Astraeus

[janpieter]

What's the latest from Astraeus?. .I applied about a month ago and no news so far.. .Thanks.

[Hamrah]

Dont Sink,

You will have received an acknowledgement of your application when you filled in the online application form. We have received over 200 pilot applications, and as many Cabin crew and ground staff appliactions.

If we wish to progress an individual's application we will contact them. Otherwise, their application remains on our database until they ask us to remove it.

Our plan is to enable you to track the status of your application and we are working on the "back office facility to make that work.

In the meantime, we have almost filled all our existing pilot vacancies.

Our first aircraft ( a 737-300) is currently undergoing a maintenance check prior to delivery. The second aircraft (also a -300) goes into the hangar on the 8th March. Our 737-700's are currently in storage in Arizona, and we expect to take delivery in April/may.

Today we completed the selection of our 5 successful candidates for the PPRuNe Career Development scheme. Once all the candidates have been notified, expect more details.

H

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: Hamrah ]</p>

[janpieter]

Hamrah,. .Thanks for the info,. .I received indeed a confirmation of my online application.. .I'm actually rated on the 737-300, so, as almost all your existing pilot vacancies are filled,. .I only hope for a possitive evaluation if any futher vacancies occur.

[DeltaT]

Good o, yes can we have details on the experience levels of the lucky 5 that get through the process.. .(I understand 3 people at around 200hrs TT each got through to the sim ride)

[Hamrah]

Delta T,

Happy to do that once all the candidates have been notified.

We had a broad range of experience throughout the process. We were looking for two things. A personality that would fit well into the airline, and a demonstrated ability to cope with a 737 conversion course.

Over the year I have been selecting and recruiting people, I have seen as many people with 2000+ hours struggle with a sim assessment as I have seen 250- hour people succeed.

I went on a 737 course with my first airline with 267 hours in my log book. It's about ability.

H

[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: Hamrah ]</p>

[VIKING9]

Shame you don't reply or acknowledge Ground Ops applications. Mine has been in for over a month and I didn't even get a reply to say I had applied. Hamrah, can you shed any light please? I mean there are some good Ops people out there who would do well working with Astraeus but what chance do they stand if they get no acknowledgement? Or are all the positions filled by ex BWA people <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[DeltaT]

How about someone like GECAT etc, have a little money making scheme where pilots undergo an assessment, (same as what the airline would give around 1hr in a sim) and if they prove to be good enough, walk away with a Certificate of Ability that we can then wave at an airline?!!

[Hamrah]

Viking 9,

The online recruitment has an auto-acknowledgement feature. So if u applied correctly, you should have had a response saying so. Please e-mail me at [email protected] for confirmation.

We need a very small Ops team, about 8 people in total. We have recruited over half and interviews are ongoing.

Delta T, I have been trying to get some form af assessment set up running for a number of years. For it to be successful, the airlines would have to be willing to accept the "certification" suplied. I will try raise it again with other operators. My feeling was that if an individual paid to be assessed, and an employer subsequently recruited that individual on the basis of his assessment, then the airline in question should refund the cost of the assessment ot the individual. Might be worth considering under the PPRuNe Fund. I'll discuss it with the others.

H

[Sick Squid]

To be viable, such an assessment needs to be completely independent, totally objective and carried out by a "recognised" independent body. As Hamrah says, once you have it in place you then need the airlines to accept it, and that is IMHO the major stumbling block; many airlines are very intransigent on operational matters, and trust only their own opinions and interpretations (with the latter think Ops. manuals, and the penchant certain operators have to re-write those books!)

Difficult to achieve; perhaps it is a use for the PPRuNe fund. However, I would beware of waving certificates about, there is very little that can replace the performance on-the-day, be it in interview or the simulator. OK, it's a burning hoop to jump through, but they appear every 6 months in the actual job as well........

What it would give you is exposure, experience and confidence, and that can be advantage enough.

£6

[InFinRetirement]

Very well put £6, but careful thought must be exercised in expanding the original concept of the fund.

[quote]Difficult to achieve; perhaps it is a use for the PPRuNe fund. However, I would beware of waving certificates about, there is very little that can replace the performance on-the-day, be it in interview or the simulator. OK, it's a burning hoop to jump through, but they appear every 6 months in the actual job as well........<hr></blockquote>

It is important to remember that the fund is intended to help just a mere two or three "types" of wannabe. We have just helped one type, the frozen ATPL holder. Now we must look to assisting the lower end of the spectrum where the completed PPL holder is building hours and requires a leg-up to his or her ATPL. This is a commitment in the original concept and must be faithfully carried through. Indeed, I am working on this at the moment based upon a very generous gift of groundschool courses, and I expect to have a plan available by the middle of the year for implementation by the autumn.

In any event, the fund has been reduced by almost 50%, and will take a few months to build again. This, naturally, imposes very distinct limitations on its further use at the present time.

This is not to say that new ideas cannot be considered, but for the time being, realistically, that is the case.

[VIKING9]

Hamrah, many thanks for the info. I did as I was instructed on the site but....... oh well. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[tanya]

Dear Hamrah. .We don't know the profiles of the successful candidates, but. . how much higher, if at all, do you think is the statistical possibility of a 45year old white male getting called forward for interview by any airline compared to a 21year old female? Don't you think the majors are going to snap her up, soon? So, she doesn't really need the help from A.. . Wouldn't the bloke be the better bet? Ie treat this as his retirement job, rather than the proverbial jumping board?

Just one shy, tiny thought, maybe for your next intake. I wish A. the best of luck

[Hamrah]

Tanya,

Not sure what you're driving at.

The PPRuNe Candidates called for interview ranged in age from 20 to 44. Those called forward for Sim assessment ranged from 20 to 37.

The successful ones got through by demonstrating their ability to cope with a 737 conversion course and by passing a personality based interview and selection.

Certainly, many airlines discriminate on the basis of age. However it has never been my policy and don't intend to start now.

H

[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: Hamrah ]</p>

[tanya]

Dear Hamrah. .thank you for that quick answer.. .I'm glad to read that.. .Again, all the best.

[DontSink]

HEY...!!! THAT`S MY NICK!!!!!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">