Korean Air

[Damianik]

Guys,
i have just been told that KAL is possibly hiring current captains on FO positions due to the fact that are so many captains around at the moment from various outfits. That leaves the FO with no chance of course.
Anyone else with this information?
i was told by one agency i asked to check my CV
D

[fourgolds]

Perhaps there is one specific detail that attributed to the SQ guys success rate that none have mentioned. I have friends that tell me over 40 SQ Skippers applied for positions. They only took about 8! So what they really got was the cream of the crop. ( by their standards) and not necessarily a " group" that were more culturally adapted to the training.
Just remember there is often much more to these things than the written word ( mine included).

[kk pilot]

I am only familiar with the former DAL/SIA guys and they were successful in their KAL training vs the other DAL guys who were not - It seemed more than a coincidence that the DAL/SIA pilots made it thru basically without incident whereas the other former DAL guys were unsuccessful. I can only attribute this fact to experience with the rather unique asian training methods - which have been accurately described in previous posts.

[B737NG]

Ex-Pats

It is not easy to adopt to the Korean schemes, if you are proud of what you are then be proud but you cannot be Korean.

Korea needs Ex-Pat Pilot due to the insufficient numbers of output of the ROKAF and the non-existing GA. Hang-gung Aviation University does not attract enough Koreans to become a Pilot and since about 3 Years even Korean Pilots leave Korea for employment outside the Country.

If you think you get a fast track command in Korea then go ahead and read the following number slowly : 12 Years -- 10+2 1/2 average for Koreans. No Expat F/O will get a upgrade there sooner, my guess. I might be wrong but after 9 Years there I have seen alot, coming and going, sometimes going faster then going. Dont want to get that negative, just fact stating. There are some Cannucks since 1991 in Korea, works for them, get used to it.

Fly safe and land happy

NG

[Cloud Cutter]

Hi all

Can someone please tell me what the social life is like for expats, particularly on the 73. Are you often in ICN, or do you spend most of your nights round the traps? Are you basically living out of a suitcase the whole time, or do you get several nights in a row in the ICN Hyatt?

Any other info regarding the 73 schedule would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Capt Chambo]

Can someone please tell me what the social life is like for expats, particularly on the 73. Are you often in ICN, or do you spend most of your nights round the traps? Are you basically living out of a suitcase the whole time, or do you get several nights in a row in the ICN Hyatt?

Any other info regarding the 73 schedule would be appreciated.

Social life in ICN is what you make of it, sounds obvious but with 60+ foreign pilots in the hotel most nights you should be able to find someone to have a beer with! Roster patterns have you typically working 5 ON, 1 OFF, and I would say that in my 18 (ish) days a month in Korea I will spend 10 (ish) in ICN, the remainder on layovers. That's not to say that you might not be flying through the night from ICN returning in the early hours. The "bag drag" rostering has become better but still a bit of an issue.

Schedules are generally for about 50-55 Hrs per month, with a mix of domestic flights and international stuff. Remember we also operate out of GMP (Gimpo) about a 50 minute coach ride away. Domestic flights are short, typically 40 mins (the shortest being about 25 mins and the longest being 55 mins). Most domestic layovers are typically min rest. and there is just you and the F/O (sometimes the cabin crew). Japanese layovers are also min. rest. Other layovers in SE Asia are usually 24 hrs.

[batsky2000]

I have a question that I don't think has been asked and am wondering about. Have any guys ever moved up from the B737 to say the B777 or is it pretty much the same as if you come on board as an F/O, you will never get to upgrade or move to a larger fleet? If it does happen, can it happen during your first 5 year contract or when you renew the contract for another 5 years, or never?

Thanks

[Cloud Cutter]

Capt Chambo, thanks very much for the very good info.

One last question, I'm looking at joining as a 73 F/O - how often could I expect to fly with expat captains vs local ones, just out of interest.

Thanks again!

[Capt Chambo]

I have a question that I don't think has been asked and am wondering about. Have any guys ever moved up from the B737 to say the B777 or is it pretty much the same as if you come on board as an F/O, you will never get to upgrade or move to a larger fleet? If it does happen, can it happen during your first 5 year contract or when you renew the contract for another 5 years, or never?

There is no POLICY in place regarding the movement of seats or fleets. You are contracted to fly for Korean Air via your chosen agency, on a fleet in a seat. Full stop.
OK heavy lecture over.... foreign F/Os are a new phenomenon in KAL having been in place less than 2 years. You would do well to re-read post no. 44 by B737NG regarding command upgrade. Re: changing fleets as an F/O. Hasn't happened yet, I would personally think it unlikely, but you never know. Bear in mind it would only happen at KAL's invitation but your expense!

One last question, I'm looking at joining as a 73 F/O - how often could I expect to fly with expat captains vs local ones, just out of interest.

As far as I am aware there is no policy in place regarding foreign crews flying together, and it certainly happens on other fleets. However just based on pure statistics foreign F/O's will mostly fly with Korean Captains. If I read the last Chief Pilots report correctly (It's in Korean), by the time you read this there should be 168 Korean Captains and 35 Foreign Captains on line, with 230 Korean F/Os and 12 Foreign F/Os. For domestic flights I think it's a huge bonus to have a Korean speaker on the flight deck to handle all the peripheral stuff, perhaps a little less necessary on international flights.

[B737NG]

Korean-ExPat / ExPat-Expat flying together

It is mainly on the Cargo-Flights in the B744 that the complete Crew is Expat. In the Passenger flightīs on all Fleets there is a requirement of the Korean PA first. It is desired that one of the Cockpit-Crew members is Korean to make the PA in Korean. As long as the Customers write letters to KAL because of the PAīs as long it will be a issue for the "Company". There are even complaints of narrow minded listeners that the Korean versus English - PA does not match. How is a Expat able to judge what his Korean counterpart is telling the passengers or, what is he not telling the passengers. It is a big thing for them, not knowing what is really big.......

Fly safe and land Happy

NG

[BuzzLightyears]

Kal Interview

B737NG

first thanks for your help, it's not easy to find people like you willing to give free useful suggestion nowdays!

to your knowledge KAL request a copy of your score in the ATP like CX does?

thanks

[BlackWater01]

wow

thats a lot of information

thanks everybody

[ben767]

Anybody has Interview gauges, and what is ivcluded in the interview, etc,......
From the time that you arrive to the first and 2nd day while you are in the interview, what steeps and exams are taking place, etc...........
Anything will be appreciated.

[broompusher]

Cpt777, Capt Chambo, B737NG & all KAL pilots


Thanks for all the helpful advise thus far. I am looking at going over to KAL for an interview in the near future (date still TBD).

My question is regarding the pilot contracting companies that KAL pilots are with. I did read about IAC breaching a contract over in Japan, how are they to deal with on the KAL contract? Good? Bad? Who are most of the expats contracted through?

Also, could I bother anyone who has recently gone through the KAL interview to give a brief summary of what to expect.

Thanks a bunch.

[CS737]

I just did my interview with KAL, and I must say that there is not much negative to say.
Things went as they said they would, but indeed one must never go into a verbal fight. Travel to ICN went well in Prestige Class, tax paid by me, tix paid by KAL.
After checkin at Hyatt, I was given food vouchers, bus tickets and Sim info.

I had a sim check that followed the stated profile. My partner did not follow KAL demands, and he was sent home. We became 4 737:s out of 12 to the interview.
Next day was medical at KAL medical center at HQ. A lots of checks; blood press during rest and during Treadmill, ears (several tests), eyes (usual tests) blood (liver, colesterol etc, etc), urine, abdominal check and chest x-ray. Also a several page document should be filled out. This session ended with a visit to the doctor. Here the ones who needed to retake any test(s) was notified.
Lunch and then a taxi to the hospital. A quick check of the teeth, and the same about ears, nose, throat.
Finally, some 5 checks on my eyes. The whole day was gone after these many tests and checks. I would say everything was done except "the rubber glove"...
Third day was the interview. It started out with all of us was given 100 000 Kwon!
Left all the required paper work that I should bring. Then the interview, 4 gentlemen across a large conference table, 1 american and 3 koreans from KAL, both pilots and HR-reps. General questions as well as aviation questions. They want to see how you appear, your attitude and ability to answer the questions.
We had a few laughs actually, and I felt quite relaxed.

The setup can be in a different order.

I am not notified yet, but I really did like the whole thing. As an expat, they do not want us to do anything else but to fly according to their procedures. Fair enough!
Not one expat who I spoke to wanted somewhere else! Regardless of type. All discussions about doing it "the KAL way", drop it, it is no different from any other Airline! I have yet to find an Airline who will change their procedures after new guys.

If you are not ready to follow their way or culture, donīt go!

Good Luck!

[Flying Mechanic]

when you are in Korea for your working days, do u have to lugg your suitcase with u on each trip, or is there a place u can store your suitcase/gear?

[Capt Chambo]

when you are in Korea for your working days, do u have to lugg your suitcase with u on each trip, or is there a place u can store your suitcase/gear?

The hotel will store a "limited" amount of luggage for you.

[Brave heart]

During your stay in Korea...

Hyatt Hotel Incheon has agreement with KAL pilots to keep few bags, read 3, in storage while they are away on either a home trip or scheduled flying duties ...

[Brave heart]

KAL Interview...

Well said CS737...It was nice to read an fair-minded opinion.
Thanks

[Webslinger]

FOs

Couple of questions gentlemen.
Can you get hired through a contract agency as an FO with 777 type and 0 time in type but 7,000 total time and 5,000jet?

Also, if you are hired as an FO for a 5yr. contract with KAL can you re-sign another 5yr contract at the end of your first contract as a "Captain" now that you have 5yrs with "time in type"? Do you have to "re-interview" after each contract? Any ex-pats that are on their 2nd 5yr. contract? Thanks in advance.