Flair Cadet Program Assessments

[deblasiflies]

Hi all. I'm currently 16 years old and still in high school doing my A-Levels (I'm in the ME region but am a Canadian Citizen) and am looking at flight schools/cadet programs. I came across the Flair Cadet program offered at Genesis Flight College and I'm wondering what the entry assessments looked/look like. If anyone has done them before, please share how they were, what questions they had (topics) and any other helpful information for the assessments, as I get very stressed if I don't know what the assessment has in terms of formatting/topics/questions.
I know that it is a long time ahead yet but I am just doing my research now, so I don't have to do as much later on. Also, I have seen what some people think about Flair/their cadet program, and while I welcome all to reply, that is not the main focus. This question is purely for the entry assessments/process. Thank you all, happy flying.

[Blueontop]

Hi all. I'm currently 16 years old and still in high school doing my A-Levels (I'm in the ME region but am a Canadian Citizen) and am looking at flight schools/cadet programs. I came across the Flair Cadet program offered at Genesis Flight College and I'm wondering what the entry assessments looked/look like. If anyone has done them before, please share how they were, what questions they had (topics) and any other helpful information for the assessments, as I get very stressed if I don't know what the assessment has in terms of formatting/topics/questions.
I know that it is a long time ahead yet but I am just doing my research now, so I don't have to do as much later on. Also, I have seen what some people think about Flair/their cadet program, and while I welcome all to reply, that is not the main focus. This question is purely for the entry assessments/process. Thank you all, happy flying.

Flair might not even be around a year from now let alone when you’ll be ready to even start the process. No one can tell you first hand what the process is as no one has even done it yet. Was just announced a few weeks ago. Flair probably doesn’t even have all the details yet.

[Skymark]

The Flair Cadet program is very expensive (even for aviation). It's 145K, about twice what other flight colleges are. Might want to consider other college programs that can offer more options and not be tied to a specific carrier.

[deblasiflies]

Thank you for the info, I’ll look into it. My only worry is finding a job out of a flight school and not a cadet program as I’ll only have ~250 hours when most jobs want at least 500. Thanks!

[nohojob]

The Flair program is 145k for 250 hrs.
I you take a 100k program, you'll still have 45k.
With 45k you can rent a small plane for 250 hrs and have a blast flying all over the place

[I WAS Pez]

Thank you for the info, I’ll look into it. My only worry is finding a job out of a flight school and not a cadet program as I’ll only have ~250 hours when most jobs want at least 500. Thanks!

There are lots of flying jobs in Canada right now. Even at 250 hrs, if you knock on the right doors and shake some hands, you should find something.

[tbaylx]

There is some misinformation on this post.

The Genesis Flair Cadet program isn't tied to any carrier. Students graduate with a full iATPL and integrated APS-MCC (Airline Pilot Standards Multi Crew Coordination ) with the MCC portion conducted using Flair's new B737 Fixed Training Device and our Standard Operating Procedures. It also incorporates Mixed Reality training using virtual reality.

This is very different than taking a PPL/CPL at a flight school and explains the cost differential to traditional training. Flair SOP and training are integrated into the program, and we guarantee employment as a First Officer at Flair for successful graduates of the program. Students are not obligated to Flair however and can seek employment anywhere with their license if they choose not to work for Flair. Graduates of this program will be extremely well set up for employment in the airline industry. The program is very similar to cadet programs that have been successful in Europe for years and has not been done in Canada yet.

Prospective pilots can spend less money getting an CPL or even iATPL at any other flying school, however, there aren't any 705 airlines that will hire you as an FO in the right seat of a 737 when you graduate. Nor do you get the APS-MCC integration. You'll need to get at least 1000+ hours of flying experience elsewhere before most airlines will consider you. The Flair cadet program will fast-track pilots into a 705 jet and a seniority list.

To answer the OP question, you can expect a modified COMPASS test and some aptitude testing as well as an interview conducted by Flair pilot recruiters. We are looking for highly motivated, capable young persons who will be most likely to be successful in completing a challenging program. The entrance standards and program expectations are high and selection is competitive, with approximately 10 positions only available in the first year.

[TC.Enforcement]

Hi all. I'm currently 16 years old and still in high school doing my A-Levels (I'm in the ME region but am a Canadian Citizen) and am looking at flight schools/cadet programs. I came across the Flair Cadet program offered at Genesis Flight College and I'm wondering what the entry assessments looked/look like. If anyone has done them before, please share how they were, what questions they had (topics) and any other helpful information for the assessments, as I get very stressed if I don't know what the assessment has in terms of formatting/topics/questions.
I know that it is a long time ahead yet but I am just doing my research now, so I don't have to do as much later on. Also, I have seen what some people think about Flair/their cadet program, and while I welcome all to reply, that is not the main focus. This question is purely for the entry assessments/process. Thank you all, happy flying.

Flair might not even be around a year from now let alone when you’ll be ready to even start the process. No one can tell you first hand what the process is as no one has even done it yet. Was just announced a few weeks ago. Flair probably doesn’t even have all the details yet.

Why wouldn’t Flair be here in a year? We’ve been here for 18 years already now. We just took 2 new aircraft this summer, with more planned in 2024. Our loads are solid, and we’ve just carried 514,000 passengers in Aug, which is a record month for us. Our OTP and completion rate has increased markedly. Yes we have issues, and there’s questions I’d like to get answered, but people here are committed to seeing this place succeed.

https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/fla ... in-august/

[Arnie Pye]

Why wouldn’t Flair be here in a year?

Oh, I don't know. For starters the CEO went on a press tour telling everyone "we are heading for a financial reconning or what ever"

We’ve been here for 18 years already now

As a charter company not competing with the big boys.

We just took 2 new aircraft this summer

And we forgot to pay the bills and lost 4 back in the spring.


This program costs twice as much as any other licensing model. If you have two feet and a heartbeat, you'll get that first job as soon as you're done and probably be at Flair in a year - WITHOUT an insane bond. In which case you will still have the opportunity to go to Air Canada or any other operator but not be indentured to one company.

[Canadaflyer46]

I would recommend to the OP to stay far away from this Flair program. It is doubling the cost of getting your licenses. As others have said a guaranteed job with an airline that may not be around in a year or two is certainly not worth spending double on your training. The industry has never been better for a new pilot, try not to worry too much about how you'll find that first job.

[TC.Enforcement]

Why wouldn’t Flair be here in a year?

Oh, I don't know. For starters the CEO went on a press tour telling everyone "we are heading for a financial reconning or what ever"

We’ve been here for 18 years already now

As a charter company not competing with the big boys.

We just took 2 new aircraft this summer

And we forgot to pay the bills and lost 4 back in the spring.


This program costs twice as much as any other licensing model. If you have two feet and a heartbeat, you'll get that first job as soon as you're done and probably be at Flair in a year - WITHOUT an insane bond. In which case you will still have the opportunity to go to Air Canada or any other operator but not be indentured to one company.

Why wouldn’t Flair be here in a year?

Oh, I don't know. For starters the CEO went on a press tour telling everyone "we are heading for a financial reconning or what ever"

We’ve been here for 18 years already now

As a charter company not competing with the big boys.

We just took 2 new aircraft this summer

And we forgot to pay the bills and lost 4 back in the spring.


This program costs twice as much as any other licensing model. If you have two feet and a heartbeat, you'll get that first job as soon as you're done and probably be at Flair in a year - WITHOUT an insane bond. In which case you will still have the opportunity to go to Air Canada or any other operator but not be indentured to one company.

The four aircraft being lost was certainly a huge blow. I do find it interesting though that apparently the 4 tails sit in Orilla to this day in the Flair colours. That does’t happen unless there’s some sort of injunction that’s been filed, and that’s not normally granted unless the case has merit. As least as far as I thought.

As for the comments made by the CEO, that was perplexing as well. I’m sure many people will be asking these sorts of questions during the upcoming roadshow.

It’s interesting that the company paid the 6-8 million in back pay with seemingly no issue save for a few pilots that quit beforehand. Is the money there and just being horribly managed, or are we out of money? These are good questions.

[Big Pistons Forever]

There is some misinformation on this post.

The Genesis Flair Cadet program isn't tied to any carrier. Students graduate with a full iATPL and integrated APS-MCC (Airline Pilot Standards Multi Crew Coordination ) with the MCC portion conducted using Flair's new B737 Fixed Training Device and our Standard Operating Procedures. It also incorporates Mixed Reality training using virtual reality.

This is very different than taking a PPL/CPL at a flight school and explains the cost differential to traditional training. Flair SOP and training are integrated into the program, and we guarantee employment as a First Officer at Flair for successful graduates of the program. Students are not obligated to Flair however and can seek employment anywhere with their license if they choose not to work for Flair. Graduates of this program will be extremely well set up for employment in the airline industry. The program is very similar to cadet programs that have been successful in Europe for years and has not been done in Canada yet.

Prospective pilots can spend less money getting an CPL or even iATPL at any other flying school, however, there aren't any 705 airlines that will hire you as an FO in the right seat of a 737 when you graduate. Nor do you get the APS-MCC integration. You'll need to get at least 1000+ hours of flying experience elsewhere before most airlines will consider you. The Flair cadet program will fast-track pilots into a 705 jet and a seniority list.

To answer the OP question, you can expect a modified COMPASS test and some aptitude testing as well as an interview conducted by Flair pilot recruiters. We are looking for highly motivated, capable young persons who will be most likely to be successful in completing a challenging program. The entrance standards and program expectations are high and selection is competitive, with approximately 10 positions only available in the first year.

The training you get is only as good as the instructor. The European straight to jet programs all have very experienced instructors. It doesn’t matter how spiffy the training program looks on paper if it is being delivered by a 230 hr new hire Class 4. You are just not going to get the training that will adequately prepare you for a real world mainline jet job.

I would recommend that anyone one who is interested in this program ask some skill testing questions before forking over the big bucks. The first question I would ask is “Are there Flair personnel at the school ?”. If the answer is no, then I would ask what exactly has Flair contributed to the training program and what level of oversight over the school is Flair providing to ensure that I will be adequately prepared by my training.

[GRK2]

Why wouldn’t Flair be here in a year?

Oh, I don't know. For starters the CEO went on a press tour telling everyone "we are heading for a financial reconning or what ever"

We’ve been here for 18 years already now

As a charter company not competing with the big boys.

We just took 2 new aircraft this summer

And we forgot to pay the bills and lost 4 back in the spring.


This program costs twice as much as any other licensing model. If you have two feet and a heartbeat, you'll get that first job as soon as you're done and probably be at Flair in a year - WITHOUT an insane bond. In which case you will still have the opportunity to go to Air Canada or any other operator but not be indentured to one company.

I'm curious to know why you even care? Are you planning to get your license and are shopping around? Somehow I don't think you are. It's a matter of choice and if you're only criticizing the venture out of spite, then you're simply one more of the naysaying rabble who have no reason (other than the usual negative bunch on here) to comment. Let those who would like to have bonafide information make up their own minds.

[‘Bob’]

He’s saving people from getting shystered.

I do the same thing to anyone I know who thinks about booking on Flair. Record load factors… at $69 a seat barely even paying for the fuel.

I wonder. It must be money laundering that keeps it going.

[TC.Enforcement]

He’s saving people from getting shystered.

They just come off as a disgruntled employee. If they’re so unhappy here, I don’t understand why they choose to still be here.

I do the same thing to anyone I know who thinks about booking on Flair. Record load factors… at $69 a seat barely even paying for the fuel.

So you discourage friends from booking on Flair because…why exactly? Because they might shut down in the future and they’ll lose $69? Instead you steer them towards $400 airfare? Great looking out for your friends.

I wonder. It must be money laundering that keeps it going.

Must be. Anyone challenging AC or WJ must be cheating at the game somehow.

[TeePeeCreeper]

The entrance standards and program expectations are high and selection is competitive, with approximately 10 positions only available in the first year.

Out of curiosity… how does one claim “highly competitive” when the organization has yet to run a class from end to end?

[Bede]

The Flair Cadet program is very expensive (even for aviation). It's 145K, about twice what other flight colleges are. Might want to consider other college programs that can offer more options and not be tied to a specific carrier.

So to put it in perspective, that's twice the cost of medical school for a job that pays 10% of what a medical school graduate earns after residency. Where do I sign up?

[tbaylx]

The entrance standards and program expectations are high and selection is competitive, with approximately 10 positions only available in the first year.

Out of curiosity… how does one claim “highly competitive” when the organization has yet to run a class from end to end?

One claims that because one has several hundred applicants for 10 spots. Hence "highly competitive"

[30 West]

The entrance standards and program expectations are high and selection is competitive, with approximately 10 positions only available in the first year.

Out of curiosity… how does one claim “highly competitive” when the organization has yet to run a class from end to end?

One claims that because one has several hundred applicants for 10 spots. Hence "highly competitive"

Before paying for their training, will these 'several hundred' applicants be given an explanation as to why the graduation rate at genesis is significantly below the industry average?

https://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/audience ... cid=164237

Also, I am curious why genesis uses A320 cockpit images in their advertising for this program? Is Flair getting A320s?

[tbaylx]

Out of curiosity… how does one claim “highly competitive” when the organization has yet to run a class from end to end?

One claims that because one has several hundred applicants for 10 spots. Hence "highly competitive"

Before paying for their training, will these 'several hundred' applicants be given an explanation as to why the graduation rate at genesis is significantly below the industry average?

https://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/audience ... cid=164237

Also, I am curious why genesis uses A320 cockpit images in their advertising for this program? Is Flair getting A320s?

I would expect the program to be challenging, although selection is robust so candidates who enter the program are likely to be successful. Since we haven't run the first group of cadets through the program yet, comparing graduation rates of a completely different program is not very relevant. The military also has a significantly lower graduation rate than the industry average, also not relevant to Flair's cadet program and about as much in common.

We have no intent to switch fleet types.

It's encouraging to see how much attention Flair's Cadet program seems to be generating in an otherwise quiet training forum.

[30 West]

One claims that because one has several hundred applicants for 10 spots. Hence "highly competitive"

Before paying for their training, will these 'several hundred' applicants be given an explanation as to why the graduation rate at genesis is significantly below the industry average?

https://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/audience ... cid=164237

Also, I am curious why genesis uses A320 cockpit images in their advertising for this program? Is Flair getting A320s?

I would expect the program to be challenging, although selection is robust so candidates who enter the program are likely to be successful. Since we haven't run the first group of cadets through the program yet, comparing graduation rates of a completely different program is not very relevant. The military also has a significantly lower graduation rate than the industry average, also not relevant to Flair's cadet program and about as much in common.

We have no intent to switch fleet types.

It's encouraging to see how much attention Flair's Cadet program seems to be generating in an otherwise quiet training forum.

You did not answer the questions. I will ask them again in a more direct manner.

Will candidates be made aware of genesis' training record?

Why does genesis use images of an A320 in advertising for a program involving a 737?

[Big Pistons Forever]

The picture on the Genesis website for the Flair program is a 737 MAX cockpit

[30 West]

The picture on the Genesis website for the Flair program is a 737 MAX cockpit

Correct. Their sponsored Facebook ad is an A320.

[TC.Enforcement]

Will candidates be made aware of genesis' training record?

Why does this matter? Does Honda tell you how many people are killed in their cars once you purchase one?

[30 West]

LOL OK, I'll play your car manufacturer analogy game even though I think it is ridiculous.

You are going to buy a car, lets say this car costs, I don't know, $165 000+++. You approach a dealer and they inform you that you may only have a 21.1% chance of actually receiving that car after starting to make payments.

You approach another dealer, that is selling the same car for under $100 000 and there is a 71.9% chance of you receiving that vehicle after starting to make payments.

The choice seems obvious does it not?

Oh, also, if there are indeed 100s of applicants, did the news release not indicate there was a $300 application fee? I congratulate the recipient on their easy $30 grand.

Also, just for fun, $165,000÷$69=2,391 $69 fares on Flair.

Please, to be clear though, I do not fault Flair in this program, my concerns lie with the training record of the FTU and the above industry average fees incorporated with this program.