Originally Posted by
tecnamflyer
I am sure you heard the infamous audio that did the rounds of the captain gleefully denying a jumpseat to an FO colleague, and recording it? That's the tip of the iceberg in regards the CRM situation in that place. Also, how many Youtube videos are there of Aer Lingus pilots embarrassing themselves in the US, where their superiority complex clearly comes through? SFO .. JFK too, more than once.
A cadet now FO won't have anything to compare to as they won't know any better (the cadetship is notoriously nepotistic too so there is that element as well). An FO with experience of other "norms" is going to be the one to spot the abnormalities and differences. When FOs are leaving Aer Lingus and rejoining Ryanair, something is clearly up. "Treading on eggshells" is what more than one person has said about operating there. There is a much steeper authority gradient. Also, you fall out with one captain, enter the reports and HR/union .. and you will find out you have fallen out with all the captains. It is not by chance that you have specific family names in the airline represented by multiple current and past pilots .. not when thousands apply for the cadetship yet handfuls are taken. When the head of pilot HR stands up at the beginning of a recruitment day and specifically says "we audit our process to make sure it's corruption free", it's a bit odd - no? Ryanair, Emirates, BA, Virgin et al don't feel the need to have to say this?
Wasn't there a document released last year that stated all walkarounds are to be performed by the FO unless the captain dictates otherwise? And that it was the FO's duty to remove the rubbish bag from the flight deck post duty? And that the FO needed to consult the captain before getting up after shutdown? Where I fly, this nonsense is unheard of. We are equals, the captain has ultimate say on matters and there is no doubt, but the FO isn't a lapdog expected to request the PIC's permission to eat their sandwich. It's about flying, not politics.
They took on a bunch of European pilots in the last few yrs who seem to have mostly left. The Irish leaving is the eyeopener, this was unheard of. They do love the cadets, partly because it pays for the training of their own family/close friends/union interests, the company get to pay them a low wage for x years, the cadets don't know any better so will accept nonsense treatment as per above, and they are also less likely to leave due not knowing what other places are like/by the time they are free of the bond they may as well stay for command. Direct entries on the other hand will cause "issues" and more likely to leave sooner.
Yes, a great pension, probably the best around, but I'd like to enjoy my life before I get to pension age too ..
Edit to add: I see you are not a pilot and have been trying for their cadetship. If one day you do become a pilot, it will all make more sense and you will really "feel" what I mean. Now it's all about becoming a pilot and none of this means anything, or sounds exaggerated.
Quite a tirade there Tecnam,
You seem to have gotten a little bit of truth and then gone to work on exaggerating it and being just misleading.
From what I have heard the j/s audio was, let's just say a special case.
Day to day flying in AL is safe and relaxed with very good CRM. Nearly always leg on/off.
Lots of different nationalities there including in LHS and instructing. Walk arounds generally split.
Equal, well a 250 hour pilot is probably not going to get a 38kt crosswind landing and maybe a 15 000 hour Captain knows a bit more about managing difficult days, something called experience and keeping people safe. FOs there get lots of varied and challenging legs. Probably better to avoid the ME and have a RHS 10kt crosswind limit or join BA and have someone else set thrust reverse.
Pilots making a fool of themselves at outstations? If you say so. Definitely better to avoid VS or BA then (you seem to want BA). The A380 has a rep.
They do like their cadets but even they come from a much broader base and the majority of pilots seem to be DEP now.
Irish taxes and prices are high but you know that.
Seems a couple of carriers didn't fit you, your choice. It's a thread about good airlines to work for, no harm in a bit of balance and accuracy.
Good luck with the BA application.