Cadet Programs
 

Hey All,

I’m in my first quarter of an AAS Commercial Aviation program at a Pt. 141 school. I know I have lots of time to learn about these programs and figure a lot out. But if anyone has experience in a cadet program/wingman program etc, I’d love to hear about your experience, and which ones are great/not great.

For whatever it’s worth, I’m 28 and am in MN.

Thanks!


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look into air wisconsin airman trainee program

Careful with cadet programs, they are recruiting tools and are designed to get noobs "on the hook" before they can interview at other airlines. It would be very short-term thinking to let a cadet program affect your choice of regional and possibly your long-term career progression. Whatever benefit you can get from a cadet program I can make at least that much money by picking up a 1-2 day weekend trip from OT at the major.

Prioritize your choices of regional based on location, upgrade, pay, training reputation, company reputation, etc. If your top choice(s) has a cadet program then feel free to take advantage of it, some of them do have some nice perks.

Great advice Rickair thank you!


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I would highly recommend looking into GoJet's Wingman program. There is no committment, no strings attached, and its a great deal if you get in. Flight benefits on United is one of benefits which I have used lots.

Where are you now?
 

Did you go all the way to GoJet after their Wingman program? Where are you doing your flying now?

The main attractant of cadet programs potentially for me is that if you are a cadet prior to becoming a CFI, you get “paid” through that company as an employee (at the same mediocre pay offered for CFI’s) but can start employment at a year two pay scale while having earned benefits during that CFI time. From what I understand cadets are senior when it comes to training and get first requests for domicile and AC type (although not guaranteed).

In my particular case I live in TPA and am looking heavily at F9’s cadet program because 1) Three domiciles in FL; TPA, MCO & MIA. 2) At 6’3” it’d be nice to be right seat in an A320 vs. some of the regional carrier smaller options. Granted F9 isn’t the greatest -I have browsed through the many shortcomings mentioned in their pages here- but feel like it’s a better alternative to the short leg regional trips & commuting. The 15% DC at F9 is a nice perk as well for someone with only 1500hrs or 1250 R-ATP. The goal ultimately is to work for a legacy carrier but rumor is they are happily accepting applicants from other companies than their flow subsidiaries. But I am humble enough to take constructive criticism. If it were you in my shoes is there a better play I should be considering?

Big issue with F9s cadet program. You have to attend ATP flight school. I would sign up with them in a heart beat (if they would have me) if it didn't mean I had to go to ATP, since literally no one I have talked to said to go there.

That’s the same feedback I have been receiving about ATP as well. I thought I saw something about L3Harris recently partnering with Frontier but it was with Spirit. Eh, the search/preemptive planning continues. Maybe it’s worth not joining a cadet program and waiting until I’m more 750hrs+ into a CFI and seeing how things are then before making a commitment.

None of these cadet programs or flow programs are designed to benefit you.
So please don’t think because brand X made a deal with a particular flight training provider that this is the best option for you.
You are the product and not the customer.