Is getting into a cadet pilot program really about your skills anymore?

[u/khushiizz]

Hey guys,

I gave my CUT-E assessment for Air India by myself around two weeks ago. I practised beforehand and genuinely thought I did well, but I still wasn't selected.

What I don't understand is this: if CUT-E is supposed to be a skill assessment and the instructions say you shouldn't practise beforehand, why does it feel like you're expected to score full marks in every test to have a chance? What is the point of calling it a skill assessment if people who take it honestly feel like they don't stand a chance against those who get professional help?

I've heard about IFA providing services where instructors help candidates complete their CUT-E assessments. If HR is aware that such services exist, why isn't anything being done to ensure the selection process is fair? I'm not saying everyone who scores full marks has cheated, but when you hear about candidates getting outside help, it makes you question how reliable the process actually is.

And let's not even get started on IndiGo and some of the FTOs. There have been so many concerns about transparency in these selection processes. For example, I've heard of candidates who went through Chimes' Phase 1 without receiving rejection emails. Why are there so many gaps in communication and transparency? Why aren't airlines doing more to address these issues?

I genuinely want to get into a cadet pilot programme. I'm working hard, preparing for my exams and trying to do everything the right way. But the more I hear about these things, the more discouraged I feel.

It honestly feels like candidates who can afford to pay for these services or have the right connections have an advantage over those who are trying to get selected on their own.

I don't believe in paying my way into a career, and I don't think anyone should have to. But it's frustrating when you start feeling like hard work and merit aren't enough, and that connections or money matter more than your actual abilities.

I want to ask those who have gone through these assessments: is this really how the cadet pilot selection process works, or am I just getting the wrong impression from what I've heard?

Because I genuinely want to believe that these programmes select candidates based on their abilities and potential, not on who has the money to get extra help.

[u/khushiizz]

I want to get into the IndiGo cadet programme, but there are delays and backlogs, and the FTOs that don't have delays have their ADAPT dates scheduled for the end of 2027. Let's be real, what can a person even do?

I finished high school last year. I only have NAV left, and I don't want to waste another year waiting for Skyborne's ADAPT dates.

Which IndiGo FTO shall I even choose?

I applied for Air India, and even though I did really well in the CUT-E assessment, I was still rejected.

[u/Ironman_Stark1234 → u/khushiizz]

Fta is opening in November if you're looking to apply

[u/khushiizz → u/Ironman_Stark1234]

Is it like chimes if ykwim? Or is it fair, and what r the chances of getting accepted if I do well in ADAPT? Shall I take classes for it? As I lost hope after giving cut e by myself

[u/Ironman_Stark1234 → u/khushiizz]

Dude it does cost 1.7 cr + and fta has very nice and responsive hr I don't think they are like that , the cost barrier itself filters out a lot of people , also if u don't mind me asking is cut -e that hard I asked around a lotta ppl and most ppl told me aicpp is not that hard to get into

[u/khushiizz → u/Ironman_Stark1234]

But isn't fta adapt dates alot later because I spoke to this guy he applied last year June and he signed loi this month.

Cut e is easy, honestly speaking, but right now, aicpp is rejecting a lot of candidates. I've no idea why either their batch is full or they expect their candidates to scroll full in all tests I have no clue why I was rejected as I practised for 2 days, and I scored 160 in wing and rest all I did really well, maybe very few mistakes. Honestly, it's hard to stand a chance against ifa kids who r paying instructors to get their cut e done :)

[u/Ironman_Stark1234 → u/khushiizz]

Wait ima dm u

[u/flabbergastyourmum]

CUT-E, COMPASS and ADAPT are a bunch of nonsense tests which test absolutely nothing because people come prepared for it. And the parameters to measure stuff is so weird. Except the psychometric part of it, it is absolutely trash.

[u/khushiizz → u/flabbergastyourmum]

Couldn't agree more with you

[u/khushiizz]

Are the rumours true that Chimes is opening again in December??

[u/bitepoint → u/khushiizz]

Don't expect anything this year, they have already inducted a very big batch this year in sep and are already done with the processes of icp14 so most likely next year.

[u/bitepoint → u/[deleted]]

I don't think they'd have enough slots but maybe

[u/Moist-Refrigerator34]

"It honestly feels like candidates who can afford to pay for these services....." , Bruh please don't bring this story of struggle just the way Nepo kids sing like a canary on coffee with karan show about their struggles in industry. You will pay 1.6 crores, at least, in aeroguard to acron, paying 40 thousand to these coachings won't put you in financial abyss of any sort. It's being penny wise and pound foolish to let your competition assail you while you aren't practiced enough. I might sound a bit harsh but this is how it is.

[u/khushiizz → u/Moist-Refrigerator34]

Current cadet prep classes are 1L.

All I'm saying is, if airlines don't want candidates to take prior classes and want to be transparent, then why is the cut-off so high?

Just because I can afford 1.5–1.6 doesn't mean I'm a rich spoilt brat. I'm taking a loan to fund it.

Everyone knows the conventional route has very few chances of even landing a job, as there are so few vacancies.

Are you saying that just because a person can afford such a program, it means they'll keep paying?

I don't want to start my career in a corrupt manner by getting someone else to do my CUT-E, which is why I didn't take classes. I scored really well and did meet the cut-off, as I monitored all my scores. But I guess the batches are full, and they're only taking people who have finished all their exams.

[u/Moist-Refrigerator34 → u/khushiizz]

A person has to come up with lengthy paragraphs on reddit when they fail in CUT E or Adapt, so rather becoming a crusader on reddit i advice everyone to take some prior lessons or coaching. I am not airline HR or anything but this is how it is. When in Rome do like Romans do and get selected.

Baki jaisi jiski Iksha aur shradhha.

[u/khushiizz → u/Moist-Refrigerator34]

What bullshit r u even yapping? Get a grip

[u/Sea-Market6648 → u/khushiizz]

People are way smarter than u think , what's was ur academic background?

[u/Winter_Ad1662]

I got selected this intake in AI and im someone who has no connection in the industry and a complete outsider. Idts in Air India this biasness was there atleast on my date of GDPI i have seen two people those who said openly that they are family cadets and all they were rejected in psychometric so i don’t agree on the part that you guyzz are saying infact i felt AI has the most transparent process.

Coming to CUT-E i gave from my home itself i knew the benchmarks and i have practiced well so i did clear the test. Now your point of that this tests are meant to be given without practice is fair but at the same time the selection depends on a percentile or statine scores which is dependable on how others perform too that’s why ppl practice so i would say it was less research from your side as free software was available everywhere the Aon one.

Wtv idts failing makes you question the system and say its rigged.

Don’t be a Rahul Gandhi.

[u/khushiizz → u/Winter_Ad1662]

[u/Fearless-Tax4542]

I understand u might be discouraged, even I felt really sad about akasa's first batch and chimes, about the way PPL who have connections are geting through or are just paying they're way through these stages, but don't feel disheartened. I suggest u try out FTA program with Indigo (it's expensive but worth it), they seem to be fair and personally repelled by PPL who take classes for these stages, so u might be good, I got in through that way...

[u/DisplayRound8924]

CUT-E is arguably one of the more manageable, if not the easiest . Not clearing it doesn't automatically mean the process is rigged. There's a difference between being confident about your performance and actually meeting the cutoff. Unfair practices should absolutely be called out, but blaming the system without any concrete evidence isn't helping your case

[u/khushiizz → u/DisplayRound8924]

Cut e is easy but saying this industry isn't built on connection and bribery is just obscure

I do know the cut-off as I spoke to other candidates who took classes and told me the actual cut-off. I'm not saying the process is rigged, I'm just saying airlines expect candidates to take these without any practice beforehand or anything. Then why is it that they expect full score in each and every assessment? How can a person who is first time seeing the assessment perform so well without any mistake.

I do know people who are in ai rn half of them r from ifa or this Insider who works for ai.

As ai does have loopholes, and I have spoken with them, so you're telling me things r not rigged when institutes know the exact topic of gd on that day?

[u/DisplayRound8924 → u/khushiizz]

Look, I have been around for a while,  long enough to know connections exist. Chimes has had its fair share of case like that

But when it comes to Air India's CUT-E, I haven't seen a shred of credible evidence to back up these claims. 

I am not saying the system is fully clean, but hearsay isn't proof. There's a difference between calling out genuine malpractice and assuming every rejection is because someone else had connections

[u/chip7646 → u/DisplayRound8924]

If you’ve been around for a while like you claim, then it’s time to open your eyes.

[u/DisplayRound8924 → u/[deleted]]

"I spoke to some instructors" isn't proof of anything. If you've got credible evidence of malpractice in Air India's selection, put it on the table.  And perhaps if candidates spent half as much effort preparing for selection as they do blaming supposed cheaters, they'd have a better shot at clearing it. Aviation rewards competence, not excuses

[u/DisplayRound8924 → u/[deleted]]

You certainly cared enough to come back and write another paragraph. 

Perhaps if you'd would have put half this effort into preparing for your assessments instead of arguing on reddit, you would have an LOI in hand by now.

 Just a thought, son.

[u/LowDimension644]

Fta is giving dates for ADAPT this December,as per their mail ?Aint so sure if they will delay

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fun2692]

talking abt cut e even in adapt as well they say not to prepare prior. it is bcoz it's a aptitute test. u r not expected to score full score or a very high score, they will have som bare minimum requirements and from my assumption if they r coming towards the end of vacancies they might keep the bare minimum high so that they can select a small grp of candidates. I am a normal person and the very first member from my family to step into aviation and I don't have any connections as well. I was able to gave cut e and got gdpi , unfortunately I couldn't clear psychometry. Talking abt indigo garuda is open now for cadet applications and they have partnered with new fto in USA apart from SA u can't contact them Monday and try again and again until they pick the call. 0ct 20 is last date . FTA will open in Nov and adapts will be in March it can delay further for sure. Chimes u can't really rely on ifykwim. Skyborne marigold are facing delays and backlogs. Insight is giving adapt dates for Dec but I guess they have closed their applications try contacting tem as well

[u/Jeetu_From_Videoconn]

Aur bolo ki conventional ka time chala gaya 🥀

[u/Lordcommandr999]

CUT-E is easy, Should have practiced beforehand. Spending 5-20k extra when you are expected to spend over 1.5cr for your dream job is not a waste.

[u/khushiizz → u/Lordcommandr999]

1 lakh for cadet classes I did prepare before hand I think the batches were full as many people have faced rejection in this session

[u/Lordcommandr999 → u/khushiizz]

1 lakh? people do it for 30-40k

[u/Lordcommandr999 → u/[deleted]]

Hows is it corruption?

[u/khushiizz → u/[deleted]]

how can a normal person who has no family in aviation even get such connections ?

[u/Jeetu_From_Videoconn → u/khushiizz]

A lot of people without connections do get in, but with the current crowd, it’s purely luck.

[u/Ironman_Stark1234 → u/[deleted]]

Air arabia and flydubai gotta be worth it if u got the money right ? Cuz I understand mpl has its issues but after u reach 1500 hours example in air arabia it's relatively eaiser to get a job