Rex Cadet Pilot Scheme; anyone out there had any experience with it?

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi All.

 

Just wondering if anyone out there has had any involvement (or know anyone who has) with this scheme? I've checked it out and compared costs with other schools and I'm not sure if it is a good deal or not. I like the idea of being employed at the end of the training but I'm not convinced that there is actually a guarantee of employment straight away.

 

The alternative is to go to a regular school and take pot luck at the end of the training. Seems that the first job is very hard to get and doesn't pay well anyway. Makes the Rex scheme more appealing.

 

What does everyone else think?

 

Cheers,

 

Reggy

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

G'day Reggy. I too looked into it and found I was going to be scraping the barrel in regards to pay. Not sure about the job prospects at the end but when you finish your CPL there are going to be jobs around that don't pay much. Look at those sorts of jobs as a way of building up your twin time. I think most of the commercial carriers require a 1000hr minimum then obviously you will need your type rating. One thing I am looking at doing next year is getting a student loan to do my CPL here in NZ. Realistically I am only going to be able to fly a few days a week to get my CPL but will continue to work (flying) as I do anyway so the best of both worlds. Once CPL is there I will continue to work where I am now and fly skydivers (or whatever I can get) on my days off. Just a thought for you anyway.

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Darren.

 

Thanks for the response. Good luck with your training; I hope it all goes well for you. I'm already doing some training and will keep looking for opportunities for work along the way. From what I can gather, it can be very hard to get a job as a pilot since there seems to be so many others out there all trying for the few jobs available and it seems everyone else has so much more experience than I do. I guess perserverance is the name of the game? I still think the Rex scheme might be a good way of getting a job even if the pay isn't so good initially. I have to start somewhere so it might just be the way to go? In the meantime, I will keep training and keep looking.

 

Cheers,

 

Reggy

 

 

[Guest CaptainGem]

I'm asking the same question. you got any info on it yet? Sat your WOMBAT test?

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi CaptainGem.

 

I haven't heard many positive things about the Rex scheme. It sounds as though graduates might actually be stuck in the right hand seat of the aircraft for a considerable amount of time and moving into any command positions might be quite difficult. I don't know if that is true or not. Doesn't seem to be much info from former graduates out there either; I wonder if that says anything?

 

I did not get a response at all from Rex and even tried to contact them again but still nothing. I guess they think I'm not a suitable candidate? Stuff 'em. I am still training and will find work elsewhere eventually. I will still keep an eye on the scheme to see how others go just for interest's sake. If you are going to join them, I hope it all goes well for you. Best of luck with any of the tests you sit. Please let us know how it all goes.

 

Good luck,

 

Reggy

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Anyone still after any info?

 

 

[Mattie Cribb]

Hey Everyone

 

Yeah i have also applied for this Rex Cadetship Next intake from what i heard is well starts 19th of april so not long away i applied back in Feb and i havent heard anything from them not even a email saying sorry its getting annoying but owell i almost have my PPL and all i will need is my addon stuff and CPL so i think im not going to worrie about rex and just try go charter and to become a first officer on a RPT you only need around 700hrs but yeah haha Aviation is complicated at times

 

Mattie

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

I still haven't heard anything from Rex. It would have been nice to get a response either way. I'm not sure I feel the same way now as I did about the scheme in the beginning. I sounds more and more like you would be stuck in the right hand seat for years after graduation which isn't so good (but at least it is a paying job and you're in an aircraft). Perhaps if the next course is starting later than originally scheduled (it was supposed to be in March I think), there is still a chance we might be contacted? I hope so, it would be interesting to go through the selection process if nothing else and at least that way we could get proper info from those involved. I guess we'll see?

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Mattie/RSY,

 

I can understand your frustration in not hearing back from Rex. What you have to try and keep in mind I spose is that Rex to date have had in excess of 20,000 people apply for their cadetship, for only 7 intakes.

 

Currently, you can expect to be a FO for a minimum of 3 years and then look for command upgrades. There is a lot of rumour around the industry, and especially on PPRuNE about the impossiblities in obtaining a Command Upgrade within Rex. This is simply not true.

 

Looking at it logically, why would Rex spend more than $10million on its cadetship and AAPA (Australian Airline Pilot Academy) if their cadets couldn't obtain a command upgrade. The other thing to take note of is that none of is that, yes there has been alot of negetivity on the internet surrounding the scheme, but yet not one of the cadets have contributed to this negetivity. I can assure you now that all of the cadets currently at AAPA think the program is amazing, and feel very priviliged to have been apart of it. The problem lies with two categories of people;

 

- those who are disgruntled over the fact that the cadets won't have to do the "GA time" to get the hours required to start working in RPT operations and,

 

- those who are jealous and were not selected for the program.

 

In terms of intakes, Rex 6 started on the 8th March and are currently half way through their ground school theory, and Rex 7 will be starting on the 19th April. Rex 4 have just finnished, and started their ground school on the Saab in Sydney last Monday and Rex 5 are due to finnish within a month.

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Matt.

 

I thought the scheme would be popular but 20,000 applicants? Sounds a little high to me. Not sure there'd be 20,000 people out there (plus those who haven't applied for Rex but still want to be Commercial Pilots) wanting to become professional pilots; perhaps there is?

 

As for Rex spending big on building a school. Well, it is not just to train first officers for SAABs but it is more likely to be PRIMARILY a school to train Asian pilots. Apparently that is where the money is. Rex has invested in a "sausage factory".

 

You're right about the negativity on the net regarding the scheme but I would have expected some positive feedback from some of the earlier graduates in support of the scheme. There hasn't been much of that for some reason. Maybe those graduates couldn't be bothered responding?

 

In any case, when reading the "fine print" in the Rex material, I see that promotion is dependant on passing certain courses and running those courses is up to Rex themselves. That would mean they can control your rate of progress, ie they can keep you in the right hand seat for as long as they like. That could be a problem!

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Reggy,

 

The primary purpose of AAPA (Australian Airline Pilot Academy) is infact to train the Rex Cadets. All students and staff currently wear the Rex uniform, and there is even a Saab about to go in permanately next to the admin block, so there is a very big Rex influence there. Yes, there is currently negotiations with Chinese Airlines to start their training at AAPA as well...which is a good business inititive considering that China's aviation market is expected to see an annual increase of 7.9% over the next two decades. However, this is not AAPA's primary task as the Chinese govt. wont even allow their airlines to send any pilots abroad for training currently.

 

I'm interested though, when you refer to reading the "fine print", what exactly are you referring to? Ultimately Rex will of course control your rate of progress, thats the nature of the airline business. You can only gain command upgrades when such upgrades exist, so whether you're with Rex or Qantas the same principle applies, and you will remain in the right hand seat until such opportunities arise.

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Matt.

 

Rex claim to have spent $25 Million building the academy. That is a huge amount of money to spend on training a handful of first officers. The academy will INITIALLY train first officers for Rex but eventually it will be used to train pilots for overseas airlines. From their own media release "“It will have the capacity to produce more than 200 professional pilots a year for Regional Express, as well as other airlines operating in growing Asia Pacific markets, including China." So I'm not sure the primary purpose is training Rex staff. I think they will be making more money out of training other airline's staff.

 

As for the fine print stuff; I read somewhere that advancement upon completion of training would only happen when cadets pass ground school exams that are organised by Rex (as opposed to the usual exams held elsewhere). I can't find that info right now but will keep looking for it. What that means is that if Rex don't hold those exams, cadets don't get the opportunity to progress, ie they remain "stuck" in their current positions until it suits Rex. IF that is the case, a cadet could be stuck in the RHS for a considerable time. Perhaps I've got that one wrong? If I can find the "fine print" I'll let you know.

 

It might be a good opportunity for some people who don't mind a potentially long stint in the RHS. I'd really like to hear from any of those who have been through the system to see what they think about it now. Are you a cadet or have you been through the system? You seem to know a fair bit about it so I guess you have some connection there? I'm still curious about the scheme and still hope for an interview; might still get one with a bit of luck. Who knows?

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Reggy,

 

Send me a PM mate.

 

 

[pdriussi]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

 

I am not sure I see the issue with being a pilot from the RHS, (for one year, 3 years, or even 5 years) thats the beginning of EVERY pilots life and if you have to pass exams to move up then you have to study. If you fail the exam that REX gives you to move up to the LHS then clearly you are not ready to move up to the LHS positions.

 

REX need pilots to fly planes, not complain about how they are training asian pilots to make money. Companies need to make money and so if they can get into those markets then thats fantastic.

 

Think about all the positive things, and jump at the opportunity. Study hard and work hard and you will get what you want sooner than you think. After all, 3 years isnt long.

 

I might even look into it myself ... I love those planes ...

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Pdriussi.

 

Everyone is different and not everyone is happy with the idea of potentially being "stuck" in the RHS of a plane (on a reduced rate of pay) for a long time. For some people, just being employed as aircrew might be sufficient; I'd be pretty happy to be in that position. However, I'd be a bit unhappy if I was lead to believe that I'd be progressing through the ranks to a command position and then find out that it won't happen as fast as it might in other organisations. A lot of other people with lots of aviation EXPERIENCE have alluded to this type of thing. It could well be a lot longer than 3 years in the RHS. If you're happy with that scenario then there is nothing stopping you; go for it. My application is still in there somewhere and if offered an opportunity for interview; I will be going and see what happens. Good luck if you decide to have a go too.

 

Cheers,

 

Reggy

 

 

[Mattie Cribb]

Reggy i have also sent my application way back in Feb when the application first open i find it weird that its now april and i havent even been contacted and thats really annoying me like guh no Email saying you havent at this stage been successful and nxt course starting on 19th gettin WOMBAT (sydney) ,Interview (wagga), Interview (sydney) by the 19th but owell my hopes are still there that i may get a call but yeah very very annoying i have also Rang Kym who is the person dealing with all the applications and she told me to "Be patient" haha well just tell me if i have been accepted or not god dam it!

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Mattie.

 

I think I know how you feel. I also applied in Feb and have heard nothing at all. Matt reckons there were or are 20,000 applicants so Rex have plenty of material to sort through. Perhaps there will be more courses run throughout the year so maybe we will get interviews for one of those? I get the impression that I've missed out altogether so I'm not expecting anything (however, should they contact me that would be a bonus). I guess we can't do anything except be patient and in the meantime continue training and searching for jobs elsewhere.

 

I'm still not really convinced that the cadet scheme is as good as I first thought and I'd like to hear from someone who has actually completed the training to get their impression of the whole thing. I find it a little disconcerting that there are so many negative opinions of the scheme. I wonder why so many people are not in favour of it?

 

Anyway, hang in there. I guess there is still a chance that a position might come up and we can give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

Cheers,

 

Reggy

 

 

[Robbo]

I have a friend who was accepted, I will ask him if I can pass his email on to you.

 

 

[Reggy Stirred Yuza]

Hi Robbo.

 

Thanks for the offer but no need for private emails. If your mate has anything positive to report then a post on this forum should be good for all of us who are interested in the cadet scheme. It would be nice to see something positive from someone who is in the system rather than negative comments from people on the outside.

 

Cheers,

 

Reggy

 

 

[Robbo]

He is like me, to busy and no time for the internet. I will see if i can get him to come on

 

 

[TAA Matt]

G'day Robbo,

 

Who do you know in the cadetship? Send me a PM.

 

 

[smit0701]

There is about 36 pages of threads relating to the Rex cadet pilot scheme on pprune. Its a big read so in summary:

 

98% of it is negative.

 

no-one in the cadetship or having completed the cadetship has commented.

 

The general vibe is that there will be a very long stint in the RH seat and no PIC hours.

 

7 years is a big committment.

 

the pay isnt great.

 

The flip side is that you get a CPL & ME CIR and a guaranteed job at the end for upfront 25k (plus loans).

 

I'm trying to remain switzerland on this one so I'll abstain from offering any opinion.

 

 

[Mattie Cribb]

@smit0701

 

G’day know what you’re talking about but to be honest you will find negatives and positives about EVERY cadetship no matter where you look I’m currently doing the Sharp airlines cadetship and I’m LOVING it! But i read on post like you have and people have nothing good to say about them!

 

 

but for sharp i know that after my 18months of Training which i get CPL/ATPL/MECIR so after 18months i get a GARENTEED 12Months contract to work for them now after those 12months is where i hope i get kept on or i gain a new position somewhere but we shall see about that. and sharp Offer ICUS which is sort of like command hrs which is good because as you know Co-pilot only counts to 50% of total time but yeah i can go on forever about positives and Negatives about all cadetships but yeah its really i find the people they say negative are the ones that haven’t got accepted into a course and are jealous just talking it down but i don’t know haha

 

 

Very touchy subject you could say haha well i hope i didn’t ramble on to much which i think i did but yeah have a good one!

 

Mattie C

 

like the Profile Pic Metro liner!!! Woo hah

 

 

[smit0701]

I agree they have their pros and cons. The sharp cadetship is great - if you have a cool hundred grand lying around that is. Which makes it completely unaffordable for someone my age with a family and a mortgage.

 

The Rex one is a lot cheaper but you get shafted at the back end upon employment locked in for seven years on a crappy 50k salaray. Which makes it completely unaffordable for someone my age with a family and a mortgage.

 

So clearly these cadetships are aimed at young people with no financial commitments and the airlines are passing up on the opportunities of employing people who have a lot more practical, business and life experience (no offence to anyone younger people intended). This is stupid because those of us slightly more ripe would still be bound by any contracts long enough to give the airline their payback.

 

I dont know about anyone else but if Rex offered me a half decent salary on graduation (equivilant to QF or JQ or Virgin or Tiger) I'd be happy to stay there for life and fly the SAABs to the dusty country airfields - it doesnt matter to me whether its a SAAB, a metro, a 737 or an A380, flying is flying.

 

So if anyone from Rex is reading this.... (ha ha)....

 

Oh, and Matty, be careful with your PICUS hours. The big four mentioned above are very picky about how much actually counts when it comes to getting a job with them.