Merged: Qantaslink Traineeship/Cadetship/General Employment
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Qlink seem to have a new step in Stage 4 of their application process.
"Reference checks will be conducted by QantasLink and the application will be subject to a full review by Flight Operations management. "
Does anyone know if the Flight Operations Management review is something of significance and if they knock back a lot of people at this stage?
Cheers
"Reference checks will be conducted by QantasLink and the application will be subject to a full review by Flight Operations management. "
Does anyone know if the Flight Operations Management review is something of significance and if they knock back a lot of people at this stage?
Cheers
Last edited by Centre of Pressure; 30th October 2013 at 11:30.
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Perth
The foundation program is gone, if you were hoping for a spot on that, you can be certain it's not going to happen.
They aren't that organised. They constantly waste their resources.
The foundation program was hopeless. The first foundation course had numerous fails in the final sim check in Adelaide, yet managed to redeem themselves on a second and final attempt. The second course only 3 (or 4) of the 10 were offered jobs and the third course which finished about a month ago had similar if not worse result as the second course.
Biggest problem is those guys going for the foundation program don't have to do a sim on their interview day. A LOT of people going for direct entry or the advanced program that DO have to do the sim get knocked back because of their performance to fly on instruments. Without a sim check, the foundation program lets people like that, who simply can't scan instruments get through to FTA, where they come undone as soon as they're checked in the 737 sim down there. By that point they're thousands in debt and have wasted 6 months in Adelaide.
The last of the ordered Q400s arrives early next year and there isn't anything officially planned in terms of fleet expansion after that. There are a TONNE of people now on active hold. I'm not sure how many spots there are to be filled. But it looks like they're getting very close to meeting the quota.
i don't think they would waste their resources and time doing something which they know wouldn't exist any more in the future and also wasting your time too.
The foundation program was hopeless. The first foundation course had numerous fails in the final sim check in Adelaide, yet managed to redeem themselves on a second and final attempt. The second course only 3 (or 4) of the 10 were offered jobs and the third course which finished about a month ago had similar if not worse result as the second course.
Biggest problem is those guys going for the foundation program don't have to do a sim on their interview day. A LOT of people going for direct entry or the advanced program that DO have to do the sim get knocked back because of their performance to fly on instruments. Without a sim check, the foundation program lets people like that, who simply can't scan instruments get through to FTA, where they come undone as soon as they're checked in the 737 sim down there. By that point they're thousands in debt and have wasted 6 months in Adelaide.
The last of the ordered Q400s arrives early next year and there isn't anything officially planned in terms of fleet expansion after that. There are a TONNE of people now on active hold. I'm not sure how many spots there are to be filled. But it looks like they're getting very close to meeting the quota.
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Aus
The second course only 3 (or 4) of the 10 were offered jobs and the third course which finished about a month ago had similar if not worse result as the second course.
Last edited by isntthatsomething; 31st October 2013 at 11:00.
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
Apparently 3 of the 6 in the September Traineeship course had their training “terminated” with about a week to go and sent home. Unusual as this has never happened before. What is gained by doing this? Why not just let them finish and not employ them? Anyone have any inside information from FTA?
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Darwin
So I have been lucky enough to get into the December Foundation Course.
I am pretty excited and I know I have a long way to go before it is an issue, but a few of the older guys I work with are telling me ill never get command and if I do ill struggle to move on from QantasLink and onto something bigger? They are saying cadets are frowned upon and the inter-company politics ill get stuck at QantasLink?
I am pretty excited and I know I have a long way to go before it is an issue, but a few of the older guys I work with are telling me ill never get command and if I do ill struggle to move on from QantasLink and onto something bigger? They are saying cadets are frowned upon and the inter-company politics ill get stuck at QantasLink?
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Oz
There are one or two old captains that frown on cadets but I think you will find they are frowned on themselves by the greater pilot body. Some cadets are now captains and are well respected.
Without command time you will indeed have to wait a while for a command as you build your ICUS hours. That's not a bad thing. In times past a Fo would wait around 5 years even if they had 5000 hrs due to not much movement in the ranks.
The industry can change drastically from year to year so forget worrying about commands and concentrate on being a good FO. A good FO is a very valuable resource in the busy regional environment. Be the best FO you can be and the command will come regardless.
Without command time you will indeed have to wait a while for a command as you build your ICUS hours. That's not a bad thing. In times past a Fo would wait around 5 years even if they had 5000 hrs due to not much movement in the ranks.
The industry can change drastically from year to year so forget worrying about commands and concentrate on being a good FO. A good FO is a very valuable resource in the busy regional environment. Be the best FO you can be and the command will come regardless.
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Darwin
Cheers Deafstar, bit of sour grapes from the guys I was speaking to I think.
Yeah I am in no rush, I have a lot to focus on before I even get a F/O position. Then I am sure the learning curve will hit me again once if I make it to F/O.
Head down bum up and what will be will be
Yeah I am in no rush, I have a lot to focus on before I even get a F/O position. Then I am sure the learning curve will hit me again once if I make it to F/O.
Head down bum up and what will be will be
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Qlink Trainee Programe Level 1 scrapped
I have noticed on the Qlink website that they have scrapped the Foundation Level 1 programe that was available to bare CPL holders. Looks like they want the candidate to have ATPL Subjects and CIR completed before becoming a cadet.
Link is below
QantasLink Recruitment: Attention
Link is below
QantasLink Recruitment: Attention
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
A few quick questions to anyone in the know...
have been following this thread and also recent developments- namely the cadets from fta being put on hold indefinitely...
Is this the case for new direct entry hires as well or are they being put onto groundschool courses still/ interviews still happening for DE at the moment?
Furthermore, does anyone have an idea roughly of the breakdown for next year qlink would be looking at DE vs cadet?
and lastly- with the DE mins being 700 tt and 250 copilot/me command time is this what people are getting in with or is it quite a bit more?
thanks in advance for any info
have been following this thread and also recent developments- namely the cadets from fta being put on hold indefinitely...
Is this the case for new direct entry hires as well or are they being put onto groundschool courses still/ interviews still happening for DE at the moment?
Furthermore, does anyone have an idea roughly of the breakdown for next year qlink would be looking at DE vs cadet?
and lastly- with the DE mins being 700 tt and 250 copilot/me command time is this what people are getting in with or is it quite a bit more?
thanks in advance for any info
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Current Status of Active Hold and hourly requirements
Hey, long time reader first time poster.
I know for a fact that they are experimenting at the moment with taking various levels of experience, also the last two adv entry courses they ran had candidates with no less than 1000 hours each. And with them cutting the foundation course. It would appear this is what they are working towards.
Although it would seem this approach has had mixed results with some problems showing up at ground school and FTA. Several candidates failed their LOE and half of the September course got axed in the final week of FTA with next to no notice.
I personally know of at least 6 people who have around 500 hours or less who have been on active hold at both ends of Adelaide (before and after) with no contact for at least 6 months or more. What a way to treat someone...
There are various reasons for this but I do know there is a big backlog for the Q400 sim with some 50 people on active hold waiting for spots to open up, undoubtedly this is the reason why all simulator assessment sessions are now done in the 300 sim. There is also a 400 sim that is being assessed in Japan to see whether they can use that, previously Canada was used but that blew out the budget something fierce.
Toodles
I know for a fact that they are experimenting at the moment with taking various levels of experience, also the last two adv entry courses they ran had candidates with no less than 1000 hours each. And with them cutting the foundation course. It would appear this is what they are working towards.
Although it would seem this approach has had mixed results with some problems showing up at ground school and FTA. Several candidates failed their LOE and half of the September course got axed in the final week of FTA with next to no notice.
I personally know of at least 6 people who have around 500 hours or less who have been on active hold at both ends of Adelaide (before and after) with no contact for at least 6 months or more. What a way to treat someone...
There are various reasons for this but I do know there is a big backlog for the Q400 sim with some 50 people on active hold waiting for spots to open up, undoubtedly this is the reason why all simulator assessment sessions are now done in the 300 sim. There is also a 400 sim that is being assessed in Japan to see whether they can use that, previously Canada was used but that blew out the budget something fierce.
Toodles
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Australia
FTA course's
From what I've heard I think Qlink are slowing down their intake at the moment. A couple of guys have told me they got rejected only a couple hours after the sim/interview but were encouraged to reapply in 6 months. Go figure...
Any FTA course's that were advertised on Bfound are usually guaranteed to happen (although Qlink is getting itchy feet about them lately, with meetings held with other training providers in the last couple months)
In terms of ground schools. I know one person is on the Jan course who hasn't finished their ATPL exam's yet and another who was an FTA instructor who has jumped to the front of the active hold cue.
Any FTA course's that were advertised on Bfound are usually guaranteed to happen (although Qlink is getting itchy feet about them lately, with meetings held with other training providers in the last couple months)
In terms of ground schools. I know one person is on the Jan course who hasn't finished their ATPL exam's yet and another who was an FTA instructor who has jumped to the front of the active hold cue.
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Aus
FTA march course
Why would anyone want to be on the March course when 'All positions for 2014 have been filled' and there are around 25 trainees on the hold file (and counting), some of whom have been on hold for 7 months? 
Run, run while you still can.
Run, run while you still can.
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Australasia
On average, in general, some kind of indication....
How many line training positions are usually offered at QLink each year?
I understand that this changes with demand, but there must be a range for attrition, resulting from retirement, resignation and termination.
Assuming that there are about 200 Dash8 drivers for 50 aircraft, then a 15% attrition rate is probably going to be about 30 pilots per year. Is this realistic???
So if they have 3 intakes per year, then it is going to be about 10 per intake?
Assumptions assumptions.....
How many line training positions are usually offered at QLink each year?
I understand that this changes with demand, but there must be a range for attrition, resulting from retirement, resignation and termination.
Assuming that there are about 200 Dash8 drivers for 50 aircraft, then a 15% attrition rate is probably going to be about 30 pilots per year. Is this realistic???
So if they have 3 intakes per year, then it is going to be about 10 per intake?
Assumptions assumptions.....
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 397
Likes: 11
From: Australia
Things have slowed again although there is another 400 due later in the year I believe. Regarding attrition rates, even when majors were hiring like crazy I was told on good authority that the rate is still fairly low. On average over a 10 year timeframe I would guess it would be approx 5 pilots per year from the north of the border operations. No idea on south. The pilot approximation of 200 that you give is now roughly the number of pilots north of the border. So all up around 450 to 500.
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Australia
I was told recently by management that they project an attrition rate of 10% per year, however so far it has been about 5%. Looking at the lists, there are currently about 494 pilots in EAA and SSA. So the company are projecting an attrition rate of 25 pilots per year.
The additional aircraft that is coming in the middle of the year will adds another 10. All up, my guess would be 35 pilots minimum. This can all change when the major starts recruiting.
The additional aircraft that is coming in the middle of the year will adds another 10. All up, my guess would be 35 pilots minimum. This can all change when the major starts recruiting.