Would you really put 200 hr. cadets into the RHS of a 747/787/A330 on two crew long haul operations?

Cruise pilot MPL on the A330 and finance available via Virgin Money?

Followed by 90 sectors of line training so I have been told by those running the scheme, as well as regular sim sessions for handling skills

ESQU
 

Cruise only co-pilots are not a concept used by most UK Carriers. Applies mainly to Asian airlines who use inexperienced 2nd. officer Co -pilots for augmented crew long range sectors. Also QF I believe have S/O's on all long haul. BA and Virgin for instance only use fully qualified P2 with unrestricted Type Ratings on all flights, and only use extra crew when required by FTLs. (Cruise co-pilots will only be allowed in RH seat in cruise with no take off and landings allowed, presumably)
Again, Virgin have very few augmented crew sectors needing your MPL criuise Pilots. Putting them on 2 crew sectors for the 90 sectors u/s with associated hotel cost etc. and why bother when you are inundated with experienced applicants for jobs?

"Rumour alert"

Richard Branson has sold some (could be all?) of his stake in VS to Delta.

"Rumour alert end"

If true begs the question how long until the VS brand is no more?

Or, maybe virgin plan to actually fund the entire cadet scheme properly and are doing what all the decent airlines should be doing.
No reason why an MPL can't go P2 after suitable line training.
100hrs or 250hrs, to anybody from a military background it all seems far too little anyway, and after 10 yrs, does anybody think there will be one jot of difference?
Bush flying or teaching etc, that experience will stick. CPL cadet or MPL who cares?

Ah let's hope there is still a future for non type rated, experienced pilots.

It's a great opportunity, and sure Virgin and CTC have worked out the fine details, but I do remember the only way to actually improve ones landing and gain experience, was to sit hammering take offs and landing on multiple sector days.

But it has been done else where in the world, so hope it works out!
Will be interesting to see the deal.

Unless these guys will do the landings in the actuall aircraft after sim training, they will have to start as cruise relief co-pilots untill reaching 500 multi crew hours to be able to do the landings in the sim.

Yep fully fledged base trained in a real aeroplane First Officers. Fully funded by the the company with 9 year bond and slightly reduced pay until pay point 9 to cover costs then non cadet pay as far as I am aware although might be slightly wrong, but in principle correct.

Sounds like a very old school fully sponsored scheme which should be applauded in my opinion.

The new cadets will be made to feel very welcome because that is what we do internally with any new joiner regardless of background.

The scheme is very small in the big scheme of things and there will always be opportunities for experienced pilots. Not dissimilar to BA in that respect.

The bottom line is cadets recruited on ability and not ability to pay. Gets my vote.

All the best

Its now being reported on the BBC's website.

BBC News - Virgin Atlantic trains no-experience pilots in Southampton and Phoenix

regards

Isn't it an easy jet or ryanair scheme through the backdoor ?
 

There are large numbers of Brits & Europeans who would probably leap at the chance to work for VS and have thousands of hours but perhaps not an Airbus or Boeing rating. This scheme is simply cheap F/O labour with hardly any recruiting/type rating/training costs for VS. Wake up and smell the coffee. Sure perhaps its a great idea for the 19/20 year old with mum & dad bankrolling the equity in the house as security. I'd be amazed if VS are providing all the loan security for all of the cadets. VS are in the red, need hard cash, have binned the Little Red scheme and have been sold the promise of gold by CTC with the MPL scheme. There are many many experienced pilots available from various regional airlines across Europe as well as guys who have had to take work in the ME. Its very simply cheap labour for VS for 9 years, rather than an investment in experience. :}

"Cheap labour"

Do you have any idea how much more expensive it is to type rate and bang out circuits it is to hire a qualified guy?
Whatever it is, and I'm with 4engines, it isn't cheap

As it happens Tourist, I know quite well how much it costs. The direction VS has taken, however much spin/media BS and fluffing by Ctc - it will be cheaper/less cost labour than hiring a direct entry experienced Airbus/Boeing or even Ntr several thousand hour chap or girl off the street. Is there any point in defending or supporting the idea that an experienced pilot could be cost beneficial to an international carrier these days when there is a glut of 150hour heroes ?:sad:

CTC's website had crashed at the time of typing this post, but I'm assuming like the BA scheme, anyone with greater than 85 flying hours are excluded from applying? :ugh:

Definitely not the case with the BA scheme, many guys/girls started with a lot more than 85 hours.

I see this link on VAA careers website, but the link to CTC was down.

Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers Programme ? Pilot Training

But if you have a ICAO CPL and not an EASA/JAA CPL (and no EASA written exams taken), is that still a barrier?

If that is the case, that is hugely disappointing for the guys/gals who have got their license in the past 5 years, but are stuck in the 200-300 hour zone, due to not being experienced or type rated for an airline or being "green" enough for a cadet program.

What a catch 22!

:ugh:

Virgin pilots in it for the long haul
 

This heading of an article in today's Daily Telegraph creates a few questions. GM Flight Ops is quoted as saying ' ......will enjoy an opportunity like no other, as the only trainee pilots in Europe to fly straight on to long haul aircraft once qualified.

Second Officer on long-haul is a common entry-level job, is it not?

NO NO NO. You are all missing the point.


David Kistruck, Virgin's flight operations general manager, said: "Our people have always been at the heart of Virgin Atlantic and we're delighted to offer this opportunity to a whole new generation of flyers.
"They'll be part of the Virgin family from day one and will enjoy an opportunity like no other, as the only trainee pilots in Europe to fly straight on to long-haul aircraft once qualified."


The would-be pilots will be "part of the Virgin family from day one", with the future flyers programme being run in partnership with pilot training company CTC Aviation.


This all smacks of a " Family of love " moment. When these new family members join they will become willing victims of Virgins Flirty Fishing culture and be well and truly :mad:.