QantasLink trainee first officer...
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So interesting! Our flying college told us in the "information night" that after graduation, there would be a 100% employment rate within 3 months of finishing. This was pre-COVID. Definitely feel misled in the beginning!
100% employment as a pilot or just 100% employment in any job? Read the fine print.
I went to a sausage factory in 1989/90. One of their big marketing ploys was to tell all us aspiring pilots that we'd all find employment within 6 weeks of graduating.
Nigel, do you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny?
The marketing guy is only their for wage and the commission/bonus he gets for signing up suckers or potential students.
The marketing guy is only their for wage and the commission/bonus he gets for signing up suckers or potential students.
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I learnt "modular" (lesson by lesson) at RVAC in Morrabbin in 1987/88/89. There were about 8 or so people doing the same at the same time, and 6 or so all became professional airline pilots.
The "next wave" have about half that success, I think.
... so the idea that 90% plus would "make it" may have been a "true" statement for those who wnt through training at a previous time - but may not hold true for the people they are talking to at a later time...
The "next wave" have about half that success, I think.
... so the idea that 90% plus would "make it" may have been a "true" statement for those who wnt through training at a previous time - but may not hold true for the people they are talking to at a later time...
THIS is the reason why so many of us are against the whole VET debacle. It lines a lot of dodgy pockets with taxpayers money by exploiting people like the OP by telling him there is an easy way, a short cut to that dream of an airline job. It creates a very uneven playing field for those schools that don't want to get involved in it. There never has been and never will be a shortcut or pilot shortage.
Over my 30 years working in this industry I have seen so many of these frauds come and go and leave a trail of disappointed, debt ridden students just like the OP in their wake, they rake up the VET money and stash it who knows where then suddenly "go bust" leaving a trail of destruction. Then someone else starts it up and off we go again. I did hear one of the local sausage factories had a proud achievement of 5% of their graduates actually ending up working as pilots, the majority were so poorly trained they were simply unemployable, even in times of good hiring.
At least you have some qualifications, many of the people who get scammed in this way end up with a file and a log book in a skip or the money supply dries up and they can't afford to go to a proper school and finish.
Or is it true that everyone eventually finds a flying gig somewhere at some point?
On saying that I am of the opinion that there will be a demographic crunch in about 10 years as large scale retirements meet a lack of supply of younger pilots.
I wonder just how many guys like me that graduate from flight school ultimately never find any work. Do you have any idea?
Last edited by neville_nobody; 28th Nov 2020 at 03:30.
2011 Sausage factory graduate.
Most of us who ended up with CPLs were flying pre-rona, many in airlines or other good - great jobs around the world.
Graduates of 2013, not so much.
I think even those of 2009 struggled a lot as well.
Timing is a big part of it. Unfortunately no one can help that, and no one can predict black swan events.
Having said that, I think if any one who gave up went on to instruct, or moved up north to pull beers while waiting, then they'd all have had some luck by now. It all comes down to how much you want it.
Most of us who ended up with CPLs were flying pre-rona, many in airlines or other good - great jobs around the world.
Graduates of 2013, not so much.
I think even those of 2009 struggled a lot as well.
Timing is a big part of it. Unfortunately no one can help that, and no one can predict black swan events.
Having said that, I think if any one who gave up went on to instruct, or moved up north to pull beers while waiting, then they'd all have had some luck by now. It all comes down to how much you want it.
A couple of years ago, NZALPA published a sobering research article on Pilot career progression in New Zealand. In conclusion they estimated only 29% of kiwi CPL holders, (New Zealand residents), who graduated between 2000 and 2017, were still actively flying commercially in New Zealand.
I don’t think they could account for those flying overseas, but still, not good at all. Would be very interesting to see an equivalent Australian study.
I don’t think they could account for those flying overseas, but still, not good at all. Would be very interesting to see an equivalent Australian study.
