Rostering, Trips:
Worldwide operations.Expect a roster, that will work you to the limits.
Too many days away from home, because management thinks you are only productive, when you sit around in hotels. Being with your family is considered ineffective use of human resources.
Off-days:
Nine per 28 day roster. 6 fixed and in a row. 3 floating, and can be assigned for work by the company.They then are granted in a later roster, or paid for, as you wish..
Union claims no rest into OFF-days, but company resists, leading to a work-to-rule at the moment.
Annual leave 42 days.
Wages for FOīs:
Money taken home is generally ok, due to low socialinsurance contributions and friendly tax-regime in LUX.
Family income depends on family status. Married people take an extra 500 Euros per paycheck.First child ~120 extra ,and any further child 75 Euros, due to tax reduction.
Luxemburg has a so called index on salaries, and allowances paid by the state. Whenever inflation makes a 2,5% step, you get this as a payrise, by law.
Last indexes given in Oct.2004 and again in Oct.2005 due to the price of oil.
Family allowance of ~185 for one child, ~440 for two, 768 for three children. However, donīt overdo it with the number of children, because you will not be around home too much, to see them and assist your partner in their upbringing.
If your wife gives birth, there are more allowances from the state.
Donīt worry about qualification for command, by the time you get there, you will be qualified.I think present upgrades joined around 1998/99
After fast expansion, that has given some great career opportunities, things have slowed down.
If you join now, you will have around 170 FOīs ahead of you, total number of pilots around 350 and rising.
Pace seems to pick up again, and the outlook is positive, with the 747-8 being expected from 2009 and some business for Boeing with the LCF.
Rumours about more airplanes before 2009.
Recruitment is ongoing. Selection by interview, and psychometrical testing carried out in Germany, at an institute , run by the company doctor.
For details check on
www.cargolux.com.
The working environment is friendly, relaxed yet very professional.
Training and sims are professional and fair.
At this time , a work-to-rule is in progress. The main reason is, the pilot community feels rostering and rest has a reached a level, that is not bearable in the long run. Management is expecting to squeeze even more out of us.
If the present conditions deteriorate further, joining is not a good idea, because you will not be able to stand this for the length of a career.
The problem of fatigue has been recognized by the company, and they say they want to do something about it, through a project with the participation of experts on the matter. However, seeing the unwillingness of
management to talk in the present negotiations, I am cautious. This year will be decisive for the future of working conditions in Cargolux.