IAANZ at CAC - What's it really like?

[ScottyB]

Hi there,

Ihave always wanted to become a pilot for a commercial carrier. I live in Christchurch and I am currently at high school, in the 6th form. I am reasonably bright, however not in the very top stream. Next year the subjects I am taking are Physics, Maths with Statistics (as my Calculus is not great), English, French, and Tourism Studies. I have heard that you must be very good at maths and physics. Is this true?

How hard is the commercial carrier industry to get in to? What is the general pay like in the industry? Etc etc.

I have been out to the CAC a few times and I am a member but due to a lot of other sporting/school commitments I have not really had the chance to spend much time out there.I am going to stay and do 7th form and then hopefully in 2011 I will start my full-time pilot training at the IAANZ.

Has anybody done there training there? If so, what is it like? Pro's and con's?

Thanks very much in advance,
Scotty B.

[benwynn]

Its certainly a lot easier than it used to be.

I don't do Physics, just a high level of Maths; and Mainland Air accepted that. As long as your English marks are good, and everything else is reasonable you should be OK.

If you're doing those subjects at a reasonable level (B's and C's), most of these places will take you in. At the end of the day, its just money to them. Whole different story if its a cadet scheme or whatever.

Not being a pilot as of yet, I can only tell you what I've read. Your first flying job will be cr@p money. But, at the end of the day, who really cares. You're gaining hours and slowly building experience.

Even Eagle Airways only pay $35-40k to their FO, so don't expect a lot of money for quite a few years to come after you have finished your training.

Some Airlines, such as Qantas used to do, as well as NZ did, require a degree for Direct Entry. Its becoming less and less common, so this seems to be rare anymore.

You'll probably find the quickest way is to head to the sandpit once you have quite a few multi engine hours. Airlines like EK and EY seem to take on quite a few SOs from down under with a reasonably low number of hours in comparison to Air New Zealand, Qantas etc.

Looked in to training their, and didn't really like it. Too many people training there, specifically Internationals, which I didn't really like. I wanted a more personal training experience. Then again, my current location did not affect my choice. If you live in CHC, its going to be a hell of a lot cheaper to live at home, rather than doing it alone. You may as well stay where you are.

[ScottyB]

Thanks heaps Benwynn!

When you speak of the degrees, do you mean one like what Massey provides?

And what airlines are EK and EY?

And in order to fly for other countries airlines, must you be a citizen of that country?

Cheers.

[benwynn]

QUOTE (ScottyB @ Oct 26 2009, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks heaps Benwynn!

When you speak of the degrees, do you mean one like what Massey provides?

And what airlines are EK and EY?

And in order to fly for other countries airlines, must you be a citizen of that country?

Cheers.

Scotty,

Yes and No. They dont specifically mean an Aviation Degree, but any degree usually. It used to be more common for a pilot to have a backup degree- Business, Law or whatever.

EK- Emirates
EY- Etihad

It depends on the airline. Some airlines may allow you to be based in your home country, if not, you may be able to get a visa to work in that country. The job may or may not specify you have the right to work or not. If not, they will usually assist you in the process.

[deaneb]

You need to be very realistic about your flying career. Only one in 10 Air New Zealand applicants get accepted, so its a long path to the top.
Have you considered the Air Force - If you can join as a pilot you will gain some great experience (and some awesome flying) which is a good ticket to an airline career. There are plenty of AIr New Zealand and other airline pilots who are ex military.

[benwynn]

From what he says regarding his grades, Air Force may not be an option.

[ScottyB]

Are my grades not good enough? Or....?

[benwynn]

For the Airforce, they're taking the pick of the crop only. So I'd assume that not taking Maths with Calculus may bring you down.

[redkiwi]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Oct 26 2009, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From what he says regarding his grades, Air Force may not be an option.

Their minimum requirements are just to weed out the no-hopers. I did 'quite s**t' in my final years at school, mainly through lack of effort. I still managed to get the whole way through the process. They are looking for well rounded people - your ability to lead, be a team player and your ability to study and retain information are the most important things.

QUOTE (ScottyB @ Oct 26 2009, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are my grades not good enough? Or....?

Put your best foot forward - you never know what might happen. Crack the whip now for the end of 6th Form and then apply about mid-year next year. There are three scenarios that are possible - they say no, so you apply to flying school. They say not right now, come back in 2 years, OR they say yes.

QUOTE (benwynn @ Oct 26 2009, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For the Airforce, they're taking the pick of the crop only. So I'd assume that not taking Maths with Calculus may bring you down.

As I said above, I had probably the worst school grades out of the group of 18 or so pilot candidates on the last PERSEL course (the one that Alex was on). At the end of it all my grades are what held me back, but I still made it through the whole process - initial aptitude testing, interview, and PERSEL - I was above the requirements for being a pilot but they didn't believe my case was strong enough to be put forward for pilot training, they now want me to try for Navigator. There is A LOT more to it than just have A's and B's on your school reports.

[benwynn]

QUOTE

There is A LOT more to it than just have A's and B's on your school reports.[/quote]

But without that..

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Is it even worth trying for the Air Force? Aren't there something like 2 or 3 pilot places for every applicant? I'm applying next year but considering how unlikely it is that I'll get in I'm applying for the Police as well. I plan to be a cop for 5 years or so to help pay for my flying.

[benwynn]

Don't you need to have 'life experiences' to be a cop?