Vietnam Airlines (info please)
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Yes, if you dare to join this company, first you should be really brave, and second, don't planify to stay here more than 2-3 years maximum. You will be fired, same as all other expat FO's, Captains, LTC, TRI and TRE. They are recruiting a lot of locals LTC, TRI and TRE now. Why? You can guess, the salary of a local TRE is $5000 vs 14-15 thousand of an expat. The thing is that now they need to cover the huge hole they have, because many captains left the company already after knowing these plans, and as they didn't expect that this could happen, now they have a huge problem, and they need everything... Good luck!!
The truth of contract work is you are temporary. You are only as good as your last pay check. The expats may be thinned out gradually, and if and when this happens, you can make your own assesment on time and risk management. Your ranting is just tiresome, and a bit insulting as i and most of the guys here are fully aware of what being a contractor means. I will be here until i feel its time to go.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Hanoi
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I am wondering how much is paying VNA for your words here. I could demonstrate that, if you are flying A321, you will be fired within 2 years, maybe earlier. The VNA from 14 years ago, is not the same VNA of today. Try to help your colleagues who are trying to make the biggest mistake of their lives, thinking that VNA still the same than 14 years ago. And all cases, not only one, starting from the SFO, were unfair and with no reasons. Just 60 days notice after 1,5 years working ( with the famous 5 years contract ). So they do what they want, when they want. If you want to encourage some colleague to come to this place with these future expectations, i think you are blind, or having an extra pay to clean the dirty clothes of your beloved company. About me, yes, as Captain i have same options than you, but i still have time, so i am looking for the best option, and i have a few already, so within one year or just a few days-months i will be far away from this place. Good luck for you, with your point of view, you will need.
Join Date: Apr 2017
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What part of being a contract pilot do you guys not understand? If the contract says 'you can be terminated with 60 days notice, if your services are no longer required', and you guys sign the bloody contract, why are you crying foul when it happens? Besides, you can go anywhere with a current 320 rating, so what's the big deal? You must actually like flying and living in Vietnam if your getting so upset about being 'fired' with 60 days notice. You cannot come to Vietnam expecting a 15 year career stint (although this has happened for many) when you sign a contract for 5 years with a 60 day termination clause. This 60 day termination clause gives the airline the flexibility to get rid of you should they not need you, and as more and more locals come online - rightly so, it's their airline. Ride the wave while it lasts, enjoy it, when it stops, move on.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Hanoi
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What part of being a contract pilot do you guys not understand? If the contract says 'you can be terminated with 60 days notice, if your services are no longer required', and you guys sign the bloody contract, why are you crying foul when it happens? Besides, you can go anywhere with a current 320 rating, so what's the big deal? You must actually like flying and living in Vietnam if your getting so upset about being 'fired' with 60 days notice. You cannot come to Vietnam expecting a 15 year career stint (although this has happened for many) when you sign a contract for 5 years with a 60 day termination clause. This 60 day termination clause gives the airline the flexibility to get rid of you should they not need you, and as more and more locals come online - rightly so, it's their airline. Ride the wave while it lasts, enjoy it, when it stops, move on.
Join Date: Apr 2017
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I agree with you with regards to your advice for pilots who are considering a long term career at VN. The outlook is not very good. In the past it was good in terms of longevity, but nothing last forever. Remember, not everyone is looking for a long term thing and I believe there is still a few years left in it for captains. In saying this, you would be pretty foolish as an expat in any foreign country to expect longevity as a pilot on contract.
Who the hell needs or wants a car in Vietnam?? The pay is good, the commute is good. What else do you expect or want from a S/E Asian nation? Where else do you think is better for an expat with regards to lifestyle? China? Africa, Middle East? If you can't be satisfied in Vietnam, you will probably never be satisfied anywhere. Probably best to go home my friend, or are you unhappy there too?
And about living in VN... The only one good point is that you can save a lot of money ( if you get used to the local living style ) or you can waste even much more than in your own country ( if you can’t get used to the local life style ). You can’t buy a car, first becauee has no sense... There are no roads ready for driving a car, and you are rounded all time for millions of motorbikes trying to pass first!! Maybe you can kill someone soon or later, if you drive a car in VN. And the taxes... You will pay 3 times the price of a normal car in Europe. So, where is the good point of living in Vietnam? There is NOTHING. Just the commuting contract, because you can escape from here often. Ah, i forgot, as the only one good point in this country... The girls, ok, i agree with that... This is a huge cheap candy store. So, having this in mind, sorry... I can’t recommend to any of my friends or colleagues to leave their actual companies for something like this.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Hanoi
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I agree with you with regards to your advice for pilots who are considering a long term career at VN. The outlook is not very good. In the past it was good in terms of longevity, but nothing last forever. Remember, not everyone is looking for a long term thing and I believe there is still a few years left in it for captains. In saying this, you would be pretty foolish as an expat in any foreign country to expect longevity as a pilot on contract.
Who the hell needs or wants a car in Vietnam?? The pay is good, the commute is good. What else do you expect or want from a S/E Asian nation? Where else do you think is better for an expat with regards to lifestyle? China? Africa, Middle East? If you can't be satisfied in Vietnam, you will probably never be satisfied anywhere. Probably best to go home my friend, or are you unhappy there too?
Who the hell needs or wants a car in Vietnam?? The pay is good, the commute is good. What else do you expect or want from a S/E Asian nation? Where else do you think is better for an expat with regards to lifestyle? China? Africa, Middle East? If you can't be satisfied in Vietnam, you will probably never be satisfied anywhere. Probably best to go home my friend, or are you unhappy there too?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 36N 33E
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The chances are slim to none even though a lot of expats left that fleet and VNA lately; I wouldn't get my hopes up, nothing in VNA is for sure as an Expat... why would you want to come here anyways..?
Besides,
Besides,
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 36N 33E
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eagles Nest
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 36N 33E
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The direction of the company though is still very vague and seems to change as often as they update the edocs; notable new procedures are in place though: Pilots are now signing Maintenance releases in certain Airports in the A321 fleet; this will increase the responsability and workload; niw you will be blamed for something a Technitian was trained for years to detects and understand; you will, oficially, get 16 hours of hands on quality training!
Long time Expats belive the "happy times" are over: most Expat Captains are already complaining about flying almost to the permissible limit of 100 hours, and short notice schedule changes are now frequent. All Standbys are activated due to lack of pilots in all fleets.
Also, the FOM just changed the "respect your day off" clause; your day off can now always be your "day on"; supposedly ots negotiable, but when you know you'll always pull a short straw, what's to negotiate.
In general the work ambience, at least on the Airbus Fleet here in SGN, has lost a LOT of quality...!
Fun fact though: the more they expand, the more they fly, the more discontent pilots will be, the less pilots will want to join or stick around, the more you get to fly if you stick around, especially on your days off; its a vicious circle. And pay has been the same for Expats for quite some time...
One comment I heared also was that VNA had a lot of complaints from local FO's about ex-S7 Pilots; apparently there are a lot of cultural issues and VNA won't recruit nor renew those Captains contracts. Again, all rumors I hear from local FO's; I don't stick around at the local water holes socializing a lot; with angry wife and two kids things are not as harmonic at home as they could be...
The few Western Expats who are willing to take the new rules are keeping a close eye on things and it appears things are getting worse each month.
Good luck out there
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eagles Nest
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Nahh, it means that due to the Off-Road incident in Hanoi a few months ago the Insurance Company has increased the premiums for FO's upgrading with less than 5000hrs Total Time and 32 years of age (I was told that number by a few FO's). Those seem to be the new requierements...
The direction of the company though is still very vague and seems to change as often as they update the edocs; notable new procedures are in place though: Pilots are now signing Maintenance releases in certain Airports in the A321 fleet; this will increase the responsability and workload; niw you will be blamed for something a Technitian was trained for years to detects and understand; you will, oficially, get 16 hours of hands on quality training!
Long time Expats belive the "happy times" are over: most Expat Captains are already complaining about flying almost to the permissible limit of 100 hours, and short notice schedule changes are now frequent. All Standbys are activated due to lack of pilots in all fleets.
Also, the FOM just changed the "respect your day off" clause; your day off can now always be your "day on"; supposedly ots negotiable, but when you know you'll always pull a short straw, what's to negotiate.
In general the work ambience, at least on the Airbus Fleet here in SGN, has lost a LOT of quality...!
Fun fact though: the more they expand, the more they fly, the more discontent pilots will be, the less pilots will want to join or stick around, the more you get to fly if you stick around, especially on your days off; its a vicious circle. And pay has been the same for Expats for quite some time...
One comment I heared also was that VNA had a lot of complaints from local FO's about ex-S7 Pilots; apparently there are a lot of cultural issues and VNA won't recruit nor renew those Captains contracts. Again, all rumors I hear from local FO's; I don't stick around at the local water holes socializing a lot; with angry wife and two kids things are not as harmonic at home as they could be...
The few Western Expats who are willing to take the new rules are keeping a close eye on things and it appears things are getting worse each month.
Good luck out there
The direction of the company though is still very vague and seems to change as often as they update the edocs; notable new procedures are in place though: Pilots are now signing Maintenance releases in certain Airports in the A321 fleet; this will increase the responsability and workload; niw you will be blamed for something a Technitian was trained for years to detects and understand; you will, oficially, get 16 hours of hands on quality training!
Long time Expats belive the "happy times" are over: most Expat Captains are already complaining about flying almost to the permissible limit of 100 hours, and short notice schedule changes are now frequent. All Standbys are activated due to lack of pilots in all fleets.
Also, the FOM just changed the "respect your day off" clause; your day off can now always be your "day on"; supposedly ots negotiable, but when you know you'll always pull a short straw, what's to negotiate.
In general the work ambience, at least on the Airbus Fleet here in SGN, has lost a LOT of quality...!
Fun fact though: the more they expand, the more they fly, the more discontent pilots will be, the less pilots will want to join or stick around, the more you get to fly if you stick around, especially on your days off; its a vicious circle. And pay has been the same for Expats for quite some time...
One comment I heared also was that VNA had a lot of complaints from local FO's about ex-S7 Pilots; apparently there are a lot of cultural issues and VNA won't recruit nor renew those Captains contracts. Again, all rumors I hear from local FO's; I don't stick around at the local water holes socializing a lot; with angry wife and two kids things are not as harmonic at home as they could be...
The few Western Expats who are willing to take the new rules are keeping a close eye on things and it appears things are getting worse each month.
Good luck out there
Pilots signing off on maintenance releases is a liability and could be a career braker. Surprised guys agree to this.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 36N 33E
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Hmmm, I met a few Italian FO’s here in the past; but the few I met already moved on to Wizz or other adventures; actually, quite a few of the Expat FO’s that were let go this year were Italians, thinking of it...
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Many people love to drive cars everywhere. But here is impossible... No rules, and of course, no respect anywhere. Easy to find a huge bus invading ur lane, and flashing lights, asking you to abandon your lane for him to pass. The red lights are ignored also, and many many other things... Just like 9 million people driving on the street same as 4 years old kids with bicicles in the park, same rules. Examples better than VN? Where the streets are clean, and at least there is more order for living, which finally means a better quallity of life... Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and yes, even China. You fly to China anyway with VNA, but flying in a chinese airline, at least they will give you always more priority than VNA. So, better to fly in China than VNA under all points of view. The only one thing i would recomend is, for a short period of time, fly with VNA, leave before you are being fired shortly, gain experience in this side of the world, then your transition will be better and easier. VNA is very relaxed, because they still have not much idea about anything... They just pretend to know. So you will feel comfortable and relaxed. Then, go to another better place. So just consider VNA as a transition company, don’t think about any future here. I hope we agree with this now. Good luck.
Why would someone who lists driving cars as a hobby or interest consider a job in Vietnam?
Unbelivable what some people complain about. I love hunting, sailing, skiing, and trekking. 6 and 3 gives me ample time to pursue these things. I am not here to pursue my pastimes, but to allow me enough time off to do them.
For that this job gives me exactly what i need from work. Time off to enjoy life.