We are looking into the DEC scenario. It is a more cost effective to hire DEC with regard to training. Foreseeing the future, we are starting our DEC campaign. As you can see, we introduced Rapid Command Courses with no resistance from the pilot body.
We will Cat B many S/O’s and F/O’s. With some freighter F/O’s leaving and the rest Cat B’d, very soon we will have exhausted suitability qualified candidates for our 744F operations. As we did in 1996, we will be advertising for DEC on the 744F, as we do not have enough qualified in house candidates. Please refer to our latest NTC on Freighter Operations.
More and more 744 Passengers Captains are not volunteering to fly the Freighter Aircraft is only exacerbating the situation. This must not continue with the Pax F/O’s. If this happens we will have no other choice then to find these pilots not suitable for upgrade. We will then hire more DEC. We like to thank those who still volunteer to fly the Freighter Aircraft. You are doing a great job.
We MUST keep our operations intact and will use whatever measures necessary to achieve that goal, regardless of contracts, agreements or AFTL’s.
After we start hiring DEC and after the surge in training is complete, we will slowly start awarding Cat A status to S/O’s and F/O’s. We will only do this after the initial surge in training. This will last a minimum of two years.
I can assure you that no Captains will be affected by this new company policy and we will pay bypass pay to suitably qualified S/O and F/O candidates. These DEC will have seniority as of date of hiring and staff travel seniority will prevail for our F/O’s and S/O’s.
We understand this will upset some of our pilot bodies but we must remain profitable or OUR bonuses will be under threat. I am sure you understand.
Just think of it as short-term gain for long-term profitability and sustainability of our Airline.
We urge more Team Members to join our Training Team. We will be asking for more Trainers to join the 744 Fleet. If you would like to bypass seniority and be a part of our training team, we have many Training Positions for you. This could pave the way to a more managerial position in the future for those that accept.
We have a very lucrative training package and it is a very rewarding position. As in 1996 with ASL, we need pilots to train the new DEC for those up and coming Command Positions.
As with the current DEFO campaign, the DEC will be only be available on a base.
Hope your Year of the Pig is Profitable
Sun nin fai lok
Gung hei fat choi
The Management