Hi BW,
Sorry for the late reply, hope this will enlighten some of the dilemmas that you may have. Option 3 & 4 as they call them are available providing there are sufficient number of pilots willing to participate in the program. Think it is 6… It works, people involved are quite happy, though the options depend on the type of the aircraft operating the base. KAL changes the type, seasonally, and that affects the program.
It is an option at the end but it is offered when and if available…
For the option you are operating to and back from home base (AKL….). If you are not in option than you operate the original pattern 9+2 plus the days for commuting and you are DH home in that case. That leaves you with option to travel somewhere else… You do not have to go home. Instead you may take yours somebody to holidays to some of the KAL destinations…
Training wise, yes there were dropouts, unusually high for the profile and experience but… KAL puts you on the 4 flights (8 sectors) for you to prove that you have adopted required SOP and policies. That’s all. You do not have much time to play around, the sooner you call the checklist proper names and give the required callouts you’re a winner. People are failing to recognize this, especially those who spent their entire carrier in one establishment. The name of the game is “do as you’re told”…
Here is the letter from scheduling received sometimes in May...
Dear Foreign Pilot
- We receive new day off program (OPTION3 and 4) applicant for foreign crew members from JUL ~ SEP 2009.
Please apply when the base below apply to you. It shall be effective when the minimum number of crew apply.
(If there are too many applicants, the applicants who apply for 3 months shall be assigned preferentially)
- Applicable base
B744 : LAX,ORD,CDG,LHR,FCO,FRA,LAX,AMS,VIE,SYD
B777 : DFW,YYZ,CAI,AKL,PRG,GRU,SVO, LAX, YVR-SEA
A330 : SYD,LED,KUL
- Crew members who are interested shall apply through mail to Mr.---- writing request by 10JUN.
We will try our best for you to stay at your home base on those days.
Days off which were requested before shall be deleted when it"s newly applied this time.
=========== Basic information Home base program ===============
option 3 option 4
LAYOVER 168 HR (7 days local) 192HR (8 days local)
Assignment 12 times every 6 months 11 times every 6 months
DO COUNT 5 days 6 days
Pattern length 9 days 10 days
- No perdiem, no Hotel when arriving at home base (exceptionally, hotel is provided on arrival day/departure day only for flight crews whose home is far.)
- If you want to stay special day request : we consider it"s possible , no guarantee.
- All Days off and Leaves can be counted and reflected at the end of the year.
Good Luck...KAL contract is still the best commuting contract available...
