Like most things Wal', there's good and bad, rumour, but often an element of truth, and things sometimes being blown out of proportion.
Are REX pilots being paid up to 20% below industry standard? Absolutely!
Are the pilots p!ssed off about that? You betcha!
Is it rule by fear? probably a little tougher to answer, but I'll try. Essentially the Check and training has remained unchanged, but the knife at checks is definitely a lot sharper. In addition there are now new elements (Check focus items) that are assesed. If the pilot(s) under check fail to answer these proficiently then they fail! REX are reacting to a nervous regulator in this regard. Are REX pilots being given the additional training required to meet this new level of scrutiny. Definitely not! This being a function of a chronic lack of resources. Needless to say, many now go into these checks with a higher level of trepidation than in the past. Quite often this is enough to push some over the edge. Knowledge, (and in this case practice) does dispell fear. The opposite may go some way to explaining the elevated failure rate we are now seeing?
As far as continueing to interview after the Chairman has stated publicly that jobs will go? That doesn't surprise me one little bit. Some 15 years ago Impulse airlines interviewed approx 200 pilots Australia wide for some 20 positions, and do you know why? Because they could! The fact that a large proportion of those candidates were well qualified and had spent considerable time and money to attend, was of no concern for those characters, and why should REX be any different. Just look at the goings on across the road at QFLink!
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 18th Jan 2009 at 05:59.