Mega Merged: REX Recruitment/Cadetship and Working for REX
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To Jibba Jabba & Rednobius
Thank you both for your response, advice and kind words of encouragement. At the moment I am flying at Schofields Bankstown and I am really enjoying myself. I have a wonderful instructor who is moving me along well. I will keep flying and hopefully over the next 3 months I should have completed the BAK & GFPT, I will then re-apply for REX and see how it goes. I was going to apply for the BA cadetship (funded by BA) but I have kids at school and dident want to go back to live in the UK. Anymore news or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all so much.
Shock 1
Thank you all so much.
Shock 1
Hello
I have heard (third hand of course) that working at Rex may not be as bad as it is made out to be by a lot on this forum.
Was wondering if anyone knows if there is any point applying without the 500 multi under the IFR as stated on their recruiting website?
I have the 2500 and about 500 muti and ATPL subjects, but mostly vfr and am sadly lacking at night time as well.
My current job has limited opportunities for these things, but pays ok.
Also, if one was to be succesfull in applying to one of these regionals, is there much night flying to be done so that one could eventually slide across to the left seat.
Am begining to tire of living out of a rucksack and just looking to the future.
Ta.
I have heard (third hand of course) that working at Rex may not be as bad as it is made out to be by a lot on this forum.
Was wondering if anyone knows if there is any point applying without the 500 multi under the IFR as stated on their recruiting website?
I have the 2500 and about 500 muti and ATPL subjects, but mostly vfr and am sadly lacking at night time as well.
My current job has limited opportunities for these things, but pays ok.
Also, if one was to be succesfull in applying to one of these regionals, is there much night flying to be done so that one could eventually slide across to the left seat.
Am begining to tire of living out of a rucksack and just looking to the future.
Ta.
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Shock1
Take the $23500 that you would have spent at the start of the AAPA course and spend it yourself on some good flying training at various schools. That way you will learn what the quality differences between schools. If you then start the rex program you can negotiate a better deal than just paying your $90k.
You are less risk to them as you already have some of the flying done, you will be out quicker and have broader knowledge.
Have a close look at the return of service commitment to Rex. They have deliberately put in some incentives (loan waivers) at various anniversaries to keep you on. How many other airlines offer retention bonuses?
If you really want the good oil - go hang out at Wagga for a while and speak to as many cadets as you can find, then go hang out at a regional RPT terminal (without looking like a security risk) and chat with the SAAB driver with the least number of stripes!
If you have got kids in school have you considered the implications on them of being shifted around the country frequently as you progress?
GCS.
P.S. Good luck with the PPL.
Take the $23500 that you would have spent at the start of the AAPA course and spend it yourself on some good flying training at various schools. That way you will learn what the quality differences between schools. If you then start the rex program you can negotiate a better deal than just paying your $90k.
You are less risk to them as you already have some of the flying done, you will be out quicker and have broader knowledge.
Have a close look at the return of service commitment to Rex. They have deliberately put in some incentives (loan waivers) at various anniversaries to keep you on. How many other airlines offer retention bonuses?
If you really want the good oil - go hang out at Wagga for a while and speak to as many cadets as you can find, then go hang out at a regional RPT terminal (without looking like a security risk) and chat with the SAAB driver with the least number of stripes!
If you have got kids in school have you considered the implications on them of being shifted around the country frequently as you progress?
GCS.
P.S. Good luck with the PPL.
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Careful though, if you do spend your 23k elsewhere then start the Rex cadetship, you can effectively kiss most of that goodbye as Rex will not discount the course cost to anywhere near that amount.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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@ Shock1 & Cessna180
Lets get this straight...
Rex WILL NOT accept you if you have more than 90hrs flying training.... UNLESS you do the ENTIRE course from scratch.... either way you lose and they win. There is not much negotiation at all!!! ... in fact you may be intimidated by senior management while training..... E.g. the c.e.o stating that if he hears the word "EBA" out of anyones mouth they will be sacked..... this is the type of managment that runs this airline.
Eitherway, you could go the G.A route (which you have started) or the cadetship.
Rex aint that bad to work provided; a) you never get into any trouble with managment ever b) you dont have large financial obligations and/or family c) you dont mind being worked hard if you get a sydney base (chances are good u will get this) d) and you can live with the 7 years of contractual obligations you signed.
I would not trade my G.A experience for a cadetship even though I get to "shortcut" the hard work and struggle to achieve a goal.
And asking cadets at Wagga will get you very narrowed responses;
Two types of answers:
1) From pimply faced kids who mum/dad paid for this "job" who have never had any real world interaction with the workforce and think its awesome they "have made it" so quickly and smoothly. They no nothing about being abused by employers nor what money it takes to live in Sydney for example. They will accept anything (initially) because they dont know better. They are bright and nice kids though, its the experience that is lacking.
2) from older people who made a "career change"...... alot of these people are great, but they came from really good high paying jobs and could afford the shift over to a 46k pay (when i started it was 42k .... this is why we have an EBA..... hint hint.... stick to it!).
Cessna 180, Rex is 500multi IFR....... not just 500 multi. Night flying a plenty in winter months. also min rest a plenty too
I have had very experienced instructors get rejected by Rex HR because they did not have 500 IFR multi .... they had 400hrs IFR Multi!!!!! 
And inexperienced cadets take his Well Deserved job...... So he went to QantasLink.... straight onto a Q400!!! Hows that for short sighted management... people are signing up for it.
You get the PICUS program but its jumping through hoops and you wont be ready for at least 4 years plus your training
Now look at the situation..... people are leaving in droves ...why..... because they are not locked into cadet contracts (G.A experience) and even cadets are leaving but you will have to do at least 3 years and fork out $$$$ if you do.
Rex is good experience and good training, but its even better if you have a G.A background IMHO.
anyways..... I hope this helps, if I were going to pay for a job (NOT RECCOMENDED) but if you were going to do that I would think long and hard about finances, location, family, rosters etc AND then would also consider other places that offer more advanced and newer a/c.......
Rex WILL NOT accept you if you have more than 90hrs flying training.... UNLESS you do the ENTIRE course from scratch.... either way you lose and they win. There is not much negotiation at all!!! ... in fact you may be intimidated by senior management while training..... E.g. the c.e.o stating that if he hears the word "EBA" out of anyones mouth they will be sacked..... this is the type of managment that runs this airline.
Eitherway, you could go the G.A route (which you have started) or the cadetship.
Rex aint that bad to work provided; a) you never get into any trouble with managment ever b) you dont have large financial obligations and/or family c) you dont mind being worked hard if you get a sydney base (chances are good u will get this) d) and you can live with the 7 years of contractual obligations you signed.
I would not trade my G.A experience for a cadetship even though I get to "shortcut" the hard work and struggle to achieve a goal.
And asking cadets at Wagga will get you very narrowed responses;
Two types of answers:
1) From pimply faced kids who mum/dad paid for this "job" who have never had any real world interaction with the workforce and think its awesome they "have made it" so quickly and smoothly. They no nothing about being abused by employers nor what money it takes to live in Sydney for example. They will accept anything (initially) because they dont know better. They are bright and nice kids though, its the experience that is lacking.
2) from older people who made a "career change"...... alot of these people are great, but they came from really good high paying jobs and could afford the shift over to a 46k pay (when i started it was 42k .... this is why we have an EBA..... hint hint.... stick to it!).
Cessna 180, Rex is 500multi IFR....... not just 500 multi. Night flying a plenty in winter months. also min rest a plenty too
I have had very experienced instructors get rejected by Rex HR because they did not have 500 IFR multi .... they had 400hrs IFR Multi!!!!! And inexperienced cadets take his Well Deserved job...... So he went to QantasLink.... straight onto a Q400!!! Hows that for short sighted management... people are signing up for it.You get the PICUS program but its jumping through hoops and you wont be ready for at least 4 years plus your training
Now look at the situation..... people are leaving in droves ...why..... because they are not locked into cadet contracts (G.A experience) and even cadets are leaving but you will have to do at least 3 years and fork out $$$$ if you do.
Rex is good experience and good training, but its even better if you have a G.A background IMHO.
anyways..... I hope this helps, if I were going to pay for a job (NOT RECCOMENDED) but if you were going to do that I would think long and hard about finances, location, family, rosters etc AND then would also consider other places that offer more advanced and newer a/c.......
A very successful executive friend of mine, on hearing of the Rex and Jetstar cadet schemes, dubbed the pilot's who took them up "financially retarded" .
All to fly a bus... but for less money than those who drive road busses!
.All to fly a bus... but for less money than those who drive road busses!
And therein' lies the problem.
One day it may all come back to bite those who profit from these people, well and truly on the arse. But also, according to Dr Flannery, Parramatta will soon become the new northern beaches!
One day...........
One day it may all come back to bite those who profit from these people, well and truly on the arse. But also, according to Dr Flannery, Parramatta will soon become the new northern beaches!
One day...........
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 14th May 2012 at 06:58.
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Jibba jabba you really live up to your alias name, Mr T would not be happy.
Speculate speculate, my 2 cents..... Nobody cares mate
Speculate speculate, my 2 cents..... Nobody cares mate
good luck with whatever you decide/doing.
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Would anyone be able to confirm if Rex are accepting Advanced cadets, being those with CPL only or able to have MECIR completed? Their student handbook now says "advanced cadet" as well, but their criteria is still for Ab Initio
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The chances of REX accepting advanced cadets would be quite slim. You wouldn't owe them as much as other cadets, so it wouldn't be such a nice business proposition for REX to take you. 
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Thanks for the posts, I am also unsure about Rex starting an advanced program, I had only seen on Pats website which I use to see updates regarding these programs, that they say they're accepting candidates with CPL and 250 hours, but I'm not sure about that, I will consider contacting AAPA or rex regarding it, thanks
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that has happened, but the two that did the "advanced program" came from the operations department.... so were basically managment "friendly" people. although id say that they arent complete backstabber management lovers;
the chances that advanced cadets get in are small as previously stated, in theory you would owe them less, but in reality they would push on you a contract that would be just as overweight with company advantages that it would be unreasonable.
I would just go the G.A route. I am not sure why people want the "shortcut" so bad, especially if your in your 20's. get out and see what its like and appreciate the industry for what it really is! believe me, its not all its cracked up to be to be a Rex cadet! ....
Better off going to Q.link if your an advanced cadet/cpl holder. All I can say is go G.A.
good luck
the chances that advanced cadets get in are small as previously stated, in theory you would owe them less, but in reality they would push on you a contract that would be just as overweight with company advantages that it would be unreasonable.
I would just go the G.A route. I am not sure why people want the "shortcut" so bad, especially if your in your 20's. get out and see what its like and appreciate the industry for what it really is! believe me, its not all its cracked up to be to be a Rex cadet! ....
Better off going to Q.link if your an advanced cadet/cpl holder. All I can say is go G.A.
good luck
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I woulnd't use the word 'short cutting', people were presented an opportunity and promised certain things and after a certain period time made a decision to either accept or decline.
The argument your putting forward by stating you learn more from going the traditional ga route rather than being a cadet is sometimes confusing to me. Are you saying that by being a 'cadet' and flying with seasoned captains with 1000's of hours is less valuable than going ga? I don't know .....
The argument your putting forward by stating you learn more from going the traditional ga route rather than being a cadet is sometimes confusing to me. Are you saying that by being a 'cadet' and flying with seasoned captains with 1000's of hours is less valuable than going ga? I don't know .....
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I woulnd't use the word 'short cutting', people were presented an opportunity and promised certain things and after a certain period time made a decision to either accept or decline.
The argument your putting forward by stating you learn more from going the traditional ga route rather than being a cadet is sometimes confusing to me. Are you saying that by being a 'cadet' and flying with seasoned captains with 1000's of hours is less valuable than going ga? I don't know .....
The argument your putting forward by stating you learn more from going the traditional ga route rather than being a cadet is sometimes confusing to me. Are you saying that by being a 'cadet' and flying with seasoned captains with 1000's of hours is less valuable than going ga? I don't know .....
The instructors that teach you at Rex are cadets who went through the course! LOL, yes they can teach the basics, but my god, you still walk out wth a MECIR with no experience in the real world just like a GA pilot!
So Yes, you are short cutting your way into an RPT job. Simple as that.
Like an apprentice, you learn from experienced people but do small jobs to start with, and as your competency grows you get more responsibility. Just like GA...... 172 --> 182/206/etc --> twin --> regional turboprop --> jet (if ur lucky)......
Cadetships/cadets work hard and study hard, no doubt; but in no way know more about aviation than anyone that has been a diligent cpl student.
However the G.A pilot then develops people skills and work skills and a hell of alot of "ups and downs" in the GA world, but nether the less, "cuts his teeth" with tenacity and gets that edge of reality and sense of achievement that walking into a job cant get you.
Yes they made a choice; but whether they were promised things by Rex management, knowing full well the cadets would never really get them, is something they were FULLY warned about in this and many other threads. it aint hard to find.
So i see your point but reject it.
Some cadets are a joy to fly with, and clearly have put in the work. Some also have attitudes, and some just are not that good. A mixed response but, after a few years of open mindedness and learning they are generally fine, just that this avenue gives companies like Rex a way to use that against, ironically the same pilot group that "cadets" will be a part of!
either way, the decision you make is yours alone; I find that people who take this cadet path are either scared of the "unknowns" in aviation and want to avoid them; or just want to get moving in the career because they are older or its a career change; and some just want to do the job because they can say they are an airline pilot at parties and wear the rayban/topgun sunnies!
reality is, that either way you can just scrape by, as an f/o at Rex, but that was achieved of the backs of those who knew better (G.A pilots!) who kept pushing for wage increases. Problem is as a new joiner you are just happy to have a job, which inturn lowers your expectations for salary, and thus in turn dilutes the very pool of wealth you though this career was!
Double edged sword i tells you :-)
either way.... ramble ramble,....
over and out.
Last edited by jibba_jabba; 22nd May 2012 at 17:06.
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I can totally see both sides of the argument, but ultimately people are just taking an opportunity presented to them, whether it is easier or not than going down the traditional ga route.
You guys don't know what you're missing out on. Airline type flying is the most boring flying I have ever done. I often sit up in cruise with the other guy nattering away on some technicality of EBA interpretation wishing I was back dawdling around the Wide Bay area in a mighty Islander.
Last edited by j3pipercub; 23rd May 2012 at 05:16.
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Just thought I'd share my experience. Just got my rejection email today from Rex. Went up there (twice) for two first round interviews at Wagga (yeah I am confused as you guys are).
Anyway, before you all attack I know full well what the cadetship potentially involves, costs, the ICUS program; alas, I went up.
First interview following their WOMBAT test was a pretty standard HR interview.
Second interview still has me bedazzled, it was 20 minutes long with one of their management guys, asking basically the same questions as the first interview. My interviewer was also changed last minute without me actually knowing, not sure why this happened.
I am about 3/4 of the way to my CPL and I have a feeling the hours I had has something to do with being rejected. I am more upset about being brought up there twice than missing out on the cadet program. Interview was on the 24th of April and it took them over 4 weeks to respond to me to tell me I hadn't made the cut, didn't think that was fair.
Oh well, that's aviation for you, win very few and lose alot as they say. I'll continue with my training and head up North. 5 more ATPLs to go, IREX and a MECIR and we'll see how we go.
Will not be letting this phase me after I left my boring office job, flying is all I think about everyday and I will go anywhere to do it.
For all those successful..well done?
Anyway, before you all attack I know full well what the cadetship potentially involves, costs, the ICUS program; alas, I went up.
First interview following their WOMBAT test was a pretty standard HR interview.
Second interview still has me bedazzled, it was 20 minutes long with one of their management guys, asking basically the same questions as the first interview. My interviewer was also changed last minute without me actually knowing, not sure why this happened.
I am about 3/4 of the way to my CPL and I have a feeling the hours I had has something to do with being rejected. I am more upset about being brought up there twice than missing out on the cadet program. Interview was on the 24th of April and it took them over 4 weeks to respond to me to tell me I hadn't made the cut, didn't think that was fair.
Oh well, that's aviation for you, win very few and lose alot as they say. I'll continue with my training and head up North. 5 more ATPLs to go, IREX and a MECIR and we'll see how we go.
Will not be letting this phase me after I left my boring office job, flying is all I think about everyday and I will go anywhere to do it.
For all those successful..well done?
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You guys don't know what you're missing out on. Airline type flying is the most boring flying I have ever done. I often sit up in cruise with the other guy nattering away on some technicality of EBA interpretation wishing I was back dawdling around the Wide Bay area in a mighty Islander.
Last edited by jibba_jabba; 24th May 2012 at 11:52.