I've heard QF has something like 300 pilots over 58 & 500 over 55. They can't
all stay 'til 70 years old!
As stated on other threads it serves QF's agenda to be able to characterise its pilots as:
- inefficient (even though company actions have caused most of the inefficiencies), and
- overpaid, (even though most S/Os would be F/Os in any other company flying around in crews of two-captains/two-F/Os, and most pilots don't fly the A380).
QF has some quite stark shortages already in some ranks & categories of pilots but is apparently doing its darnedest
not to hire until the crisis is bad enough in the community/pilot psyche.
I think 'the plan' is to create the case for a B-scale which will, at some point, see new pilots start on conditions comparable to the competitors.
The irony may be that, given the age profile of the existing QF pilots and the lower cost base a B-scale would provide for QF's 're-expansion', future hirees may get better progression through QF than other companies with similarly low pay rates and younger pilots.
So, if the pay were to be similar anyway, QF may be the place to join if/when hiring begins again.
Just thinking out loud...
