Originally Posted by
NG708
To elaborate, no. Avoid them if you can go anywhere else. Why?
1 - The company has refused to pay the annual bonus on time to the pilots - citing an administration error! Many of us were counting on it being paid due to the reduction in pay over the winter. They have refused to make an expeditious payment - after all a bank run is electronic and instant. Instead we are still waiting.
2 - Pay has been forcibly reduced for winter contracts simply because it is winter. We are flying the same schedule but on around 1000-2000 Euro less per month depending on whether you are FO or Capt.
3 - The maintenance condition of the fleet is shocking, especially the A320/A321. As a result the company has lost all European contracts. TUI have ended its contract with Smartlynx in UK and Europe.
4 - Roster in other bases is 6/7-1, operating back to back nightflights inside Turkey. Not often that you get an external flight as Ajet do not want Smartlynx to got AOG and cost it even more in delays.
5- On the basics that affect quality of life and contracts, you have no control over anything. Any problem "downroute" is the responsibility of the charterer, ie Ajet, Indidigo etc. HO in Riga take no interest in solving problems which caused the loss of other work including the A330 fleet.
6- Hotels in Turkey for the Ajet contracts have no crew room or facilities to prep your own food, or meet colleagues. Therefore every meal must be bought and it is expensive.
7 -Company has broken their promise to the A330 pilots to maintain their rating whilst on secondment to the A320 fleet, despite being in writing. Others have been let go despite having a valid A320 rating and EASA licence, while the company keeps flying in pilots from South America.
8- Standards on Airbus are very low, as are levels of English amongst some crew. Lack of basic knowledge of Airbus SOP and operating has meant many of them carrying out proscribed approaches into potentially dangeous airfields.
They have attempted to put some pilots on a 6 week contract to pay tax but lost work because they could not fulfill this. Despite all the tax authorities now looking closely at Smartlynx in Europe, they will insist on more temporary contracts where necessary meaning you move between contractor and employed status. This will not work in Europe any more hence move to india,
Been there, done that.
All true, avoid this cancer at all cost.