Hi all
First post. Figured I'd provide some useful (hopefully) info on the job.
I'm relaying what I've learned and been told and peoples questions re the job offer.
Various reasons people will be looking at DHL right now; "any port in a storm" for sure, as well as long term job security going forward, maybe you just like yellow/red? etc
A number of people who've been given the thumbs up and offered the job are taking it..... but with a plan to leave when 'better' options open up later; specifically getting called back to the Mid East/Far East etc. Paying the bond off (or not) is not an issue for some.
Others will be staying of course. There's also people who've turned the job down (both who have/don't have a current flying job).
They are still focussing on FOs at the moment.
You join as a Pilot. Not a 767 or 777 pilot.... just a pilot. Fine, but...
Salary as 767 FO - 58133 GBP Yr 1, 20k GBP 3 year bond
Salary as 777 FO - 68786 GBP.
Why the difference if you're employed as a pilot?
Why is the 767 pilot not started at 68786 GBP but still with a bond?
If you're 787 rated, they won't want you to do a 1 day difference course at Boeing..... they'll want you to do a full 777 TR.
BUT, If you're 787 rated (no actual time on 777).... you'll most likely go onto the 767.
They say they only want 777 rated pilots, however they are taking a lot of Cathay 747 guys/girls and putting them on 777.
So why wouldn't they put a 787 pilot onto a 777?
767 - pretty much only 2 crew ops, very unlikely to be heavy crew - routes, Hamilton, New York, Florida (MIA/ORL?), Cincinnati, Atlanta.
777 - for next 12 months or so it'll mainly do Cincinnati...before expanding to Bahrain and further afield. Obviously, will get heavy crewed eventually.
Flight/Duty pay 3.39GBP/ hour from checkin to check out
10GBP hotel pay? TBC
10% pension contribution provided you put in 4.5% (on basic salary.)
Bonus pay - but can't be guaranteed.
42 days leave, bidding system, based on points.
8 Golden days (max 4 can be booked next together) - cat ask for Christmas, new year etc.
Leave have to take 2 weeks in summer, 3 in winter - can't be carried over or paid in lieu.
Roster - fully flexible - many stbys - CAN'T commute. 1-3+ days off between trips.
24-36 hr trips, sometimes longer (767). Longer on 777.
"Min rest within reason"(?)
Have to be within 90 min of EMA. If more, according to address on the CV they expect you to move within the 90 minutes range.
They want very flexible crew willing to work days off if needed etc regardless of family circumstances (not that they will make you, but they want to hear that in interview).
AXA health care for yourself. You can pay for extended package for family if you have one.
LOL - TBC, but, 4 x salary, then 80% for 2 years then it's over.
Time to command - they can't give an estimate of when, but at least 2 years as need 4x cmd recommendations in the sims. 2-4+ years is there general feedback from interview.
The above is 2nd hand info, but believe it to be accurate. Im not stating my opinion on anything above.
This is my opinion.
I had been looking at DHL as a possible future long term job. However, based on the above and my circumstances I wouldn't go there now. Had it been last year or earlier this year I would have jumped at the chance; I was made redundant due covid, so do know how 5hit it's been.
It's not bad. It's not great either. For some people it will be perfect, for others, not so much. Luckily I was offered a better (for me) alternative.
It's sickening to know there are people using it as temp job while there are others that need it more, also they'll waste time/money for the company. Not that we owe anything to airlines/companies - they've proved since covid they don't care about their employees (bar TUI it seems) but I wouldn't mess about like that regardless.
Good luck to those that really want it.