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4 of the latest additions to the expat department “failed” on their last sim check. Back to back. Fired. Several other expat veterans dropped for dead on regular line checks. Months of “jumpseat retraining” to make up for the performance. Public internet shaming on the scheduling page to top it all off.
Humiliating and patronizing does not even begin to describe it, and this in a country that takes “saving face” very seriously.
Reasons for such failures are varied but very far from aptitude, performance, professionalism or personality clashes. Changes to SOP’s and OM’s are regular and NEVER made available to pilots. No emails, notices to crews or postings notifying such modifications to the operation. Reminiscence of a medieval HBO show.
When you see your colleagues getting slaughtered in such a ridiculous and public shows, pondering options is the only way to go. This system seems out of control.
Growth has slowed to a halt. No more airplanes. CAAC leadership is a “transitional” period, hence no more friendly handshakes. New hires are no longer wanted, needed nor required, as the CAAC demands pilots must be on payroll in order to apply for aircraft. Flight and sim checks are now beyond belief. Forget the multiple unrelated emergencies while single pilot. What was then a nightmare is now considered a child’s game. Personal phone calls are still taken during sims and the occasional snooze on the back has too!
If there was not enough grief with the previous simulator circus, schedules, astronaut medicals conducted in appalling conditions, extreme heavy handed fines, a city that charges primary through high school children’s fees over $1,500 per month per kid, inflation that is mind boggling and air pollution that brakes the 500 PI scale on a “hazy” day, it now seems that a heavy dozen of the local and older drivers are also departing on their initiative to other local companies with better human skills. Makes anyone wonder how did it all get to this point if not even the locals can take it anymore.
The sand pit is looking greener every day …