training time and JCAB
MBA747
About 6 months short course for JCAB 737NG typed and experienced pilots...add 2-3 months if non JCAB....this is pretty much the same for all Jaoanese carriers
All new joiners at Skymark (JCAB rated or not) do an initial JCAB sim and route check...subsequent annual sim and route checks are in house....but, JCAB may show up to observe any required company check...in which case, expect to fail. or be pleasantly surprised with a pass ...(company checkers have to be seen to be strict in front of JCAB)...for a fail you get 2 months re training (on 2/3 pay) with a JCAB sim and route check
For subsequent checkride failures they will study your history with the company before deciding on re-training...that history will include performance checks but will be more weghted to sick days, co-pilot, ground instructor and scheduler reports (everyone reports on everyone here...they make the Stasi look like boy scouts)
JCAB also "observe" , from the jumpseat, 10 - 15 company flights a month...no pass or fail on these...but the Japanese write, and file, reports on anything and everything...these are studied by the next guy who comes to check/observe you (both JCAB and company)....they like to come prepared and will spend the same effort studying your history as you do, for your checkride
This is why more people fail the initial...unknown quantity, if in doubt, fail
It's all hit and miss with JCAB and company checkers...they all do as they please, no consistancy, even with the same checker...a percentage HAS to fail and even if you do a good job, the lottery picks the winners
As a side note, Skymark's most senior gaijin (with the company since day one) who knows the system, keeps his head down, is currently being "re-educated"....he has a couple of JCAB checks to look forward to next month...his crime? JCAB observation of annual company sim check
The course is long and boring, but not difficult...most guys say the 9 months in training was the most fun they have in Japan...once on line you work hard, (6 on / 1 off / 6 on / 1 off / etc) between your commuting
As pointed out in many of the other threads about jobs in Japan/China, if you keep your head down, treat the natives with respect (even if it's not always forthcoming from their side), stay out of company politics and you manage to keep on the good side with JCAB...then, maybe OK
It doesn't matter how much they have spent on your training/tickets:/housing/etc, they'll drop you in a heartbeat if you give them reason to
I do believe that contract pilots in Japan do not suffer quite so many hiccups as those in China (re honouring the contract). Most of the hard luck stories here, relate more to lying agency reps than blatant company dishonesty...although contract pilots here are viewed as a disposable resource