Finally my predicted 'Pay to Fly' equivalent of 'Speedy Boarding' comes to fruition.

Unlike our friends at FR, there's no 6 to 12 month queue for a TR with these boys. Indeed, nor should there be for those so willing to pay a hefty 'premium rate dowry'. I mean Fairs Fare is it not?!

In New Year 'Rupert' will start to fly for Easy Jet; and a mighty proud boast too for the family Christmas dinner table!

Hopefully, Car Park X will be utilised to maximise 'Rupert's' exposure to his adoring public on the lengthy ride to Concorde House. It may also give him chance to reflect on the 'Pay to Fly' tsunami that has destroyed industry terms and conditions, and left so many 'Real' pilots out of work.

I am sure 'Rupert' will be welcomed with 'open arms' on the line, after all, what harm has he caused? We are all just jealous that he was 'selected' as the blank canvas template for the future of the industry. Rightly so, he did so well at Oxford didn't he?! You ask his parents!

The 43 Guy's that have just been left out in the cold following the collapse of Globespan clearly had nothing to offer. (Well; not the 34K anyway.)

Sunrise
 

Watching the sunrise from FL390 probably means you've been up all night.

Or on an obscene early morning!

[quote][ /QUOTE]

Yep, my 4.15am this morning was not worth the sunrise.

However, 'Ruperts' coming anyway!

I am rather amused at some of you expressing shock and surprise at Oxford getting involved in such a scheme with easyJet. Oxford are a business and surely they have the number one intention of making money? Whilst this scheme might be questionable for some of us from a moral point of view, it is well within the realms of the law. If I was an investor in Oxford then I would be only too pleased to see them generate income from this lucrative area of the training market. It is a tough world out there and the students who get themselves into financial trouble with such schemes do so out of enrolling out of their own choice.

I don't expect many students will be 'getting themselves into financial trouble' by engaging on this scheme.

I imagine 'Rupert' has secured the cash a little closer to home, and with infinitely better terms:E. His Mum will make a great job of washing and ironing his white shirt for him too!, (I know mine does).

£35k for a A320 TR? Guess what? I paid OAA £22k earlier this year!

Ahh but you PAID didn't you "Superpilot"!!?

Haven't you heard of inflation? I believe that such 'opportunity's' are not particularly price sensitive. There is room to manoeuvre yet!

Let them spend their parents money; enjoy :}.

Not when Rupert is operating from somewhere that is no where near to Windsor! Then again - perhaps the commuting will go on Daddy's NetJets account! (sorry - could not resist!) ;)

It better goes on daddy´s account because eJ won´t pay for it!

NetJets will be pleased of the business!

Perhaps a VLJ might be more appropriate, or an Avanti (as long as know one sees)

Oops, sorry wrong forum;)

Night Night.

Sums up the despicable nature of this scheme nicely.

The Hunger.
 

I couldn't disagree with you more strongly, Mister Geezer.

Oxford was once known as a training establishment of excellence. In fact, it was generally regarded as one of the finest flight training establishments on earth. No longer, I fear.

That they have chosen to prostitute their brand, that most precious of all things, speaks well to the sort of callow, temporary thinking that flourishes during the course of a recession. Capital, regrettably, requires constant attention. It demands massage, reassurances, flowers, dinners out and spooning in the mornings. We've all woken up next to such creatures, I'm sure, but imagine being linked by the very DNA to such a beast!

In German, there is a phrase that describes perfectly the increasingly widespread phenomenon of flight attendants, commonly of Eastern European origin, who set their sights on fecund young men of the air, in whom they presume wealth and the possession of a golden future; as golden at least as those lovely shoulder stripes.
It seems to me that Oxford, in acting as shills for so plainly a disreputable venture, have become stripe hunters too. One wonders at the corporate desperation, not to mention the slovenly financial ethics, that would acquiesce to so squandered an excellence as this!

Nevertheless, the Meerkat will decide.


Let these hungry boys and girls come forth, let them bury their parent's investments in (and of) treasure, and then when fetched up upon the rocks of so thinly conceived relations as are these, let that then advertise the inherent value of such schemes.

There is, and always has been, a hunger in the hearts of certain young men and women to fly. This principal fact cannot be stopped by any means, but it can be exploited by the unscrupulous. Do, please, my dear young colleagues of the air, be careful in making hungry decisions that may yet be called to account upon the empty stomachs of an uncertain future, especially where they are paid for by those who love you.

Leo.

To answer the beak, my point is Oxford have been doing these schemes a long time in various forms. Some deals better or worse than the current deal, Its no great shock they are still offering these courses.

No I dont believe anyone should sign up on them, I never have and hope I will never have to!

Leo, the difference is that you and I are viewing this from the outside. If I was an investor in Oxford then I would certainly be rubbing my hands with glee at this business opportunity which at £34K per candidate, is bound to be very lucrative. Oxford will never see this as them prostituting their brand as you put it. Pulling off a stunt like this with a large operator like easyJet will keep the management smiling and the ridiculous price tag that is attached will keep the financial people happy too. From a business point of view, it is a sound move since there will be an endless supply of customers who are willing to pay a ridiculous price for a Minibus type rating. I am not defending what Oxford are doing since I feel that they are exploiting vulnerable inexperienced pilots who are hungry to get strapped into an Airbus. The ethics are indeed questionable but Oxford is a business and they are there to make money. If people feel that they are prostituting their own brand then I can assure you that Oxford will not give two hoots. The queue of customers and airlines will still be constant and steady. In fact the tie up that Oxford now has with TRTO training could see more airlines being approached, which is why I fear this scheme is the tip of the iceberg.

It has been mentioned that Oxford have dipped their toe in the water with similar schemes in the past however, they were merely assisting in selecting candidates to progress to the TRTO which was not under the Oxford umbrella. This is the first occaision where by one can start with zero hours and emerge with an Airbus type rating with all the training being provided by the Oxford brand.

I would be bold enough to say that when Oxford broadened its portfolio of training facilities, it was only a matter of time until an 'oppertunity' like this was going to appear. In the eyes of Oxford management they will probably feel that they are being creative and innovative with this 'product' and to management this is just simply another training 'product'. To us it is ludicrous but to them it makes sound business sense. Finally, if it was not easyJet then another operator would be willing the void instead.

Leo, quite what is going on that I am in total agreement with a posting of yours I do not know, but there it is with reference to your last post. Well said.

please explain me,

if I pay the 33k or35k (whatever it costs), do they guarantee me a job?
I think they will kick me out of easyjet to let the place to another dreamer.

what kind of guaranty I have, that OAA doesn't get financially bust after my payment?
they only way for OAA to make money in this scheme is to replace pilots after their line training? so what kind of guaranty I get to not be kicked out after 1 or 2 months?

Wanabe,

There is only one guarantee in life and that is that we are all going to die.

Why do guys always say 'guarantee', aside from dying nothing can be guaranteed!

Not quite true, Phileas, but close. Taxes are guaranteed as well. Nevertheless the sentiment is valid. Nothing is guaranteed in life apart from taxes and nothing may well be what the gullible get at the end of their expensive training.

OTOH, if you want a risk-free life, don't get out of bed in the morning. :}

"There is, and always has been, a hunger in the hearts of certain young men and women to fly. This principal fact cannot be stopped by any means, but it can be exploited by the unscrupulous. Do, please, my dear young colleagues of the air, be careful in making hungry decisions that may yet be called to account upon the empty stomachs of an uncertain future, especially where they are paid for by those who love you."

Nail on head.


"if you want a risk-free life, don't get out of bed in the morning."

Well, if you don't get out of bed you could be at risk from DVT. So if you want a risk free life, don't be alive!

A cheery good morning from London :)

DVT.... ah. I was thinking of catching something else in bed, then again the variable here is who is in bed next to you! ;)