Virgin A330

[TurningFinalRWY36]

Feedback would be appreciated, it seems to me that being a 330 pilot for virgin seems to be a pretty dull affair. Perth returns all day everyday wold not be my reason for becoming a pilot. 737 or e190 appears to give a lot more variety so are people only doing it for the money. At least in Q you also have international routes to choose from.

[griffin one]

Surely you jest?
I thought the reason to becoming a pilot was you loved flying and aviation.
bad form in current enviroment when pilots losing their jobs.
if you dont want perth returns on an A330 I know plenty who will take your place.

[Capn Bloggs]

loved flying
Correct...

[FLGOFF]

330 pilot for virgin seems to be a pretty dull affair.

Is that how you talk in interviews? It doesn't seem like you're very motivated, at least not for the right reasons. If this is how you honestly feel, it's probably best to move to another career, there are thousands of people who can't wait to get into the position that you call a "dull affair".

[nitpicker330]

So fly Flightsim somewhere else then.
There's more to being a Pilot than the destination mate:D

[virginexcess]

Now that you've heard from the relatively insecure Virgin A330 pilots, the answer to your question is yes. Pretty much like all airline flying in australia.

[nitpicker330]

I'm not working for VA........

[VR-HFX]

or anywhere for that matter:ok:

[nitpicker330]

Ouch........

Know something I don't? :ok:

[Luke SkyToddler]

Are Virgin recruiting to the A330 then?

[nitpicker330]

Doubt it.....

[VR-HFX]

Nitpicker...oops...was replying to the earlier comment but would just mention that I stay away from the 3rd floor these days so would be the last to know.

For all those who went off the 74 to the bus to keep a base...we bow low:ok:

Cheers

[nitpicker330]

Good plan:ok:

[Berealgetreal]

Different life stages Turning Finals. Young and single and wanting to see Australia? 737 is the go. Been there done that with a new family? You might find the dream just becomes a job.

330 people I know find it a lot less fatiguing. Bigger cockpit, quieter and less stressful than Ballina on a weekend using see and avoid. You don't have to worry anyway unless you a 3 years old when you join you won't see a widebody slot at Virgin. Widebody work is the realm of large overseas airlines with different cost bases. All the best.

[waren9]

i'm sure most ag pilots look at airline type flying and wonder wtf

[Snakecharma]

Think you need to take a long term view.

If you asked a VB pilot say 4 years ago they would say that flying the 737 was getting a bit old and boring, but no one contemplated a wide body operation, other than those that realised that the organisation had, at some point, make the next obvious step and move into domestic wide body ops.

Same applies to the current 330 operation, I don't believe that the 330 will do Perth only forever. Personally I think it could go either way, the economics could mean that it is removed and the airline shrinks back to an all narrow body domestic fleet, after all there is a big jump in costs with a wide body, or it could gradually expand to other ports - both domestic and regional international (Singapore, China, Japan or anywhere within about 8-10 hrs of oz.

About the only thing I reckon I can count on is that things will not stay the same forever...

So that all said, the 330 operation is a good one to work on, the machine is nice, plenty of room, quiet flight deck and apart from the occasional red eye the flying is quite good.

Certainly beats working for a living!

[ButFli]

Sooner or later they're going to have to put something bigger than a 737 in the golden triangle. There're only so many landing slots in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne but an ever increasing number of passengers.

[Brian Abraham]

it seems to me that being a 330 pilot for virgin seems to be a pretty dull affair:=:=

One fine hot Summer’s afternoon saw a Cessna 150 flying circuits at a quiet country airfield. The Instructor was getting quite bothered with the student’s inability to hold circuit height in the thermals and was getting impatient at sometimes having to take over the controls. Just then he saw a twin engine Cessna 5,000ft above him and thought "Another 1,000 hrs of this and I qualify for that twin charter job! Aaahh.. to be a real pilot.. going somewhere!"

The Cessna 402 was already late and the boss told him this charter was for one of the Company’s premier clients. He’d already set MCT and the cylinders didn’t like it in the heat of this Summer’s day. He was at 6,000ft and the winds were now a 20kt headwind. Today was the 6th day straight and he was pretty damn tired. Maybe if he got 10,000ft out of them the wind might die off... geez those cylinder temps! He looked out momentarily and saw a B737 leaving a contrail at 33,000ft in the serene blue sky. "Oh man" he thought, "My interview is next month. I hope I just don’t blow it! Outa G/A, nice jet job, above the weather... no snotty passengers to wait for.. aahhh."

The Boeing 737 bucked and weaved in the heavy CAT at FL330 and ATC advised that lower levels were not available due traffic. The Captain, who was only recently advised that his destination was below RVR minimums had slowed to LRC to try and hold off a possible inflight diversion, and arrange an ETA that would helpfully ensure the fog had lifted to CATII minima. The Company negotiations broke down yesterday and looked as if everyone was going to take a damn pay cut. The F/O’s will be particularly hard hit as their pay wasn’t anything to speak of anyway. Finally deciding on a speed compromise between LRC and turbulence penetration, the Captain looked up and saw Concorde at Mach 2+. Tapping his F/O’s shoulder as the 737 took another bashing, he said "Now THAT’S what we should be on... huge pay packet... super fast... not too many routes... not too many sectors... above the CAT... yep! What a life...!"

FL590 was not what he wanted anyway and considered FL570. Already the TAT was creeping up again and either they would have to descend or slow down. That damn rear fuel transfer pump was becoming unreliable and the F/E had said moments ago that the radiation meter was not reading numbers that he’d like to see. Concorde descended to FL570 but the radiation was still quite high even though the Notam indicated hunky dory below FL610. Fuel flow was up and the transfer pump was intermittent. Evening turned into night as they passed over the Atlantic. Looking up, the F/O could see a tiny white dot moving against the backdrop of a myriad of stars. "Hey Captain" he called as he pointed. "Must be the Shuttle. "The Captain looked for a moment and agreed. Quietly he thought how a Shuttle mission, whilst complicated, must be the be all and end all in aviation. Above the crap, no radiation problems, no damn fuel transfer problems... aaah. Must be a great way to earn a quid."

Discovery was into its 27th orbit and perigee was 200ft out from nominated rendezvous altitude with the commsat. The robot arm was virtually U/S and a walk may become necessary. The 200ft predicted error would necessitate a corrective burn and Discovery needed that fuel if a walk was to be required. Houston continually asked what the Commander wanted to do but the advice they proffered wasn’t much help. The Commander had already been 12 hours on station sorting out the problem and just wanted 10 bloody minutes to himself to take a leak. Just then a mission specialist, who had tilted the telescope down to the surface for a minute or two, called the Commander to the scope. "Have a look at this Sir, isn’t this the kinda flying you said you wanted to do after you finish up with NASA?" The Commander peered through the telescope and cried "Ooooohhhhh yeah! Now THAT’S flying! Man, that’s what its all about! Geez I’d give my left nut just to be doing THAT down there!" What the Discovery Commander was looking at was a Cessna 150 flying circuits at a quiet country airfield on a nice bright sunny afternoon.I thought the reason to becoming a pilot was you loved flying and aviation:D:D

[Fuel-Off]

Brian,

That is without a doubt the post of the year! :D:D

And subsequently should be placed in a prominent area of every flight school out there.

Fuel-Off :ok:

[China Flyer]

Very, very good post. Just add a para on some low-flying pointy things and you'd have covered all the bases..

:ok:

[Ollie Onion]

Had that scenario a couple of years ago when I was on one of those 'tourist' flights out of Las Vegas for the Grand Canyon. All the 20ish year old pilot wanted to do was talk to me about how great it must be flying a big machine (777 at the time), all that I could think was 'don't be in a hurry to move on, flying this Islander through the Geand Canyon seem pretty cool to me'. You spend the first half of your career trying to fly bigger and better and the second half thinking, if only the pay in GA was better and I would be back in a flash!

[Wally Mk2]

Well articulated there 'BA' & pretty much sums up human nature, we always want what's on the other side of the fence purely 'cause we become bored easily & are not good at repetition in any field.

Wmk2

[The Bunglerat]

You spend the first half of your career trying to fly bigger and better and the second half thinking, if only the pay in GA was better and I would be back in a flash!

Nope! Can't say I miss GA one bit. I spent far too many years working for an assortment of small-time criminals, despots and tyrants. The petty politics & over-inflated egos of small business owners - especially small businesses in aviation - never were my cup of tea, and I couldn't wait to get out fast enough, not to mention the crap pay whilst trying to support a family.

Thankfully, it's all a distant memory now. I'm far enough removed from whatever politics and egos might exist at my current place of employment to simply show up, fly from here to there, enjoy the good company of a great crew (most days) and at the end of another trip pull out of the staff carpark & forget about it for the next few days. As for the A330 specifically, yes it's a nicer office to work in than the B737, less fatiguing (as has already been mentioned), ergonomically superior (IMHO), & whilst a bit more variety in the destinations would be nice, in the end a runway is a runway is just a runway. I certainly did some great flying on the 737, but notwithstanding the back-of-the-clock sectors, there are certain lifestyle advantages to being on the 'Bus' that I just couldn't get on the Boeing. :ok:

[717tech]

Brian.... Brilliant post mate! :ok:

[Berealgetreal]

Bunglerat post of the century.

You forgot "character building" "enhances your command decision making" "feather in your cap".

330 will stay on Peth as evidenced by Silk Air doing Darwin Singapore. Virgin is a domestic only airline. Owners will do all the Intl. The same will be true for QF sooner or later. EK is the Intl arm.

[skysook]

Brian, that was easily the best post I have ever seen on here! Sums up a career in aviation to a T! The grass is not always greener on the other side and sometimes you just need to appreciate what you have. I fly regional turbo props. It's not glamorous work but it pays the bills and I get to live where I want with my family and friends surrounding me. The pay is average but I reckon I'm richer than what any wide body jet job can provide me! Do whatever makes you happy but remember that big shiny jet won't make you happy when you're alone at night in a place you don't want to be! Happy flying everyone :)

[Blueskymine]

The post by Brian is an old old aviation tale reposted.

The moral of the story is to live in the moment.

[compressor stall]

Yes it's an old tale but a good one. Fortunately I'd have to say Bunglerat's experiences are an exception to the rule. I don't fly with anyone who regrets their time up north. As we now look down on the top end from 41,000 feet the conversations are frequently about stories and takes from our times down below.

I spent a year not far from Bunglerat (assumed by the name) doing similar things and had a blast. Could I go back there now? No. Would I do it all over again the same way? Probably.

I had someone tell me before I went north that if I stick with it, I'll get to where I want to go, so enjoy the short term. It will be hard, hot, frustrating lonely, but as much fun as you make it.

[The Bunglerat]

I spent a year not far from Bunglerat (assumed by the name) doing similar things and had a blast.

Nah mate, never flew GA in WA. It's a nickname given me by my son when he was a toddler. My GA time was entirely within VIC. Not to take away from the great experience many had in their GA rite of passage, but when I hear some of my colleagues fondly reminiscing about the good ol' days of "fly all day & get on the turps all night," my memories of GA were, "it's a fortnight to next pay, I'm broke, I've got a wife & kids to support, & I'm working for a complete ****." In short, my strategy from Day-1 was to be doing the job I consider myself most fortunate to be able to do now. I didn't fork out tens of thousands of dollars & put my family through years of hard slog & grief, just to fly bugsmashers & get paid peanuts for the rest of my life. But that's just me. Each to their own. :ok:

[Jack Ranga]

Gettin' all moist for the good old days are we boys :D tell us all some more warries ;) we love how you left aviation in a better state than you entered it :cool:

#figjam

[porch monkey]

Some of us did leave it better jack, even if it was only in a small way....:{

[Brian Abraham]

Yes it's an old tale but a good oneBlueskymine & CS, I'm far from being smart enough to have composed such a tale. I thought the story would have been for more reaching than it appears to be from the congratulatory comments posted.

I do find it of interest the number of people giving up the airline job and returning to GA. Well paid jobs that is, though one ex cadet with years of service threw it in (own choice) to start at the bottom flying a 210 initially then moving up to piston twin. Gets ragged about doing the career in reverse. But he's happy.

[Jack Ranga]

A minority did porch :ok: