Strong rumours
There's 99% sure TAM will hire straight to wide body fleet (including 777) FOs AND DECS, from a very important insider.
This due to a combination of factors like lack of English proficiency by a significant number of pilots (it's been embarrasing to listen to their spell from time to time, with situations dowright dangerous); expedite grow owing to LAN merge (actually a takeover); and costs: it saves at least 50K USD per pilot to recruit straight were they are needed (avoiding 3 transition courses plus time of unproductivity).
Singapore, Emirates, Qatar, Korean Air, Asiana, Turkish, JetAirways to name a few, discovered this long ago. At the end of the day MONEY TALKS.
Simple reality check.
In particular, Turkish NEVER had expat pilots, in more than 60 years. They are recruiting for ALL FLEETS: A320, 737NG, A330, A340 and B777. Both FOs and DECs. They have one of the strongest unions and the administration convinced them that this was the way to do. The relationship between locals and expats is very good and nobody ever talk about initiate an industrial action owing to the 'frustration'.
It's just a matter of time for TAM to follow this trend. With the luxury of not having to contract expats, but rather Brazilians, fully rated with excellent standards, flying abroad.
Last edited by fullforward; 11th Apr 2011 at 11:30.