Merged: The REX Cadet Scheme
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Announced today on the ASX... they're really clutching at straws with this.
Media Release
3 October 2007
REX LAUNCHES PILOT CADET SCHEME
Regional Express (Rex) announced today that it is launching a cadet scheme that is
without precedent in Australia for aspiring pilots who would like the opportunity to fly with a
leading regional airline.
“Rex recognises that the high cost of flying training is a major obstacle to many young
people who desire to make a career in the sky and is prepared to assist with the cost of
training so that a Commercial Pilot’s Licence is within the reach of many who would
otherwise be unable to afford it,” said Jim Davis, Rex Chief of Staff.
Giving details of the scheme, Mr Davis added “All selected cadets would be given a loan of
50 percent of the cost of training estimated to be $80,000. This is repayable for up to seven
years in a repayment schedule that links the repayment to the prevailing salary so that the
burden is reduced in the initial years.”
“In addition, some of the higher achievers will be given scholarships that could cover up to
the remaining 50 percent of the training costs. These scholarship cadets will have to
commit to staying with Rex for six years,” Mr Davis said.
Rex has a history of assisting young persons to join the industry with its engineering
apprenticeship programme and currently has 16 apprentices under training at its heavy
maintenance base at Wagga Wagga as well as at line maintenance bases in Sydney and
Adelaide.
The pilot cadet scheme is expected to commence later this year with an initial intake of
around 20 cadets and a target of 40 cadets per year. It is expected that each batch of
cadets will be trained within eight months of starting their cadetship to qualify for a
Commercial Pilot Licence with a Command Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine
Endorsement and would then begin their flying career in one of the Rex Group companies.
Explaining the rationale for this bold initiative, Mr Davis said, “Rex is growing very strongly
and is adding some 20 additional aircraft to its fleet in the next two years bringing the
Group’s fleet size to almost 90 aircraft. We will need to ensure that we have the quality
aircrew needed to meet the overwhelming demand for Rex’s services everywhere in
regional Australia.”
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 34 Saab 340
aircraft on 1,300 flights weekly to 25 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel - Air
Aviation and Dubbo based regional airline, Air Link. Interested applicants can register their
interest at www.rex.com.au./cadetpilot.
- 00 -
Media Release
3 October 2007
REX LAUNCHES PILOT CADET SCHEME
Regional Express (Rex) announced today that it is launching a cadet scheme that is
without precedent in Australia for aspiring pilots who would like the opportunity to fly with a
leading regional airline.
“Rex recognises that the high cost of flying training is a major obstacle to many young
people who desire to make a career in the sky and is prepared to assist with the cost of
training so that a Commercial Pilot’s Licence is within the reach of many who would
otherwise be unable to afford it,” said Jim Davis, Rex Chief of Staff.
Giving details of the scheme, Mr Davis added “All selected cadets would be given a loan of
50 percent of the cost of training estimated to be $80,000. This is repayable for up to seven
years in a repayment schedule that links the repayment to the prevailing salary so that the
burden is reduced in the initial years.”
“In addition, some of the higher achievers will be given scholarships that could cover up to
the remaining 50 percent of the training costs. These scholarship cadets will have to
commit to staying with Rex for six years,” Mr Davis said.
Rex has a history of assisting young persons to join the industry with its engineering
apprenticeship programme and currently has 16 apprentices under training at its heavy
maintenance base at Wagga Wagga as well as at line maintenance bases in Sydney and
Adelaide.
The pilot cadet scheme is expected to commence later this year with an initial intake of
around 20 cadets and a target of 40 cadets per year. It is expected that each batch of
cadets will be trained within eight months of starting their cadetship to qualify for a
Commercial Pilot Licence with a Command Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine
Endorsement and would then begin their flying career in one of the Rex Group companies.
Explaining the rationale for this bold initiative, Mr Davis said, “Rex is growing very strongly
and is adding some 20 additional aircraft to its fleet in the next two years bringing the
Group’s fleet size to almost 90 aircraft. We will need to ensure that we have the quality
aircrew needed to meet the overwhelming demand for Rex’s services everywhere in
regional Australia.”
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 34 Saab 340
aircraft on 1,300 flights weekly to 25 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel - Air
Aviation and Dubbo based regional airline, Air Link. Interested applicants can register their
interest at www.rex.com.au./cadetpilot.
- 00 -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Planet Earth
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Eye in the sky Sue on page 2 already quoted the ad you have posted from the REX site You need to read the previous posts. 
Maybe so but I am sure they will get plenty of eager beavers applying. What everyone needs to remember is this ain't a free ride. Upwards of 80K. When you factor in living expenses the true cost will be well over 100k
Sounds good but when you factor in the much talked about REX wages is it really worth it in the end? That is a personal choice!
Announced today on the ASX... they're really clutching at straws with this
Sounds good but when you factor in the much talked about REX wages is it really worth it in the end? That is a personal choice!
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Plenty of interesting comments here. All I want to really know is:
Does this Program sound worthwhile?
Is it a cost-effective way of getting into the industry, or is it better going for a more "traditional" approach?
Constructive comments please
Ozzi
Does this Program sound worthwhile?
Is it a cost-effective way of getting into the industry, or is it better going for a more "traditional" approach?
Constructive comments please
Ozzi
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Cost-effective ... no. But time-effective .. yes. If you get in, you by-pass the industry requirement of 500 odd hours of multi-engine time before any RPT carrier will look at your application.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Dutch,
You're probably right. 6 years is a long time. The program caught my interest from a financial point of view but the more I look at it, there are probably easier, if not cheaper, ways of making it to the top
Ozzi
You're probably right. 6 years is a long time. The program caught my interest from a financial point of view but the more I look at it, there are probably easier, if not cheaper, ways of making it to the top
Ozzi
Join Date: Oct 2002
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one small flaw with your maths there.....what they are proposing is not a $70,000 loan.The proposal is for a low interest loan for UP TO half the cost of training, which is ESTIMATED to be around $80,000.
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This is the reply I got ! Mines different ?
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for expressing your interest in the REX Cadet Pilot Program.
We would like to invite you to register for the program through our web
site as follows:-
http://www.rex.com.au/cadetpilot/Default.aspx
Please refer to the website for further information regarding the
program.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Regards,
Human Resources
Thank you for expressing your interest in the REX Cadet Pilot Program.
We would like to invite you to register for the program through our web
site as follows:-
http://www.rex.com.au/cadetpilot/Default.aspx
Please refer to the website for further information regarding the
program.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Regards,
Human Resources
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Proceed with care.
Six years is a big commitment when there is so much fluctuation going on in the industry. It would be a tough pill to swallow to be on SFA wage and see an airline that pays what pilots are worth start up another cadet program.
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Six years is a big commitment when there is so much fluctuation going on in the industry
40 pilots could be found in GA who already have CPL's and instrument ratings reducing the costs for them. REX obviously don't have confidence in experienced pilots to be doing this? 
Looks like they are looking for lifetime F/O who will become puppets making it very difficult for them to progress to command without giving them a frozen ATPL through the cadet program.
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Surely it is possible to self study those ATPLs whilst you hold down the FO job - plenty of time off correct?
Also, just out of interest, where are the REX pilots based these days?
Sydney seems obvious but any other capital cities?
whaet
Also, just out of interest, where are the REX pilots based these days?
Sydney seems obvious but any other capital cities?
whaet
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I say steer clear.....
You can get a CPL + MECIR in 12-15 months, go north, work your ass off for 2-3 years whilst self studing the ATPL, should then have aound 1500-2000 hour mark with the golden 500 multi command..
Turbo prop job should be easy to find then, do it for 12-18 months and should be able to walk into a Jet job in the current climate....or once around the 1500 hour mark, pretty good chance of an S/O gig with QF..
6 years at REX is too long and not finacially viable in todays market......
My advice to wannabes is to follow traditional paths, it will get you to Jet job much faster, and give you some of the best experinces and mates of your life!!!!!!
You can get a CPL + MECIR in 12-15 months, go north, work your ass off for 2-3 years whilst self studing the ATPL, should then have aound 1500-2000 hour mark with the golden 500 multi command..
Turbo prop job should be easy to find then, do it for 12-18 months and should be able to walk into a Jet job in the current climate....or once around the 1500 hour mark, pretty good chance of an S/O gig with QF..
6 years at REX is too long and not finacially viable in todays market......
My advice to wannabes is to follow traditional paths, it will get you to Jet job much faster, and give you some of the best experinces and mates of your life!!!!!!
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Loan Scheme
• Rex will offer cadets a low interest loan for 50% of their pilot training costs (total training costs are estimated at AUD80K). This training will cover CPL, Command Instrument Rating and a multi engine endorsement. ATPL subjects are not part of the initial training.
• Upon successful completion of training Cadets will begin employment with Rex and be assigned to a company within the Rex Group (Pel-Air, Air Link or Rex itself). Subsequently all cadets will have the opportunity to transfer back to the parent company, if not assigned there originally, where they will have the opportunity to qualify as a Saab Captain. I still can’t see how. I would think you might be stuck doing night freight in a metro for 6 years
• Repayment of the loan will begin from the point the Cadet begins employment as a fully trained pilot (First Officer) with a Rex Group company.
• The repayment schedule will stretch over 7 years and will be linked to prevailing salary levels so the burden will be reduced in initial years. i.e. repayment amounts will be structured such that they gradually increase as salary increases.
• To qualify for the low interest loan, cadets have to remain employed within the Rex Group for at least 5 years.
• If cadet resigns from Rex before the end of 5 years, the loan and interest become repayable immediately and interest will be calculated at a market interest rate. Buyer Beware
• If a cadet resigns from Rex after 5 years but before the loan is fully repaid, the balance and interest become repayable immediately but interest will remain at the lower rate.
• Rex will offer cadets a low interest loan for 50% of their pilot training costs (total training costs are estimated at AUD80K). This training will cover CPL, Command Instrument Rating and a multi engine endorsement. ATPL subjects are not part of the initial training.
• Upon successful completion of training Cadets will begin employment with Rex and be assigned to a company within the Rex Group (Pel-Air, Air Link or Rex itself). Subsequently all cadets will have the opportunity to transfer back to the parent company, if not assigned there originally, where they will have the opportunity to qualify as a Saab Captain.
I still can’t see how. I would think you might be stuck doing night freight in a metro for 6 years• Repayment of the loan will begin from the point the Cadet begins employment as a fully trained pilot (First Officer) with a Rex Group company.
• The repayment schedule will stretch over 7 years and will be linked to prevailing salary levels so the burden will be reduced in initial years. i.e. repayment amounts will be structured such that they gradually increase as salary increases.
• To qualify for the low interest loan, cadets have to remain employed within the Rex Group for at least 5 years.
• If cadet resigns from Rex before the end of 5 years, the loan and interest become repayable immediately and interest will be calculated at a market interest rate.
Buyer Beware• If a cadet resigns from Rex after 5 years but before the loan is fully repaid, the balance and interest become repayable immediately but interest will remain at the lower rate.
For those considering this cadetship – would you want to be financially locked in for 7 years standing still when the industry is moving at break neck speed. The game of musical chairs has already started and there are some great opportunities out there for those with some real flying experience. 7 Years is a long time and you might find yourself without a good seat when the music stops. That means you might be stuck as a Rex F/O for a lot longer than that.
In this climate Qantas cadets will probably be offered F/O slots within 7 years of starting. The decision is really a no brainer, but it will catch a few people out. The rest will go forward with their careers.
I also recommend following the traditional path. It will save a lot of time, money and angst.
Oh goodness me, .
REX management, if you're reading this, I think you'd better go back to the drawing board, and come up with something that's realistic. I've seen a few cadet scheme's, but yours is a SHAM!
Ohh and a bit more research might be needed. Our pilot licences do not 'expire',
. They are perpetual.
morno
.REX management, if you're reading this, I think you'd better go back to the drawing board, and come up with something that's realistic. I've seen a few cadet scheme's, but yours is a SHAM!
Ohh and a bit more research might be needed. Our pilot licences do not 'expire',
. They are perpetual.morno
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G'day all,
Just wondering if anyone knows (or has contacted Rex) about the Year 12 completion requirement.
I'm currently completing Yr 12 this year and I am essentially guaranteed a pass having done Year 12 Geography last year and getting a 20/20 subject score, and now I have been nominated for a 20/20 for English this year.... so passing is not an issue
Are they considering applications based on the successful completion of Year 12, as the QF cadetship does?
Otherwise I will send them an email, but I doubt that the response will be quick (I would imagine lots of emails being received)
The form seems too brief to be the final application form.... and they aren't asking a CV/resume go with this form???
Thanks for your help,
Cheers
Tim
Just wondering if anyone knows (or has contacted Rex) about the Year 12 completion requirement.
I'm currently completing Yr 12 this year and I am essentially guaranteed a pass having done Year 12 Geography last year and getting a 20/20 subject score, and now I have been nominated for a 20/20 for English this year.... so passing is not an issue
Are they considering applications based on the successful completion of Year 12, as the QF cadetship does?
Otherwise I will send them an email, but I doubt that the response will be quick
(I would imagine lots of emails being received)The form seems too brief to be the final application form.... and they aren't asking a CV/resume go with this form???
Thanks for your help,
Cheers
Tim
Last edited by TimmyB; 8th Oct 2007 at 06:02.
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I should think that high on the list of priority questions for potential cadet applicants will be:
"What happens to me should Rex go belly up half way through my training? And what's it going to cost me?"
"$80K and IF something goes wrong partway through (company issues, medical issues, inability to pass exams, etc.), what amount is left over?"
"What happens to me should Rex go belly up half way through my training? And what's it going to cost me?"
"$80K and IF something goes wrong partway through (company issues, medical issues, inability to pass exams, etc.), what amount is left over?"