Chimbu
The conditions at
VB are the business of professional pilots in the region because at the moment, surreptitiously, they are affecting negotiations for future payrates.
The low wages and poor perks at
VB have resulted in similar, or less, with start ups such as Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Jetconnect and Pacific Blue.
Pilots attempting to hold the line-QF, CX, KA, EK and others face tough times at the table, negotiating improved conditions and pay rates for Australian basings. The tough conditions brought on by what must be the cheapest pilot labour worldwide-Australians.
It is accentuated by Virgin Blue pilots, and possibly yourself ( who the hell has to pay for a 767 endorsement), who use their present employer as a stepping stone to the few jobs left worldwide that offer conditions of old.
This is a General Aviation paradox, paying for your own endorsement and working for low wages as a means to an end. It should not be occuring at an airline level.
Even 89ers shake there head at
VB conditions I might add.
Dehav'
There are a lot of Virgin Blue pilots trying to get into Dragonair and Emirates at this very moment. It frustrating that they can not see the damage their present conditions have done to the industry. The short sightedness of paying for a crappy job as a means to get a well paying job; the blissful ignorance of believing the better paid job will still be well paid in a few years time in market conditions THEY created!
Virgin Blue pilot attrition may well be impertinent to my market forces theory as, despite the attempts and flippant beliefs coming out of the Brekky Creek, success rates low. Someone mentioned QF and Easten pilots more successful. A good effort the later, holding the line the Eastern turbo prop guys, not paying for an endorsement as it was not so long ago in Australia.
Success rates for
VB pilots may improve if they realise there are some aerodynamic fundamentals in having winglets. They are not there for a Virgin Blue logo or to make their little red, sports car of the sky look any cooler!
Aviations biggest bullshi$$ers
VB pilots-when talking about their pay rates. Was talking to an
VB driver in Dubai who mentioned he sruggled to make 130K and flying near 900 hours.
If you double your DTA, include super and loss of license insurance, aswell as the case of village wine from Branson at XMAS, I suppose
VB pilots crawl toward the 150K mark!