Emma Ritz

Thanks for comments everybody.

Couple more questions though, if you join MK as an expat ATR pilot, is there some kind of seniority list / career path? i.e. can you expect to be upgraded to the Airbus at some stage or are you going to stay on the ATR forever?

Aerobuzzer - when you say that recruitment is a very slow process, I see they say they will call you back for a simulator assessment if you pass the interview in mauritius, how long do you think the whole process would take from interview to sim check to job offer?

Agent Oringe

What Type is the Sim Ride on?
Is it in MRU or somewhere else?

When at the interview and if successful do you get a choice of :
ATR Capt
A319 F/O
A340 F/O ??

Is your interview based on what you applied for or will they change the offer.
Eg if you applied for A340 F/O because you wanted to fly the Long Haul, they offered you ATR Capt instead. Or if you applied for ATR Capt but they offered you the A340 F/O Position.

Me personally, I would go for the A340 F/O postion. even if offered the ATR Capt Position.

Is there an Age limit/cut off point where you would not be considered for interview, either Too Young or dare I say it. Too Old?
What is the Retirement age?

Any thoughts from other prospective candidates?

Good luck everyone.

Aerobuzzer

Emma, expect around 1-2 months between the interview and the simride.
Simride depends on the aircraft u'll be flying. Simcheck held in London Heathrow for the Airbus, ATR in Bangkok most problably.
Keep in mind, expect no upgrading for expat pilots. That's why a whole bunch (35-50 expats) A340 FO's and also A319 Captains ( no upgrading to command 340 )left the company flying now for Emirates and Etihad. The only transitions between aircrafts is from A319 FO to A340 FO for expats. However Mauritian pilots were able to transition from FO ATR to FO 340 or 319. Also for the commands. This is how it works.
Even for an expat captain ATR, very difficult to transition on the airbus fleet and when he gets the opportunity he will begin as FO 319 or A340.
If u apply A340, get promised 340 u can get 319 to start with !! ATR stays ATR. That's what I heard.

Bad Robot

What routes do the A319 operate ?

G Jetson

They are selling the 2 ATR-42's, so why are they needing more crew ??
The CP of the ATR fleet is difficult to get along with, don't expect any help from him, he's there to prove himself to higher up's.
ATR sim, if you go with CP or FTM is not for learning, it's a sacking tool.
Very low morale still in the company but worse of all on the ATR.

Aerobuzzer

Plan is to replace the 2 ATR-42 by 2 ATR-72, increasing capacity.

rwethereyet

Just received a call (as well as a couple of colleagues of mine) asking me/us if I/we would be interested for a contract on the 767 !? I thought that MK was getting rid of their 767's!? Aren't they over staffed on the 767 or has everybody jumped ship both to the 340 or off the island !? I've heard that there has been a constant exodus of pilots but to this point !? Can anyone shed some light on this.....just out of curiosity .....thanks.

Bad Robot

I have an Interview in 3 weeks time. T&Cs seem to differ from what has already been said. I will go through them with a fine tooth comb shortly.

My Interview is for Direct Entry A319/A340 my preferred option is A340 as I have not done Long Haul. However, the A319 looks a good aircraft anyway. What routes do the 319s operate? My back ground is Medium Haul Jets. UK and Europe.

I am still keeping an open mind about the recent termoil, my company has been in termoil for several years now. So a change is as good as a rest but in a choice location. I am also very well aware how the industry in general has changed over the last few years.

Bad Robot

Surely there must be some 319/340 guys who can offer some advice?


OK just read previous post on Sim assesment, LHR 319 and BKK ATR.

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

dingduck2

Hi Badrobot ! Opportunities plentiful on A319 which operates to Africa & the Indian Ocean islands. However , I strongly suggest that you weigh the pros & cons as well as a very good look at your pay packageoffer ... might not be the Eldorado you are wishing for...

dingduck2

Hi Rwethereyet ! Yes MK is getting rid of it's B767 late 2006/ beginning 07.
So, if you have a couple of monhs to kill, Fine ! otherwise I wouldn't start making career plans ...
As for the Exodus, looks more like Moses leading the jews out of Egypt !
With Pharaoh not caring a damn!

chrispatrickGA

Hi guys , have you still some frecnchies flying for the company?
Christophe . S used to fly on A340 few years ago...is he stiil over there?
What a bout JBenoit on 319?
Safe flights guys...

Twin2040

Hi - anybody able to help me out here. As F/O on 767 (contract) how many days pr month away from Mauritius. Also contract says " 8 days off duty pr month" - is that always spend on Mauritius.

Many thanks and regards. Twin2040.

boeing747sp

latest saga ... days off can be taken at outstations... absolutle gen; have heard of some guys only getting 4 days at home per month... nice family life!!! Imagine spending your days off in Madras!!!

Twin2040

Thanks for the reply SP - anyone with MK able to answer. Contract layout states 8 days. Have a nice weekend. Regards. Twin2040.

LocaliserAlive

Twin2040,

I confirm what SP said. They can and will roster you off overseas if they can't avoid it.

Cheers,

Loc

Twin2040

Thanks Loc. You got PM. Twin2040

Bad Robot

Actually I wouldn't mind the odd occassion where I have rostered days off somewhere different. I'm sure the novelty would wear off pretty sharpish though, if you were rostered your "overseas" days off in the same place all the time due to "crewing complications"

Interview is next week and looking forward to it.

Bad Robot

Here are the terms and conditions sent to me recently.
These seem vastly different from the salaries posted earlier on in this thread, which I have copied below for comparison.

minimum monthly salary maximum monthly salary
(from Wingmaaan) Even converting MRU Rupees to Stirling there seems to be a major discrepancy ???

F/O ATR €3,091 €4,086
F/O A319 € 4,459 €6,571
F/O B767 € 5,179 €7,319
F/O A340 € 5,179 €7,319

CPT ATR € 4,173 €5,557
CPT A319 € 6,151 €8,888
CPT B767 € 7,142 €10,491
CPT A340 €7,142 €10,491

the above figures are Net Pay EURO and include monthly salary,bonus,expatrial allowance,end of contract gratuity,profit sharing and flight duty allowance.










I. This is not a contract of employment but an outline of the main conditions applicable to Expatriate Pilots. Other conditions not listed hereunder shall be applicable as per Agreement between Mk and the Pilot Union

II. The Crew Member is employed and will operate as an A340 or A319 First Officer, whichever is applicable. The Crew Member shall undergo training, if required, for the operation of the aircraft.

III. Should the employee require a type rating, the latter will be required to
a) sign a Training Bond with MK covering the amount spent on his training.
b) participate in the cost of training up to an amount of MUR 400, 000 payable monthly over a period of 4 years and interest free.

Conditions of Employment Applicable to either A340 0r A319 Pilots:

1. The Agreement is for a period of four calendar years

2. The Crew Member shall be based and report for duty in Mauritius and shall comply with the instructions of MK.

3. During the period, MK will pay or provide to the Crew Member:

(i) Basic salary at the rate listed hereunder:-

A340 F/O A319 F/O

Ist year: Rs 92,694 – p.m Rs 79,622 – p.m

2nd year: Rs 95,475. – p.m Rs 82,010.– p.m

3rd year: Rs 98,338 – p.m Rs 84,470. – p.m

4th year: Rs 101,290 – p.m Rs 87,005. – p.m

The incremental credits are subject to the crew member’s performance and conduct being favourably assessed by the Chief Pilot of the fleet.

The basic salary will be reviewed annually in accordance with the current Agreement with the Pilot Union.

In the event of the Crew Member being called upon to operate over and above 75 flying hours per month, extra remuneration will be paid at the rate of one and a half times the basic hourly rate.

Basic hourly rate is computed as follows:

Monthly basic salary
---------------------------
75

(ii) One month's basic salary as bonus for each year served, payable on the eve of the anniversary date of the agreement.

(iii) 20% end of contract gratuity based on the equivalent of 12 months basic salary for each year served excluding any bonus, overtime and allowances earned during the duration of the agreement, payable at the end of the agreement, provided the Crew Member, having satisfactorily complied with all the provisions in this agreement, remains in the employment of MK until the last day of the agreement.

(iv) A fixed payment as Flight Duty Allowance at the rate of
a) First Officer A340 - Rs 240/- per hour at the end of each month based on the equivalent of 75 fixed flight hours.
b) First Officer A319 - Rs 190/- per hour at the end of each month based on the equivalent of 75 fixed flight hours.

(v) A monthly expatriation allowance of 11% of basic salary payable at the end of each pay period.

(vi) Travel Privileges:

1. One confirmed embargo free FOC ticket per family member per year on MK route structure.

2. Two FOC subject to load embargo free tickets per family member per year on MK route structure.

3. Six FOC subject to load embargo free tickets per family member per year on MK route structure.


Class of travel will be in Economy Class, with upgrading possibility to Business Class, subject to the Business Class compartment being open for commercial traffic and subject to seat being available.

(vii) Meal, S & T at prescribed rates, which rates may be subject to review as determined by MK.

(viii) Hotel Accommodation whilst laying-over at outstations.

(ix) Housing Accommodation in Mauritius:

MK reserves the right to provide suitable accommodation in Mauritius. Should this not be possible, a monthly housing allowance of Rs 16,000/- will be paid to the Crew Member as a Company contribution towards the costs of housing accommodation. This allowance may be reviewed on 01 April of each year.

(x) Standard MK Uniforms.

(xi) Worldwide, twenty-four hour Personal Accident insurance cover.

(xii) Free Company transport to attend work in Mauritius, in accordance with MK current policy for staff transport.

Alternatively, the Crew Member may use his own car to attend work. By notifying the Company of this fact in writing, the Crew Member shall be paid monthly a maintenance allowance of Rupees two thousand and three hundred (Rs 2,300) plus a fuel allowance related to the distance between place of residence and the airport. In this event, the entitlement to free transport shall cease.

(xiii) Medical facilities through the contributory Air Mauritius Provident Fund Association in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Association. The Crew Member shall, upon acceptance in the Association, pay the equivalent of six months' subscription.

7. The Crew Member shall be entitled to 30 days paid leave per annum calculated according to the start of the period and without the right to carry forward to the following year.

8. Transportation of personal effects as unaccompanied baggage.

This is limited to 500 kgs chargeable weight for married employees or 250 kgs chargeable weight for unmarried employees and will be provided to the Crew Member to relocate from Mauritius on termination of the agreement for whatsoever cause.

The crew member shall not under any circumstances unless authorised by the Flight Operations Management, use the services of any other carrier except Air Mauritius for the transportation of personal effects.

Emma Ritz

Bad Robot :

I thought like you when I saw those T&C's as well, they are from a document that was available on the MK website about 6 months ago. It was only up on the website for a few weeks and then around xmas they took it down again. The reason became obvious when I trekked all the way out to Mauritius only to find that the contract they were offering me was VERY different to say the least.

The up to date pay scales can be found on PPJN, and yes I can 100% guarantee that they pay their expats in rupees not in euros.

In fact it's even worse than the PPJN figures if you're not type rated because they will subtract the cost of any type rating training from those figures over the 4 year contract - i.e. for the ATR it's minus 400,000 rupees over 4 years.

Based on the document I have sitting on the table beside me, which I was given at my recent interview, I calculate the monthly take home pay of the A319 FO / ATR captain including all allowances, to be in the vicinity of 115,000 rupee / month if type rated, 107,000 if not. Yes you get the 20% gratuity at the end of 4 years but that's what you have to live on in the meantime ( and there's no pension either, remember that before you start thinking to spend all that gratuity at the end of your contract )

Housing seems to be a major problem from what I saw in my time there, lets just diplomatically say that there seems to be a pretty vast difference between expat and local workers, in expectations of what's minimum acceptable standard of housing, and the accomm allowance seems to be tilted more towards the locals I just did my research based on the minimum level of house that I thought would not end in divorce before the 4 year contract was up, and it certainly seems more like 35 - 40,000 rupees and upwards to get into a half decent house. Have a look on www.seeff.com or www.pamgolding.co.za/mauritius to get an idea.

Cost of living is really high as well, all imported goods are bloody expensive, price of cars is huge, and a lot of shops & restaurants have a 'local' price and a 'tourist' price, expect to pay the latter. Maybe not so bad if you are on the A340 and can do your grocery shopping in Paris or something once every couple of weeks, but no chance for the ATR / A319 guys.

I reckon it would be nice living for single person, or a frugal couple, but you wouldn't save a penny and no chance at all if you have to support kids or bills to pay back home.