Life after Flybe?

[Pilot gonnabe]

As a potential cadet planning on joining an integrated programme where the majority of cadets once graduated, seem to be going on to Flybe. I would be grateful to hear your opinons.

My understanding is Flybe seems a fantastic airline to be a part of with the benefit of once learning your trade on a TP, you could be moving onto the jet within a few years. While you do not have to pay for a type rating the salaries are not great.

I wondered what a employee of Flybe of lets say 5 years can move on to? Would you be eligible to apply for BA, Virgin or other airlines that operated larger fleets of Airbus or Boeings?

This is nothing against Flybe I just know that I would like the option to move to a larger base that flys to further destinations and look to move onto long haul in years to come.

[preduk]

I seen this course with one of the FTOs and I must admit, I wouldn't join it.

Flybe are a cracking airline, I've known several people to be employed by them and have great feedback from them, but the monthly repayments and salary given by Flybe are too close to one another.

[AdamLT]

Pilot gonnabe,

are you talking about the FTE/ Flybe MAPS/ PSAPS scheme??

[camel toe]

I hear Monarch are keen on Flybe FO's due to the good training and SOP's at Flybe which turns out a high calibre of pilot. After a couple of years at Monarch you'll be flying the pond on ETOPS missions too, awesome! That is of course if you choose to leave in the first place, from everyone I know there they are a good outfit and I get the impression people leave for new challenges rather than internal politics.

Camel Toe

"Over Macho Grande?"

[Pilot gonnabe]

Yes the Flybe Maps scheme. I recently applied and while I am yet to here back about the essay questions I wanted to do as much research as I can now.

It seems FTE have several mentor schemes running throughout the year and didn`t know if it was worth waiting for another airline. I have nothing against flying the Q400. It seems a mighty find bird but its the salary that will hurt when having to make repayments!:ugh:

[AdamLT]

i'm in the same dilemma.
i went to the recent seminar at BHX, and 2 of their MAPS students just landed at BHX and came to talk to us. it was asked how much they have left inb their salaries after the loan, and they said it's a struggle for a while, but within a year you get quite a nice pay rise.

i guess for most airlines it will be tough to start with, except for the likes of BA.

PS. i might see you at Exeter if we're through to stage 3. all the best

[Matt101]

A friend did the Cabair/Flybe scheme - spent a couple of years there bought out and now flies A320 series for BA.

[Deano777]

Pilot gonnabe

You would be absolutely MAD to "wait for another airline", in this climate you will want to get in the system as soon as you can.

It's your life but my advise would be to take the first job that is offered. The Dash is a great aircraft and is quirky to fly, you'll certainly learn your trade on her.

[potkettleblack]

Incidentally if you miss out on the MAPS scheme then don't be downheartened. There are at least 4 modular providers that I can think of that have joined up to the "will you take CV's from us" scheme to get into Flybe. Plus you will save yourself a bomb of cash in the process.

[Pilot gonnabe]

I totally agree with you Deano777....I will welcome this opportunity with both hands. Just makes worrying reading when you look at Flybe`s payscales as a first officer for first few years. I`m a tennispro now earning a more than decent wage yet I can not help but stare at every plane passing overhead when on court!

While I would not turn down a job on a A320 or B737 I really like the thought of taking the more traditional route of flying a TP before jet. I think it will make varied and interesting flying!

Just got to knuckle down on the maths and physics now hoping for a shot at doing stage 3.

pg

[Maude Charlee]

Absolutely no reason to expect that joining Flybe as a first job puts any limitations on your future career with any other airline, except for the pure longhaul operators, who usually ask for 2500hrs+ on at least a medium jet.

Easyjet (and previously GB Airways), Monarch, BA, Aer Lingus, Jet2, BMIBaby, Flightline, Cityjet, Titan, and a variety of bizjet operators are all places that I know have taken former colleagues in Flybe in UK/Europe alone.

[Artificial Horizon]

FlyBe is a cracking airline to start with, I was with them for 2.5 years after being sponsored by them. I bought myself out of the last 6 months of my bond and are now with BA flying shorthaul with a move to 777's on the horizon. It was a great experience with FlyBe and it will certainly give you a great foot on the ladder. If a place is available I would take it. Incidently, out of the 12 people on my Dash 8 course at FlyBe, 8 of them are now with me a BA:}:ok:

[flyingcamel]

Flybe is a great place to be, I'm loving it for my first job. And it's not like the Q400 is a 'traditional' TP. It's packed full of gadgets and the only think conspicuously missing to me is an autothrottle. Can be pretty tricky to fly at times as it is rather speed unstable, and also the AFCS takes a little getting used to after doing an MCC/JOC on a Boeing sim.

As for a few years down the road, the Director Flight Ops is 'migrating' across to Easy so there may be a relaxing of the SSTR status for Q400 jockeys as JA knows only too well what it takes to fly the Q4. Also BA require 500 multi crew hours for an application to them (about 10 months flying at Flybe) if that takes your fancy. Also as mentioned before Monarch have a history of employing ex Dash drivers but their requirement is 2000hrs total. Many others to choose from as I'm sure in a few years the newly merged/taken over carriers will have settled down if you still want the airline route. Failing that Netjets require 1500hrs total so there's another option alongside TAG and LEA etc.

Plenty to choose from anyway, but also bear in mind that if you see out your bond with Flybe (3 yrs) then you may have got a command (as long as you don't mind the more far flung bases) and be on the £50k+ pay scale (Dash). If you have a family you may not want (or your other half may not want you) to trade that for a pay cut flying jets for someone else.
Also worth mentioning that the Bacon chaps have got first dibs on transferring to the 195 as part of the merger terms as I understand it so it may be hard going getting onto the Embraer. Dead man's shoes as it were!

Anyway, good luck. They're a great bunch to work for (largely) with especially good trainers!

[G SXTY]

flyingcamel is absolutely spot on - couldn't have put it better myself.

[speedrestriction]

Movement to the 195 is based on seniority - nobody has first dibs.

[wingtip80]

Been there for 2.5 yrs on the BAe146, of which most of them have now been replaced by the 195's. I now moved to longhaul 76.
FlyBE is a great airline to start with as you get lots of hours in in a short time period and many starts and landings on many routes.
Therefore it doesn't take long to get your 1800/2000 hrs which is min. for command.
Climbing up the seniority ladder in flybe goes pretty quick in the beginning, because of opportunities arise to work for other (bigger)
companies with your "fast growing hours-CV". Therefore there's a good chance they'll consider you for command as soon as you qualify.
Other companies might have got better rosters/salary/base, etc., so people move to places where they think they're off better.
Its always hard to compare companies unless you've been in both of them.. and the grass isnt always as green as it looks on that other side.
My new job is longhaul with so far easy rosters so jobwise hard to compare.
I made the right choice but I wouldn't have landed this job without flybe.
W

[1013 with altsel]

Best to get the position with flybe first! Then after a couple of years once you have the hours, think about big jets! You dont have many options at the moment!

The flying at flybe is fantastic, sectors from 10 mins to 2hrs 30mins!

you will enjoy!

[Maude Charlee]

195 positions going to former BACon crews first????? What an utter load of tosh!

You SOU based by any chance? Just the sort of total cr@p that seems to do the rounds in the darker corners of the Empire.

As speedrestriction correctly points out, it is all done purely on seniority on the combined list. The only restriction previously was that the BA boys were actually frozen out of the bids for the 195 completely for an initial period of, I believe, 12 months. They now have the opportunity to bid along with everybody else, and if youo lose out to any BACon crews, it would only be by virtue of the fact that they are more senior - exactly as it should be.

However, the one nice thing about Flybe, is that as a FO, opportunities for advancement come quickly, whether that be jet positions or moves to the LHS.

Stop listening to bitter and twisted rumours and open your eyes and look at the facts.

[smith]

Best to get the position with flybe first!

Yeah all sounds a bit rich to me considering he/she hasn't even started training yet and he/she is discussing their second job already, especially in the economic situation we are in at the moment.

Assuming you are the golden one and get employed by flybe don't start bitching about the salary already, go with flybe and be bonded or self sponsor a type rating its just robbing peter to pay paul, welcome to the world of aviation.

[Ride the Fire]

Flybe, from my experience, are an excellent employer. As has been mentioned 'a great first job' but also alot more. Since the transformation into Flybe in 2002 where they were on the verge of going under as Jersey European they have come along way. 80 odd airframes - not too bad and I expect that to grow in the near future with rumours surfacing of further mergers (baby, bmi regional, who knows). With the downturn and silly fuel prices flying the Q4 and the 118 seat 195 I think they will fare better than most.
Getting your first job is the biggest hurdle but once you've got it you are still at the bottom of the seniority list, and at risk cause if things go tits up you are the first to go. I believe that for the foreseeable future, as new starters, you are alot safer at flybe than at the likes of easy, jet2, ryan etc.

[skeletor]

Been here a little while and probably time to move on..........sadly I don't think I'll ever find a job that's a much fun as flybe.....the crews I fly with are awesome!

Go for it! Highly recommended.

[Pick me Flybe!]

pilot gonnabe.

Not to be critical, but are you not putting the cart before the horse a bit here?

[G SXTY]

Well at least he's asking the question here rather than at the interview. ;)

[mlowe]

Any one heard back from these guys yet? I'm still sittin, waiting, hoping...

[Pilot gonnabe]

I agree with what you are saying Pick me Flybe, I am just trying to do as much research as I can. If I`m applying for a scheme tagged with an airline then I would like to see where this could lead and what potential it has for my career.

I would rather do too much research then too little and thankyou to everyone with your responses. It has confirmed that to me that this really is a great opportunity!! :ok:

[Pilot gonnabe]

I see where your coming from duir, I do need to get the license first but I think you have got the wrong impression of why I started this thread.

I wanted to enquire about the benefits of being tagged to Flybe wihile obtaining the license, if they are a good company to work for and if this provides a good foundation for further enhance career prospects. I already mentioned before how I would love the opportunity to fly the Q400.

Your quite right there is no rush and with everyones such positive replys about working for Flybe on this thread I would imagine many do not leave due to bad managemet, crews, lifestlye, etc but for an increase in salary to pay the bills and have some more spare change to enjoy lifes little luxuries with.

Thanks again for everyones opinion, fingers crossed for all those who have recently applied to the Maps scheme that we make it to stage 3!

[fade to grey]

Are they still after DECs ?Any chance BHX at present?are the rosters harsh ?

[FL370 Officeboy]

He also wondered about commiting to the likes of Flybe but held out. He is now an F/O on the Ba RJ at City Flier.....jammy £$%^!!!


What on earth makes you imply that Cityflier is so much better than Flybe? Their pay for the first two years as FO is LOWER than Flybe...their Captain pay is LOWER and from my mates who went there things are generally crappier. The movement is FROM Cityflier TO Flybe I think you'll find. Each unto his own but from my own experience (I'm NOT stating this as a fact) the workforce at BE seems a lot more content than BACF. You just need to see beyond the propellers!!

[bigmustard]

FL370 OB

Spot on!! :ok:

Moral seems poor at Cityflyer - I believe there are several skippers wanting to jump ship to a Q400 at EDI rather than continuous touring thru LCY.
Pay is crap and it still has 'CP the exocet' as the Chief Pilot :rolleyes:

[flyingcamel]

Well Maude Charlee, we did get out of the wrong side of bed didn't we? Instead of (attempting) to insult me, try re-reading what I said re the 195. You may have noticed that I added the caveat 'as I understand it'. As a new joiner with low hours, when a line training captain tells you on about day 3 that this is how it works, forgive me for assuming that he might have accurate information. I obviously damaged your oh so delicate sensibilities so for that I sincerely apologise and offer you a hanky to dry your eyes on.

Oh and if you'd bothered to also read my location you may have put 2 and 2 together and realised that, no, I am not in fact SOU based.

That is good news about seniority, much fairer than 'the tosh' that I was told. I can only assume that the person that told me must have misunderstood the integration of the BACON chaps into the seniority list after the merger?

Back on topic, good luck with your Flybe selection all that are going. First get the job, then love it. :ok:

[Mungo Man]

Their pay for the first two years as FO is LOWER than Flybe..


PPJN says FOs start on £34k at Cityflier and a mere £24k at Flybe so someone is wrong.

[Deano777]

It ain't the latter ;)

[FL370 Officeboy]

Cadet entry pay at Cityflier is not £34,000....and it is that to which I was referring (which should have been obvious in the context of the thread).