Hey hevlad:
You ask some hard questions but I will try to answer
them as best I can. Please be assured this is only my
personal opinion.
Let me answer your question as best I can. Your time
is right in line with most of the F/Os hired by the
company, but you know all too well that getting hired
is more than just flight time and ratings. That part
is completely up to you and how much you want the job.
As for the aircraft purchases, you are right. I am
not sure on the numbers (for I have heard different
numbers) but it is somewhere between 34 and 45 planes.
I believe the book values at the Dubai air show was
about $3.5 billion US – google it and find out for
sure. Opportunities abound in the sand pit!
As for upgrading in the first year! Well let me say
this, and once again it is simply opinion – everyone
has one like a butt. Don’t go into an interview with
that attitude for I am sure you will not get into the
door. Surely we all want to get that left seat, but
management does not want to hear that – trust me for
that is 20,000+ hours jet time and 32 years experience
in the airline business (not including Air Force
time.)
But the answer – well not much in this part of the
world is seniority based, but at ABY that is the
exception. You will be upgraded, or checked for an
upgrade, when you have the seniority. It’s your time!
That assumes you have the licenses and time, which
from what you said you do, but you will have to wait
your turn. Now with the planes coming that may not be
too long!
Normal upgrades are going faster than they did years
ago – at least that is the way it appears now. I take
a plane from a captain that, it seems, last week he
was flying right seat. But then again the fall of the
Soviet Union seems like yesterday to a fart like me.
Realistically, it seems like it is about 1.5 to 2
years to upgrade. The good part is that it does
happen. A very large part of our Captains flew with
me “yesterday” as F/Os.
Now your statement on housing allowance – is it
enough? You are a pilot and you should know by now it
is never enough! If it is, give me your next raise
for I have a teenage daughter (yes the sperm count is
still high) that can spend it for you. Look back on
my previous posts and you will see information on my
place. It’s over 450 sq meters (5,000 sq feet) of
family home with a separate 3 bedroom, 2 baths and
kitchen for servants – I only have 2.
You will hear that our allowance is not even in the
ball park of what it costs. What do you want? I live
in a nice upper middle class area, quiet with all the
amenities right next door. What do you want? For me,
and that is just for me, it is fine. I am a Captain
and an F/O’s housing allowance would leave me with
extra cash in my pocket, not alone my allowance. But
then again I have that teenage daughter.
As for the ATPL, you will need a GCAA license. If you
have an FAA, CAA or JAA license it will transfer
automatically, but you will have to take a local Air
Law exam – no sweat.
Hope this helps.
Burners and Out