Got you sighted….
“To any East or West coast “Fokker” operators. Please remember that Air Niugini is in an industrial dispute with both the PNGAPA and NAPU. This dispute as I understand is also supported by the IFALPA and AFAP.”
Tru, the two ANG Pilot Bodies have to date paid an extraordinary large sum of money in legal fees in order to contest what both organizations see as not only unjust, but a managerial “take it or leave, no consultation/no negotiation” attitude”. ANG will have paid much more to defend its perceived right to do what it wants.
That Court action drags on and when it will finish is anyone’s guess. By all accounts it is a bitter dispute.
HOWEVER, for every Australian East/West Coast Fokker Captain that is considering a PX Contract, there would be at least 20 PX Fokker Captains (and other jet fleet Captains as well) standing in line wanting your job as soon as it was vacant. As for PX First Officer Fokker jobs, actually lets just make that PX First Officer jobs, well there will be a continual supply of those positions for quite some time.
Olderairhead….
“To paraphrase he mentions aircraft numbers.”
In respect to the Fokker Fleet, I think at the moment there are about 11 Fokker 70/100’s. The pilot numbers are hard to work out due to the recent sackings of Captains and First Officers but there would be around 23 – 26 F100/70 Captains. That number includes both the Check and Management Captains. There is still more F70’s to arrive. The shortage of crew is not just a Fokker fleet problem; hence Fokker’s on the HIR, NAN and VLI routes, which are B737 routes, DH8’s (classic and -400’s) on Fokker Routes etc.
It would seem that by necessity the schedule has been reduced to suit the pilot numbers as opposed to being increased to suit the number of arriving aircraft. Kind of handy for engineering tough, plenty of scope for XMAS trees to get parts from.
Duck Pilot….
“I hear the F100 has now got approval to operate to Micronesia at night using Tokua (AYTK) as the alternative. Have CASA PNG approved a F100 or two for EDTO operations?”
Haven’t heard of any EDTO (or even ETOPS) approvals, but those Fokker guys flying the routes are told that all ops are within 60 minutes of a suitable alternate. In addition to Tokua, Kaviang (KVG) is also available as an alternate, and of course TKK for PNI and vice versa. GUM is available with a precision approach at about 550 miles from TKK, admittedly in the wrong direction.
Tripelapidgeon….
Sounds like you have experienced working for a PNG SOE. For those not familiar SOE (State Owned Enterprise), means that the PX Government owns and in all probably (practicality?) has a lot to do with the direction the Company takes, or does not take.
Olderairhead…. (again)
“This week the number of departed since the introduction of the current contract has hit 93.”
That number would include one or two deaths, 3 or 4 compulsory age retirees, couple of failures, retrenchments (ha-ha, smart move that one!!), and more recently, quite a few sackings. The ANG seniority list would be around the 160-180 mark (6 fleets)
A figure of about 50+ Expats is bandied around as having left solely due to the 2015 Contract. That is a large percentage of the expats that were present at the end of 2014. And in just about every case each has gone on to a much better and more family friendly job. Apparently there are few (NO) regrets from those that left.
Prior to that 2015 Contract the resignation rate was quite negligible, satisfaction was high and conditions were good. Then the 2015 Contract was drafted, a total disconnect initiated by HR to the Pilot Group and the “take it or leave it as you are all replaceable attitude” became the norm, preceded of course by the change of management that occurred prior to the change to that attitude.
A new Contract is due by around April next year…there has been no contact whatsoever with the pilot groups as to what the T & C’s will contain. Most surmise it will be worse.
In a recent ANG Paradise editorial, it was stated: “In meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead, we are underpinned by confirmation of our outstanding safety records over 43 years of service to the nation.”
Perhaps mention could have been made of the experienced PX pilots who operate in some pretty difficult conditions have underpinned that safety record, of which there are now 93 less than there was only 2 and a bit years ago, (which would equate to losing something well over1/2 a million flying hours plus, with a large extent of that “Pee N Gee time”).
Good luck to all ye that still sail in the good ship Pixie, hopefully the tide shall turn and fair winds will abound.