IZAD statements are fair but somehow extreme.
I myself, like most other B737 candidates got overnight the offer to fly the B787 with a two year bond, and a $15k bonus incentive. I simply cannot produce a negative outlook about this outfit, but I do not disagree with IZAD either in his remarks about this job in China being a challenge at any cost. This is not a job for everyone except if you are focus on the ultimate goal every foreigner has here which is picking up the money bag you came to fetch, which is equivalent to double of triple of what you get elsewhere.
My only concern though is flying this new toy, a composite low cost aerocraft which they intend to use mostly for polar and trans-pacific flying across North America and perhaps into Australia and South America once the fleet expands to the 45 B787-9 on order. I say concerned after watching on YouTube the documentary program from AlJazeera called The B787, "The Broken Dreams".
I have been a narrow body faithful pilot until offered this unexpected upgrade; I must inculcate in my mind that Boeing is doing the right thing, but I have my reservations about the Dreamliner. The sofistication is there, flying would be much more relaxed, and logging hours a plus as two return trips to the USA will log you over 50 hours, so basically two trips will put you on the monthly limit.mthere is also talk over the B787 replacing eventually the B737, as the capacity per flight in a China is exceeding over 220 pax per flight. I would not be surprised if we get scheduled domestic operation in China over time.
The other concern to me is frankly the lack of international experience by colleagues like me being chosen to fly this bird; 95 % of them pilot group selected are new on flying polar and trans-pacific flights. The longer I have been on a B737 has been 07:35 hours when flying occasionally the B737-9 long haul. I also see little experience from local Chinese instructors flying to date and their Engligh levels are very deplorable to say the least. I only hope there is never a situation out of the normal, or else this would be a chaotic issue for ATC in Canada and the USA.
The make things worse, most of instruction to fly the B787 at HNA is done by The vendor, BOEING, and of course their job is to sell the product, and sell it to a foreign carrier, so they have no qualms in respect to making sure most of candidates qualify as there is no FAA or EASA rules involved, neither the pilots or the aircraft would be under a European or US registration.
Someone would say a perfect storm for an accident waiting to happen. I really thrive to see foreign experience on type and preferably wide body to join our forces here in China, as I personally would love to continue flying this bird, but would not feel very comfortable as a passenger.
I let the distinguish audience here to contribute positive comments, I am simply a lucky narrow body idiot pulled up by the inertia of this unpredictable market.
