Air Baltic information
Join Date: Dec 2022
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Some AirBaltic F/O left the company after a few months of employment and they paid the bond for a TR which is not helpful
If you want a helpful TR, get an A320 or B737 rating. Don't pay for a CRJ rating.
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Riga
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I don't know if the people you attack with your different accounts had an assessment. I can speak for my case. When I was assessed I had more than 2000 hours on an proper CS 25 airliner with FMS and EFIS . That time market was still bad so I booked a sim session for a DA42 sim in Germany before the assessment. It didn't help at all. The assessment was full of tricks. Non standard ones. For the record I had a successful assessment few years ago and another one few months ago.
Describe please your assessment to see if we had the same one. Don't spare the details, it will make the difference. Because I believe that you, and people like you, had a special treatment. That special treatment was the reason to invite you at the first place despite you didn't meet the entry requirements. With your other accounts you admit that Let410, Beechcraft 1900, Js31, piston trainers, pilots were hired. These aircrafts are not CS25, FMS as per the requirements. Another user, wrote that he was fired just before the TR to be replaced with someone of your kind.
A failed assessments is not a big deal. I feel lucky that I was failed and got a better job later. What is annoying is to invite people that will be failed in favor of others who managed to be invited without meeting the requirements and would be hired no matter what. More annoying is to have here a person of that breed making lectures. With multiple accounts, something which reflects the fraudy ways you use
Describe please your assessment to see if we had the same one. Don't spare the details, it will make the difference. Because I believe that you, and people like you, had a special treatment. That special treatment was the reason to invite you at the first place despite you didn't meet the entry requirements. With your other accounts you admit that Let410, Beechcraft 1900, Js31, piston trainers, pilots were hired. These aircrafts are not CS25, FMS as per the requirements. Another user, wrote that he was fired just before the TR to be replaced with someone of your kind.
A failed assessments is not a big deal. I feel lucky that I was failed and got a better job later. What is annoying is to invite people that will be failed in favor of others who managed to be invited without meeting the requirements and would be hired no matter what. More annoying is to have here a person of that breed making lectures. With multiple accounts, something which reflects the fraudy ways you use
airBaltic is my first company, coming straight from their Pilot Academy, I'm relatively new to the industry, company and A220, so I just stumbled upon this forum and saw ppl talking nonsense about the company that I like a lot. It's got its flaws, but I mean, MAFIA? I think last year alone they've hired around 150(?) new pilots, and to believe they're all "friends" of someone in the office creating multiple accounts - that's quite a serious conspiracy.
Anyway - no offense to anyone, I hope you're really loving your jobs wherever you work.
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Germany
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But why have you decided that I am using different accounts? A220 is my first type, so I actually had to google Let410, Beechcraft 1900, Js31 to understand your reference.
airBaltic is my first company, coming straight from their Pilot Academy, I'm relatively new to the industry, company and A220, so I just stumbled upon this forum and saw ppl talking nonsense about the company that I like a lot. It's got its flaws, but I mean, MAFIA? I think last year alone they've hired around 150(?) new pilots, and to believe they're all "friends" of someone in the office creating multiple accounts - that's quite a serious conspiracy.
Anyway - no offense to anyone, I hope you're really loving your jobs wherever you work.
airBaltic is my first company, coming straight from their Pilot Academy, I'm relatively new to the industry, company and A220, so I just stumbled upon this forum and saw ppl talking nonsense about the company that I like a lot. It's got its flaws, but I mean, MAFIA? I think last year alone they've hired around 150(?) new pilots, and to believe they're all "friends" of someone in the office creating multiple accounts - that's quite a serious conspiracy.
Anyway - no offense to anyone, I hope you're really loving your jobs wherever you work.
You post with a newly created account and you participate in topics like the nepotism one where waylandershade and oksup were posting and you keep the same style of writing
Lets take the assumption that you are not the same person (I really doubt)
Since you got in trouble to google the L410, B1900, Js31 you saw that these aircrafts are not CS25 neither equipped with FMS. According with initial requirements, candidates should have hours on CS25, FMS aircraft. Do you have any explanations why people who didn’t meet the requirements were invited to assessment and got hired? I don’t think any HR department is happy to receive applications from candidates who don’t fulfill entry requirements.
You seem to have done your homework, don’t reply like oksup or waylandershade (both with background in Czech Republic, L410 pilots and newly hired in airbaltic but not the same person as they claimed!!!!) who were saying that they can only speak for themselves and don’t know such cases
And yes I love my job as it pays good and I can commute. Luckily I didn’t pass to the airbaltic with the 3 years, 36000 bond.
Saying of commuting… In this very topic you posted that you can commute if working for ab and you were quickly proven wrong by other posters. Can someone who lives in Netherlands not rent a house in Riga? Can you explain why you lied?
Join Date: Dec 2022
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Originally Posted by Intrance;[url=tel:11526415
11526415[/url]]Xfly pay (significantly) less than airBaltic, are in significant financial trouble and the CRJ is a bit of a dying breed in Europe. There are probably more A220s flying around Europe than CRJs. At Vista you would still need a new rating for pretty much everything in their fleet except the old CL850s.
If you want a helpful TR, get an A320 or B737 rating. Don't pay for a CRJ rating.
If you want a helpful TR, get an A320 or B737 rating. Don't pay for a CRJ rating.
The only use I found in A220 TR is in Quantas. In Europe only AF and Swis are using it. You don’t need a TR, but level 6 in French or
Zurich accent to join.
I agree that the most helpful ratings are the A320 and B737
Join Date: Mar 2023
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I've been flying at airBaltic for more than a year and I really enjoy a lot of parts of it, so here's a bit of an extended version of my experience:
In the realm of crew planning, BT has a diverse range of destinations, from nearby cities to far-flung gems like Dubai and the Canary Islands. It's like picking from a buffet every month when bidding for flight, but of course - you will not fly all of your favourite flights every day. The rule is to satisfy 60-70% of each pilots wishes, and for me works out pretty well. The more contentious thing our wet lease-out operations in Oslo, Düsseldorf, Zurich, and our very own base stations in Tampere, Tallinn and Vilnius. Many of our pilots choose to commute directly to these stations from their homes across Europe. I was just flying as a safety pilot for a new SFO's first line training flights - a very experienced captain from Finland, he said he will not even consider renting in Riga - he will commute to outstations. So it’s really up to you to pick your lifestyle and roster
Treatment colleagues, general mood:
Regardless of anything, those who are dissatisfied tend to be more vocal, while those who genuinely enjoy their experiences often prefer the tranquility of cruising at FL360, while sipping their coffee
Which is a good thing, I guess, hence the reason this forum might lean toward negative opinions as a result. However, when it comes to life at our airline, BT, I'd like to emphasize that for me it's, in fact, quite pleasant. Communication here is transparent and flows both vertically and horizontally. The Chief Pilot's office is always open, encouraging an open dialogue. Adhering to standardised procedures, training, and simulator sessions is like a must in the company, so basically all are treated equally, and to be honest, for me this consistency makes it very transparent and comprehensible. In the mean time you ahve to know your stuff, be prepared, study, etc. Then again, any form of rude or aggressive behavior, whether directed towards cabin crew, operations, or colleagues is totally rejected. In my experience, I've seen cases where a few pilots were exceptionally rude or disrespectful, and the airline responded (in my opinion) appropriately. We have a lot of young captains who’ve been at airBaltic for several years, so the mood in the cockpit is the mood you choose to set
The CP upgrade is not just a claim, if you apply as an SFO you will have a chance to upgrade soon. Just do the math yourself - BT will have 50 aircraft soon, that means roughly around 250 captains, now we maybe have around 190 (+/- 10), AND they are working summer schedules of 80-90BH already. The other thing is - the Chief pilots have been very open about not wanting “Direct entry” Captains on the A220. So going through the SFO option basically is the fast track.
Apologies for the lengthy essay, but I wanted to provide a more balanced perspective amidst the prevailing negative sentiments, because I really like airBaltic from a lot pf perspective, and I think a lot of colleagues would agree.
Ad good luck with your assessment!
In the realm of crew planning, BT has a diverse range of destinations, from nearby cities to far-flung gems like Dubai and the Canary Islands. It's like picking from a buffet every month when bidding for flight, but of course - you will not fly all of your favourite flights every day. The rule is to satisfy 60-70% of each pilots wishes, and for me works out pretty well. The more contentious thing our wet lease-out operations in Oslo, Düsseldorf, Zurich, and our very own base stations in Tampere, Tallinn and Vilnius. Many of our pilots choose to commute directly to these stations from their homes across Europe. I was just flying as a safety pilot for a new SFO's first line training flights - a very experienced captain from Finland, he said he will not even consider renting in Riga - he will commute to outstations. So it’s really up to you to pick your lifestyle and roster
Treatment colleagues, general mood:
Regardless of anything, those who are dissatisfied tend to be more vocal, while those who genuinely enjoy their experiences often prefer the tranquility of cruising at FL360, while sipping their coffee
Which is a good thing, I guess, hence the reason this forum might lean toward negative opinions as a result. However, when it comes to life at our airline, BT, I'd like to emphasize that for me it's, in fact, quite pleasant. Communication here is transparent and flows both vertically and horizontally. The Chief Pilot's office is always open, encouraging an open dialogue. Adhering to standardised procedures, training, and simulator sessions is like a must in the company, so basically all are treated equally, and to be honest, for me this consistency makes it very transparent and comprehensible. In the mean time you ahve to know your stuff, be prepared, study, etc. Then again, any form of rude or aggressive behavior, whether directed towards cabin crew, operations, or colleagues is totally rejected. In my experience, I've seen cases where a few pilots were exceptionally rude or disrespectful, and the airline responded (in my opinion) appropriately. We have a lot of young captains who’ve been at airBaltic for several years, so the mood in the cockpit is the mood you choose to set The CP upgrade is not just a claim, if you apply as an SFO you will have a chance to upgrade soon. Just do the math yourself - BT will have 50 aircraft soon, that means roughly around 250 captains, now we maybe have around 190 (+/- 10), AND they are working summer schedules of 80-90BH already. The other thing is - the Chief pilots have been very open about not wanting “Direct entry” Captains on the A220. So going through the SFO option basically is the fast track.
Apologies for the lengthy essay, but I wanted to provide a more balanced perspective amidst the prevailing negative sentiments, because I really like airBaltic from a lot pf perspective, and I think a lot of colleagues would agree.
Ad good luck with your assessment!
Pilots that joined in 2023 are paying the bond to leave.
At least the ones who had some serious background and are employable. And of course had money from the previous jobs to pay the bond
Join Date: Jul 2017
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Those figures are token from Airbaltic. Its a very good salary.
https://pilotcareer.org/index.php/wiki/air-baltic/First Officer:
€ 49.200 – 58.800 / year gross
Based on 80h / month and experience First Officers can expect a net salary of € 4.000 – 5.500 / month.
During the inital 300h the pay is € 1.200 net / month.
Captain:
€ 112.800 – 130.800 / year gross
Based on 80h / month and experience Captains can expect a net salary of € 7.000 – 8.000 / month.
https://pilotcareer.org/index.php/wiki/air-baltic/First Officer:
€ 49.200 – 58.800 / year gross
Based on 80h / month and experience First Officers can expect a net salary of € 4.000 – 5.500 / month.
During the inital 300h the pay is € 1.200 net / month.
Captain:
€ 112.800 – 130.800 / year gross
Based on 80h / month and experience Captains can expect a net salary of € 7.000 – 8.000 / month.
Join Date: Oct 2018
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Numbers that XMW6 shared is corresponding to the correct numbers. Gross and net is different. I have only for FOs. This is guaranteed basic pay. You will get net amount to your bank account since it is local contract.
FO1 4100 gross (2815 net)
FO2 4500 gross (3085 net)
FO3 4900 gross (3370 net)
FO1 4100 gross (2815 net)
FO2 4500 gross (3085 net)
FO3 4900 gross (3370 net)
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Northern Europe
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Expect to pay 1 to 1.5k with utilities for a simple furnished flat and 500 for food. Few years ago utility bills were 400-700 a month during winter. Riga is expensive. Food and medicine can be twice of what you pay in some western EU countries.
Join Date: Oct 2018
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I dont agree on this. I lived there and I am regularly going there since 2008. It is definitely cheaper than any western EU nation such as Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France. I never come up with anything twice expensive than western EU. Only utilities can be more expensive since it is much colder than many other countries. Rent is definitely one of the difference which is much cheaper than Western EU. Just to give some idea you can always use this site to compare.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...urg&city2=Riga
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...urg&city2=Riga
Join Date: Jun 2023
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Rent prices around city centre is well above 1000 for furnitured apartment. Maybe is a bit cheaper in Jugla or Imanta but who wants to live there? Cigarettes are more expensive in Latvia than in Germany or Switzerland. Grocery prices are higher than in Germany for the most of the products
Maybe you will get some decent prices in central market but you need to speak Russian. Yes, Russian, more than 30% of the population is Russian. Gas is more expensive than in Germany. Almost everywhere in Riga parking is regulated. Especially zones A and B are super expensive. Dinner for two is around 80 euros unless you go to Lido. Local girls never reach for their wallet
Long story short, from the 2815 euros,by the end of the month you will have 100-200 euros left in your account
Maybe you will get some decent prices in central market but you need to speak Russian. Yes, Russian, more than 30% of the population is Russian. Gas is more expensive than in Germany. Almost everywhere in Riga parking is regulated. Especially zones A and B are super expensive. Dinner for two is around 80 euros unless you go to Lido. Local girls never reach for their wallet
Long story short, from the 2815 euros,by the end of the month you will have 100-200 euros left in your account
Now if you walk around old Riga it looks like ghost town. No tourists no locals. Just endless lines of abandoned souvenir shops and restaurants. Lots of bums and junkies around central station. You can still find a bunk in a dorm for 300e around Moskovsky district but you'll need a car and secure parking after midnight as this neighborhood is not safe. Bear in mind that AB will not pay parking at Riga airport for FO's. But its ok, if you are an instagram pilot supported by parents you'll make it just fine.
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Its been fun place till 2014ish. Every Saturday we used to do bar hopping till early dawn and it was very affordable. Then gradually it all declined to a present state.Can't say it was all because of covid since 2018 was already troubled year for local business because of tax reforms. Back then AB was also different, I think they paid around 7k lats for captains and it was a lot of money. But as I remember it was nearly impossible to get in, you had to know someone from inside.
But why have you decided that I am using different accounts? A220 is my first type, so I actually had to google Let410, Beechcraft 1900, Js31 to understand your reference.
airBaltic is my first company, coming straight from their Pilot Academy, I'm relatively new to the industry, company and A220, so I just stumbled upon this forum and saw ppl talking nonsense about the company that I like a lot. It's got its flaws, but I mean, MAFIA? I think last year alone they've hired around 150(?) new pilots, and to believe they're all "friends" of someone in the office creating multiple accounts - that's quite a serious conspiracy.
Anyway - no offense to anyone, I hope you're really loving your jobs wherever you work.
airBaltic is my first company, coming straight from their Pilot Academy, I'm relatively new to the industry, company and A220, so I just stumbled upon this forum and saw ppl talking nonsense about the company that I like a lot. It's got its flaws, but I mean, MAFIA? I think last year alone they've hired around 150(?) new pilots, and to believe they're all "friends" of someone in the office creating multiple accounts - that's quite a serious conspiracy.
Anyway - no offense to anyone, I hope you're really loving your jobs wherever you work.
Are you telling us that there are no pilots in ab with previous experience only in Let 410, Beechcraft 1900 and Js31 which do not comply with the initial requirements of CS25, FMS, EFIS aircraft?
Cause @OKSUP was posting that Let410 and Beechcraft1900 pilots were hired cause on their CVs were saying that they feed stray cats or something which was enough to be invited regardless that they didn't meet the entry requirements
Or you are just posting lies like the commuting roster?
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Salary
I attended the assessment and the numbers you state match with what I have been told by the chief pilot during the interview so i would not expect more ;-)
In case anyone is interested about DEFO Assessment:
2 Days in RIX (they offer cheap AB tickets and hotel rates)
day 1
1.)sim screen, da42 fix base, 15 minutes, all in rix, easy wx, no failures, no briefings or checklists, only easy raw data departure, vectored ils, GA, and another vectored ils - BY FAR the easiest i have ever seen
2.) interview: mainly questions about cold wx and adverse wx IN RIX SPECIFICALLY.
3.) Psychometric computer tests, 3 hours, the hardest ones I have seen around all the assessments I have been - by far. Use skytest or pilotassessments and go for the „difficult“ preset
day 2:
1.) interview chief pilot: very relaxed, nothing technical, just discussing about your cv and your plans, hopes and dreams. Chief pilot is a very nice person to talk to
2.) psychological interview : 1 hour chat face to face about strengths weaknesses etc etc - the usual stuff
3.) 300 psychological questions on iPad
All in all a nice atmosphere, considering the baltic mentality. The latter made me choose to not go there though.
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Commuting Roster
Regarding some people talking about commuting rosters and other people bashing on them.
I wanted to drop my 2 cents on that
Most Airlines hiring at the moment do not offer a designated COMMUTING contract.
HOWEVER,
Depending where you live, almost all contracts are „commutable“. If you get 4 days off between Rotations for an european Airline and you live in the backcountry of argentina it will most probably not be a commutable contract for you whilst somebody living 6 hours away by car is happily commuting.
Back to Air Baltic and some informations i received during my talk with the chief pilot of AB:
If you get hired as Senior First Officer you may choose between a 5on 4 off 5 on 3 off pattern or a random roster. (5/4/5/3 roster equals 80% part time by the way so there will be less pay)
For me the 5/4/5/3 roster would be perfectly commutable.
If you are NOT SFO, you will be more or less stuck with the random roster due to seniority.
If you stuck to the random roster, then you still have the bidding system so you can bid and get rotations based on your off-day needs. On the flip side: You will most likely be flying the less requested routes - less requested for a reason, presumably….
So if you live in europe, are based on a well connected airport and live close to a well connected airport, i would bet 80% of airlines have a „commutable“ roster….
So maybe not push so hard on people saying that certain airlines have commuting/commutable rosters.
I wanted to drop my 2 cents on that
Most Airlines hiring at the moment do not offer a designated COMMUTING contract.
HOWEVER,
Depending where you live, almost all contracts are „commutable“. If you get 4 days off between Rotations for an european Airline and you live in the backcountry of argentina it will most probably not be a commutable contract for you whilst somebody living 6 hours away by car is happily commuting.
Back to Air Baltic and some informations i received during my talk with the chief pilot of AB:
If you get hired as Senior First Officer you may choose between a 5on 4 off 5 on 3 off pattern or a random roster. (5/4/5/3 roster equals 80% part time by the way so there will be less pay)
For me the 5/4/5/3 roster would be perfectly commutable.
If you are NOT SFO, you will be more or less stuck with the random roster due to seniority.
If you stuck to the random roster, then you still have the bidding system so you can bid and get rotations based on your off-day needs. On the flip side: You will most likely be flying the less requested routes - less requested for a reason, presumably….
So if you live in europe, are based on a well connected airport and live close to a well connected airport, i would bet 80% of airlines have a „commutable“ roster….
So maybe not push so hard on people saying that certain airlines have commuting/commutable rosters.
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How in the world is 5/4/5/3 a part time contract? And the standard 100% roster in well established companies.
That is more than enough days on duty to squeeze the maximum hours
That is more than enough days on duty to squeeze the maximum hours