Blue Falcon here goes,
1-Is there a bidding system for routes, days off, spending time in destination etc..
Not really- you can make one bid every three months for days off or a certain trip. If you get it it can still be and is changed at the last minute
2-Can you fly part-time?,
No
3-Which are the routes that after completing a way and return to base least affect you in terms of jet lag, ?
Personal really. Obviously a Hong Kong or Pudong and back carry no jet lag. I dont know if you are aware but we do trips between 1-3 weeks long often literally around the world. I find the culmative jetlag a killer
4-What is it with stby time, how far away can you be from airport, time, etc,?
1 hour. you do one or two stints of standby a year. You are on standby for 18hrs somedays
5-How many days do you spend in a given destination, is it minimum rest? could you choose to spend more or less time at destination,
varies.One of our trips has a 4 night layover in Chicago. Often three nights in LA. India and China 24 hrs( dependant on where you arrive from)
6-can they allocate you days off at destination ports
No
7-Are there any go and return in the same day routes with the 747?
No. We used to do Osaka and Pudong with double crew there and back. No longer thankfully.
8-Do you feel in general a bit wasted with cargo schedule, or does the airline provide you with decent rest times and days off.
Time off varies dependant on time of year. I just had a 17 day trip followed by 14 days off( Not vacation)
1- what is your general satisfaction from handling the 747, do you feel as if the SOPs let you handle alot of manual flying. Or is it very strict?
Sops are fine. Fly manually as much as you like if the other guy is happy. However flying a 747 long haul you dont do much 'flying'. If you want hands on stuff fly a 737.
2-Do any of your destination airports allow some nice visual approaches, or any other circumstance that makes it out of the ordinary 12 mile (or further) established on final approach?
Usually into busy int airports ILS to ILS. Sharjah one exception I can think of. Usually a nice VOR/Visual approach
3-for f/o´s : Whats your GENERAL impression of skippers in SIA, tough, easygoing, rather demanding, friendly ?
Most skippers in SIA Cargo are expats. Professional relaxed. No probs
4-Hows the general mood in a long haul flights, is it relaxed, are you going to be on the mouth by others if you take out say a magazine or reading book?
Mood is fine. Books mags etc no problem.Double crew flights you spend half in the bunk- Do what you want
5-What is the expected time for command, do F/os command on these 5 year contracts?
Dont come here for a command. Lots of experienced FO,s on the way out for this reason. Apparently things are going to change but dont bank on it
-Apart from once a year free ticket, is there also concessionary travel on SIA flights, jumpseat and all?
Staff travel is garbage. No jumpseats. Apparently we will soon be able to fly on the freighter as pax..dont bank on it
Cheers
TFG