Originally Posted by
Watchoutbelow888
Hello all, I am really interested to hear how everyone is getting on with the B777 setup at DHL. Spoken and flown with chaps from the airline and they have nothing but positives to say and any negatives are more inline with the long haul style of working. A couple questions if you’ll humour me.
How are the rosters? I would be commuting from Europe to UK and would ideally work blocks on blocks off… family man so as most of us are, trying to find the work, pay, life balance. Currently I fly in, the night before a working flight on a short haul, to save any potential dramas and most flights are mid morning where i currently work so I can actually be rested rather than rushed.
I have seen the pay scales and they are pretty good, is there much earning or an average annual gross on top of the basic salary this would be for FO, SFO, throw in Capt if you fancy? Flight pay, BDO, Hourly etc etc so I can get an idea.
Do you guys and girls enjoy it? Seems a silly question and I really enjoy my current airline but I have always been interested in DHL and wanted experience and hours before trying my hand. What’s the company culture (Really like)? Not just the company tag lines, I am not expecting Nania or some sort of Hell, just how you all get on, management, sims, crewing? General flexibility.
Estimate of time to Captaincy with wide body and Boeing experience and type rated?
I have a couple 000 hours wide body on Boeing and 3500 Boeing 737 and I am looking to rest my hat on a solid airline that I can enjoy working and enjoy home, plus be able to say I have seen and done something while away which was never the case when I was doing short haul simply because it was one strip of tarmac to the next..
Hopefully this was not a generic rambling, but any positive input is more than welcome.
It's a great set up to be honest, they do a great job recruiting the right sort of people. For commuting outside of 90 mins away, they wan't you to be within 90 mins of base 12 hours before duty starts to ensure you're adequately rested. Not the best system in the world but that's how it currently is.
Expect an additional £10,000 on top of basic salary. You get an hourly rate from when you leave EMA until you return to EMA and a small overnight allowance too. Same for all ranks.
Expected time to command at the moment probably around 5-6 years. Stalled a bit at the moment due to delivery delays of the 777 fleet, another 6 to come and probably more.
Culture is good, if you like being downroute and having a laugh with your colleagues then you'll fit in well. Expect around 400hrs per year flying but a lot of time downroute. Trips can be up to 12 days away but sometimes only flying 3 or 4 flights in that trip with a few days downroute. Good mix of people from all the big airlines around the world. BALPA company council are good too. 50 days leave (inc 8 golden days). No issue with time off in summer, expect to be busier at Christmas and you'll alternate working either Xmas or New Year each year.