THY conditions
Any present B737 expat captain with THY is looking for “parachutes”, a back up system in case things turn foul for them.
The number of voluntary endings is still on the rise. Thy is hoping the positions will be taken by ill-informed newcomers?
The following information is posted:
Duration: 1 year renewable
Base: Istanbul, Turkey
Roster Pattern: 5 days on, 2 off / 6 days on, 1 off
Commencement Date: As soon as possible
Screening location: Istanbul, Turkey
Accommodation provided: During screening & for first 15 days after joining
Ground transportation provided throughout training
Reality is as follows:
Duration is to the liking of the company and not the employee. They might give you one week notice when they don’t extend. Even in the second year of contract THY charges the training costs to the pilots that are leaving. Many lawsuits are in place by pilots that have left to receive their correct final salary.
Base: Istanbul as base is defined by the company’s lawyers as both Atatürk and Sabhia Gökcen airports, which gives the company the right to have the pilots report at Sabhia( with a transfer to that airport in your own time and at own costs) and the right to finish your day at Sabhia (return in own time and at own costs!) The trip from Atatürk to Sabhia can take up to a few hours and a taxi will cost you substancially.
Roster pattern: The scheduling department forces their pilots to work outside the rules. In the labor agreement it is laid down that a pilot should be off duty 12 hours after his last flight before his day off starts. In real life the schedules have been stretched to end at midnight before the day off. The subtle pressure being used is the line: if you don’t fly we will take your salary…. Afraid of hassle (and or job) many just do it.
Commencement date: the sooner the better as they are running short on captains (many Turkish pilots have not passed the English language proficiency test).
Screening location: Of course Istanbul with a paid ticket by the company. Better to inform the new guys about the ID90 rights are only for the first year. The second year ZED fares are in force.
Accomodation: no remarks
Ground transportation: more precise information will learn that the only paid transportation is from the hotel to training center. Any other transportation to head office, police station, photo shop, hospital, clothing center etc., will not be reimbursed.
Think twice , learn Turkish as they hardly speak English and only join when you are desperate, otherwise you will become it just a bit later...
Long haul? Much better conditions. Commuting contract and housing arrangements.