Launched in 2011, the programme is designed to provide world class training to pilots for employment as a first officers starting a career on short haul aircraft like their B737 and A320. You apply online at bafuturepilot.com which triggers off the process of an application review for suitability.

Their requirements are simple as stated on the website:

This unique programme is open to any aspiring pilots who will be between the ages of 18 – 55 on 1st February 2012. Aspiring pilots from school leavers to those changing career are all very welcome to apply. You’ll need seven GCSEs at grade C or above (with Bs in English, Maths and a Science subject) plus three A-Levels, at grade BBC or above (General Studies excluded). If you don’t have the GCSE/A-Levels (or equivalents) that we’re looking for, but hold an Honours degree at 2:1 or above, we would be very happy to use that as evidence of your academic achievement. If you do meet the minimum GCSE/A-Level requirements, and you are a university graduate, there is no minimum degree class required. If you’ve got equivalent qualifications then you will be asked to provide a Letter of Comparability from UK NARIC before attending your first selection day.

You must hold a valid passport, have the ability to travel globally without restriction, and also have the right to live and work in the UK.

This is probably one of the best when it comes to being a cadet pilot because employment as a pilot for British Airways seems to be a very rewarding one.

Good Luck!

Some basic requirements must be met before the selection and training programme can commence. Acceptance into the programme will depend on the following 11 factors:

• Matric Certificate/Grade 12/N3 or relevant qualification (SAQA accredited)
• Compulsory Mathematics or Statistics 101 and English, coupled with one of the following: Physical Science or Computer Science (D symbol on higher grade or C symbol on standard grade)
• South African citizen
• Preferably up to 25 years of age
• At least 1.60 metres tall
• Medically fit
• Prepared to undergo vigorous training (free of charge) for up to two years
• Prepared to sign a training bond
• Pass a security check
• Previous flying experience is not a pre-requisite. If you have flying experience, you should not have more than 60 flying hours
• Should you have made 3 unsuccessful applications before, your current application will not be considered

You can expect to go through an internship period with the regional airline before upgrading to the international airline. This is typical in the career path of any pilot.

To read more about the program, go to the South African Airways website.

Qualifications to Become a Cadet

The U.S. Army Cadet Corps (USAC) offers equal opportunity to all American youth to participate regardless of race, color, religion, creed or gender.  USAC membership criteria, in part, requires that all prospective Cadets meet the following minimum standards:

1.  Approval of their parents / legal guardians

2.  Citizens of the United States (waivers may be granted)

3.  Attained their 12th birthday, or have started the 6th grade, but not yet reached their 18th birthday.  (The absolute minimum age to enroll is 11, regardless of school grade)

4.  Unmarried and a full-time student (which includes home-schooled students and those who are enrolled in a work study program) in good academic standing and of good moral character

5.  Prepared to attend regularly scheduled Unit Training Assemblies, as well as Annual Training each summer

6.  Pass a qualifying physical examination upon enrollment and prior to Annual Training each summer

The USAC is a career-exploration program, providing young people with a very realistic view of Army life.  Statistically, 65% of those Cadets who stay in USAC 18+ months have gone into the Armed Forces.  Most importantly, a young person must want to become a Cadet.  Under no circumstances will USAC accept a recruit who is court-ordered into the program, or forced by their parents to participate.

Physical Requirements

All USAC Cadets must undergo and pass a qualifying medical examination.  A civilian or military medical practitioner may conduct this examination.   The results of the examination for Cadets/recruits will be recorded on USAC Form 23, Report of Medical History and Examination, which are available on the USAC Resources website.  No other forms may be used.  A “doctor’s note” is not acceptable.

Physical qualifications for Cadets are based on standards established for enlistment in the Armed Forces.  A Cadet must be in such physical condition that, with normal development, he or she should be qualified for enlistment in the Armed Forces.  Applicants with chronic ailments such as diabetes or asthma or with physical disabilities, which would prohibit enlistment in the Armed Forces, cannot be enrolled in the USAC, unless they receive a physical waiver.  In questionable cases, a determination is made by the Director of Health Services at HQ, USAC.

It should be noted that many young people are simply not physically capable of fully participating in the physically and mentally stressful environment offered by USAC training programs.  Especially, those who are clinically obese, taking psychotropic (mindaltering) medications or who have a medical condition which could cause them harm by participating in such a strenuous environment simply are not to be enrolled.  To do so could put the young person’s mental or physical well-being at risk, which runs completely counter to the USAC’s mission.  In extreme cases, participation in the USAC could cause lasting physical harm, or even death.  Simply put, it is better to disappoint a young person for a few days, than to compromise her or his well-being.  We do not take any risks in the physical screening of prospective Cadets.  If there are any questions regarding the physical qualification of an applicant, contact the Director of Health Services prior to enrollment.  All medical forms are retained in the individual’s 201 file.

When browsing through their website, we discovered that their programs are really fast paced. in as little as 90 days you can get instrument rated, multi-engine, commercial, and certified flight instructor. That seems a lot considering the information that is needed to be retained by the student.

For around $50,000 USD you can get all of these ratings done in just about any state in the U.S. Another cool thing about the program is that you are guaranteed an instructor job after graduation from the 90 day program. To top that off, you are entitled to an interview with American Airlines’ regional carrier American Express, after 600 hours of instruction.

Sounds like a good deal to me if a flying career is what you are after.

Visit the flight school’s website here.

Virgin Australia operates a fleet of advanced 737s, 777s and other smaller regional airplanes. Their upcoming cadet pilot program shows very small similarities to the Cathay Pacific Cadet Program since you will be employed as a cruise first officer on the 777 fleet. Cathay Pacific employs you as a lower rated second officer. Our sources also mentioned that there is also an option to fly for the regional carrier before being upgraded to a regular first officer on their long haul fleet.

We were informed that April 2012 was the month applications would be taken but we still have not received the official word. We will keep you updated when more information becomes available via our Facebook page.

To be eligible for the cadet pilot program, a candidate must have completed year 12. Other than that, it will cost you a whopping $98,000 but can be significantly be reduces with a grant from them that gets ‘forgiven’ if you stay with them for seven years. Training is only 32 weeks but is dependent on the individual cadet.

Seems simple enough for someone trying to get their foot into the aviation game.

Check out the program here

The Dragonair Pilot Cadet Program, just like the Cathay Pacific Pilot Cadet Program, was designed to give the opportunity to the average person with a passion for aviation the chance to become a pilot for Dragonair. Unlike the Cathay Pacific Pilot Cadet Program, you will take on the rank of First Officer after the completion of training rather than Cathay’s Second Officer tier.

To be eligible for the Dragonair Pilot Cadet Program you must:

• Hold a Hong Kong permanent I.D card
• Have an excellent command of written and spoken English (speaking Chinese is a plus)
• Medically fit
• 5 passes HKCEE / O-Level equivalent – including passes at Grade C or above in English Language, Physics and Mathematics, together with 2 passes in HKALE / A-Level (science subjects preferred) or a Degree or Diploma in any discipline (science subjects preferred).

Go to the Dragonair Pilot Cadet Program Forum

A career in the Los Angeles Police Department can be one of the most rewarding paths anyone with a passion for law enforcement can take. Like any other cadet program, the LAPD Cadet Program is designed to teach discipline, leadership, and integrity.

To be a Cadet in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), a cadet must be:

• between 14 and 20 years old
• have no record of serious conviction or arrests
• present a written recommendation from a teacher, faith leader or other responsible adult who is not a relative
• obtain a medical examination
• attend and graduate from the Cadet Academy
• demonstrate that you are willing to serve the community and participate in activities.

Go to the LAPD Cadet Forum

The U.S Navy Sea Cadets Program is geared towards applicants between the ages of 13  and 17 and would like to learn more about the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine.

The future Sea Cadet would go through rigorous boot-camp style training for two weeks where they would learn discipline, honor,  and teamwork which are integral parts of the military. Upon completion of boot-camp, the Sea Cadet can participate in advanced training in areas such as:

• TRAINING SCHOOLS
  • AIRMAN TRAINING (BASIC & ADVANCED)
  • AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING
  • FAA GROUND SCHOOL
  • CULINARY ARTS TRAINING
  • MEDICAL TRAINING (GENERAL, FIELD, SURGICAL & DENTAL TECH)
  • FIREFIGHTING TRAINING
  • PHOTO JOURNALISM TRAINING
  • CEREMONIAL GUARD
  • SUBMARINE SEMINAR
  • MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
  • CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEE) TRAINING (BASIC & ADVANCED)
  • MINE WAREFARE OPERATIONS TRAINING
  • MUSIC SCHOOL
  • SEAL TEAM TRAINING
  • EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL TRAINING
  • AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING
  • PETTY OFFICER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
  • MASTER-AT-ARMS TRAINING (MILITARY POLICE/LAW)
  • JUDGE ADVOCATED GENERAL (JAG) TRAINING
  • SAILING SCHOOL
  • SCUBA SCHOOL
  • SEAMANSHIP TRAINING
  • SHIPBOARD TRAINING
• LIVE ABOARD NAVY & COAST GUARD SHIPS & SHORE STATIONS FOR TWO-WEEKS.

The Requirements for the Sea Cadet program are very basic and straight forward. They are:

• Be between the ages of 13 and 17.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Be a full time student and maintain satisfactory grades (2.00 “C” grade point average).
• Be free of felony convictions.

If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 and up for this life changing challenge, check it out!

Go to the Navy Sea Cadets Forum

Qantas Link is Australia’s premier regional airline operating a fleet of 43 aircraft including the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. Upon successful completion of the program, an applicant can expect to become a Qantas Link First Officer. Just like any other Pilot Cadet Program, this was designed for applicants that did not qualify for the competitive Direct Entry scheme. That being said, this program is by far one of the more competitive ones but it is very cheap compared to the others.

The minimum requirements for this program are:

Education

• Higher School Certificate (documentation required), with passes in Maths and English (approved bridging courses will be considered)
• Tertiary studies are highly desirable but not essential.

Age/Residency/Passport

• Applicants must be 18 years old;
• Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Residents or New Zealand Citizen (documentation required);
• Hold and maintain a current Australian or New Zealand passport with access to all Qantas ports.

Licensing

• Australian Commercial Pilot Licence; and,
• Australian Air Transport Pilot theory subjects.
• New Zealand applicants must have converted their licence/ratings to an Australian Licence/Rating prior to applying for a position with the Trainee program.

Experience

• Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating with all navaids including DME/GPS Arrival (RNAV/GNSS preferred but not required)
• Hold a Basic Enroute GPS Qualification (CAO 40.2.1, Appendix IV, Section 1 – log book stamp required).
• 100 hrs as Pilot in Command.
• Preference will be given to candidates with recent flying experience.

Medical

• Current CASA Class 1 Aviation Medical certificate.
• Pass a Pre Employment Drug and Alcohol Test

Security

• Ability to hold a Qantas Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC)^.

Language

• Hold a Level 6 English Proficiency Language (EPL) test pass as required by CASA.

Go to the Qantas Link Trainee Program Forum