Hi pigdriver
Not contradicting anything you have said, the jungle drums I have heard are similar with a few variations.
AJX (Air Japan, the px operation), is allegedly not looking at the moment for non-rated drivers but looking to upgrade current F/O's; that's todays story of course, wake up tomorrow and could all be different.
AJV (the "newer" freight side) is looking for rated/non rated capts and F/O's.
The freight side has slightly(?) better T&C's as more back of the clock therefore harder and worthy of better pay - that's the story.
For any remotely interested I would suggest look up Crew Resources (associated with HACS, set up by some ANA execs as a way of screwing more money out of ANA as middlemen - allegedly - a bit like GD and that new cabin crew company at the rat.)
They have indicative T&C's (this is NOT a contract!) on the website, interestingly last time I looked the Air japan side was "locked out" with no info inferring that there are no positions currently available?? May have changed.
Without actual figures there does seem, as you indicated, to be a significant washout rate - reasons open to conjecture.
Regarding ANK (the 737's) they have never had foreigners until the last 6/12 months and have had a lot of difficulties adapting to the culture shock of foreigners within their ranks.
Quite a number apparently have departed having been cleared for less than 6-12 months.
One of the quaint ANK ideas was to have the new Captains, after 6 months (+/-) of blood sweat and tears actually getting the JCAB licence and being cleared by the JCAB, do company "checks" every month for the first 6 months to make sure their standard was OK.
A "warm and fuzzy feeling" for who with this thought??
Suppose if you got a reasonable company checkie and it was more "observational" then OK; if you got one who hadn't scored from the missus the night before and was not the happiest individual.......!
Of course if they could not "check" you in any month for operational reasons that would be OK - just roster two the next month.
I'm sure there's logic there - somewhere.
The dash 8's - weeeeeell someone might have suggested that the greater the meglomania of an exec the further down the food chain was he cast to run his own operation. Whom would I be to make comment?
Be aware of carrots - for example the agreement would only be for an upgrade assessment for F/O's, NOT a guarenteed shot at command. Big difference.
Consider tax implications - gotta pay tax somewhere.
Anyhow my two cents worth.
Cheers
galdian
