Newbie & Flying Training Advice (Merged)
Join Date: May 2019
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Cheers mate! And when you were yourself in college like myself, did you focus on particular subjects that helped you get into a Flight school? Is it necessary to do well in Physics, Maths, and English? Because iev been getting Merits in all my advanced physics and maths but my parents say it isnt good enough.
NCEA Level 3 Certificate, or equivalent, with a least 14 level 3 credits in an English-rich subject (English, History, Art, Geography, Biology, Classics, Art History, Journalism, Media Studies, Religious Studies, Physical Education), and at least 14 Level 3 credits in a numbers-orientated subject (Calculus, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Accounting, Economics)
Last edited by ariex; 17th May 2019 at 00:49.
Join Date: May 2019
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Yeah I immediately applied for flight schools out of college to some success. Physics, Maths and English is important so it is good to focus on it. Based of the interviews I have done it is good to focus Maths and Physics because it was pretty prevalent in the entrance tests. You should also work on mental maths as it is important for not only for the entrance exam (The NAC entrance exam at the time I did it did not allow for calculators and all calculations have to be done mentally or on paper) but further on for Airline interviews. Regarding NCEA work this is generally the same for most flight schools and the requirements are Also as I got caught out by this although it says Physics counts towards 14 L3 credits in reality it does not.
Join Date: May 2019
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It wasn't hard necessarily to work and study. I was in High School whilst studying for PPL so this was a major factor balancing NCEA study and PPL Study. I chose NCEA > PPL so my PPL was sort of delayed being I completed >90% of Flight Training prior to finishing my PPL Exams. In terms of maintaining financially I spent most of the money I earned on Exams, Study Material and Flight Training but this wasn't enough and luckily my parents were able to help me out so 50/50 split for my PPL.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Finding a new flight school
Hi, All.
With Clamback and Hennessy closing up shop at Bankstown (After being brought buy a Chinese group) and their move to Mildura. I am looking for a new flight school, I have no problems carrying out a check flight before hiring an aircraft but one school stated I needed to do a flight to Cessnock and back and if I did not fly one of their aircraft every 90 days then I would require another check ride.
If anyone has any flight school recommendations please let me know.
Thanks PV
With Clamback and Hennessy closing up shop at Bankstown (After being brought buy a Chinese group) and their move to Mildura. I am looking for a new flight school, I have no problems carrying out a check flight before hiring an aircraft but one school stated I needed to do a flight to Cessnock and back and if I did not fly one of their aircraft every 90 days then I would require another check ride.
If anyone has any flight school recommendations please let me know.
Thanks PV
Not sure which side of Sydney you are on, but the Central Coast Aero Club at Warnervale has a highly experienced team of instructors, friendly club atmosphere, uncrowded (and scenic!) airspace, and a variety of Cessna and Piper aircraft online.
Many of the members/students come from Sydney. If you live on the north side, it is often quicker and cheaper compared to driving to Bankstown and copping the associated tolls.
Many of the members/students come from Sydney. If you live on the north side, it is often quicker and cheaper compared to driving to Bankstown and copping the associated tolls.
I am not sure of the relevance of a flight to Cessnock and back, though if the operator was based at Cessnock it would be reasonable to do your first check there.
As for a 90 day recency requirement, otherwise a check; I expect every operator in the country who hires out aircraft would have this. Insurance being one reason, CASA another, and protecting yourself and the aircraft the obvious.
As for a 90 day recency requirement, otherwise a check; I expect every operator in the country who hires out aircraft would have this. Insurance being one reason, CASA another, and protecting yourself and the aircraft the obvious.
Join Date: Feb 2019
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Who would like to blow 150k with no guarantee of a job afterwards just because of the "Qantas" brand on the flight school? It is no different to any of the other integrated flight schools throughout the country so, my question is, what is the specific value proposition offered by the Wellcamp facility over any other flight school?
Who would like to blow 150k with no guarantee of a job afterwards just because of the "Qantas" brand on the flight school? It is no different to any of the other integrated flight schools throughout the country so, my question is, what is the specific value proposition offered by the Wellcamp facility over any other flight school?
Not every graduate will get a job straight away, some may get to the end of their course and find that business conditions have caused recruitment to stop temporarily. But then no GA or military pilot will be getting employed either. And when recruitment is ongoing I'd assume these academy graduates will be first priority.
You could save some money by training at another school (but with the cost these days not that much more), and you'd be hunting for a job elsewhere to build up the experience then applying in the hope that the airline has a need to recruit pilots from outside the academy. And being further back in Seniority. The slightly higher price of the academy would be outweighed by the long term career benefits..
Virgin is doing a similar thing with their academy in Tamworth. We are going to have a fundamental shift in how the two airline groups in Australia select and employ their pilots over the next few years.
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Fair call. It is still a gamble as to whether you would get a job at the end - I think interest would be a lot higher if the Qantas stance was "you'll get a job as long as you meet our standards". My concern lies in whether Qantas is just using this for revenue and with a desire to pump out as many graduates as possible with no concern for whether roles exist in the company or not. I know this is no different to every other flight school, and I also know there is no guarantee of a job at the end of any type of pilot training regardless of how you get there. Just dont want to be taken for a ride and trying to avoid the "come here because we have the name Qantas on the front of our building (but you probably wont get a job afterwards because we only have 50 positions and 1000 of you to chose from)".
Fair call. It is still a gamble as to whether you would get a job at the end - I think interest would be a lot higher if the Qantas stance was "you'll get a job as long as you meet our standards". My concern lies in whether Qantas is just using this for revenue and with a desire to pump out as many graduates as possible with no concern for whether roles exist in the company or not. I know this is no different to every other flight school, and I also know there is no guarantee of a job at the end of any type of pilot training regardless of how you get there. Just dont want to be taken for a ride and trying to avoid the "come here because we have the name Qantas on the front of our building (but you probably wont get a job afterwards because we only have 50 positions and 1000 of you to chose from)".
And if there are more graduates than positions, then even more so the reason to go to the academy. That means zero traditionally GA background pilots will be taken at all, as I'd assume all available positions would be filled by academy graduates.
The most probable scenario (I'd say 95%) in this circumstance is that you get a job within the group upon graduation. The worst case is that you graduate and there are no jobs available, but then you're really no worse off than any other GA trained pilot, and you'll have the benefit of being known to the group so when recruitment starts up again you'll have one foot in the door above anyone who went through GA.
With about 800-1000 CPL's (a large number for foreign students who won't work here professionally) issued in Australia every year, and this Academy ultimately gearing up to take several hundred graduates per year, and Virgin's academy accounting a large number as well, (and not to forget Rex's school in Wagga) the majority of professional pilot training in the country will be done via these academies. The real threat will be for every other flying school in the country, unfortunately a lot of these long standing schools will be closing down.
I think young people would be willing to pay the extra fees to have a more guaranteed shot at an immediate start with a major airline, rather than the "get your CPL and hunt for a job yourself" mentality.
I know this is no different to every other flight school
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Dr Dre,
If you read the latest information that’s not what is being stated at all. I have to say I’m surprised at how transparent they are about disconnecting the ‘academy’ with the group at all. There’s also no cadet program so you go there and pay your money to learn how to fly then after you can opt to “keep in touch”.
I, like you assumed they they would at least BS more about it.
If you read the latest information that’s not what is being stated at all. I have to say I’m surprised at how transparent they are about disconnecting the ‘academy’ with the group at all. There’s also no cadet program so you go there and pay your money to learn how to fly then after you can opt to “keep in touch”.
I, like you assumed they they would at least BS more about it.
Dr Dre,
If you read the latest information that’s not what is being stated at all. I have to say I’m surprised at how transparent they are about disconnecting the ‘academy’ with the group at all. There’s also no cadet program so you go there and pay your money to learn how to fly then after you can opt to “keep in touch”.
I, like you assumed they they would at least BS more about it.
If you read the latest information that’s not what is being stated at all. I have to say I’m surprised at how transparent they are about disconnecting the ‘academy’ with the group at all. There’s also no cadet program so you go there and pay your money to learn how to fly then after you can opt to “keep in touch”.
I, like you assumed they they would at least BS more about it.
It’s still a bit vague on what will happen post course, maybe it’ll be cleared up in the coming months but there is scant info out there on the current info.
One thing is for sure, youngsters are pretty clued on and connected these days, so unless a more guaranteed path is established in fact, and real advantages are shown to be had by going through this academy, then youngsters will probably turn their gaze elsewhere. At least the other programs (Rex, JQ, VA) have a more defined route into the airline post course.
Having said that, given the purpose of the academy is to establish more direct control over the pilot supply pipeline I would predict they would establish a direct pathway into the group, lest their trainees be poached by other carriers.
They’ve received over 20’000 expressions of interest in the academy.
Other airlines get thousands of applications per year for each Cadetship they run.
Theres certaintly a lot of interest out there atm.
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Dr Dre, couldn't find the thread..... What is it called? Its beyond page 4 when I look on my phone.... Sort of lost in the background is indicative of a lack of interest.
Where did the 20,000 figure come from? I would accept that figure with a massive lump of salt.
Either way.... 20000 applicants were interested. But I'm sure after Qantas casually slips the details across the table during contract signing a few eyebrows will be raised. There will be enough people out there who take a chance though.
Where did the 20,000 figure come from? I would accept that figure with a massive lump of salt.
Either way.... 20000 applicants were interested. But I'm sure after Qantas casually slips the details across the table during contract signing a few eyebrows will be raised. There will be enough people out there who take a chance though.
Last edited by Professional Amateur; 1st Jun 2019 at 15:17.
