PPRuNe Forums - SIA Cadet Pilot - All Batches, Merged

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)

- South Asia and Far East Wannabes (https://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far-east-wannabes-99/)

- - SIA Cadet Pilot - All Batches, Merged (https://www.pprune.org/south-asia-far-east-wannabes/185397-sia-cadet-pilot-all-batches-merged.html)

Well having a CPL doesnt get you in but in my view and many of us LHS boys it shows enthusiasm and commitment without it being handed on a plate to you,some dont even know difference between a B737 and an A320 after 4 yrs on a W/Body jet--sad but true:ugh::ok:

Hi guys,

It's been more than a month since i applied online for SQ, but still no reply or rejection. I have read some of the earlier posts and usually people get their reply within a few weeks. Anyone has any clue about this?

Thanks..

Just came across this article, am I right to say that SIA's interview process is designed to filter out candidates with not only flying potential but other qualities as well?

Is the author naive to think that S$140K will get him a flying job or is that the cruel truth?

Clean discussion without personal or policy bashing please.

Quote:

Source: TODAYonline | Voices | My career can't take off

$140,000 spent on pilot's licence but I can't land a job with local carriers
Letter from James Tan 05:55 AM May 13, 2010

I AM a cadet pilot who has graduated from the flying college which trains all of Singapore Airline's pilots, be it for the main fleet, cargo division, or SilkAir. I belong to a group of about 20 Singaporeans who were willing to pay for the training course at the Singapore Flying College (a subsidiary of SIA).

This training course cost me about $140,000 to complete.

Even though no promise of a job was made, I was still willing to go through the course hoping for at least an interview for consideration for an SIA job.

But the carrier seems to prefer to take in foreign nationals (including some from Malaysia, India and Hong Kong) over the current crop of local Singaporeans, who have coughed up a large amount of cash and have graduated with a Commercial Pilot Licence - only to be bypassed by this group of foreign nationals SIA has hired with zero hours of flying experience, and provided with training from scratch.

We Singaporeans are being overlooked by SIA without so much as an interview. Most of us have to look to the low-cost carriers like Jetstar and Tiger for jobs, as these are the only airlines based out of Singapore that can take in pilots like us with few hours of flying time.

However, Jetstar has a policy of taking in retired air force pilots, which means Tiger remains our only hope of employment.

Setting our sights on jobs with overseas airlines is proving to be a major hurdle. I have sent in more than 200 applications to airlines all over the world but I'm usually rejected because I am a low-hour pilot or because the aviation authority in that country has a job protection clause in place for their pilots from their own nations. For example, Malaysian and Indonesian carriers only allow low-hours pilots provided they are citizens of those countries.

This means the majority of the Singaporean pilots who have paid for their own training are hung out to dry, since we have to vie for limited places with the foreigners for cadet pilot positions, and we are not very attractive to airlines outside Singapore due to our low hours or the jobs policies put in place by other countries' aviation authorities.

So, why does our national carrier prefer to take in foreign cadet pilots with zero hours of flying time over their own local pilots, who have paid their dues in the local pilot training school?

Aspiring pilots in Singapore who want to pay their own way through their training should think twice. Career opportunities are very limited and the cost of training is extremely high. Could SIA comment on why local pilots who were trained at their subsidiary training school aren't given so much as a job interview?

Ongoing Going Discussion

hectigol, there is already a discussion thread going. [right click here]

Hi bogusrif,

I applied somewhere in late February and only got a reply today. My interview will be on 4th June.

I agree with autobrakes3. Getting the first interview, doesn't seem to be difficult from what I've seen and heard. Quite a number people I know have been to the first interview. And two of my seniors in JC are now pilots with SIA.

It seems that almost anyone who meet the minimum requirements as set by SIA are given the chance to attend the first interview. Clearing the various interviews would be another matter altogether.

Anyway hope you get yours too. Considering that you also applied in February, there's a good chance we will meet on 4th June.

Cheers :ok:

Hi guys,

I didn't even manage to get an interview. it may be because my pre-lasik astigmatism, on only one eye, was 225. not too sure whether i'll ever get an interview because of this. anyway, does anyone know when is the earliest i can re-apply online?

bout 6mths after your last application mate.that's a safe bet.

Wow... I submitted my application last week and it already says "Rejected"

Anyone have any idea why this could be so :/ I turn 24 in December but have been rejected by RSAF already... :ouch:

might be cause of your age bro.23 is abit young

seriously?? 23 is young? i thought airlines wanted young people to train for life.... i thought you would have more of a chance being 23 and getting in than say a 30 year old...

It's kind of a different system for Singaporean guys mate.We have this airforce limit which basically means we cant apply till we are in our late 25s or when we hit 26 in the event that the airforce calls you up.Cheers!

My advice:don't tell them during the interview you have a PPL,CPL etc.
It immediately puts you in the 'trainspotter' category.

Go in there with a positive attitude and open mind.

There has been guys who studied all the infor like engines,fleet,FMC and get stumped with a basic question like: ''which body of ocean does an aircraft fly over when traveling to USA from Sin?''.

When someone says that you can apply with SIA cadet programme as long as your rejected by the RSAF, does that mean below the 26 age requirement? If yes, how does SIA know that you are rejected by the RSAF?

Macato - If yes, how does SIA know that you are rejected by the RSAF?

In the selection board.

If you were rejected by the RSAF after going through their selection process, high chance you will be rejected in the SQ process.

Good Luck.:ok:

May i ask when you say through the selection process, would the compass test be part of the selection process? And why do you say that there is a high chance for a SQ applicant to be rejected if he is a reject from the RSAF, your sources?

i have been waiting for close to 2 months since medical. No news yet. Some of the guys who went medical with me are going in in June already. They waited close to a month to get news frm SIA. However for me, i would be available only after the start date of the course therefore that may explain my long wait. Ani ideal when the next course would commence?

i think there are many trained and in-training cadets in the pipe thus the movement is slow...
anyway going to the medical doesn't mean already in, there is still a 50% chance of being out... good luck!

Joshielim - what do you mean by others who had gone for medical are going in at June? Have they been given contracts and will there be a course starting in June 2010?

start date of new course

joshielim- hi there, when is the supposed start date of the new course?

Yes u are right going for medical does not meant u have secure a job with SIA however nothing else stand in your way other then the fact that whether u are medically fit or not which is basically left to the will of GOD or Fate.

Next to answer the rest, the course has already commenced today and the obs trip was to Perak. Contract signing of cos was days or maybe even weeks before. My friend was contacted my email. 6 people are in the course and the batch is 155.

On my own experience, i received a call frm edward and he confirm me that i have pass my medical. However due to the fact that i am below 25 (turning 25 in sept), i would not be able to be employed by the company. I would thus have to inform the HR department again 1 month before i turn 25. Whether or not i have to go through the whole process is unconfirmed, i am 99 percent sure i wouldn't have to go through the interview process however medical is a 50/50 bet.

So for all those who have been asking minimum age, i hope this answer your question. Do not take my case and prevent yourself frm applying if you are not yet 25. Do consult the relevant authorities if any doubt occurs.

I hope i have help all you out there who are waiting to be potential cadet pilots. Always remember, till the day u received a rejection letter, you still have a potentially high chance of getting in. I wish all of you the best out there and see u when sept ends :)