I don't think racism is a problem only in Singapore. It's everywhere and that's just a sad fact of life. You either choose to take it personally, or ignore it and enjoy life.

The panel of interviewers will be objective, making their decisions based on the total package of the candidates (academic results, interview performance, impression... etc), not by the colour of their skin. Whether you like it or not, selecting a cadet during an interview is a gamble. We have limited information and time to know a candidate fully. We have to go with "gut feeling" sometimes, and many times our gut tells us "no". And that's just the way it is.

I hope you don't harbour this racist feeling inside yourself. One day you may potentially become a commander, and you may have a SFO of a different race. I certainly hope you will treat him / her objectively with respect and not disadvantage him / her because he / she is different.

Thank you for the measured response. I indeed will and seeing as my company registers its aircraft VP and is an international company, we welcome people of all backgrounds if they have what it takes.

May I, flying.monkeyz, request you then to field some questions that have been posed to me by many of our silent readers of PPRune through PM? Seeing as it is National Day lets do our part to help our countrymen such that one day they would be of such a high standard that we can do away with foreign pilots in SIA.

I have answered most of these questions PMed to me but the ones specific to SIA I cannot answer. Those questions are below.

1.) Does SIA still have any eyesight requirement?
2.) I am planning on doing an FAA CPL/IR/MER and then applying for the cadetship. Does this makes sense?
3.) If I am accepted to SIA after having done my own CPL, what stage would I be fast-tracked to?
4.) When is SIA starting recruitment of cadet pilots next?
5.) Will having PES C status affect my Class 1 Medical?
6.) Does it help having a uni. degree?

The no.5 question I can also answer. Yes and No. Depending on what your problem is. My only advice: Fork out that 200 bucks and go to AFMC in Paya Lebar and go get it done yourself! Haha

Since you wanted this forum to be more productive towards our future cadets, I am doing my part :ok:

1.) Does SIA still have any eyesight requirement?

The eyesight and any other medical requirement is clearly stated in Singapore Air Safety Publication Part 9, which can be found at http://www.caas.gov.sg/caasWeb2010/e...Amendment1.pdf

2.) I am planning on doing an FAA CPL/IR/MER and then applying for the cadetship. Does this makes sense?

Not necessarily. Having an FAA CPL/IR/MER doesn't guarantee anything. Recently a cadet with FAA CPL/IR/ME with FI was accepted and still he had to start from scratch.

3.) If I am accepted to SIA after having done my own CPL, what stage would I be fast-tracked to?

That depends on what CPL you do. Some countries allow you do to a basic raw CPL VFR single-engine. You then have to do quite a lot more. What you will be exempted on depends on CAAS. Some foreign CPL are not even recognized by CAAS. But whatever the case you will still have to write all Singapore ATPL papers, according to Singapore Air Safety Publication Part 2 Chapter 12.

4.) When is SIA starting recruitment of cadet pilots next?

Things are really slowgoing as you can imagine with the world economy in crap mode. Watch this space.

5.) Will having PES C status affect my Class 1 Medical?

Refer to answer 1 above.

6.) Does it help having a uni. degree?

It may, but doesn't guarantee anything.

Thank you very much bossman! There was a lot of confusion from my budding aviator friends on what SIA wants and doesn't want.

For one thing, there was a misconception that SIA ONLY prefers people who come in fresh with 0 hours :=

Looks like they readily accept those with self-sponsored outside Singapore routes too. That's good to hear.

I encourage personally EACH AND EVERY POTENTIAL CADET to go out there and do a cheap PPL in US or Australia or something just to personally see if this is what you see yourself doing and whether you are prepared for it.

As far as I am concerned, if you can pass a rigorous and proper PPL program, you can get an ATPL. :ok:

Excellence Knows no Boundaries
 

Like many other successful MNCs, the core of the HR policy is to acquire the best candidate for the job. Excellence knows no boundaries. It doesn't really matters where your are from, what religion or race are you.

One may have the aptitude to fly, but still, lack the capacity to command. SIA are not looking for FOs, SIA are hiring cadets as prospective captains. So convince the interviewers that you have the capacity to be one.

Locals have had their fair share of opportunities. In fact, most cadets from SFC are locals, probably amounting to about 70% of the total cadet pool.

Stop whining and start working on ourselves. Be a all rounder. Excel in both soft and tech skill and success will find its own way.

Akin to the local Medicine School Selection, it doesn't matter if you're the top scholar of the cohort, you have to be able to express your passion and convince the board of your capacity to be a doctor.

Of course, with the aptitude, determination, and money, one can always go overseas for a medical degree, get a CPL and etc. But still, being able to acquire the relevant technical skills to do the job doesn't necessary equip one with the capacity to be a successful practitioner.

Don't stop trying, accept failure with a pinch of salt and learn from those that had made it.

Glenn Brandon Burke once quoted, 'If I Can Do It, Anyone Can!'

Good luck to all aspiring pilots.

Aspiring Aviator
 

Hi Everyone,
I am a recent local graduate and I was thinking of applying to the SIA Cadet pilot program. Looking at the current situation and reading the many previous posts, it seems that they are not hiring at all due to the current economic situation.

I would however, like to do a CPL in the mean time so as to be ready should they open applications. Having just read that there was a cadet who did an FAA CPL/ME IR with FI rating, is that a good route to go down or should I just stop at a CPL? Is anyone aware of the school that the mentioned FI cadet did his training at?
Acknowledging the fact that CAAS has recently reduced the minimum requirement back to 200Hours from the previous 700Hours for foreign license conversions, would anyone please care to share the best schools to attend in either the US or the UK. Are any exemptions given for a foreign CPL conversion?

I look forward to your replies my fellow aspiring and current aviators.

Yes SIA do take in those with CPL/IR. And recently the airline accepted CPL/IR from CASA, FAA, DCAM, UKCAA, Thailand, etc. But I wanna remind those out there... having a licence is not a guarantee straight-in approach. You still have to go through the interviews, which in some cases may be even more rigorous due to the attained knowledge. There have also been cases of CPL/IR holders having their training terminated at SIA.

By the way, is a "cheap PPL" = "rigorous and proper PPL program"??

Somehow I don't quite agree that anyone that can fly a single-engine VFR on his PPL can easily upgrade his skill to a CPL/ME/IR according to airline's strict training standards. I suppose it's easy for you to say because you already went through the training, but not everyone is up to it.

If you got money to do your self-sponsor your CPL program, I recommend you actually do the self-sponsored Tiger cadet program with STAA. For the amount of money you sank in, at least you have a good chance of securing employment with them after your training.

I would actually venture to say give the FAA CPL a shot. For the Tiger one, EVERY experienced aviator here would agree that an MPL is still dangerous for now and if Tiger shuts down a year later, ALL your money is gone and no one will even smell your armpit hair let alone hire you.

There are a lot of charter companies here and if we make our "hire local first" policy heard, even the big guys like JetAviation and ExecutiveJets would have to start hearing us. Also FAA CPL allows you to have a shot to apply to the SIA Group AND hopefully even the local charter outfits. FlightInstructing is also a possibility.

If all else fails, with your degree, get your first job in an aviation firm and get contacts.

Last I checked, companies like Lufthansa were hiring Management Trainees from Singapore!

If its a case of Singapore hiring locals first then I think Lufthansa should only hire locals first. German jobs for Germans, right SingaporeAirlines?

Hi IpMan, SIA still has cadets going through the system, but I don't think are taking fresh applications. Other subsidiaries may still be taking applications though, Silkair being one example (as they are expanding). :ok:

STAA has graduates gaining employment with Silkair after the course so Tiger isn't the only option. From my understanding there is also a move to the UK theory subjects in SG so if you were to do a UK licence it may provide a smoother transition. Most overseas CPL/IR will require you to do conversion exams in SG. I think it is still the Performance A and Airlaw exams (dependant on experience) not sure of when they were going to change over to the new system.

The other route mentioned was as a FI/QFI. Not sure where SFC and STAA source their instructors from but it may be worth looking into as that area of aviation will start to have issues with staffing levels soon. Old school will be retiring and no new school to really replace them. If you want an indication have a look at the number of instructor jobs popping up in Australia recently.

For foreign licences best bet is to take a look at the CAAS SASP documents (either SASP 2 or 10 can't remember now) for licencing and see what they say re conversions. Some may need more hoops jumped through than others to meet requirements.

Hope the information helps see through some of the smokescreen...

@SingaporeAirlines

Sorry mate didn't see this post till today but thought I would add a couple of things..

1.) Does SIA still have any eyesight requirement?
3.) If I am accepted to SIA after having done my own CPL, what stage would I be fast-tracked to?

These two are more based on CAAS than on SIA from my understanding as an instructor at the college. Some candidates were given a 50 hour exception for a CPL/ME CIR, others have been given nothing. To this day I still don't know how it works...:confused:

6.) Does it help having a uni. degree?

Maybe Flying can confirm this one, doesn't the recognized degree affect pay scale as a cadet?

And the last thing to add is this. Even those guys who make it through the interview are not guaranteed to finish the course. The interviewers do their best to select the right candidates but even they get it wrong as they are only human. I posted this on another thread...when you walk into the interview remember;

Airlines need pilots like pilots need the airline....the only person who can fail the interview is you.

Validity of cleared medicals
 

Flying.Monkeyz i was just wondering, what happens to candidates who have already cleared their interviews and medicals last year and are waiting to hear back from SIA. An sure the medicals have a validity, considering the amount of time it takes it is now taking to get called in for a OBS batch. How does that work?

Would appreciate your insight on this.

Thanks!

As I mention recruitment is on idle thrust at the moment, mainly due to economic situation as well as excess FO / SFO. But training is still going ahead, albeit at a bigger time gap between courses.

Some cadets waited for more than a year before they are finally called-up to start their course. Don't worry about the validity of the medical. When the time comes, just do a renewal, as all pilots do annually.

Sounds great! Thanks for your quick reply flying.Monkeyz.

AsiaOne
 

Hope this will be shown in the openings soon

Demand for aviation staff to surge in S-E Asia

A ray of hope i say! Thanks for your post Yannisoar!

Don't put your hope too high... Chances are that most of these jobs won't be in Singapore.

Indonesia mainly, China to a certain extent though they're not in S.E.A

No worries purpledragonfly, I do hope you will start your training soon.