FTA has VSL approval but reached a temporary cap on funding in 2017. Going forward they may reduce non-cadet VET student intake to accommodate more cadets including Virgin.

Virgin have announced they're reopening their cadetship again in October following a successful completion of their advanced cadets. Will be interesting to see if they change their structure with the announcement of Qantas' academy

Virgin Australia will reopen applications for their cadetship this Friday (04 May). According to the updated FAQ page (see website):

• 2019 will have two intakes, one in January and the other in July.
• There will be no advanced program stream in 2019.
• A cost breakdown of the course is now available and is as follows:
  
  AVI50215 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot License) - $74,990
  AVI50415 Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating) - $27,840
  AVI60216 Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Pilot in Command) $16,714
  UPRT – $1,760
  Uniform - $832
  54 weeks full board accommodation - $24,316.74
  
  Though, the FTA program allows a successful cadet to access Vet Student Loans (VSL) to fund the program. VSL can fund up to $76,125 per qualification i.e. CPL. MECIR, ATPL & MCC, but it should be noted that in 2018 an individual can only access a maximum of $102,392.

What are the age requirements for this program ive just turned 33.

The Helicopter career path has been destroyed in Australia by CASA and part 61 and I was looking at moving to a more stable career. Will 2900 Helicopters hours and flying overseas be a benefit for this cadetship? I already have passes in irex and other exams.
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I'm currently flying in Bali and so once I week i have a beer or two with the 737 guys flying in from Virgin, they seem to think that I should apply and its very much a people person job and how you get along with the other crew.

But im not sure if this program is aimed at students with 0 time, I have 0 time in fixed wing aircraft.

cheers

Yes it's for ab-initio up to a PPL, they should also add that only current Virgin staff or relatives need apply, to save applicants and their own time.

Hey, heli1980, is the helo job situation that bad??? I thought it was going alright these days?

Applications are somehow open at the following link:

careers [dot] virginaustralia [dot] com/cw/en/job/500807

Interesting you say that, do you have the stats on the percentages of how many there were? I don't believe there has been more than 3 with those connections on any of the courses thus far.

If you want to significantly boost your chances of success through the recruitment process, I recommend seriously considering a sex change.

The photo in the following link should give you a pretty good idea what they are looking for....

https://www.afap.org.au/pilot-jobs/p...adet%20Program

Although I believe airlines like Virgin are favoriting females for their cadetship programs (Its good marketing on their part).

I do wish to point out that their 2018 Advance Pilot Cadets graduation photo shows 5 males and 1 female.

This is because the vast majority of existing CPL holders who applied for the program are male, so they weren't able to meet their 'quota'.

When they have say 2000 applicants for the ab initio program with perhaps 1900 males and 100 females, its still easy to meet their quota of 5 of each.

As far as it being "good marketing", I honestly can't believe the population is brainwashed by the feminist media to not be outraged by gimmicks like this. Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot...

I never said I agree with it but from a marketing point (General Public, outside of the pilot community) If a house wife that organises the family holidays see advertisements that contain female pilots or seen female pilots for Virgin at the airport, they may be more incline to trust Virgin and this would put Virgin in a good position when it comes to that family planning their next holiday.

Yes its crap and unfair but it seems the way allot of company's are going towards

What a rip off for unusual attitude training. You can do that in 20 minutes in a 737 desk top simulator for nothing.

Has anyone applied for 2019 intake?
 

And heard back anything?
I should probably cut off my penis and put in a vagina, looking at this 50:50 quota.

The whole Virgin cadet scheme is PR. They dont need to do it so why should they? If it was an honest scheme they would take more than 6 people a year.

The REX cadet scheme is 10 years old now and I have never seen a mainstream media article about it. As for the Qantas scheme that is just more smoke and mirrors.

If you read closely on the information page you would see
'You will receive notification if you have been short listed to participate in our assessment process within four to six weeks of the application close date.'

Thanks. obviously im too impatient. End of June by the look of it then. Did you apply as well?