Cathay/FTA cadet scheme puts Rex/QF to shame...
 

As I understand it, the deal is available "ab initio" as follows:

- CPL training
- ME-CIR training
- Grade 3 Instructor Rating, followed by a period of employment in this role
- Grade 2 Instructor Rating, at which point a Cathay Seniority Number is issued
- Employment as a Grade 2 instructor for an agreed period
- Full time permanent employment with Cathay

Total cost? Cadet pays only 30-35K, approximately 20%, with the other 80% of the cost "subsidised by Cathay".

Has there been a better deal since the days of the original QF scheme? If the above is true, maybe there is a catch? Do they actually pay you while you're instructing for them?

Given the above, why would any prospective "wannabee" consider the following:

- QF cadetship at well over 100K
- Rex cadetship at around 30-40K with a return of service requirement
- QF Link cadetship at either 10K or zero cost, with a return of service requirement but probably very little likelihood of Mainline or Jetstar progression

I would say the only reason for NOT putting the Cathay scheme at number 1 would be an absolute determination NOT to leave Australia.

Given the number and scope of cadet schemes now on offer, I suspect "traditional" self-funded training which is not aligned to any airline will very quickly become a thing of the past. Why would anyone consider spending 60-70K plus with no guarantees when there are so many cadet schemes available?

Interesting times indeed...

I think the catch is that you have to be a Hongky.....

Would like to stand corrected though.

Sorry to be the one to burst the bubble.....almost had me excited there!

Mind you they may be getting more flexible! You can never say never!

J

flightfocus is right. You need to have citizenship as well as the equivalent of their high school certificate.

Same deal with Air France. Fully paid training from ab-initio to ATPL with a guaranteed offer as FO on an A320. At that stage I think the flight training fees get deducted from your pay.

I can't see where it says you must be a HK resident on the website.

Where did you see it?

If that's the case, I don't think they'd get many applicants from Australia, who are HK residents.

from the site: Candidate Profile To be eligible for this scheme, there are a number of criteria that you must meet as shown below:
Age: Must be 18 by the 21st of July 2008 when course starts
Height: Must be at least 160cm whether you are male or female

Education: Minimum academic qualifications on application are as follows

Australian Education Board:
Pass grade in English, Maths and Physics at year 12 level

Hong Kong Education Board
Pass grade at HKCEE Maths, English and Physics

UK Education Board
Minimum grade C at English, Maths and Physics at GCSE level

Other
Equivalent to the Australian Education Board requirements



I was under the opinion that aussies could apply?

where did you get that bit from garman?

interesting this interweb thing!

I think you found it on the FTA site.....not CX's site.:hmm:

J

from this url http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...t_requirements

Yep - having trained at an establishment that trains QF cadets and after five years of RPT turboprop time, why would anyone want to hire you??? The biggest problem with that scheme is the five years - doesn't take that long to build enough hours to get into an international these days. you'd almost be better off paying for it yourself!

Not sure where you're getting that bit of info. Last few courses in the high 80's as I understand. Might be different with the uni courses, but now you can effectively defer through HECS type scheme.

What's your point here? There are better deals around? Big surprise, but as you can see there is a significant catch. If anyone could get into a cadet program for a major international, kids would be streaming overseas to have airlines pay them for ab initio training. If you want to see a really good deal, look at what Emirates does for their cadets (paid salary from commencement of training - not insignificant either):zzz:

Got this in the email the other day:

I am writing to you as we have previously corresponded about instructor training with Flight Training Adelaide (FTA).

Please be advised that Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA) and Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) are accepting Expressions of Interest for a Flight Instructor Scholarship Program.

This program will provide a career path that will take successful candidates through instructor training, career development as a flying instructor at Flight Training Adelaide and finally a permanent position as a professional airline pilot with Cathay Pacific Airways.
In order to be considered for this scheme, you need to submit an online application/Expression of Interest. However before you do this, we strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the scheme details on our website.
Short Course (CPL/CIR or CPL/NVFR holders)
This course is designed for individuals that currently hold CPL/IR or CPL/Night VFR qualifications. It is expected that course will commence
mid to end of April and this course will hopefully be open to all individuals regardless of their citizenship.

The minimum educational standards we require are:

• 5 passes in HKCEE / GCSE (O Level), including Physics and Mathematics, together with 2 passes in HKAL / GCE A Level, preferably in Science OR
• a Degree or Diploma in any discipline (or the equivalent educational standard obtained overseas)

I don't get how there system of education work's. So if you have done math, Physics and english and have scored over 85 in each course, have u met the minimum educational startards?

jabawocky,
what i quoted was from the flight training adelaide website and it was with regard to the scholarship to become a flight instructor and then join cathay.

what you quoted was the cathay cadet program, which is different (not what the thread is about).

if you are accepted into the scholarship you would be training the cadets. does that cleap it up?

Jabba, if you don't meet the requirements, are you saying that you are a 17 year old illiterate dwarf?;)

yeah I believe you'd be training the cadets at FTA for about 3-4years then you get a shot at S/O for CX. so that's like saying after training 2 batch of cadets?

garman

Well that sort of clears it up.......but the thread title reads Cathay/FTA cadet scheme puts Rex/QF to shame...

So its fair to assume its the CATHAY end of things not the FTA one.

Anyway good luck to anyone who gets a go!

J:ok:

World's better airlines.
 

The better airlines in this world do make arrangements with wannabies and give them some sort of formal agreement. (It may be provisional)
The huge confidence trick that resulted in lots of desperate self funded trainees in Australia has done enormous harm.
Let's hope we do not go back to that. I always wondered why pilots, who are supposedly intelligent individuals spent so much of their money and time on training without properly researching the furure job potential.

Are you crazy ????

I would much prefer to be picked up right now for a Dash 8 job based in Sydney, rather than some instructing job in Adleaide for the next 3.5 years, then have to move to Hong Kong and be based there for the SO job.

Thats just me though !!!

Mr Cat, the difference is that if you go to CX, in 10 years time you will be left seat on some superjet like the 787 or A380. If you go to SYD on a Dash 8, in 10 years you will have moved to the dizzying heights of the Q400 if the Jungle jets don't see it off first. Not bagging it, though I reckon that type of flying would have some people brain-dead in 10 years.
Don't bag the CX deal as they have been providing bloody great careers for gwalios for 50 years now and will continue to do so for many more. The Honkers citizen stuff is a smokescreen. They advertise for locals first and when they don't get enough, they can justify spending money on training foreigners and also get X number of work permits.
Lifestyle wins for some. Fame and fortune for others.

Flying ILS to ILS in a 380 or a 787 (maybe a couple of approaches flown per week depending on sectors) versus 2-3 approaches per day including NPAs and uncontrolled ports. Which of these do you think will send you brain-dead first?:confused:

Just a strange aspect to compare given the realities of regional flying.

Icarus

PS - for some reason, this thread has drawn my most sarcastic posts to date. Can't figure out why.