Aer Lingus Pilot Training Programme

BOR95

did anyone get a rejection email ?

BOR95

Did anyone get a rejection email?

Shoden

Not yet anyway, so fingers crossed.

GTTDI GOD

Just got an email for invite! Hard luck to those that haven’t got through this time, keep at it! This is my 6th attempt!

MarkN

Fair play to you. Got my PFO last week. Had been practicing the cut-e for months but was my first time.

Best of luck with the rest of it!

Irishhumanbeing

Anyone know what will be involved in the group assessment? What kind of questions etc will be asked/ if it will be similar to the online tests we did?

Thanks in advance!

TestPilot007

How did we all get on? Few tricky points in the final interview for me but overall an enjoyable day and it left me with a good impression of the company.

AnthonyGrady

Hello, great to see someone who passed the tests!

Just wondering have you previous flying experience or what is it you think that made you progress in the process?

Would love any tips for the future as its really hard to find people who have succeeded in this!

Thanks!

Staunton96

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121481336#Comment_121481336

I know many who got through and almost all had PPLs, the one that didn't had hours under her belt.

MarkN

Good luck to all involved

podgeandrodge

Just curious, with all the testing, is there a bias towards females now i.e. could a female have a better chance of getting in, even if performing less well in the tests, or is it black and white at that point i.e. encourage females, but no special treatment following application?

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603832#Comment_121603832

Most airline crew only actually fly 3/4 days a week, sometimes 5. Followed by 3/4 days off. This varies airline to airline.

The days you are working can be long, and can mean staying overnight somewhere.

ProfessorPlum

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603832#Comment_121603832

Aer Lingus standard short haul roster is 5/3 (5 on, 3 off). Days can be long, especially during the summer roster period. Part time is available in seniority, on each fleet and in each seat, but you have to be quite senior to get it. 1 week on/ 1 week off doesn't exist currently and unlikely to do so in the foreseeable. Overnights are part of the roster, but there's not that many and you can bid for (or not for) them.

ProfessorPlum

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121601411#Comment_121601411

There's a concerted effort to attract females to apply, in the same way that Aer Lingus are continuing to push the cadetship - they want people who would perhaps not consider flying (whether for financial or other reasons) to be in a position to become an airline pilot. Once the application is in, the same standards apply regardless of who you are.

basill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603832#Comment_121603832

To put more meat on the bones. When under training you can be rostered up to 6 consecutive days eg: as a new joiner, 320 to 330 CCQ or command upgrade for example etc. As stated above the short haul roster is a fixed pattern 5 on 3 off. There is a bidding system for pilots for work. It has been called many things. The most polite would be a preferential bidding system. You can bid for trips, overnights, destination countries, doubles, singles - pretty much anything. More senior folk would be expected to get more of their bids than a new joiner or junior colleague. Nothing is guaranteed with the roster apart from the days off you are due. The 5 on 3 off pattern is subject to "flex" which you can bid for or be directed to in inverse seniority. A flex roster can reduce your days off to 2 and last a full roster period (4 weeks). So you could be doing weeks of 5 on 2 off. Then you pick up where your 5/3 pattern would have been once the flex roster is completed. Some people get away with easy flex rosters and others find themselves fatigued irrespectrive of which seat they are in. So the "fixed pattern" sales blurb is a bit of a misnomer if you ask me as you could be dumped with a flex roster. Having some seniority might insulate you somewhat from its affects but eventually everyone has to take their turn and do flex which can destroy any long term plans you might have had. You can swap duties which might dig you out of a hole if required but is not guaranteed obviously and sometimes easier said than done eg: trying to get off on a weekend, or swapping during the summer when many people will be maxed out on hours so the swap may not be legal.

The 330 is a random roster. You can bid for trips, destinations, days off and just about any combination thereof. An east coast trip is rostered a minimum of two days off. West coast 4 days. The 330 does a fair amount of flying in europe during the summer with morning rotations to Malaga and Faro before returning to Dublin and heading to the USA again in the afternoon. Summer 330 rosters can be killers. Up to 6 days work with early morning starts to Malaga followed by an East Coast trip to JFK, BOS or ORD wouldn't be all that uncommon. Its not uncommon for the 330 to be tasked to cover for breakdowns if an airframe is idle and crews available across the short haul network. Winter is quiet for the most part so the rosters are a lot lighter. Some lucky folk have been seeing the RHS of the 330 inside a few years. Command on 330 is well over 20 years. I think its actually closer to 25 but if you are joining later in life then bear that in mind.

Part time is generally available in the RHS and from what I hear has historically been undersubscribed. The part time days are attached to your normal "free days". An example would be 4 on 4 off with the associated salary drop. In the LHS on the 320 (short haul) you won't see it without 20 years of service presently.

chemicals404

Hi all
I see a new opening has opened

Just wondering how long the bond is and if had to leave early what would the cost implications be?

Also what qualification would the course result in ? ( NQF 8?)

Astral Nav

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123113847#Comment_123113847

You're right to question career options and I don't mean to be on your case but its fairly clear that the course results in a pilot's license (specifically an MPL). An Airbus 320 type rating would also follow if you are successful. No idea if there is an NQF.

Re the bond, it used to be seven years. I'm not sure if that is current but in general an EI cadetship is regarded as highly desirable and involves huge competition. Most though not all view it as a long term move so the bond is not that relevant.

msmandy

Is there anyone on this thread who could give advice on what EI are looking for on a CV and what the assessment is like?

MarkN

CV is just a usual CV request. If you’ve something relevant like a Class 1 or a PPL or have even commenced a PPL, worth including.

Google airline assessments and Aer Lingus and you’ll get links to purchase (€29 for 30 days) online tests that are fairly identical to what will come up.

Assessment is high enough pressure, there’s around 10 modules from memory, HR questions are a huge part of it with no real ‘right answer’. Maths, hand eye coordination, patterns and lots of other things that you can practice / brush up on feature. I wouldn’t attempt them without practicing using some of the mentioned sites.

Beersmith

Anyone in the know about the next round?