***Message from the Chief Pilot ***
Flight Operations to cover endorsement fees for
LWOP applicants for currently-advertised JQ positions
As a result of your feedback at recent town hall
briefings, I undertook to look into the issue of
endorsement fees for Jetstar opportunities. Lyell Strambi
and I have discussed the matter, and Im pleased to advise
that Flight Operations will cover the endorsement fees
for Qantas Flight Crew who take up the recently-advertised
Jetstar positions on leave without pay (LWOP) or under
the terms of the MOU.
Since the changes to the international business were
announced on 16 August, Ive been speaking with crew
about the impact they will have on us and how we will
manage the 180 pilot roles that will be surplus at the
time the additional four B744s retire in April 2012. I
have also sought to organise a meeting with AIPA on the
impact of the initiatives contained in the announcement.
I'm still hopeful that we will be able to avoid the need
for redundancies, given that more than 250 crew have
expressed interest in taking leave without pay.
I understand that the endorsement fees are a potential
barrier to crew taking up Jetstar positions. Therefore,
Lyell and I both agree that holding on to our crew by
helping them to take up short-term opportunities with
Jetstar is a much more preferable option for everyone
than potentially having to make pilots redundant.
This arrangement will cover Qantas Flight Crew who
accept currently-advertised positions with Jetstar and
are approved for LWOP (whether under the MOU or not).
We are still working out the finer details of how the
reimbursement of the endorsement fees will be
administered. We are also working with Jetstar Pilot
Recruitment to keep them informed of our commitment.
Flight Crew who are currently going through the Jetstar
assessment process or who have been offered positions
with Jetstar already should continue to follow the normal
Jetstar recruitment and Qantas LWOP approval processes.
If you have specific questions regarding your individual
circumstances please email
....................
@qantas.com.com
Regards
Captain P.W.
