OAA / NETJETS EUROPE CADET PILOT PROGRAMME

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

The online application form for the OAA / Netjets Europe Cadet Pilot Programme can be found at the bottom of this page. Please make sure you read all the questions outlined below carefully before proceeding.

 

What is the purpose of the joint OAA/NetJets Europe Cadet Programme?

NetJets Europe is the leading private jet operator in Europe and conducts operations around the world. They are undergoing a programme of continuous expansion and have identified a requirement to recruit a number of highly motivated, suitably qualified young men and women of European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss citizenship to join them as First Officers.

 

What can you tell me about Oxford Aviation Academy?

OAA is one of the largest and best known Flight Training Schools in the world. Since 1964, it has trained more than 18,000 pilots for many of the world’s major airlines. At its two Airline Training Centres, in Oxford, England and Phoenix, Arizona, OAA provides modern facilities, highly-experienced instructors and unsurpassed training.

Over the last 10 months, more than 200 OAA trained graduates have joined over 30 airlines throughout the world.

 

What can you tell me about NetJets Europe?

NetJets Europe operates business jets on a fractional ownership basis. NetJets has over 1,500 owners and cardholders who currently share 130 jets with an average age of 2.5 years. NetJets Europe has grown over the last 10 years since inception to become the seventh largest airline in Europe in terms of fleet size. The company is more than 6 times the size of the next largest business jet operator in Europe.

NetJets Europe currently operates the following aircraft types:

NetJets Europe will take delivery of 37 new aircraft in 2008, including 3 new types - Falcon 7X, Hawker 4000 and Hawker 750, and expects continued growth in the years ahead.

NetJets Europe currently employs 900 pilots from 22 different countries.

In 2006, NetJets Europe operated to 850 airports in 125 countries, including 580 in Europe, with a mix of short, medium and long haul flying. The company connected approximately 10,000 city pairs while conducting over 62,000 flights.

The company’s state of the art operations centre in Lisbon organises more than 200 flights a day to airports around the world and is staffed by over 550 dedicated individuals.

NetJets Europe is an innovative private aviation company offering the highest standards of safety and customer service to their owners. This is demonstrated by the fact that NetJets Europe is the only private jet operator to hold the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certificate from the International Air Transport Association.

Visit the website: www.netjetseurope.com

 

What is the APP FO Course?

OAA created the very first ab-initio integrated airline pilot training programme in 1964.  The APP FO course is an entirely new version of this training and was launched in 2003, with the first course graduating in mid-2004.  It was designed from the outset to provide airline focussed training for selected individuals able to demonstrate the skills, aptitude and personal qualities needed to operate as a First Officer in the highly demanding operating environment of a modern commercial jet. The APP FO is now widely accepted by airlines as representing the benchmark for modern, integrated ab-initio training courses. The OAA/NetJets Europe cadet programme provides the same high quality airline focused training that is the established hallmark of the APP FO course, and adds to it certain key features, notably:

Will those selected for the OAA/NetJets Europe Cadet Programme complete the standard APP FO course?

NetJets Europe selected students will complete the standard course but certain key elements will be focused on the airline’s own procedures and techniques. NetJets Europe cadets will also attend an additional, two-week course prior to graduation on aerobatics/unusual attitudes and VFR airfield training.

 

How does it work?

Prior to commencement of training, students who pass a joint OAA/NetJets selection process will be offered conditional employment by NetJets Europe subject to their achieving and maintaining satisfactory standards as they progress through their OAA training.

 

What are the financial benefits?

In addition to the security of employment with NetJets Europe, successful OAA/NetJets candidates will benefit from a special cadet entry First Officer salary programme.  In addition to a cadet entry salary of €36,500 per annum, NetJets Europe will also pay those selected for the cadet programme a further €20,000 pa towards repayment of any training costs until such time that the course training costs have been repaid (€56,500 in total for your first year of employment). It is anticipated a full training cost reimbursement will be paid off within 5-6 years of employment with NetJets Europe, at which time the cadet entry First Officer switches to the First Officer salary scale with accrued company seniority from date of joining the airline.

For cadet entry First Officers resident in the UK on entry into the airline, we have been advised by the Inland Revenue that course training cost repayment may be from gross salary i.e. before tax. For cadets resident outside of the UK during the repayment period the deductions will be made from net salary i.e. after tax.

NetJets Europe also currently provides type training for their new pilots at company expense.  Details of these benefits will be fully explained to those candidates who successfully reach Stage 3 of the selection process.

 

How much will the course cost?

Under the cadet training programme OAA training currently costs £61,800 plus £4,250 for the CAA test fees (these figures may be subject to marginal adjustment for courses starting in 2008).  Included in the price are 20 weeks room only accommodation in Phoenix plus the two weeks accommodation during the additional aerobatic/unusual attitude advance handling and VFR training courses. This will mean that you will need to cover any other expenses, which are effectively limited to approximately 43 weeks Oxford accommodation, and of course food.

For UK resident cadets, OAA offers a bespoke HSBC loan programme for all APP FO students. The OAA/NetJets Europe cadets will qualify for a secured loan of up to £60,000, subject to meeting the HSBC standard eligibility requirements.

For non UK resident cadets, NetJets and OAA are discussing loan options with various European banks. In the meantime, cadets may secure their own loan in country of residence or self fund. This can be discussed in more detail during the advanced stages of selection.

 

Will I be required to occupy OAA accommodation during the course?

Yes. NetJets Europe selected cadets will be required to occupy OAA accommodation during Ground Training at Oxford and Foundation Flight Training at Goodyear, Arizona.

 

I have already passed the APP FO Skills Assessment and applied for the standard HSBC Professional Studies Loan.  Should I continue my application?

You should continue your existing loan application concurrently with the NetJets selection process, which will ensure your course commencement is not delayed unnecessarily if you are not chosen by NetJets Europe.

 

Will the OAA ‘Skills Protection Plan (SPP) guarantee apply to the OAA/NetJets Europe Cadet Programme?

OAA will apply full APP FO Skills Protection Plan guarantees to NetJets’ courses, covering financial risk up to the multi-engine commercial flight test (approximately at the 50 week point).

 

Must I already possess a JAR-FCL Class 1 Medical to apply?

No, but you must be able to obtain one at least two months before the commencement of any course for which you might be selected. You may book an appointment with any JAR approved medical examiner in your country of residence but you will need to convert it to a UK CAA Class 1, for which there is a small administrative charge, prior to course commencement. You may contact the CAA Medical Department on +44 1293-573700 or 577171 to book a UK appointment. You will also find instructions for converting a non-UK medical at http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=49&pagetype=90&pageid=2576

 

What are the requirements to be considered for the OAA/NetJets Europe cadet programme?

Applicants must be a citizen of one of the following:

- A European Union member state
- A European Economic Area member state (includes the following non-EU nations: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway)
- Switzerland

We are looking for a standard of education matching university entrance in your country of residence, for example:

Additionally you must have a qualification in Mathematics and a Science subject.

Fluency in the English language is essential.

A University degree, though not essential, is an advantage.

 

Why do the educational criteria include Mathematics and a Science subject and a fluency in the English language?

Maths and Sciences are the two subjects most relevant to pilot training and English is the international aeronautical language and the language in which you will be taught. OAA’s experience is that a qualification in these subjects is a good indicator that an applicant is likely to perform well on the course.

 

If I do not meet the educational criteria for this cadet programme, does this mean I should not consider entering professional flight training as a self-sponsored student?

No. A great number of students with lower educational qualifications have successfully completed the APPFO training course. If you are in any doubt as to your academic background, the best indicator of whether or not you could succeed as a self-sponsored student would be to attend a skills and aptitude assessment at the Flight Training Organisation (FTO) of your choice. If you pass, this means the FTO thinks you would be likely to succeed.

 

Is previous flight training experience or a PPL required?

No. It can sometimes be a useful indicator of an applicant’s interest in flying, although we do understand that many applicants may not have had the means or opportunity to take flying lessons.

 

I applied for the OAA/NetJets programme earlier in 2007. Am I eligible to re-apply?

Previous applicants who were not invited to Stage 2 may re-apply. Applicants who were eliminated from the competition at Stage 2 or beyond are not eligible to re-apply.

 

I have already passed the APP First Officer skills assessment. May I apply and if so will I have to retake the assessment?

Potential applicants who meet the published criteria and who have unconditionally passed OAA Skills Assessment within the past 6 months and have not taken up a confirmed course place are eligible to apply for this programme.  They will not have to undertake assessment again, nor will they be permitted to in hopes of achieving better scores, or pay any additional fee, but they must complete the on-line application within the published timescale. Potential applicants who passed the APP First Officer Skills Assessment more than 6 months ago may also apply, but if selected for advancement to Stage 2 must retake the assessment and pay the fee again. Note that candidates who did not successfully complete APPFO Skills Assessment at their first attempt are not eligible to apply for this scheme.

OAA students already undertaking training courses are not eligible to apply for this course.

 

I am enrolled in a cadet programme with another FTO but am interested in applying for this cadet programme in case it is a better deal financially. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Oxford Aviation Academy works very hard to maintain good relationships with other FTOs and with all airlines, whether or not they have currently or recently hired our graduates. We will not consider applications from airline cadets at other FTOs.

 

I already have a CPL/IR or ATPL for airplanes. Am I eligible to apply?

No. This is not a NetJets job application, rather a selection process to identify cadets for an ab-initio training programme that must be completed in it’s entirety. Those who already hold the ratings this course is designed to achieve are not eligible, and this restriction includes those with non-JAA ratings. Holders of helicopter ratings at any level are eligible to apply provided they meet all published requirements.

NetJets has vacancies for experienced pilots with a minimum of 1,500 flying hours and jet/multi crew experience. Please see www.netjetseurope.com

 

I have already completed some or all of the JAA ATPL theory exams. Am I eligible to apply?

You may apply conditionally, but you must complete the course in its entirety, including retaking the ground school and the 14 JAA exams. This will require approval from the aviation authority under which you originally took the JAA exams and it is your responsibility to obtain that approval in writing, preferably before Stage 2, and in all cases before you could be considered for Stage 3 interview.

 

How do I apply?

The first step in the selection process is to see if you match the profile above, but particularly the educational and citizenship requirements. If you believe you fit the profile, then you need to complete and submit the on-line application form.

Please note that applications to be considered for the cadet programme are only possible through the OAA web site. You cannot apply direct to NetJets Europe; neither can you use mail or fax.

 

When can I be expected to be called for Stage 2?

Stage 2 selection dates will be published periodically on the OAA website.

 

What happens after I submit my application?

You will automatically receive a confirmation that your application has been successfully received.  If you receive an error message, print a copy and then contact us on the number given at the bottom of this FAQ. You will subsequently receive a separate e-mail providing further guidance on ‘what happens next?’.  The following, 3-Stage process will apply:

What criteria will be used to determine who is accepted to Stage 2 of the selection process?

A team of assessors will review all applications to ensure the applicant meets the published criteria. The next step will then be to review your answers to the set questions, and from this to select those we judge should go through to Stage 2. It will be clear from this that the quality of your answers to the set questions are important and we suggest to take due time and care in framing your responses to these questions. We also recommend you save a copy of your answers before pasting them into the online application in case you lose your Internet connection before you complete and submit the application.

 

The guidance for this cadet programme indicates that Stage 2 of the selection is a two-day process. If I am not selected to attend Day 2, would this indicate that I should give up my aspirations to become an airline pilot?

No. Because the competition is likely to be tough, it is probable that a number of applicants of good quality, and who would therefore be quite capable of succeeding in ATPL training, may still not reach the advanced stages of OAA/NetJets Europe selection.

 

How will I be advised of my progress?

On completion of each stage of the selection process, OAA will advise all applicants by email whether they have been successful or unsuccessful. The former group will then be advised of arrangements for the next stage. All applicants who reach Stage 2 should be prepared to spend a maximum of 2 days at Oxford Airport.

 

What are my chances of success?

At this stage, it is too early to say. Obviously, both NetJets Europe and OAA are looking for high quality, well motivated individuals. The number of places available is limited, so inevitably not all of those who meet the selection requirements will become a beneficiary of the programme, but that should not stop you applying.

 

When will training start?

We have 6 courses scheduled per year, each with 8 NetJets Europe Cadets.

 

Will my training progress be monitored?

During all stages of training, progress will be monitored by both NetJets Europe and OAA. Airline support could be withdrawn in the event that such progress is judged unsatisfactory.

 

What is the application deadline?

There is no application deadline but applications will be judged on a first come, first served basis.

 

How much will it cost me to apply?

There is no charge for Stage 1 of the competition.

OAA will charge a standard Skills Assessment Fee of £195 to those candidates who reach Stage 2.

NetJets Europe will fund the final stage of selection.

 

What do I do if I have any further queries?

Once you have thoroughly read the above there are several ways to obtain additional information about the programme as follows:

If you still have unanswered questions, call an OAA Training Advisor on 01865-840352

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION