On the “singapore airlines recruiting” thread, EasyGo-Lucky? presents very accurate information re: captain salaries on the “cargo contract”.
Readers who may be considering a move to this SE Asian pasture may care to further consider that it is the continued policy of the Singapore Government (though mutely stated) to progressively weaken the currency in order to remain wage and cost competitive with the likes of China, India, Thailand et al. Some in Singapore would take issue with the fundamental soundness of this genius strategy and its potentially catastrophic deflationary effect on the Singapore economy, but there is hereabouts, of course, no mechanism to air dissent or broadcast alternatives.
As an example, when first I arrived on this brown pasture, the Sing $ stood at 2.23 to the £ Sterling. The ratio is now 2.90, falling daily and will quickly pass the psychological ratio of 3.00. So prospective captains to this cargo backwater may like to do their sums in respect of any foreign currency remittances which they may be obliged to make in the years ahead and come to an appropriate judgment as to their future course of action.
Similarly, the much vaunted B747-400 has become very much yesterday’s airplane as evidenced by the accelerating SQ disposal programme and the plethora of locals jumping to the B777 fleet.
There is a definite sniff in the air here of the B777-200/300 and possibly 300ER being the B747 replacement on the slightly thinner 747 routes and the coming A380 revolutionizing fares and services on the major trunks.
It could, therefore, be an idea to review any career strategy you may hold, prior to entering an exceptionally onerous bond and accepting a remarkably austere benefit package, to fly a distinctly dated airplane of declining passenger utility, in the cargo section of our industry.