According Indonesian regulations you can fly 110 hours monthly or 1050 annually. But the company is adding airplane faster than they can produce pilots. So go figure... they will ask your help to fly as they don’t have pilots. And for sure they will erase the record to keep you happy. Payment wise they will offer big money for those willing to fly more than limits.
Unstable roster as commercial department wants: to 1. Sell as many flight as possible.
2. Combine those flights which don’t reach BEP. on daily basis they will cancel fights. Even you have biweekly roster, your life will be depending to your phone. SMS schedule revision on daily basis. If you say no to scheduling then they will insist, after several times the chief or the assistant will give you a call.
Apartment rent is pretty cheap compared to sandpit. Also food is relative LT cheap especially if you are keen to try local.
Training emphasizes on Boeing FCOM. Many new airports has ILS. smaller airports has VOR DME approach with 2200 m. long runway with bumpy surface.
Your buddy on the right seat will be speaking level 4 English (at least on paper). However you will find many will struggle if engaged in daily (non aviation) conversation. Very few have level 5 let alone 6. Expect the same level of English with ATC. Engineers also are limited in English. Could result in wrong MEL item selected, such as selecting INDICATIONS as being in MEL relief instead of the ACTUAL SYSTEM. you’re on your own.
Be be very careful with the inflight crew meal. it’s highly recommended to grab a sandwich on the terminal ont he way to the gate. Be mindful if you ask for snacks as it’s on the FA’s money.
company support: when you’re near home base or major airport it’s usually VHF. HF although provided is rarely manned. No ACARS nor SATCOM. No layover phone and off course no company credit card. Not even for fuel.
Outside Indonesia, B737 will fly to China, Korea, Jeddah (via Trivandrum). If it’s enlarged crew don’t worry they have single class economy only. Minimal to none training on how to fly in cold wx, hot wx, QFE operation (required on certain destination din China).
ILS CAT I only. No lowvis. LNAV VNAV, no IAN, no HUD. The company have been trying to obtain RNP APCH AR but there was hindrances in the certification. And the most interesting is of course NDB 36 circling to MDC. one good side is they don’t really care how much extra fuel you carry.
If thereis LMC make sure the amend the manifest as well. Need to really check if they offload the baggage if there’s pax offload. It’s PIC job.
And you will be in the blind like in the 70s. You don’t get to read any ASR/CSR as they are for managers eyes only. And you don’t have channel to report to the authority.
It always looks greener on the other side.