Originally Posted by
Space Yak
Bumping this to the top in the hope of more updates. I originally got the “currently unable to progress your application” email in May, but have now completed the cognitive assessment and am waiting for an interview board date. Some questions to throw out there…
How many externals have been interviewed/hired so far? How long is the tag and release list now?
Future recruitment board dates, how many per month, how far in advance are they filled? What is the timeline like up until the start date. Any other useful interview info?
Why is the 777 so much more senior than the 787? (Based on previous upgrade comments)
For first preference options, what are some S7 vs S8 considerations? Likelihood of only being offered F20?
What is the company KiwiSaver contribution?
How many min days off per roster? How many LH trips? Trip length?
How many weeks annual leave?
How good/bad is pilot morale out on the line right now?
PM’s welcome. Cheers.
There have been 2 external boards this year that I know of, so ~20 interviewed with 6 expected to start in Nov. Roughly 40 Pilots are either on LWOP or Regional Trainers on Secondment.
P&W engine issues have delayed the company publishing an updated course forecast and they've also cancelled a number of A320 courses this year due to training capacity issues.
Morale is rather low at the moment due to ongoing lifestyle concerns. Bid satisfaction is down, 777 Pilots are getting flogged and Airbus Pilots are doing 3 Call rosters a year. Unfortunately, managements decisions around post COVID fleet and Pilot numbers have proven to be woefully inadequate. We simply don't have enough Aircraft at the moment, especially with a number of NEO's grounded without engines, which is somewhat masking a current Pilot shortage. Recruitment
should keep ticking over to ensure we have the numbers to fly additional Aircraft as they arrive, or get new engines.
The 777 is more Senior to the 787 simply because it pays more, except for SO's who are on the same rate regardless of fleet. S7 vs S8 really comes down to route structure. 777 you'll mostly be doing LAX, SFO & IAH while the 787 goes everywhere else. For what it's worth, 777 has the better Crew Rest!
LH Trip length can vary from 2 days to over a week on ULR Trips (SO's only do ORD at the moment). Company releases a bid pack for each roster specifying the average days off and hours flown. If you bid for short trips you'll do more than if you bid for long ones, but with few exceptions, everyone has to fit within the "window". It's a Seniority Bias system meaning a Senior Pilots bids carry more weight than a Juniors but we're all expected to do the same amount of work so keep that in mind when bidding.
10 Days off per 28 day roster with a few fleet specifics around dipping below and rolling averages.
Annual leave is 34 Days + 11 Public holidays which can be converted to leave or accrued as AHR's (days in Lieu). The leave system is a bit convoluted, we have an annual ballot to book leave so you really need to plan ahead and we used balancing days to take leave in either 7 or 14 day blocks. Long Service leave and other benefits come later.
7.5% Kiwisaver.