Free flight training

[Old Pete]

Typhoonpilot,

Thanks for all the information you have been providing us. We hear a lot about the growth in aviation in the middle east and asia, but we rarely get the details that you provide. Don't let the comments about your use of the words "scheme" or "free" discourage you from posting more information.

thanks again,

Pete

[Kristie]

I don't know why there's a tendency to think i'm being overly harsh here? I want everyone to get the correct information they need to make the right decisions for themselves. Nothing more than that. I think it would be great to hear about more opportunities like this (if they do exist)....it's to each persons perspective if they want to go this route or not, not mine....I don't think by what i said, i demoted the idea at all..in fact, i already mentioned that it might be a great opportunity for someone who wants it.

TP - if you want to change the title of the thread, i have absolutely no problem with that and/or putting this up in general topics vs in the jobs available category (i just don't want 2 of the same posts in the entirety of the forum because, well, we don't allow anyone else that either). However, i do feel that it is more of a job available and i do think that with the amount of threads in general topics, it would get put on page 2 faster than it would in here. feel free to report the topic and ask for a title change and any one of the mods can take care of it in a second.

[Customx]

Has anyone who applied heard back from Etihad?

[OldTownPilot]

Nothing beyond the automated "we have received your application....yada yada yada"

[astrowhip]

Thanks for posting this opportunity, Typhoon.

Has anyone been able to successfully submit the application by putting in 0's and NA's in the Employment History section? I don't want to pretend I'm a First Officer just so I can submit an application.

[MJetR]

Originally Posted by astrowhip

Thanks for posting this opportunity, Typhoon.

Has anyone been able to successfully submit the application by putting in 0's and NA's in the Employment History section? I don't want to pretend I'm a First Officer just so I can submit an application.

Im in the same camp. I dont want to pretend im something im not. However if worse came to worse, I was going to simply add those types of comments in the additional info box and explain myself.

Does anyone know when they will be contacting people or intake sched?

Thanks as always,

-MjetR

[Baidyr]

What are my chances in getting into the program? I am a 21 year old with no flight experince. I have wanted to be an airline pilot for as long as I can remember. I attended an aviation university last year and played college football. The program was not strong and I have come to the conclusion that football is not the route for me. I am well rounded individual who has traveled all over the wold. Liveing in dubai would not be a problem and I think I would enjoy it. The commitment issue i am well aware of and would't have a problem with giving back to a company that helped me get my wings. I mean if I take the civilian route there is know way that with in two years I will be flying an Airbus 330, and I am not entirely interested in the military route. If you have any information or recommendations or evan thoughts please let me know Thank You. First Post Also

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by Baidyr

What are my chances in getting into the program? I am a 21 year old with no flight experince. I have wanted to be an airline pilot for as long as I can remember. I attended an aviation university last year and played college football. The program was not strong and I have come to the conclusion that football is not the route for me. I am well rounded individual who has traveled all over the wold. Liveing in dubai would not be a problem and I think I would enjoy it. The commitment issue i am well aware of and would't have a problem with giving back to a company that helped me get my wings. I mean if I take the civilian route there is know way that with in two years I will be flying an Airbus 330, and I am not entirely interested in the military route. If you have any information or recommendations or evan thoughts please let me know Thank You. First Post Also

Welcome to JC!

I'd apply. Never know when luck will be on your side. If I were younger I would apply to every program I could find like this. Then hope luck was on my side. After all, I may apply 10 places, but I only need one to pick me!

So Good Luck to you.

[ozziecat35]

Man, this is really an interesting oppurtunity....anyone have any ideas on how I could sell this to the misses? We just bought a house here in Phoenix in Feb. so I'm sure she'd be set against trying to sell it again, especially in the West Valley housing market.

TP, anything on there about previous flight experience? Would it be a plus or could they care less? Also, what equip. could you expect to be on after graduation? Finally, any remote chance of being able to commute (ie, stay here in Phoenix and just suck up the 2.5 days of travel to and from the middle east?

[azpilot84]

Has anyone been able to get any info as to if they have a program for or are accepting people with a fresh CMEL w/ Inst? I emailed them but haven't gotten any response as of yet.

[aqeeliqb9@hotmail.co.uk]

[quote=typhoonpilot;823557]Etihad launches global pilot cadet scheme


Abu Dhabi's Etihad is launching a worldwide cadet scheme for aspiring first officers as fast-growing airlines in the Middle East and Asia battle to recruit enough pilots.

It will complement Etihad's existing cadet programme for UAE nationals, which started last year as part of a campaign to convince more locals to train as pilots with the flag carrier.

Although global demand means the pool of experienced first officers is rapidly draining, this is believed to be one of the first times a major carrier has promoted a scheme to train and offer jobs to foreign youngsters with no flying experience.

Etihad plans to launch its first course around June, with a group of 12 would-be pilots. Two further intakes of 12 will follow later in the year. The trainees - school-leavers or college graduates - will move to Abu Dhabi where they will do around 18 months of ab initio training at Horizon Flight Academy, followed by several months of instruction and line-flying under supervision as second officers. They will pay back their fees over eight years as bonded pilots.

The airline, which is expecting a "massive response" to its first advertisements, is looking for "people with a passion who are committed to being a pilot as a long-term career", says Etihad's executive vice-president operations Richard Hill. "We will be selecting from the top percentile of applicants - the cream of the crop," he adds.

A total of 48 students will join the separate scheme for UAE nationals in the first year. The airline is keeping the two groups apart initially because of different skills sets and competence in English, but they will be integrated as soon as they begin their flying careers. "We want to make sure there is no divisiveness," says Hill.

Etihad has a fleet of 37 aircraft and will take delivery of 16 more by 2011, including seven Airbus A330s and four A320s Dubai-based rival Emirates says it has no plans to launch a similar scheme, although, like Etihad, it runs a cadet programme for nationals.* Flight International will be covering Etihad's plans in detail in our Careers in the Middle East supplement with our 8 April issue.

Separately, the carrier as a major sponsor of Ferrari F1 this season the team unveiled its 2008 livery at the Australian Grand Prix.



HI MY NAME IS AQEEL

i am recently new member. I have also hear about the cadet pilot programme for etihad and i am planning to apply for it once i got my degree in two years time.

but i would like to know more information in order to prepare in the meantime

how are 12 candidates selected once u apply for it?

i know that they pay the sponsorship somethin around 500,000 AED will this cover the cost of the whole course? and do we pay back after completing the programme.

look forward to meetin u all

Aqeel

[JJ429PA]

I'm trying to apply for this but the application takes an unusually long time to load, it doesn't let me change my country of origin or nationality from UAE, and it's asking for a European-style telephone number which I don't have...

[Machiavelli]

Just to get an update here:

Any of you that applied heard back from Etihad, and if so how long did it take them?

Thanks guys!

[adsgofast]

I applied only last week, very excited about it, it's a great opportunity that is very rare in today's world.

I think it's a great package, free training, pay whilst training, free accomodation, excellent salary + benefits, great country, great airline... what else could you want!

Good luck to everyone who has applied, I am hoping there are more than 12 vacancies like it says on the website, that is going to be tough!

[adeelhaf]

I am facing the same problem. What should i do, where the application is not processing. NA and "0" is not working

[kiranchalla]

this is in reference to the ETIHAD cadet pilot program...
are there any other countries in the world..or airlines doing the same?

[adeelhaf]

Originally Posted by kiranchalla

this is in reference to the ETIHAD cadet pilot program...
are there any other countries in the world..or airlines doing the same?

No..If u see the application of cadet pilot programme, its compulsory to be the National of That Country.Etihad has launched first time.I hope more Airline will do this.

[adsgofast]

For those experiencing difficulties with the application, you need to select 'Captain/First Officer' in the job history, and make up obviously false dates as well. Every box is compulsory so put a 0 N/A in any alphabetic or numeric entries that are not necessary to your application.

Then, where it gives you the opportunity to write what u want in 'Additional Information', just say you have entered false dates as per the instructions on the job profile page. Every one is doing it because the appliaction is designed for experienced pilots.

Hope that helps

Adam

[fly8slep]

There is no such thing as a free lunch. There is a reason why they are doing this, especially with all the qualified pilots available around the world and especially here in the U.S. I would strongly look into Etihad and other airlines in the region before signing up for 8 years. pprune.org has a lot of info on ME aviation and the airlines in the region. Also 8 years is unheard of as a training contract, that basically means they can't keep enough qualified pilots from leaving. I would say though that if you've got nothing else going for you this might not be a bad gig.

[aqeeliqb9@hotmail.co.uk]

Originally Posted by fly8slep

There is no such thing as a free lunch. There is a reason why they are doing this, especially with all the qualified pilots available around the world and especially here in the U.S. I would strongly look into Etihad and other airlines in the region before signing up for 8 years. pprune.org has a lot of info on ME aviation and the airlines in the region. Also 8 years is unheard of as a training contract, that basically means they can't keep enough qualified pilots from leaving. I would say though that if you've got nothing else going for you this might not be a bad gig.

hmm .. Etihad is one of the world fastest growing airline in the world.. and also is one of the best ... this is the first time that any airline has offered such a great oppurtunity ...according to my knowledge ...Etihad has got plenty of great pilots working for the airline ....

good luck to everyone applying ... hope to join soon as well

[fly8slep]

Originally Posted by aqeeliqb9@hotmail.co.uk

hmm .. Etihad is one of the world fastest growing airline in the world.. and also is one of the best ... this is the first time that any airline has offered such a great oppurtunity ...according to my knowledge ...Etihad has got plenty of great pilots working for the airline ....

good luck to everyone applying ... hope to join soon as well

It's not about great pilots, I'm sure every airline has great pilots, it's about management and how those great pilots are treated. Also just because they're a 5 star airline for passengers doesn't mean they're the same for the workers. If they've got "plenty of pilots" then why go look for 0 time people around the world who esssentialy shouldn't even belong in an airbus cockpit? As I've said in my post think about why are they doing this. I've you're going to sign almost a decade of your life I would do more investigation on the company.
And by the way Etihad doesn't have enough pilots. Good luck.

[aqeeliqb9@hotmail.co.uk]

Originally Posted by fly8slep

It's not about great pilots, I'm sure every airline has great pilots, it's about management and how those great pilots are treated. Also just because they're a 5 star airline for passengers doesn't mean they're the same for the workers. If they've got "plenty of pilots" then why go look for 0 time people around the world who esssentialy shouldn't even belong in an airbus cockpit? As I've said in my post think about why are they doing this. I've you're going to sign almost a decade of your life I would do more investigation on the company.
And by the way Etihad doesn't have enough pilots. Good luck.

good point mate
but for people who wanted to be pilots and never got the oppurtunity ..this is great
thanks for the update
are u applying ? if so all the very best
and thanks for the info
take care

[typhoonpilot]

Originally Posted by fly8slep

It's not about great pilots, I'm sure every airline has great pilots, it's about management and how those great pilots are treated. Also just because they're a 5 star airline for passengers doesn't mean they're the same for the workers. If they've got "plenty of pilots" then why go look for 0 time people around the world who esssentialy shouldn't even belong in an airbus cockpit? As I've said in my post think about why are they doing this. I've you're going to sign almost a decade of your life I would do more investigation on the company.
And by the way Etihad doesn't have enough pilots. Good luck.

Actually what it is about is their inability to recruit UAE nationals to become pilots. There are many reasons why UAE nationals are not inclined to become pilots. The two biggest are that they don't really like being away from home and family to the extent that an airline pilot job entails. More importantly though is that any UAE national has so much opportunity in business and other ventures that they can easily become multi-millionaires with significantly less effort than it would take to become a pilot.

I'm an expat and a pilot in the UAE. Just in my spare time in the last year I've made well in excess of my pilot salary by taking advantage of the opportunity here. That opportunity for me as an expat is merely the leftover bread crumbs that the UAE nationals missed. If I was a UAE national I would have easily made millions in the last year because they get first dibs on all the good deals.


Typhoonpilot

[taseal]

haha Imma apply, #### it

edit: f it, i changed my mind. I don't wanna live in abu dhabi

[fly8slep]

typhoonpilot, how is that 737/A320 EK backed operation coming along in Dubai? Have they decided on the fleet and the airline theme yet? That could be a great alternative if living in Dubai would be more preferable.