as would remove need to secure on the house.

Also, does anyone know if age would be an issue. Only 35, but likely to be slightly older than some other candidates. Still a 30 year career ahead of me! But do you think that would be an issue?

And assume there would be no salary paid during the 18 month training period?

Thanks!

Does anyone have any clue as to when the next stage will be? Pre or post Christmas? Thinking about time off is all...

(No I haven't heard back...yet)

just got my thanks but no thanks email too. My experience is ppl, 94hrs TT, no atpl exams passed. Degree. Age 26. Sucks! IM focusing on the COMMAND program now. Fed up with these cadet schemes for the moment.

Do you think this indicates the weight of the essay questions?

I cant see that some poor sod at CTC has to sit and read 600 words from each application. My guess is that all applications are screened by a computer program that looks for key words and phrases. Then if you pass the criteria in all the other sections (education, age, fly experience etc) and have the right key phrases it puts your application through. Then only ones that meet the right criteria are then read.

Virgin Atlantic Future Pilot Program
 

Hi all

Thought I would start a thread for the program so we can all chat with each other, I have put my application in today and hoping for a positive answer. Does anyone know what the time frame was for them to get back to you?

Also, so far reading the other thread it seems that there have been many "thanks but no thanks" from them, wondering if anyone had managed to get through to the next part yet.

Best of luck to everyone else who applies.

How soon after submitting the initial application form did you receive the essay questions from CTC? I sent mine away two days ago and I haven't received anything yet.

Future pilot program
 

Hi allot my application in today and hoping for the best. Wondered if anyone on here had had a positive reply from them yet?

Good luck to all

hi guys just wondering if anyones been accepted yet, my application for some reason is "ON HOLD" should i be worried

VAFFP
 

Just received my positive e-mail for the next stage of the application process, just wondering what dates other people have been given for the assessment day at CTC?

Has anyone heard anything back from their application? I haven't yet. If anyone does it would be great if you could let us know!

I am checking mine daily for any progress but my phase one status is "awaiting selection". Hopefully I will hear something soon either way it would be nice to know the outcome.

I do however remember when I applied for the icp route 4 years ago that I had to call them to find out what was going on. When I did they said there had been an error with the system and it was purely due to the fact that I had put a start date so far away in the future.

Fingers crossed for everyone applying :ok:

Just seen on the FB Q&A that they will be taking 200+ through to the next stage from "many thousands". Fans of maths; that's a maximum of 20% :ok:

And apparently all the applications are read by a human. :eek:

FB Session
 

On the facebook session they also seemed to confirm that you would be on £27k plus what I assume would only be inflation level yearly increases for the seven years, and only go on to normal pay scales once the seven years was up. Is that standard?

Does anyone know what the starting salary is for the BA round and whether you would get pay increases in line with increased experience?

This is the thread:

"George Lamb I've heard the starting salary for successful trainees will be around £27,000. I understand this is significantly lower than the £65,000 direct F/O salary. Why is this and will FFP pilots be on a separate pay scale to direct entry pilots?
CTC Aviation George. Our Direct Entry Pilots have a minimum of 3000 hours (on average over 4000) this means that they have been flying for 5 years or more, some have been Captains or even Training Captains. The salary has been aligned with experience and also the successful applicants get their training paid. Hope this helps explain. Many thanks
George Lamb Thanks for the response, but would FFP pilots ultimately earn the same as those of with equivalent hours as a direct entry pilot? so 3000/4000 hours would lead to a similar £65,000 wage. For further understanding, say a successful FFP flew 3000 hours for Virgin over x amount of time. If a DEP joined with 3000 hours at the same time the FEP reached 3000 hours, would they be on equivalent wages/pay scale? Thanks.
CTC Aviation Hi George. Once the 7 years are complete and the bond repaid the pilot will move over to the normal pay scales
George Lamb Thanks for the reply CTC Aviation. Sorry to be a bother but I just wanted to iron things out. Would the FFP receive any salary increase in those 7 years?
CTC Aviation Hi George. Yes there are incremental pay rises every year"

CTC Assessment
 

Hey DS4,

What date have you been given for your ctc assessment? I have yet to receive a reply regarding my application but was just curious as to roughly when the assessments are taking place.

Thanks

Not this time
 

Just received my thanks but no thanks e-mail, nevermind. Just to update you all recent figures from CTC today, Virgin stated that:

a. So far there are around 6000 applicants
b. 300..ish would be passed through to the next stage (assesment centre)
c. 100..ish would be selected for the final assesment day with Virgin
d. 12 jobs available at the end, leaves a 0.2% chance of success!

Apologies, if everybody is already aware of the current statistics.

I just got the sorry but not thanks email too!!! It's a shame, but never mind onwards and upwards as they say.
Looks like the odds are getting slightly better for those still in the game
The statistics show just how fierce the competition is and as always I wish everyone with applications still active the best of luck
Danny.

Just got my email saying I'm through to selection @ Dibden!
Not bad considering these crazy stats about the amount of applications.

Hi all

What time frame did it take them to get back to you with a yes or no answer, I put my application in last Wednesday AM and still haven't heard anything back from them. On the ctc portal it still says that it is "awaiting selection"

Would anyone recommend giving them a call or just leave it until they get in touch with me

Thanks

It seems that this scheme is far more competitive than the BA FPP. Two years ago there were around 4000 applicants for 75 spaces. Roughly a 2% chance compared with Virgin's 0.2%.

I have to say I'm fairly surprised as BA say that they will guarantee the loan for anyone who requires it but this seems a grey area with Virgin.

Selection at Dibden
 

Congrats on making it to Dibden Captainblue,

What date are you attending?

Ahh I applied as soon as this opened and still nothing, I'm hoping that's a good sign. I'm wearing out my phone battery checking my e-mails every 5 minutes! When did you guys who have heard already send your applications in?

CTC Assessment Day
 

Jkelly747:

The first assessment day available is the 17th November. I spoke to CTC and they said they will be releasing a new date almost every week because of the amount of applicants. Wouldn't imagine there could be too many though because the final interview (if you pass through CTC) directly with Virgin start in January 2015.

thowmas:

Completed my application as soon as I heard it was open, 30th October I believe it was.

Captainblue83, well done.

What are the dates available?

My son put his application in a week ago and still hasn't heard back from them yet.

Does anyone have a time frame that they got back to you in with an answer

Next Monday and Tuesday I believe.

@jKelly747
I haven't chosen one yet. Need to sort out some logistics first.

For the record- I submitted my application on 31st October and got my outcome today. So around 10 days later.

Positive email came through today finally! Excited and nervous, booked in for Monday which suddenly seems very close. Hopefully see some of you there!

@cheerup,

How long ago did you apply?

I don't envy the poor selection team with this mountain of a task. It would seem to be they are climbing to the top it and then realise theres another mountain after that one with this weeks applicants.

I applied last Monday. Yet to hear a yay or nay. I'm praying that no news is good news.

@gbotley I applied on 31st October so it's been a wee bit of a wait. My application changed to on hold this afternoon and then to passed within an hour of that (I was checking it quite a lot!). Good luck!

Email of Doom...
 

Dear XXXXXX

Thank you for your application to the Virgin Future Flyers MPL programme.

Following a careful review of your application, we regret to advise you that you do not meet the profile in all areas for the above programme and we are therefore unable to progress your application to the next stage. I HAVE PPL HOURS, A MEDICAL DEGREE, GCSE'S AND A-LEVELS!!! IM ALSO 22 SO NOT THAT OLD!:mad:

Due to the large volume of applications we are currently managing, we are unable to provide you with any feedback relating to your application and will therefore be unable to respond to any email or telephone correspondence in relation to Virgin Future Flyers programme.

Whilst you have not been shortlisted for the next stage of selection for the Virgin Future Flyers programme, we would like to inform you that you may be eligible to pursue flight training with CTC Aviation through an alternative programme. We therefore recommend that you seriously consider applying and visit our website for more information. Airline Pilot Training | Flight Training UK | Cadet Pilot Training | CTC Wings

Thank you again for the time you have given to your Virgin Future Flyers application and good luck in pursuing any future applications with CTC Aviation.

Regards,

CTC WINGS Selection

Don't worry everyone. At least we can say we tried our best until next time. I'm going to finish my PPL and go modular, rape RyanAir for a bit and then mve to another airline:p

I've been on hold for over six hours now - I'm starting to get a little anxious.:hmm:

I'm sure that means good news..

When did you apply out of interest?

Mine's been on hold for around 5 days now, wazzer1, so don't worry!

Every cloud.....
 

At least you don't have to fork out for a trip to Dibden now. A lot of my mates have been put off applying because of the "selection fee". Charging £250 to each candidate to "cover costs" surmounts to daylight robbery.

BVB, still awaiting selection :E

How can you have a medical degree if you are only 22?...
I could be wrong and it would be useful information to know, but does a medical degree not take 5 years (at least) to complete...

My thoughts exactly. It's clear anyway that academic achievement isn't a huge factor in the selection criteria or they would at least demand A-levels...not surprising considering Branson's background. I would imagine your rejection is based more on a lack of relevant work experience; perhaps lacking imagination in the essay questions; or just a lack of any exciting experiences outside of academia (can you demonstrate strong leadership and teamwork?). One of the biggest criteria in the RAF selection is sense of adventure, for example, and service knowledge & current affairs are just as important.

Does anyone know if the 2 referees have been contacted as part of the selection process?

I asked this question to CTC last week. They said they are only contacted once you are selected for the final 12:

"Dear Baron,

Thank you for your email.

CTC Aviation will not contact any referees until an offer of training has been made.

Kind Regards

CTC Selection"

I got the no thanks email yesterday unfortunately so it wasn't meant to be this time.

I would love to have an insight with regards to what they are looking for though. I read the Virgin ethos with this scheme is that they don't look for people who have the academia of a rocket scientist and try to concentrate on people that have been getting involved in aviation all their life.

I have A Levels and a vocational diploma in airline and airport operations, a PPL and all of my jobs since leaving education have been in a handling agent across two different airports over 8 years. I'm now even at management level which shows leadership.... But I didn't get past the first phase.

I'd really love an insight so I can adapt my approach for future programmes if anyone is in the know - please feel free to PM if you can!

Remember the deadline guys is 16th November.

I am submitting my application tonight.