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• How do I find out more about the programme?
Due to the very large number of applications we receive, we regret that we are not in a position to answer any questions by telephone, letter or personal visits. Any queries should be channeled through this site, but if we have not answered everything you want to know here then, during selection, there will be ample opportunity to discuss your individual queries.
No airline sponsorship programme guarantees a job. The commitment we give is that, subject to a satisfactory performance in training and no change to our partner airline recruitment plans, we will make every effort to ensure that our graduates achieve employment with us.
• Can I re-apply to the programme if I am turned down during selection?
Our policy on this is as follows: Re-assessment will only be allowed to specifically identified applicants following a detailed appraisal by the selection team who conducted the assessment stage that resulted in a rejection. Those individuals who are assessed as suitable for re-assessment will be advised by either during the assessment day or by e-mail. If you do not receive notification advising you of this status then you should assume that a re-assessment opportunity has not been judged appropriate in the circumstances Normally, such re-assessment opportunities will only be offered not less than 6 months after the applicant's initial date of completed application. When it is considered appropriate, CTC will advise the candidate by e-mail of the date on which a re-assessment is scheduled. As CityJet have an additional personality assessment for the selection process, should you meet the standards set for CTC Wings but not for CityJet, you may be offered the opportunity to join CTC Wings as a Cadet or iCP trainee. Please note that an applicant's initial application will remain on our database and thus there is no benefit, nor need, to complete a further application form through our internet application system. Please note that an applicant’s initial application will remain on our database and thus there is no benefit, nor need, to complete a further application form through our internet application system.
• Do I require a Visa to travel to NZ?
Yes. CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited are registered as a Private Training Establishment (PTE) which means that we are bound by the rules and regulations of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and as such you will require a student visa before entering New Zealand.
• Is anyone exempt from requiring a Visa?
NZ and Australian nationals.
Once you have been successful through our selection process, we will send you an offer pack that will contain the student visa application form and all the information that you will require to make the application. You will also require a letter of support that will be provided by CTC and CityJet.
• What is the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students?
CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international
• Where can I find details of the immigration, visa and permit requirements for New Zealand?
Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz
• Will I be eligible for health services during my time in NZ?
Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.moh.govt.nz. MEDICAL AND TRAVEL INSURANCE: International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. ACCIDENT INSURANCE: The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at http://www.acc.co.nz.
• What qualifications do I need?
The minimum qualifications for application are listed on this site.
• What are the medical considerations for selection?
To enter training, a cadet must possess a valid JAA Class 1 medical certificate. More details on the medical requirements can be obtained from the CAA. The CAA charge over £400 for the initial medical examination, which must be carried out at their medical centre in Gatwick. However, we do not expect applicants to go to that expense until they know that they have been provisionally accepted. If you are unsure of your medical status, we suggest you look in detail at the requirements of the JAA Class 1 which can be found on the CAA website and then discuss these requirements with your GP. Whilst this does not guarantee that you will pass the JAA Class 1 medical examination, it will provide you with some reassurance before you go to the expense of undertaking our selection process and the Class 1 examination
• Can I still qualify if I wear glasses and/or contact lenses?
The wearing of glasses and/or contact lenses does not automatically bar an applicant from obtaining a JAA Class 1 medical certificate. Full details on the eyesight requirements can be obtained from the CAA.
We require at least 5 GCSE's grade C or above which must include Maths or another science-based subject such as Physics. Additionally, you are required to have at least two A-levels at grade C or above. Any A-level/Leaving Certificate subjects are acceptable, but at least one of the A levels must be science based. If you have yet to take your exams it is probably more important that you keep your options open and study subjects that you are good at and motivate you. Maths and Physics provide a good foundation for the theoretical knowledge syllabus. Remember also that there are far fewer places on this programme than applicants, so keep your options open! Other qualifications are acceptable providing that they are at least equivalent to the above.
• Is the programme only open to EU nationals?
Currently, we are only able to accept applicants who are able to prove that they have the unrestricted legal right to live and work in the EU. Additionally, you must have no reason to believe that you will not be accepted for entry into New Zealand (please review the questions regarding visas for New Zealand in this section of the website). However, we reserve the right to appraise individual applications on their merit in the light of the currently complex laws concerning rights of entry and rights of abode.
• What happens if I fail the JAA Class 1 medical exam?
If an applicant passes the selection and is offered a place before passing the JAA Class 1 medical, their place will be conditional on passing the examination. Regrettably, we are unable to accept cadets into training who have failed to reach the medical standards required by law.
• How long will the selection take?
This depends on the number of applications received, although each application will be reviewed on a 'first come, first served' basis. We hope that it will not take more than two months from the time of application to process through the selection system. However, as the dedicated CityJet Wings courses are held at specific times of the year, there may be occasions when you will have to wait a little longer to complete the process.
• Why will selection close from time to time?
Because of the advantages of the CityJet Wings programme, we anticipate receiving a significant number of applications. To ensure that we do not have too many applicants awaiting selection (for relatively few places), we will suspend the application process on our website at various times while we deal with applications already received. We will open the selection site at a point deemed suitable to progress applications in time for the next course commencement date. If you find the website application system closed, do not be deterred from re-visiting the site at regular intervals to review the situation.
• Why does CTC charge for selection?
As we deal with large numbers of applicants for sponsorship, the administration cost of selection amounts to many thousands of pounds per selected candidate. We don't think it's fair to ask only the successful ones to have to pay for all those that apply, so we ask everyone to contribute. We therefore charge you £188 inclusive of VAT to cover the cost of some industry-standard assessment tests. It is vital that we do this selection properly - so that you can be given the best advice about your likely chances of success in your future career and to ensure that we have selected the right person into training.
• What qualities are you looking for during selection?
The selection consists of 4 phases: The first phase (application) will ascertain whether you have the basic qualifications for our programme. At the second phase, we will be testing your aptitude for flying as an airline pilot and ask you to complete a personality questionnaire. We will also test numeracy and cognitive ability as well as ask you to take part in some group exercises. The third phase (which will normally take place on the same day as phase 2 providing you have been successful) involves an interview with a combined CTC and CityJet assessment team. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated. You have to be a team player. The final phase will be conducted in an aircraft simulator to demonstrate and confirm your capacity to learn simple tasks in a highly complex environment.
• Can I obtain an application form by post?
Applications are only accepted through the website.
• What are my chances of getting through the selection?
Only a small percentage of applicants will be successful - we're looking for the very best. You will have to prove to us that you are the right stuff, with all the potential skills needed to become a first class pilot. Competition will be stiff so you need to come to the selection process well prepared.
A Criminal Record Check at BASIC Disclosure level is the lowest level of Disclosure. A BASIC Disclosure contains details of convictions considered to be unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) or states that there are no such convictions. This type of Disclosure is only issued to the applicant, it is not job-specific, and may be used more than once.
• What is Disclosure Scotland?
Part V of the Police Act 1997 introduced a new system of disclosing criminal history information to individuals and organisations for employment and other limited purposes. A new Disclosure Bureau has been established within the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) for the purposes of issuing disclosures under Part V of the 1997 act. This new service is known as 'Disclosure Scotland' and is responsible for issuing three levels of disclosure to be known as 'BASIC Disclosure', ' Standard Disclosure' and 'Enhanced Disclosure'. Disclosure Scotland will issue disclosure certificates for all UK employees, not just those that live in Scotland. The service is designed to improve access to criminal records and other relevant information held by the police and government departments and is available for people who need to prove whether or not they have any criminal convictions.
• What do I have to do to obtain a Criminal Record Check?
Should you be successful in your application, you will be expected to obtain a Criminal Record Certificate prior to your offer being confirmed. For details on how to apply for a Criminal Record Certificate click here.
• I have received a criminal conviction in the past, when do convictions become spent?
Spent convictions Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, criminal convictions can become spent or ignored after a rehabilitation period. The rehabilitation period varies depending on the sentence or order imposed by the court - not the offence. Custodial sentences of more than two and a half years can never become spent.
• How long does each part of the training take?
The initial ATPL theory stage of your training takes place in the UK and lasts 5 months. You will then fly to NZ to complete your foundation course and CPL which takes approximately 7 months in total. You will complete your basic licence training with your Instrument Rating in Bournemouth and this stage takes 8-9 weeks. The Intermediate phase lasts about 3 weeks and the Advanced phase about two months. With 6 months of line training and consolidation flying, together with leave and holidays, the whole process will take about 2 years from the day you start.
• Why do I have to do any Foundation training if I already have a PPL?
The Foundation Course is an essential part of the whole training process, as it introduces you to CTC's flight training methods, NZ airspace and provides a solid basis to advance into the CityJet Wings course proper.
• Where is the basic training done?
CTC has developed a special course for this programme that will be conducted in both New Zealand, the UK and Ireland.
• How does the training course content compare with other programmes?
The content is significantly different from any other programme currently available. As well as more training (28% more total time than average, around 50% more multi-engine time than average), the training approach is very different. In conventional courses, the trainee is taught to be a light piston-engine aircraft pilot, then later trained to be an airline pilot. However, this course has been designed specifically to meet CityJet’s needs and the cadets are trained as airline pilots and team players right from the start. In addition, the course includes all training, taking you from a base of no flying experience, through the licence issue phase, right up to type rating on an AVRO RJ85 and flying as a crew member with CityJet.
• What type of licence do I get from the course?
The training leads to the JAA/EASA Commercial Pilot's Licence with Instrument Rating (CPL/IR). The JAA/EASA is the governing authority of the European aviation industry. Theoretical knowledge is examined to the Air Transport Pilots' Licence (ATPL) standard, so no further examination is needed for the upgrade of your licence to the ATPL. (The ATPL licence is the one you need to become a Captain). This licence is commonly known as a 'frozen ATPL' (fATPL).
This is a full time course. However, there will be several weeks of planned leave. Extra time off is allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
• What planes will I fly during Basic Training?
Training will take place on a range of aircraft including Cessna C172'S, Diamond DA20 Katanas, or Diamond DA42 Twinstars.
• What are the living accommodation and transport arrangements during the course?
In New Zealand you will be living in 'Clearways' - CTC's own furnished cadet accommodation facility close to our Crew Training Centre. We will also provide you with a shared vehicle in New Zealand. In the UK and Ireland you will be living in furnished accommodation close to our Crew Training Centres. Depending on the stage of your training this may be at our Residential Crew Training Centre - Dibden, in rented accommodation nearby or at a local hotel. All accommodation arrangements are made by CTC and CityJet.
• What about medical cover whilst abroad?
Whilst a basic level of medical treatment is available in New Zealand through state resources, we strongly recommend that you consider insuring yourself for medical cover and repatriation to the UK.
• What kind of failure rate do you expect?
The selection is thorough, but not foolproof. There may be some cadets who fail to complete the training as a result of an inability to attain the standards required. However, it is anticipated that the number of failures will be very small and we expect the vast majority to complete their training.
• What happens to me if I fail during training?
Those accepted onto the CityJet Wings programme have the best prospects for employment with CityJet. Even those who do not reach the high standards required by the programme will be among the best selected industry trainees. Therefore, failure on this fast-track course does not necessarily bar a trainee from an airline career.
• When do I start earning a salary? How much will that be?
Once you have successfully completed your Foundation, Basic and Intermediate Training, the next stage is to complete Advanced Training sponsored by CityJet. This comprises ground and simulator training, followed by base training (when you will fly an airliner for the first time). Next you will commence flying with CityJet on the line, completing your line training and a period of line experience. This is part of your training programme and accommodation will be provided by CityJet during your type rating and early basing. It will only be on completion of that period, when you have proved to the airline that you are 'the right stuff' and that you have reached all the proficiency levels required, that you may be offered full time employment. This will normally be a total of about two years from the start of Basic Training. The basic starting salary for a CityJet Second Officer entering employment through CityJet Wings will be discussed during the selection process and will include a monthly repayment of your bond over the first seven years of employment.
• What if I do not have the capital to provide the bond?
You may wish to consider researching the possibility of a Professional Studies Loan (PSL) from one of the major high street banks to help you raise funds to cover the cost of the security bond, foundation course and living expenses during training.
• Do I have to pay the bond all at once?
No. Before you start the training course, we will provide you with a detailed timetable of the bond deposits required - there will be fourteen payments required at five weekly intervals.
• What is my liability for the loan I take to fund my bond?
Whether you provide the bond through bank finance or another source, you will remain liable for the bond. However, on employment with CityJet as a pre-selected cadet you will benefit from a contracted commitment to repay the bond through monthly repayments for seven years, as long as you fulfil your employment commitments. The bond repayments are planned to be sufficient to cover all of your commitment to the loan, if you take one.
• What if I elect to provide the bond out of my own capital?
On employment as a CityJet cadet pilot, the same repayments as mentioned in the question above would apply.
• What happens if I pass the course but CityJet’s plans for employment change?
Our experience is that most cadets can expect to progress onto Advanced Training and into employment. However, in unexpected industry recessions, CityJet may cease recruitment. In this event, you would remain in the pool of CTC trained pilots awaiting employment and would be in a preferential position to achieve airline placement when the situation improved. You would, of course, remain liable for the repayments of any loan arrangements you have made.
• What if I fail during the Foundation Course?
During the Foundation Course you will benefit from many of the items provided as part of the CityJet Wings programme (e.g. air travel, accommodation, transport, provision of training materials, uniform, etc), but you will not be charged for these. Therefore, your bond draw-down commences before the start of the Wings programme. If we terminate your training during the Foundation Course, all of your bond drawn down to that date will be underwritten by CTC. You will also receive a refund of any unused foundation training that you have paid for from CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited.
• What happens to the bond if I fail during training?
If you should not make the grade during basic or intermediate training, we will normally repay the bond deposited to date up to a limit of £30,000. This is a unique protection, and whilst there are some very reasonable conditions to protect against deliberate withdrawal from the programme, you are provided with a significant and very valuable safety net. If you fail when the bond has reached a sum in excess of £30,000, the portion over £30,000 remains your liability - however, don't forget that by that time you would already be on track for a career as an airline pilot, with a substantial part of your licence training completed.
• What happens to me if I change my mind and decide to leave during the training course?
This would result in a termination of contract with you and you could potentially forfeit your bond repayments made up to that time. Additionally you may be exposed to additional costs.
• What happens to the bond if I die or lose my medical category during training?
CityJet Wings Cadets are certainly recommended to take out adequate life cover and 'Loss of Licence' insurance for the period of training. Personal accident insurance, property insurance whilst abroad and medical whilst in NZ are also strongly recommended. Where bond finance has been provided by a bank, they may themselves insist upon certain of levels of cover before agreeing to any loan.
CityJet will repay the bond in monthly installments as detailed previously. The amount repaid to you approximates to the amount you need to repay to the bank if you have taken a loan to provide the bond.
• What happens if I leave CityJet before the end of my bond repayment period?
An employee who leaves during the bond period will have breached the bond contract and will, therefore, forfeit any remaining bond. In that case, monthly bond repayments to you from CityJet would cease and you would remain liable for the monthly repayments to the bank (if you have availed yourself of a loan). Additionally, CityJet may be entitled to seek repayment from you of the additional costs of training that it has borne in excess of the bonded amount.
• Who pays the interest on my loan?
If you borrow money to provide the bond, you are liable to repay the loan and interest, normally with repayments deferred until you are employed. As a CityJet Wings pilot, during employment CityJet will repay your bond on a monthly basis to enable you to make repayments on your bank loan.
• Can I pay off the loan early? Are there any penalties?
Most bank facilities allow you to pay off the loan early without penalty. However, CityJet would continue bond repayments in the normal way as described above.
• Will there be any expenses for me during training?
CTC and CityJet will pay the course fees, which include: Basic (post Foundation Course), intermediate and advanced training fees Training equipment Uniform Remedial training fees approved by CTC and CityJet Examination and test fees Examination and test re-sit fees Accommodation in New Zealand and the Exam Phases in the UK Provision of personal transport in New Zealand including car running costs Two air fares to and from New Zealand Food and accommodation during the intermediate and advanced phases Living allowances and expenses during the advanced phase Cadets also have some expenses, including: Selection Fee (for Assessment day – Step 2 - only) plus travelling expenses during selection Initial JAA Class 1 medical examination The Foundation Course Medical renewal fees JAA CPL/IR licence issue fee Living costs during Basic Training. Accommodation and living costs in the UK on leave and during Basic Training (where not provided in the course fees)
• Will I incur any living expenses during training?
Yes. Although we provide excellent accommodation facilities in New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, you will be required to cover the cost of your living expenses.
• How much would it cost me to train to be an airline pilot through a 'traditional' route?
You would need to find £60,000 or more, just for basic training. If you took out a loan, arranged your own training, and were able to find employment which would allow you to repay your loan at £600 per month, it would take about 14 years to repay the loan. You would need to dedicate about £150,000 of your future salary before tax to pay for your basic training. That's assuming all goes well. In this unique programme, CityJet will sponsor the vast majority of your training. The package provided for you is comprehensive and covers the unexpected. The total value of the programme exceeds £100,000. Coupled with a fast track to an airline position with CityJet, the advantages to the trainee are obvious.
• OK, it all sounds great, but what's the catch?
There isn't one! The only thing you need to remember is that it's going to be tough to get through the selection, and the number of places is limited. If you are one of the select few, then you are going to have to prove yourself to us and perform very well throughout the training course. Failure to achieve our exacting standards will result in disappointment and may have financial ramifications. If you like a challenge, then please do apply. You're probably the sort of person we would want as a future airline pilot.

Alternative routes into CTC Wings
Full time integrated CPL / IR
CTC TAKEOFF iCP route
An opportunity for those without the right to live and work in the EU to achieve JAA CPL/IR and ATPL. More...
Little or no flying experience?...
CTC Wings Cadet route
The CTC Wings Cadet route provides you with a sponsored training programme... all you need is talent and ambition. More...

