Many of the BNE ATR drivers were happy on the ATR and many did not want to bid across to the jets. A large percentage have already flown jets for other operators already. Nothing special. Many of us chose lifestyle over equipment.
VA have decided to close the BNE base and many were then forced to evaluate what is best for them and their families. With the BNE base closing, only SYD and CBR bases are offered on the ATR, however, SYD isn't really an option for most because there will only be 6 captains and 6 FOs there. Many do not want to go to Canberra and with it not being a jet base, will have to move again when the company finally releases them. Due to this, a number of pilots have asked for voluntary redundancy, however, the company will not entertain this.
The BNE ATR pilots have been forced to bid for jet positions. Moving across to the jet isn't that straight forward. Up until recently, psychometric testing, an interview and a sim check were required. The interview consisted of nugget questions such as "why do you want to work for Virgin"! The psychometric testing has since been dropped and apparently the interview now is more aligned to recognise that the pilot they're interviewing is already on the VA AOC, under the VA training and checking system and already flies VA passengers!
The commuting offer is indeed for 12 months, however, that's not the full story. The original commuting offer was just duty travel, no accommodation, no transport and no allowances. The unions dug their heels in and now BNE based ATR people can commute for 12 months but they will not receive any transport, accommodation or allowances after the beginning of November, however, duty travel will be provided - this will make reserve duties costly after November.
Recruiting externals on to the 737 ahead of ATR pilots has nothing to do with who flies a jet first. It's to do with basing. A BNE 737 base is some years away for ATR people based on the GDOJ. Most of the ATR pilots want to operate out of Sydney or Melbourne. Places in these bases are limited. SA himself wrote an email to the ATR group explaining that if we didn't bid on this current round then only NZ and Perth are likely for us in the future, so we placed our bids. We were told at this point that they would move us off when they could and some courses wouldn't be planned until next year. Fair enough we all thought, at least we will know where we are going and can either commute for the year or make short term accommodation provisions.
Again with VA, this isn't the full story. We have since been told that VA will only release 20 ATR pilots off of the ATR. The company said this will not be based on GDOJ but rather based on who has completed their jet assessments already. This was a clever ploy because generally many of those who have completed their assessments are down the GDOJ list and aren't even in BNE. The senior guys and gals in BNE were happy there and have not yet completed their assessments. This is an underhand tactic to keep all of the experienced people on the fleet. I believe as of the last day or two that the unions are still in negotiations to have VA actually follow the EBA and hence not releasing the newest bid awards.
The VARA EBA was agreed for VA ATR pilots. Our EBA which VA agreed upon has the provision for bypass pay. Put simply if the company decides to hold a pilot back on a position when his or her GDOJ number comes up then they receive bypass pay for that position! It is their turn to earn that salary and are being held back for no fault of their own. It becomes doubly frustrating at the prospect of external candidates lower down the list not only taking a preferred base but also earning more in the process. The argument about getting 777 captains pay is absurd and no one is asking for more than they are entitled to, so please stop with the sensationalism.
If the company want to keep experience on the fleet then they should simply recognize it and reward it. Pay bypass pay to those eligible to move, give course start dates and bases to pilots now so they know where they'll be in 12 or 18 months. Allocate the more favourable bases to those in order of GDOJ ahead of externals even if they have to stay on the ATR for 12 or 18 months. Put all new hires mandatorily onto the ATR where they have the choice to upgrade or move onto other fleets as their seniority allows.