Tank Engine
I bet you a single malt that some QF mainline pilots will attempt to fly with Jetstar Asia. In previous careers, highly qualified and experienced pilots, now languishing as Second Officers or Junior F/O's in QF mainline, see Jetstar Asia as an opportunity to get back in the LHS ( or evil managment promises of a fast track ).
The cost of living in Singapore and the conditions on offer would suggest a level of desperation to people outside the industry. But this is the pilot paradox, which aviation management are awakening to, where pilots are somewhat irrational in their efforts to obtain their next break.
AIPA ( by sanctioning this mess ) and the ambitious QF pilots whose conditions will only move sideways, are artificially feeding the pilot market in Singapore. The Singapore pilot market an aberration-they are plundering pilot conditions of service whereas around the world demand and consequently, conditions of service, are on the up!
If Singapore becomes a hub for low cost pilot conditions-aided by QF pilots and AIPA-the ramifications, with possible open skies agreements, a dire one indeed. QF won't be looking to base just F/A's off shore!
Who could blame these languishing QF mainline pilots? Being aware of the pilot paradox. Motivated individuals, hungry for career ( but not renumeration ) and trapped by events such as Jetstar and Jetconnect.
Akin to a trapped Dingo chewing it's leg off really. Can't blame the Dingo either. Except for getting trapped in the first place.
Keg
Don't mistake the sanitised version of Gulf Air 72 that appeared in the Australian crash comic.
The young cadet involved, inexperienced and conveniently labelled unassertive, probably covered up a far worse set of circumstances- hierrachial cockpits, Flt Management cronyism, poor and cheap training, cultural face saving and a belief that experienced pilots are not worth the investment on a modern Airbus cockpit.
These are the very same challenges 250 hour QF cadets will face in Singapore!
Think this one through gentleman, the market was not going to let the Singaporians get away with this, but QF pilots sanctioned by AIPA will!