Ive seen some crewing companies spout how they offer the security of a 5 year contract. Particularly if they offer you a Captain position. (eg A320 to A330 or B767 to B747).
What they dont tell you is you will never be PIC, or be able to log PIC time, you are a cruise Captain. So it will not help you with the next PIC job application.
Are they trying to lock you in on lower pay (assuming over the next five years they have to pay more to get pilots).
What concerns me is your contract is actually only a 6 month contract, as their is a very high likelihood you may fail your 6 monthly medical, and thus lose your job.
Read on this forum how a pilot was made to do untold tests and was then required to have an procedure where they insert a tube through an artery and into your heart, he refused and lost his job.
Im also concerned about their punitive culture. A foreign Captain has just been fined $12000USD for an altitude infringement. (certainly not impossible when talking to Chinese controllers and a Chinese FO).
Then theres the incident of a korean Capt being sacked for the Mayday ATC mess, not sure if they were all speaking chinese over the radio.
But that airline had its expansion plans stopped and had to downsize by 10%. Not sure if anyone way laid off as a result. But imagine if a plane crashed within your airline, would they be forced to downsize 10%, 30% as a punishment.
Apparently all pilots get extra sims whenever the caac demand, due to an incident in another airline.
It would be a brave move to leave a good job in the West to go to China (unless you can get leave without pay and go back when you wanted).
I know a pilot who is now unemployed as he refused to sign their new contract that would seriously affect his old commuting agreement. So after years working for them for 2 contracts, they try to get you to sign a contract with lower conditions. WTF!
Others lost out on the big bonus at contracts end. Apparently expats have wised up to this. Go for a higher monthly pay with a small bonus paid yearly. You may fail your medical just before your contract ends and your $30,000 payouts due.
There is nothing secure about a Chinese contract.
Best not get a mortgage
Last edited by Soab; 22nd Mar 2012 at 00:21.