Bases: AMS, ORD, LAX. As a new hire you will probably be assigned an ORD base with a NRT Gateway, which basically means the company can start/end you at either. You may request a new Base/Gateway in March each year but you are not guaranteed your preference. The scheduler does try to accommodate all requests to start/end in the requested Base.
Pay: Depending on the agency, HACS or PARC. During the 7 months of training between $7,000 - $8,000. After training between $10,000 - $15,000 *(All inclusive, depending on agency, base, salary structure, per diems and overtime). $12,000/month average.
Scheduling: Contractually 8 consecutive days/month, for the time being 10 days/month. You can split the days as you choose 1/9, 2/8, 3/7 etc. Two sets of 12 day vacation blocks, which you may attach 10 days off either side. Your schedule may include Blank Days but there is a discrepancy in how many you may receive per month, count on none. Standbys are not scheduled which obviously affects the daily schedule.
Commuting: U.S. bases $1,000/month and AMS base $1,350 or $1,450/month depending on agency. Deadheading is either on company aircraft or commercial flights in economy.
Contract: 3 years renewable with HACS or PARC. If you apply do so with both agencies to ensure your application is submitted. You can decided on which agency before the interview/signing of contract.
Training: 4 months of ground school/SIM and two JCAB checks for non-type rated. Followed by 3-4 weeks vacation and then OJT (on job training)/line training, totaling 7 months.
Interview: 747-400 SIM ride followed by a interview with an agency representative and two NCA staff. If successful a medical in Tokyo. If you pass this medical it does NOT mean you will pass the medical after training, this is simply a medical to check if you will pass the JCAB medical.
Time to command is currently 10 years.
CAUTION
*There is no guarantee you will pass the course and you have no recourse should you fail. In 2016 there was one failure out of 17 at NCA. You may be given extra training or you may be asked to leave without.
AJX (Air Japan) has a higher failure rate, 1-2 people per course.
*You may pass the course and then fail the medical.
2/17 in 2016 had issues with medicals after passing the training.
*The JCAB may issue your medical but the NCA nurse may "revoke" it which means your insurance will not pay.
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Last edited by flyinginjapan; 9th Apr 2017 at 12:15.