AIR NZ starts hiring
Excellent news, take the first position that is offered! Though I suspect that lesson will have been hammered home to anyone who turned down a course in preference for another.
The second officer position on the B777 is the only one on offer (B767 and B744 are on their way out so not likely), as first officer entry is no longer an option so there should be nothing else to wait for!
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No not all some are from the RNZAF - the weird thing is they are taking some guys out of order in the yes letter sequence. Those that have been skipped still in the hold pool apparently but as HR are now in charge of it all they may not meet HR's reqs.
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Don't get too excited as it appears the goal posts have been moved again.
HR have taken over recruitment and I believe two Air Nelson captains, near the top of the yes letter list, have been passed over as the "criteria has changed". Two Air Nelson FOs, both ex RNZAF still met the criteria and congrates to them.
It appears the previous memo telling us mortals to remain loyal in the Link Group and build command time may have been less than accurate.
HR have taken over recruitment and I believe two Air Nelson captains, near the top of the yes letter list, have been passed over as the "criteria has changed". Two Air Nelson FOs, both ex RNZAF still met the criteria and congrates to them.
It appears the previous memo telling us mortals to remain loyal in the Link Group and build command time may have been less than accurate.
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Yes, still a number of Air NZ on LWOP.
Join Air NZ now and how long in back seat 10-12years minimum is my guess.
They always take guys out of order from the yes pile. Very frustrating.
All from link this time round I hear anyone confirm?
Join Air NZ now and how long in back seat 10-12years minimum is my guess.
They always take guys out of order from the yes pile. Very frustrating.
All from link this time round I hear anyone confirm?
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JB
The criteria could change daily. One day it could be that your Link employer does not want you to go because they are running staff numbers so tight that they cannot afford to lose you so your ranking is lowered. The next day you could be elevated in the rankings because you are mates with a management pilot. The ranking could even be effected by whether you are a Fed or in ALPA.
No one will ever know.
What HR do not realize is that they have seriously set back the Recruit to Group tactic which was designed to create a career path that rewards loyalty for those who join and remain in the group. One of the Air Nsn guys, passed over, turned down a JC interview when they got their yes letter, and waited a few years for their call. Do you think any pilot is going to believe in RTG now.
The RWC could be very interesting not to mention negotiations at the end of this year!
The criteria could change daily. One day it could be that your Link employer does not want you to go because they are running staff numbers so tight that they cannot afford to lose you so your ranking is lowered. The next day you could be elevated in the rankings because you are mates with a management pilot. The ranking could even be effected by whether you are a Fed or in ALPA.
No one will ever know.
What HR do not realize is that they have seriously set back the Recruit to Group tactic which was designed to create a career path that rewards loyalty for those who join and remain in the group. One of the Air Nsn guys, passed over, turned down a JC interview when they got their yes letter, and waited a few years for their call. Do you think any pilot is going to believe in RTG now.
The RWC could be very interesting not to mention negotiations at the end of this year!
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kiwilad do u mean 10 years in jump seat before RHS 
, or 10 years to LHS?
Surely no self respecting turboprop captain would tolerate not getting a landing for a decade
, or 10 years to LHS?Surely no self respecting turboprop captain would tolerate not getting a landing for a decade
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In the back seat before RHS.
Would be very lucky to get on the 737 as fo first in. Once it is gone you will be s/o only. With more common types then less movement. No 747 shortly, 777 possible common with 787 if it arrives and a320 regional/domestic.
So if joining now my guess would be minimum 10yrs as s/o, currently 25ish+ to wide body command.
Is going to be interesting to see how far up the current 737 fo roster the push onto s/o goes, as they don't have seniority for a320 fo.
c100 if they turned it down hoping for a RHS then I will be very very surprised if they accept a job as all I hear is all future jobs s/o as first point of entry.
Time will tell. My 5cents.
Would be very lucky to get on the 737 as fo first in. Once it is gone you will be s/o only. With more common types then less movement. No 747 shortly, 777 possible common with 787 if it arrives and a320 regional/domestic.
So if joining now my guess would be minimum 10yrs as s/o, currently 25ish+ to wide body command.
Is going to be interesting to see how far up the current 737 fo roster the push onto s/o goes, as they don't have seniority for a320 fo.
c100 if they turned it down hoping for a RHS then I will be very very surprised if they accept a job as all I hear is all future jobs s/o as first point of entry.
Time will tell. My 5cents.
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What HR do not realize is that they have seriously set back the Recruit to Group tactic which was designed to create a career path that rewards loyalty for those who join and remain in the group. One of the Air Nsn guys, passed over, turned down a JC interview when they got their yes letter, and waited a few years for their call. Do you think any pilot is going to believe in RTG now.
If the recruitment team were aiming for loyalty in the RTG process, they have just gone and destroyed a fair amount of any trust that people had in the process.
I have spoken to somebody directly affected by this latest change in tactic.
The rumours are flying around the link carriers faster than a tsunami in japan.
I know of a guy who was SO at AirNZ for 9 years before actually getting to fly the aircraft. Still, earning an annual amount of 6 figures (including allowances) and having one of the easiest jobs in the world with no responsibilty can't be that bad can it? 5 years would be ideal, with a widebody command after 20 if we could pick and choose. It would be nice having a crystal ball to gaze into though for those of us still planning what career path to go down...
If the answer is probably not, you are taking a huge professional gamble in being a long time S/O & F/O in a legacy carrier. Sure, lazy days for awhile, but you could well be putting off the inevitable. You may need to eventually suck it up as a low cost Kiwi pilot or venture abroad. And again, what will the situation abroad be in 10 years + ? Probably pretty ugly.
A legacy career is a huge gamble now IMO!
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Gnadenburg - you're dreaming mate. Air NZ is probably in one of the strongest positions out of any airline. There will be many long careers to be had there.
Bypass ration - crazy is as crazy does. Ill take 5-10 years as an SO in NZ over a command in the ME any day. If it works for you then great, but to me crazy is wanting to spend any time up there at all.
Bypass ration - crazy is as crazy does. Ill take 5-10 years as an SO in NZ over a command in the ME any day. If it works for you then great, but to me crazy is wanting to spend any time up there at all.
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Thats right blah blah obviously crazy, considering that he'll make more cash in hand in his first 10 years at EK than you will in your whole career at ANZ (if you spend 25 of those years waiting for the LHS) - and he's got the option to come home at 45 and buy the million dollar bach at whanga and the big fishing boat and live the dream while you're still serving bikkies to the skipper and FO 
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To turn down an S/O's position to wait for a 737 F/O's position would be crazy! As stated earlier, there is no seniority in the current 737 F/O ranks (it's all in the S/O ranks) so as the phase out to the A320 happens most current S/O's will most likely exercise their seniority to upgrade. I would be very surprised if ANZ took any 737 F/O's off the street.
Anyway, I have been an S/O now for over 7 years and apart from the odd bout of despondency I have found the job both rewarding as well as damn good fun. As far as time to a seat movement, I could have (although didn't for several reasons including lock-on) shifted to an A320 F/O's job at around 5 years.
For a small town boy I have been able to see the world. Yes, the London trips are long and if you have a young family etc it's damn hard at times (the longest LHR tod is 14 days). However, crews are generally fantastic and you hardly ever get someone trying to teach you how to suck eggs.
I don't believe that it will be 10-12 years in the middle seat. In the next 5 years ANZ has 120 guys going over 65. In the next 10 years it's 260 and our current average pilot age is just under 50! Even with no middle order attrition or expansion there has to be good movement just based on retirements. The over 65 age law change happened 5 years ago this November so things will start moving again. If you are a Link driver not sure what to do, overall, the job is definitely better however you will never have the crew cameraderie that you get within the Link carriers. I did 4 years with link and while I had a great time there, I would never go back to contantly late schedules, tight turnarounds, min time overnights in crappy hotels, millions of sectors per day, turbulence, icing, and all for less money than an S/O!
My two cents worth!
Anyway, I have been an S/O now for over 7 years and apart from the odd bout of despondency I have found the job both rewarding as well as damn good fun. As far as time to a seat movement, I could have (although didn't for several reasons including lock-on) shifted to an A320 F/O's job at around 5 years.
For a small town boy I have been able to see the world. Yes, the London trips are long and if you have a young family etc it's damn hard at times (the longest LHR tod is 14 days). However, crews are generally fantastic and you hardly ever get someone trying to teach you how to suck eggs.
I don't believe that it will be 10-12 years in the middle seat. In the next 5 years ANZ has 120 guys going over 65. In the next 10 years it's 260 and our current average pilot age is just under 50! Even with no middle order attrition or expansion there has to be good movement just based on retirements. The over 65 age law change happened 5 years ago this November so things will start moving again. If you are a Link driver not sure what to do, overall, the job is definitely better however you will never have the crew cameraderie that you get within the Link carriers. I did 4 years with link and while I had a great time there, I would never go back to contantly late schedules, tight turnarounds, min time overnights in crappy hotels, millions of sectors per day, turbulence, icing, and all for less money than an S/O!
My two cents worth!
Gnadenburg - you're dreaming mate. Air NZ is probably in one of the strongest positions out of any airline. There will be many long careers to be had there.
I know. I was dumped out of one as a 9 year F/O and had to leave my home shores and started again abroad. I have been abroad for 7 years and can retire at 40; or choose a flying career where money is a firm secondary consideration.
My opportunity doesn't exist any longer. Perhaps, in a decade, nor will the Middle East option. Which is an ugly scenario if Air NZ restructures, is bought out or any number of possibilities in the next 15 to 20 years.