Korean Air issues:
Hardly a month goes by that I don't receive e-mails from the various pilot recruitment agencies from around the world, requesting applications for recruitment by Korean Air.
The applications received by Korean Air to attend the screening process however are minimal in number to say the least and have steadily been dropping off. Why is this one may ask?
There are numerous reasons for this and I hope that by writing this, Korean Air will see how they can improve their success in maintaining current pilots and recruiting new ones:
As an active pilot with Korean Air at present, I can provide first hand knowledge as to the problems faced by the expat pilots, and additionally, what is told to me by other pilots as to the reasons why many have left KAL, or are planning to leave. It is my hope that Korean will be able to accept constructive criticism and change some of their practices for the better, as I would like to make it to retirement from their ranks at 65, a goal which, at the present time seems dubious at best.
1. It appears that while KAL see and are very aware of the problem as to having too few pilots, and are actively trying to recruit more, they are simultaneously, it would appear, on a mission to pressure the foreign pilots out of the airline. It's a fact that the KAL pilots union does not want foreign pilots in the airline. The attitude of the local Korean pilots toward foreign pilots is at best, unfriendly and there is a constant feeling of animosity. The annual line check, which, in any other airline is a routine occurrence, is a good indicator of the animosity that is felt by the local KAL pilots. The line check is used, by and large as a tool to belittle and humiliate the foreign pilot, beginning with the oral segment of the line check, where the crew being checked is subjected to an hour’s session of questions and answers, where the checker asks a random 25 questions out of a bank of approx. 200, that is meant to have been studied and memorized by heart prior to the day of the line check. No open books are allowed. A pass mark of at least 70% is required for this oral test and if not attained, cancels the line check, with the obvious consequences for the trainee.
2. While First officers are for the most part, respectful and accommodating, it is rumored often about a system in place, where they are able to anonymously report on the Captain that they happen to be flying with, and the said Capt is never given the opportunity to even challenge or defend himself against the report...it is secretly placed on his file for future reference, resulting in very experienced and competent pilots not having their contract renewed when it comes up, and not being given any reason as to why. When one hears of a 15 yr KAL pilot not being renewed with no reason given, it is no wonder that this is resulting in foreign pilots leaving KAL at the first opportunity to go to China, Turkey, etc. or holding out until the first better opportunity presents itself to protect their incomes and future.
3. Then there is something called “factoring of hours”. This is applied only to the
expat pilots and not the Koreans. What this in effect means is that depending on whether it is a two pilot operation, i.e.. Capt and F/O, or whether it is a three pilot or double crew operation, one’s hours are adjusted accordingly. This means that you can effectively be rostered to do 100+ hours in a month, but will not exceed the factored ( as far as Korean Air are concerned ) 75 hours, after which overtime is paid. They are extremely careful to ensure that no overtime is paid.
4. Expat pilots get a total of 11 days off every month ( 9 hard days and 2 days which
can be tacked on to the 9, but which are actually collectable vacation days.
The working days that are then left for Korean Air to utilize the expat pilot, are
used to the absolute maximum. The majority of the flights have a turnaround or layover time of 24 hours or less, on average 18-20 hours. This quite literally only gives one time to sleep and eat and get ready to go again. The flights are also very
often rostered East and West consecutively, giving very little consideration for the
time zone changes, etc. This schedule results in one feeling bone tired halfway through the schedule which is a safety concern. The Korean pilots find our intense schedule amusing and often remark on the fact that we have no time off between flights when they have 2-3 days off. Flying near 90 hours a month up from 75 a few yrs ago is indicative of the shortage of pilots flying.
5. Given this very high duty time utilization, Korean Air have also implemented an
on-line ground school function on their crew web site, requiring crew to spend
hours of their own time completing a series of ground school subjects prior to the
regular simulator check every six months. As there is little or no time to
accomplish this task during the pilot’s working period, this has to be done during
the pilot’s off/vacation days at home. Korean Air have also recently begun to expand on these on-line ground school courses, which now also include emergency equipment and procedures training, prior to the regular CRM training course. By providing and enforcing the completion of these training courses on line, Korean Air are saving on training days in the classroom, thus increasing the pilot utilization.
6. Korean Air have also not provided a salary increase for a number of years now for the expat pilot community, while having increased the Korean pilot’s salary packages. This has resulted in the salaries lagging way behind the industry’s market related salaries.
This is despite the fact that Korean are struggling to attract quality pilots in a
market that at present is desperately short of pilots. Korean Air seem to be of the
misguided opinion that the commuting benefit overrides everything else and that the expat pilots will accept absolutely anything for the ability for them to commute to a home base.
7. Commuting to and from one’s home base after vacation was also in the past, accomplished in First class ( even though the employment contract did not specifically state this ). This was arbitrarily taken away after an incident involving a couple of expat pilots commuting back to home base. Korean Air were once again punishing the whole community for the actions of a couple of inconsiderate pilots, because it suited them.
8. As stated before, the only reason why foreign pilots stick it out at KAL is the fact that it is a good commuting contract, and KAL knows this. But they will continue to lose pilots to other airlines or risk all leaving as soon other airlines follow their commuting contract example. Lets hope that KAL eventually recognize that their current corporate culture with regards to how they pay, work, train, and treat their current and future foreign pilots needs to be reviewed and dramatically improved.