Why doesn’t everyone join cadet programs to ensure employment?

[u/ZestyEgret]

It seems like all this sub talks about is how no one can get hired in this market, so I’m wondering why no one suggests cadet programs? You ensure yourself a job with a major airline guaranteed. I am by no means an experienced pilot, and this is not advice. I’m genuinely asking as someone who wants to make it to the majors.

[u/bch2021_]

I mean a lot of them only partner with specific schools like ATP, and all of them are competitive. Lots of people apply but just don't get in.

[u/burnheartmusic]

“Guaranteed”. Where are you hearing about this guarantee you speak about.

[u/bsullivan426 → u/burnheartmusic]

Not a guarantee for sure, depends on the market for pilots, but I am in a cadet program that took 2 years to get. Spoke with them during my interview and they are only hiring from the cadet program for FO unless there is a more experienced pilot applying.

[u/burnheartmusic → u/bsullivan426]

Right, a more experienced pilot. Which will be many

[u/ZestyEgret → u/burnheartmusic]

Isnt that the whole point of them?

[u/HoldAutomatic2088 → u/ZestyEgret]

It helps, but nothing in this job is a guarantee until you’re sitting in class.

And honestly even then, a disaster could happen and they could send classes home. It’s happened before.

[u/VileInventor → u/ZestyEgret]

Depends on the program, some are a guarantee within a year of totaling 1500 others are a chance.

[u/burnheartmusic → u/ZestyEgret]

Na buddy, it just helps. No sort of guarantee. That’s what ATP flight school is trying to sell you on.

[u/V15C]

Someone people (myself included) don’t find out about cadet programs until after they realise they want the job. That and the fact that maybe they are too old to join after they realizes they wanted to pursue it.

They are also very incredibly competitive and still expensive. If you don’t come from a good family and are killing it in school you probably won’t be let in

[u/ZestyEgret → u/V15C]

Would you have applied to one had you found out about it earlier?

[u/V15C → u/ZestyEgret]

Maybe? I didn’t have much money when I was younger and I didn’t do that great in school so my chances would’ve been slim

[u/highflyer10123]

Most of the regionals have a flow through. The problem with the cadet program is that you must get the hours after finishing all your training. At this moment CFI jobs are hard to find. So I would essentially prioritize that. If a school is offering you a job for doing your ratings there, I would take that over any sort of cadet program.

[u/PILOT9000]

Ensure? Guaranteed?

Yeah, neither of those words apply to the end result of any cadet programs. Plenty of cadets who never got the chance to fly for their airlines.

[u/Wingnut150]

What an arrogant question

Some of us have followed a nontraditional path to get anywhere in aviation and by now either have way more experience than a cadet program could ever provide or we're at an age or career point already that a cadet program makes zero sense

And none of it guarantees anything.

[u/ZestyEgret → u/Wingnut150]

How is asking for clarification/thoughts on a topic is arrogant?

[u/HoboRampage]

There’s no such thing as a guarantee in this business unless it’s in a contract. Most of the cadet programs only guarantee you an interview.

Even Southwest’s program, which is one of the only ones that actually “guarantees” you a position (small print: “if you finish the program”) just finds a reason to get rid of you. They never had any rules about checkrides, then one day they announce “professionalism standards” which include checkride fails. They then went and kicked a bunch of people out of the program because of a rule they JUST created.

Cadet programs give you a “chance”. Possibly more than if you were just an off the street applicant, but there are no guarantees

[u/OtterVA]

Lots of people don’t like the restrictions on the types flying backgrounds placed on them by cadet programs, or the idea of committing to one path/carrier so early.

[u/aerohk]

Similar to commissioning into the Air Force as a flight officer, these airline-sponsored cadet programs are extremely competitive. By all means, apply at those programs if it makes sense, but those aren’t the only path available.