Unfortunately no one knows the criteria that QR will use to crew the new A-330’s. It is most cost effective to hire rated direct entry pilots, but moral is very low and with out any transfers off of the other fleets the moral will only get lower.
Management thinks that the current pay will stop the pilots leaving. In my opinion they are wrong- they need to understand that we are not slaves. Like them we have family and friends that we like to spend time with. We need to have a preferential bidding system to maintain a quality of life (like keeping the wife happy). Most of the pilots are not here for the weather, scenery or culture - we are here to make money but not at the total expense of our enjoyment of life.
If QR wants to retain pilots for the long term then they need to address the current issues. If this is not done then the current rate of turnover will continue, people have to be happy to stay no matter how much money we are being paid.
If the current issues are not resolved, QR will not be a career but a temporary place to work until a better job comes along. The only pilots that will be left long term will be the ones that no other airlines will employ.
The company plans to more than double in size in the next 5 years. The issues will only get worse if they are not corrected now.
If you work at QR and are worried, please write to your Chief Pilot, the GMFO and CEO and respectfully express your opinions on upgrades, fleet transfers, preferential bidding, the new pay package, a Providence Fund and any other things that you think will improve QR. If we do nothing, nothing will change. If management do not know the feeling of the pilot group (they don’t), then current policies will not change for the better.
Let’s hope that changes happen at QR to change it from a job to a career for present and future pilots.
Cheers