Cebu Pacific Cadet Pilot Program
 

SHEDDING LIGHT INTO CEBU PACIFIC'S CADET PILOT PROGRAM.

Hi everyone! As an aspiring aviator, I would just like to know your thoughts on Cebu Pacific's Ab-inito program.

Last October 2017, it was announced that Cebu Pacific partnered up with Flight Training Adelaide for a cadet pilot program for aspiring Filipino pilots. 16 cadet pilots will be sent to Adelaide each batch, and there will be 3 batches per year.

After the year-long training, the cadets will be coming back to the Philippines for license conversion, Type rating (which is another contract all together), and Line Training for 6 months (with only P20,000 pay, basically the same with newly hired pilots).

I've read previous threads about Cebu Pacific's environment, culture, type rating bonds, horror schedules.... and I just feel like this is one of those....

When you think about it, is it really worth spending 10 years for the airline AND paying ALL EXPENSES incurred during your training (including one's visa, medical, food & accommodation, and etc)? It is basically a LOAN program. Not a scholarship, as some have claimed.

Although you have the option to pay for all these expenses earlier which is around $100,000, instead of reducing it to your salary in a monthly basis for 10 years (...why join the program, just get your training from a regular flying school around P2-3M), you are still obliged to serve 10 years for CP.

There are other cadet pilot programs out there which are SPONSORED by airlines and those pilots are only bonded with 5-7 years. I find it outrageous when cebu pac does not only bond you for 10 years but really, you'll be paying every peso spent on your training and will be in-debt with them for a longgggg time.

While I applaud CP for their money making/saving mindset *cough* training cadet pilots with European-Australian Standards and tying them up to them *cough*, joining the cadet pilot program....isn't really that...great. Although a lot of people are saying it is and I quote "Those accepted basically won the lottery".

Based on all these, I've come to a conclus aspiring cadets out there if you have the money....don't join the program at all.

This is my opinion, any additional thoughts out there? Is it really great at people and even airline pilots (from Pal, Air Asia and CP itself) say it is?

Thats the whole purpose of the cadet program isnt it? For people who can't afford flying at all, to give them a chance at aviation?

Hi! I REALLY NEED HELP HERE! I already passed the panel interview for CP Cadet program and after reading a LOT of posts at pprune regarding the working condition of CP and the salary, im already very confused. and now THIS. it hasn't really helped me much. Is it worth it to go to the program??? Is the 10 year worth it? are the roster scheduling okay? They say that its like winning the lottery but now im almost part of the final 16-20 cadets, i feel very CONFUSED.

hoping for your reply. would appreciate if you could give me a final advise and what is the current working condition at CP

Thanks!

if possible, may be best to reach out to other cadets who have undergone the program, i believe first batch is nearly finished with flight training

Yes but i think the cadets will only tell me that you need to study hard (the usual things etc.) but i really want to know for exisiting pilots out here or aspiring that based on my small research :
1. each cadet is budgeted for a 100,000 USD training = PHP 5 MILLION
2. as per contract, they say that you will render 10 years to the company or about 120 months paying the debt interest free so,
Php 5,000,000 / 120 months = Php 42,000 per month DEDUCTION on your salary. is it worth it entering the program knowing that you will be deducted 42k PER MONTH for 10 YEARS? how much will be left??
3. having read through in these forums ALL the negative side about cebupacific in ROSTERING, WORK LOADS, NOT ABIDING TO CONTRACTS ETC, is it still worth it??

sorry for these questions. your 2 cents would be REALLY APPRECIATED, given that i am almost through with the selections process having passed through the final interview.

cheers!

here are my 2 cents.

Not much cadet pilot program opportunities in the PH at this point, this is a reality. Most of the negative feedback on cebpac here in pprune are mostly from expats and foreigners who are used to pay rates and management by western standards (UK/US), of course pay in CP will be comparatively low, and since this is a budget carrier that is trying to make a name for itself, I imagine roster will be a pain in the ass (feedback here is that you basically get 8 days off per month on average with some off days being counted from rest between post red eye flights going into the evenings.

Other pilot programs like SQ, Scoot, Cathay and the sort provide full sponsorship (meaning you dont pay for anything), you getting a much better license in the form of an ATPL, bigger salary compared to PH (esp if you get into SQ as they have an all widebody fleet), and puts a training bond of only 5 to 7 years, but hey, best of luck being considered for preselection as a Filipino, as mostly PRs and locals are prioritized, if not being a mandatory requirement at all. You may try applying to these programs, a site lists them and keeps up to date tracking of program availability across different airlines (check better aviation jobs site, not allowed to post URLs as of yet).

Another route to go is local, whereby you pay for your own training, without guarantee of an airline job (AAG, OMNI, PAL AV), training cost of course will be shouldered by you (3.5M - 4.5M PhP), together with all cost of taxes, licenses etc. If this is an option for you, then it doesnt put you in a 10 year lock-in with CP and provides freedom to join other major carriers in Asia, middle east or UK, which pay tons load more money compared to CP. Downside here is that it doesnt guarantee you a job with any airline, and may possibly have to beef up your flying hours doing other jobs like FIs earning roughly 50-60k PhP a month tops after spending 2 years jobless and being 4M PhP poorer.

If shelling out this amount of money is not an option, then by all means consider the cadet pilot program by CP, you've already made it this far and that's no easy feat, how else would you fuel your passion for flying? And with regard to the pay, if you really love flying then you should not have to rely solely on your income, bigger pay of course is always better, but you gotta start somewhere, definitely you wont be making loads of money from CP considering you get a consistent paycut of nearly 50k a month, maybe try considering other ways to earn aside from your job perhaps.

Just keep in mind all the factors that may destroy that aviation passion within you in the next 10 years if you do get tied up this company, all the best.

Wow that was a very compehensive and knowledgable advice. I like that it was far from the usual negativity about cebu pacific that can be found everywhere in these forums. the medicals will be a week from now, and i'm still not fully decided. i dont want to be ambivalent about this and all cause that usually ends up in regret right? and being an established engineer prior to applying to this cadetship hasnt really helped much.

I love the line "how will you be able to fuel you passion in flying?" it certainly hits a point. but just like on everyone else's agenda, salary would really be much of a deciding factor, as well as how much will you be able to spend with your family or loved ones, ie, being in your children or parents significant moments once you get into the airline industry. there is really a fine line between passion and profession and im glad that your 2 cents really helped me in making one of the biggest decisions in my life. good luck to me lol

cheers mate!

Yeah, big part of considering the program is if you already have an established career, for some even garnering a pay cut just to pursue aviation and dream of flying. Do give us updates on your personal experiences if you do decide to push through with the program.

Cheers and best of luck :)

Hello!

Sorry for butting-in in here, I tried sending you a private message but for some reason won't push through. I just want to ask for the coverage of the exam or any tips when taking it, if you don't mind :) Thanks in advance!

Hi pimoh29 , swaghart18 ,

Got an invitation for Batch 07. Want to ask the same question and maybe find some common ground. I am still not sure, I cannot make up my mind as of the moment especially after reading a few from the web about CebPac and about this deal. Asking some people in the same situation might help, or maybe not (?), important thing is I am being wise (I think) on coming up with a decision.

Here's my email [email protected], please drop a message.

Just read Assidous reply above, its really beneficial.

I just want to point out that if you REALLY want to become a pilot, there's no way in hell that some forums of some sort and naysayers/expats that are used to western standards who keeps on complaining to working conditions, pay, etc bla bla get in your way, right?? it's YOU against the WORLD, nothing else matters. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, of course things will never be easy. But so does any 9-5 job, especially if you want to work yourself up in the corporate ladder.

It really boils down to your passion. If you want a better life (financially, as well as keeping up with what you want to do), then there's no easy way. you gotta give your heart out. By the way, you dont have to be at Cebu Pacific after you complete your contract, a lot of opportunities out there.

Blessed are those who have the funds to finance their own aviation career and not get tied up to a company for 10 years and not being deducted in their salary every month, that the NUMBER 1 OPPORTUNITY. Guess what's NUMBER 2?? THIS ONE. (unless you want to change citizenship and join CX's cadet program which is next to impossible).

Cheers!

Hi Swaghart18, have you pursued training? Well i guess youre a few weeks away from moving to Adelaide if you have :)

Hi There,

Just to shed some light on Cebu Pacific's cadet programme, do take note, a LCC will not fund your initial training at any point, its always self sponsored, most airlines require you to pay upfront, and then once you finish, they dont tie you down with a bond, neither would they tie you down with mutiple loans, your free to leave, whenever you want to.

However, in 5J's Policy, they are willing to fund your training(do note FTA has high training standards which come at a premium), which will enable you to graduate with the top skills and competency as a pilot. Of course i agree that maybe their bond of 10 years, yeah its too long, but in other words, the company is protecting their own investments from being picked up, remember in LCC's like Airasia, Cebu Pacific, getting 1500hrs in 2 years is a possibility and thereafter jumping company is always a high risk factor for the airline.

Hi! May I know the questions asked on your panel interview? And how was the examinations especially the PILAPT?