Merged: The REX Cadet Scheme
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REX Pilot Cadet Scheme.
Wow, what a 'mine field' of opinions and experiences regarding this thread ! 
In direct relation to the REX Pilot Cadet Scheme, I am interested to learn if the REX recruiting ethos actually 'discriminates' against age ? By this, I suggest an age range of say 35+. Do those applicants' in the over 35 bracket find themselves culled in the first instance ?
I know for fact that the ADF have produced some very fine pilots who joined around the 40 - 45 mark. Do REX view a more mature applicant as being a risk in the training regime and subsequent check to line status ?
From a rather naive perspective: I perceive this scheme as being ideal for the older/mature applicants' who have limited or no real desire to move onto the Majors.
Can anyone describe the REX training scheme/syllabus to any degree ? I see the new Academy is well on its way to completion - so, one would expect excellent facilities for the aspiring cadets.
I don't offer an opinion one way or the other concerning the validity or benefits of this scheme. I am neither an ardent supporter or detractor. I just hope those who are accepted and succeed on course, move forward in their careers with great success.
Cheers
In direct relation to the REX Pilot Cadet Scheme, I am interested to learn if the REX recruiting ethos actually 'discriminates' against age ? By this, I suggest an age range of say 35+. Do those applicants' in the over 35 bracket find themselves culled in the first instance ?
I know for fact that the ADF have produced some very fine pilots who joined around the 40 - 45 mark. Do REX view a more mature applicant as being a risk in the training regime and subsequent check to line status ?
From a rather naive perspective: I perceive this scheme as being ideal for the older/mature applicants' who have limited or no real desire to move onto the Majors.
Can anyone describe the REX training scheme/syllabus to any degree ? I see the new Academy is well on its way to completion - so, one would expect excellent facilities for the aspiring cadets.
I don't offer an opinion one way or the other concerning the validity or benefits of this scheme. I am neither an ardent supporter or detractor. I just hope those who are accepted and succeed on course, move forward in their careers with great success.
Cheers
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Safety costs money.
There are some small companies with meagre resources that have very good safety records. These are generally run by pilots with a good business head and close contact with every part of the operation. When they get bigger a lot of money is needed to keep things under control. Major airlines have a huge cash flow and can finance the cost of supervision, research and education that is needed for safe operation of a large group.(mostly) Small operations do not have the requied resources to do this. That's why the major airlines no longer run regional services. They only go where the big bucks are. Many regionals stay afloat because of subsidies.
Our governments agrevate this situation by letting government contracts for air services to "missioaries" and organisations that generate funds by appealing to the public for fundraising, bequests etc. Some require pilots to generate an income from the public that is enough to pay their salary and expenses before they get the job. By giving contracts to these operators that can finance their operations from other sources they are driving the prices down to a dangerously low level. And governments often have a list of "preferred suppliers" (is this fair trading). Subsidies ensure that their preferred suppliers can stay solvent at the low rates these things generate. Other operators without the subsidies cannot compete and are forever short of money. Safety and salaries are cut as a result, in an effort to stay afloat.
Safety costs money, and you cannot get it by legislating. However, aviation professionals are really the only ones controlling safety. But is ia very difficult to do it on a hoestring if those in the boardroom and government don't do their part.
Our governments agrevate this situation by letting government contracts for air services to "missioaries" and organisations that generate funds by appealing to the public for fundraising, bequests etc. Some require pilots to generate an income from the public that is enough to pay their salary and expenses before they get the job. By giving contracts to these operators that can finance their operations from other sources they are driving the prices down to a dangerously low level. And governments often have a list of "preferred suppliers" (is this fair trading). Subsidies ensure that their preferred suppliers can stay solvent at the low rates these things generate. Other operators without the subsidies cannot compete and are forever short of money. Safety and salaries are cut as a result, in an effort to stay afloat.
Safety costs money, and you cannot get it by legislating. However, aviation professionals are really the only ones controlling safety. But is ia very difficult to do it on a hoestring if those in the boardroom and government don't do their part.
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This media release:
http://www.aapa.net.au/pdf/media/MR%...ga%20Wagga.pdf
Dated 18th Feb 2009, says that 16 cadets had graduated and 4 had passed SAAB endorsment training and flying as F/Os.
http://www.aapa.net.au/pdf/media/MR%...ga%20Wagga.pdf
Dated 18th Feb 2009, says that 16 cadets had graduated and 4 had passed SAAB endorsment training and flying as F/Os.
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Hi agaga,
that media release says 45 cadets have been trained but only 4 have been endorsed on the SAAB. I wonder what happened to the remaining 41? Those sorts of numbers scare me a bit.
I'd really like to hear something from someone who has completed the training; particularly someone who has done so and thinks it is worthwhile. I'm starting to have second thoughts about the whole thing.
There are a lot of negative comments on the Rex related threads here. I wonder if that is because people are anti-Rex (perhaps because of perceived poor treatment of the staff?) or because people genuinely believe that the cadet scheme is not a good idea? I do like the idea of having a job at the end of my training but I'm not convinced that the Rex scheme is as good as I first thought. More research coming up!!
Good luck with your application.
Cn
that media release says 45 cadets have been trained but only 4 have been endorsed on the SAAB. I wonder what happened to the remaining 41? Those sorts of numbers scare me a bit.
I'd really like to hear something from someone who has completed the training; particularly someone who has done so and thinks it is worthwhile. I'm starting to have second thoughts about the whole thing.
There are a lot of negative comments on the Rex related threads here. I wonder if that is because people are anti-Rex (perhaps because of perceived poor treatment of the staff?) or because people genuinely believe that the cadet scheme is not a good idea? I do like the idea of having a job at the end of my training but I'm not convinced that the Rex scheme is as good as I first thought. More research coming up!!
Good luck with your application.
Cn
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Hi,
I think only one class would've finished at that stage which would put 29 of that 41 still in training. That still leaves 12 graduates and I agree it is a worry as to what happened to them. That said, it can't be expected that REX would instantly have 16 F/O vacancys the moment a class graduates.
I think the issue depends more on the content of the cadetship contract. The loan repayments come from your REX salary, but if you do graduate, but they don't give you a job, how are they going to get their money back?
By the way, after I sent my application in, the webpage reloaded and said something along the lines of: "Application sent, thank you" and that was it.
Edit: This news clipping from Aug 2009 says that there have now been over 60 REX graduates.
http://www.aapa.net.au/pdf/media/Pre...Aug%202009.pdf
I think only one class would've finished at that stage which would put 29 of that 41 still in training. That still leaves 12 graduates and I agree it is a worry as to what happened to them. That said, it can't be expected that REX would instantly have 16 F/O vacancys the moment a class graduates.
I think the issue depends more on the content of the cadetship contract. The loan repayments come from your REX salary, but if you do graduate, but they don't give you a job, how are they going to get their money back?
By the way, after I sent my application in, the webpage reloaded and said something along the lines of: "Application sent, thank you" and that was it.
Edit: This news clipping from Aug 2009 says that there have now been over 60 REX graduates.
http://www.aapa.net.au/pdf/media/Pre...Aug%202009.pdf
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I noticed that just the other day there was a thread on here about lay-offs at Rex, and now it seems to be gone. What happened? Was it not factual, or withdrawn due to confidentiality breaches maybe?
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Intersting times in REX, and it does not involve the cadets....Shhhh
Wesky,
I too am glad some of them have been checked to line.
In fact, I am also glad alot of them have applied to Virgin and Jetstar, just to 'throw their hats in the ring'.....though the scrawling on the wall doesn't look too promising.
Doesn't take too much to make people jaded very quickly nowadays does it? Especially after paying a heap load of moolah for a dead end.
Now, back to the interesting times unfolding......
I too am glad some of them have been checked to line.
In fact, I am also glad alot of them have applied to Virgin and Jetstar, just to 'throw their hats in the ring'.....though the scrawling on the wall doesn't look too promising.
Doesn't take too much to make people jaded very quickly nowadays does it? Especially after paying a heap load of moolah for a dead end.
Now, back to the interesting times unfolding......
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Just wondering if tmahon, whoooop1991 and agaga are still out there? How did the interviews/tests go?
I've still not heard a thing from Rex so I guess that might be nature's way of telling me to stick with the traditional route to a GA job?
After all the research I've done, I'm not so sure the cadet scheme is as good as I first thought it might be. Thanks to all who have pointed me in the right direction. The information and opinions that I have come across on these forums (and elsewhere) have been really interesting and thought provoking. For those still perservering with the cadet scheme; good luck with your endeavours. I hope you go well and enjoy the journey. I think I will continue with my training and follow the more traditional route.
Thanks to all who have offered advice and support, I hope I'm able to repay the favour one day.
Cheers,
Cn
I've still not heard a thing from Rex so I guess that might be nature's way of telling me to stick with the traditional route to a GA job?
After all the research I've done, I'm not so sure the cadet scheme is as good as I first thought it might be. Thanks to all who have pointed me in the right direction. The information and opinions that I have come across on these forums (and elsewhere) have been really interesting and thought provoking. For those still perservering with the cadet scheme; good luck with your endeavours. I hope you go well and enjoy the journey. I think I will continue with my training and follow the more traditional route.
Thanks to all who have offered advice and support, I hope I'm able to repay the favour one day.
Cheers,
Cn
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Good luck tmahon, I hope it all goes well for you. Please keep us updated as to how things go.
Chadzat, thanks; I hope you're right about that. I'm determined to find a job in aviation somewhere, somehow and I WILL enjoy my journey along the way. Have been doing so for a while now and just hope that I can change the direction a little and work as a pilot eventually.
Cheers,
Cn
Chadzat, thanks; I hope you're right about that. I'm determined to find a job in aviation somewhere, somehow and I WILL enjoy my journey along the way. Have been doing so for a while now and just hope that I can change the direction a little and work as a pilot eventually.
Cheers,
Cn
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Cirronimbus,
You could almost gaurantee that you'll be flying a jet before any Rex cadet!
Rex have them so tightly locked in that it'll cost them a fortune to get out their pox deal, meaning their stuck their for at least 7 years....
GA route, couple of years up north 1000-1500hrs then maybe on a metro or similar turbo prob, then JQ or VB or TGR or maybe even QF..
Sounds a whole lot better than being stuck in the RHS of a ****e box clapped out saab!
You could almost gaurantee that you'll be flying a jet before any Rex cadet!
Rex have them so tightly locked in that it'll cost them a fortune to get out their pox deal, meaning their stuck their for at least 7 years....
GA route, couple of years up north 1000-1500hrs then maybe on a metro or similar turbo prob, then JQ or VB or TGR or maybe even QF..
Sounds a whole lot better than being stuck in the RHS of a ****e box clapped out saab!
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And you could almost garuntee there will be pie in the sky bye and bye. And you will be able to join all the positive thinkers bitching about those "clapped out" 60,000 hour jets.
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You could almost gaurantee that you'll be flying a jet before any Rex cadet!
Rex have them so tightly locked in that it'll cost them a fortune to get out their pox deal, meaning their stuck their for at least 7 years....
GA route, couple of years up north 1000-1500hrs then maybe on a metro or similar turbo prob, then JQ or VB or TGR or maybe even QF..
Sounds a whole lot better than being stuck in the RHS of a ****e box clapped out saab!
Rex have them so tightly locked in that it'll cost them a fortune to get out their pox deal, meaning their stuck their for at least 7 years....
GA route, couple of years up north 1000-1500hrs then maybe on a metro or similar turbo prob, then JQ or VB or TGR or maybe even QF..
Sounds a whole lot better than being stuck in the RHS of a ****e box clapped out saab!
GA route for a couple of years - won't that be far, far worse pay than REX's base $42K?. Even the "maybe" flow on to a Metro is still going to be worse pay.
I'd prefer to operate a REX Saab than a typical GA aircraft. Clapped out Saabs? Most Rex Saabs are now B+ models and are less than 15 years old. Have you seen the state of GA planes in Australia? The average age is over 30 years!
Yes there are question marks over the cadet scheme, but please, be realistic!
This is good fun
Metro skipper on 42k? What planet are you on?
GA route for a couple of years - won't that be far, far worse pay than REX's base $42K?. Even the "maybe" flow on to a Metro is still going to be worse pay.
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Agaga,
and leave with what????
no command time, no single pilot experience and a huge debt! a GA pilot with more real world skills would be much more employable.
and as for the saab, my aplogies, i forgot what a wonderful piece of modern equipment it is! and that's only the A model, the B+ must be fantastic.....especially well performing on a 40+deg day in wagga!
and leave with what????
no command time, no single pilot experience and a huge debt! a GA pilot with more real world skills would be much more employable.
and as for the saab, my aplogies, i forgot what a wonderful piece of modern equipment it is! and that's only the A model, the B+ must be fantastic.....especially well performing on a 40+deg day in wagga!
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So what your saying Piper, is that operators of Metros, will automatically stick a pilot with just 2 years GA experience to captain without starting as a F/O?
Failing that, your saying that Metro operators pay their pilots well above the Pilots award wage (as the award for Metros is several K less than a Saab).
PPrune is filled with people complaining about how poor the money for pilots is in GA as are those in the industry in general - though they're just my observations. Maybe you can give us some examples of GA operators who do pay their pilots good rates?
I stand by my word about GA having generally "clapped out" aircraft. It's not just my opinion, its fact. You can see the details here:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/avi...eport_v1.2.pdf
and again here:
http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dl...eName=8-15.pdf
Average age of GA aircraft here is over 30 years. Yes journalists can twist facts around to present a biased view, but you only need to just visit a typical GA airport to see rows upon rows of ancient aircraft.
I never said I liked the Cadetship. I've just presented a few basic facts to those here. If you want to be so negative about it, why not preset something of value rather than what appears to be a unsubstantiated personal opinion.
Anyway it appears they don't want me.
Failing that, your saying that Metro operators pay their pilots well above the Pilots award wage (as the award for Metros is several K less than a Saab).
PPrune is filled with people complaining about how poor the money for pilots is in GA as are those in the industry in general - though they're just my observations. Maybe you can give us some examples of GA operators who do pay their pilots good rates?
I stand by my word about GA having generally "clapped out" aircraft. It's not just my opinion, its fact. You can see the details here:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/avi...eport_v1.2.pdf
and again here:
http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dl...eName=8-15.pdf
Average age of GA aircraft here is over 30 years. Yes journalists can twist facts around to present a biased view, but you only need to just visit a typical GA airport to see rows upon rows of ancient aircraft.
I never said I liked the Cadetship. I've just presented a few basic facts to those here. If you want to be so negative about it, why not preset something of value rather than what appears to be a unsubstantiated personal opinion.
Anyway it appears they don't want me.
Having spent much time in GA I regularly came across GA pilots with;
Relative to what is required for a decent job that is. To top it off they had no multi-crew experience or much of an income. Some so cash restrained as not able to afford Instrument or Instructor ratings or time to study ATPL theory.
I'm not saying a cadet program will be any different but keep it at least realistic.
no command time, no single pilot experience and a huge debt!
I'm not saying a cadet program will be any different but keep it at least realistic.
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has anyone actually doing this course posted their thoughts on this forum?? I hear a lot of bad things from the outside. I am seriously considering doing this course - but what do the actual cadets themselves think of it?
Agaga,
I apologise for my late response.
Yes, some will. It took me 3 years though, not 2.
Once again, yes, I know of Operators that pay over and above the award.
I know of several, but I find the ones who whinge and complain, don't bother to go and find a better operator either, so why should they be spoon fed?
Sorry to hear that. So will you still persue a flying career even though you won't get to wear the train drivers hat?
nt pilot,
You may find the cadets have been told to keep thier mouths shut. Happy to be corrected on this one though.
I apologise for my late response.
So what your saying Piper, is that operators of Metros, will automatically stick a pilot with just 2 years GA experience to captain without starting as a F/O?
Failing that, your saying that Metro operators pay their pilots well above the Pilots award wage (as the award for Metros is several K less than a Saab.
PPrune is filled with people complaining about how poor the money for pilots is in GA as are those in the industry in general - though they're just my observations. Maybe you can give us some examples of GA operators who do pay their pilots good rates?
Anyway it appears they don't want me.
nt pilot,
You may find the cadets have been told to keep thier mouths shut. Happy to be corrected on this one though.