NZ Regionals, what's the latest?

[Cloud Cutter]

OK guys/gals, we're well into 2004, Origin and Air Nelson are in the middle of ground courses - let's see if all those spectacular predictions from last year have much truth to them. Are Air NZ and Cathay hiring as aggressively as some said they would, and of course what's happening in Hamilton?

Comments from those in the know would be appreciated - give us something to get excited about!:}

[splatgothebugs]

Pilots are required for regionals....................I will not quote numbers ;)

I also thought Cathay where on a slow down?????????????

splat

[Blue Line]

I've heard Air Nsn are going to be hiring another bunch of guys & gals in March

[Cloud Cutter]

Thanks guys, anyone know what's happening at Eagle?

[splatgothebugs]

Check out your pm's and that may answer some of the questions you are asking.

splat

[ZK-NSN]

Origin is running a J41 course in march which will be mostly upgrades from the j31/32 fleet so maybe only 5 or 6 new jobs. j31 course is in its second week now with about 8 lads i think. word on the street is that air nelson are on the lookout.

[Sqwark2000]

Cloud cutter,

Eagle are looking to interview again very soon, as of March 8, their pool of ground coursed pilots will dry up.

I've heard that Air NSN have delayed their March ground course till later in the month so they can fit another interview round in.

S2K

[outboundjetsetter]

Good onya Sq2000! can someone please tell me where to apply to Air Nelson? I thought they were on Staff C.V but didnt find them on it.Do you apply via the Air New Zealand web site or just give them a call..?
cheers
OBJSTER

[Cloud Cutter]

OBJSTER,

Air Nelson are still using a paper application. Give them a call +64 3 547 8727.

Thanks S2K, good info.

[BCF Breath]

Air Nelsons minimums, (currently) are around the 1500hr mark with 500 multi. However always subject to change.

Also they might be getting ATR-42's to replace the SAAB 340a's.
As soon as 2005!
Although there is another, as yet previously un mentioned A/C manufact. that is still in with a show........

Average pay, (but of course you do it for the love of flying...:p) is about $35k plus allow....

Eagle requirements, not sure, but a bit less than Nelson's.

[Cloud Cutter]

Kym

Most new F/Os don't have an ATPL, however completing the theory requirements would probibly give you a better chance.

BCF Breath

Is that confirmed? I heard something about ATRs for Air Nelson last year - won't that bring up all sorts of debate as to pay and conditions given that the 42 is essentially the same as a 72? I surpose at least they could share a sim. Interesting!

[belowMDA]

Does any one know how many are being interviewed next week for Air Nelson? and where from?

As an aside about the ATR I heard, as you do, that the NZCAA has told Mt Cook that they have to get a sim for the 72. So this would mean cheaper training for Air NZ. However the more I think about it the stranger it seems that the CAA can in fact force an airline to purchase a sim. Shirley if the training was done to a satisfactory standard by an outside service provider then the CAA has nothing to complain about?

[BCF Breath]

Below MDA

Nothing can train you better than sim training. Plus trg in the aircraft is down-right dangerous.

I think there is something about aircraft over a certain weight having to train in/on a sim.

It will be nice to see Mt Cook do some "real" training, not blasting off in yesterdays Wellington weather on one engine at 10,000ft into the Ferry hold!

Apparently the final three choices are supposed to be; SAAB 2000 (nice!) the ATR42-500 plus another T/Prop is still in with a chance (not b4 seen in NZ).

KYM,
Not a requirement to have your ATPL, but having all the subjects helps heaps.

[Cloud Cutter]

Yes, it's certainly very interesting to see an empty ATR doing touch and goes (more go than touch) - I'm sure a sim would be a much cheaper/safer option, also I gather it would allow reduced take-off minima on those foggy HLZ mornings?

Pitty about the Saab 2000 - nice machine, why didn't they consider the EMB Brasilia? (of course not much of this sentence makes sense in light of recent edits):*

[BCF Breath]

I think you'll find they are considering absolutely everything.

[CT7]

Interesting edits BCF..

I too have heard of another european contender..... :ok:

[Cloud Cutter]

Interesting? Confusing maybe :ugh:

I too have heard of another european contender.....

Surely can't be too many around - J41, ATP, Fokker 50? - Doubt any of those stand up to the other two.

The Dornier (Fairchild Aerospace) 328 is the only real contender I can think of, hmmmm, might be somthing in that. :E

[Plas Teek]

CC

You should be a detective...:ok:

[ZK-NSN]

GOT TO WONDER IF ANY TYPE OTHER THAN ATR'S ARE IN WITH A SHOW REALLY? WITH THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE ATR72 AND 42 ESPECIALLY SPARES AND ENGINEERS WISE. AND THE BEST THING IS I THINK THE NEAREST SIM IS IN THAILAND, NICE TRIP AWAY FOR THE BOYS.

[ZFT]

I believe that the NZ CAA still allow MCA to perform recurrent training on the aircraft. This exemption expires 01/01/05.
After that date they have to perform recurrent checks on a simulator. The ATR42/72 sim in Bangkok is already NZ CAA approved (and has been for the past 2 years) as MCA perform their initial courses there.

As an aside - a 2nd ATR sim has now been installed in BKK

[belowMDA]

When you look at the replacement options and what they are looking at, the only aircraft that really stacks up is the ATR 42. There was a mention before of the Dornier 328, but what is the point in replacing a 34 seat aircraft with a 30 seat one? I believe the dash 8 Q300 was in with a hunt but where and how to do the training. If Mt Cook have to get a sim then your training costs for the ATR 42 are dramatically reduced. The 42-212A has much the same components in the tail section as the 72-500 not to mention all the other spares with commonality. The Saab 2000 while fast and sexy ( I hope that sexyness really doesn't come into the considerations!!) would be far to expensive to run. I believe the 2000 doesn't really have much more baggage space than the 340.
So at the end of the day can it really be anything else? I realise that my simple breakdown doesn't compare to what Air NSN and Air NZ are doing, nor do I know what financial deals are on offer. Does it mean though that the choice will be that straight forward.

[Plas Teek]

Yup, my $$$ are on the 42 as well.

Overall it just seems to fit better with the group.

If the sim gets to NZ the boys will surely miss the MEL trips...

[Cloud Cutter]

belowMDA

I agree completely, I don't think you could do much better than at ATR anyway when it comes to efficiency and pax comfort (maybe Dash 8 Q series), and as far as I know the Mt Cook sim IS coming some time this year - unless there's been a change of plans.

While the Saab 2000 is a pretty cool machine, 4152shp per side to carry around 50 pax at up to 368 kts doesn't compare well to 2160shp, 42 pax, 265 kts (ATR 42-500) - IMO the sectors flown are too short to warrent all that extra speed, that's why we are one of the few contries still going for turboprops over reqional jets. The other possible problem would be aquisition, only 62 ever built - although I'm sure the ones with red crosses on the tail would be up for grabs;)

[ZK-NSJ]

this 'other aicraft' is not the dash-8-400 is it, it might be a bit over cooked for most of air nelsons routes, something like the saab 2000 or atr-42 would be better, if it was the atr-42 maybe the atr fleet maintenance could be moved to the nelson base freeing up hanger space in christchurch

[belowMDA]

NSJ why go for a 70 seat Q400 when you could have the ATR 72 with the same number of seats and spares etc etc.

Another minor point is gates. Auckland is already crowded enough as it is. The saab wing span is 70 feet, the ATR 42 80 feet. they are going to have to find the room somewhere but I am unsure where. You could reduce the number of gates between 45 and 49 to four but this will harm Eagle and GBA/Mtn Air

[1279shp]

C'mon team, Air NZ aint in the business of buying used. Especially not used that was designed with another airline in mind!

It was a first of type for a lot of systems/controls: the first civil application of the Allison (now Rolls-Royce) AE-2100 turboshaft (itself a version of military T406 developed for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor). Hasn't Osprey had an 'interesting' development process!

As for similarities, the 2000 uses the same cross section fuse as the 340, but is 7.55m (24ft 9in) longer (seating 15 more passengers). The same wing section is retained but the 2000's wing span is 15% greater than the 340's, and the engines are positioned further outboard.

It was lack of sales and profitability that forced Saab to cease 340 and 2000 production in 1998. The last 2000 was delivered to Crossair in April 1999.

There are only 54 in airline service, three corporate transports.

[Vmo248]

Air New Zealand said today its subsidiary Eagle Air was increasing services to some provincial centres.

The increases were a spin off from Air New Zealand's introduction of its cheaper Express service in November 2002.

Eagle Air has had a 43 per cent increase in passenger numbers over this time, partly due to the new fare structure but also because of a 22 per cent increase in capacity since introducting its 19-seat Beech aircraft to its fleet two years ago.

The new services beginning on March 19 are:

* Auckland-Tauranga: a new early morning weekday service

* Auckland-Rotorua and Auckland-Taupo: previously a combined early morning flight

* Auckland-Hamilton: additional middle of the day service

* Auckland-Napier: new early afternoon flights on Thursdays and Fridays

* Gisborne-Wellington: additional flight Monday to Wednesday

* Blenheim-Wellington: additional evening flight Monday to Wednesday

* Wellington-Westport: new flight on Saturdays, making a daily service on this route

* Blenheim-Christchurch: new flight on Saturdays, making a daily service on this route

* Christchurch-Invercargill: additional Saturday afternoon flight.

Eagle Air is also starting a daily Christchurch-Wanaka service.

:ok:

[Cloud Cutter]

That's pretty soon, have they got a decent number of pilots to be line trained before these new sectors start, are the existing pilots just going to work harder, or will they be recruiting very shortly? :confused:

[AIRWAY]

Why not the ERJ145? New factory opened in china, 50 seater, makes money if you only take 14pax... :ok:

Whatever happens good luck to them and to their future.

[Sqwark2000]

Cloud cutter,

The jungle drums are saying that March 11,12 & 13 are the dates for the next interview round for Eagle. If that is the case, phone calls should be made shortly.

Cheers


S2K

[nzer]

BELOW MDA - CAA is not "forcing" Mt Cook, or anyway to purchase a SIM - but from 2005 all part 121 Operators will be required to USE a SIM for initial and recurrent training courses - their own, or a third party one doesn't matter - this has been "sitting" in Part 121 since its coming into force

[splatgothebugs]

Spose they will just work are little harder:) :) :) :)

Oh yeah and they will hire some new fella and fellesses to work as well:ok: :ok:

splat

[Hudson Hawk]

Hey all,

Any news on the proposed interviews in the second week of March yet???

Any one had a call yet??


(H)ere's (H)oping

[Sqwark2000]

Heard today that 11 people were interviewed by Air NSN some time during the last 2 weeks. Also heard that they may expect this to be the last interview group for 4-6 months.

S2K

[G-LOST]

The ERJ is ideally suited to short sectors - we mint money on Leeds - Edinburgh and Leeds - Glasgow, although a 4 sector day out is a lot of work for 2.5 hours in the logbook. Comparatively inexpensive also. Well worth consideration.

[Luke SkyToddler]

Yeah G-LOST, but the trouble is that the collective population of Leeds, Edinburgh or Glasgow is greater than that of the whole of New Zealand put together, so the law of averages says it's going to be a bit easier to fill the things.

Also despite the recent meteoric rise of the kiwi dollar, I would strongly suspect that a dozen EMB145's at about $US20million each might be biting off a bit too much for NSN's bank manager to chew :(

[Cloud Cutter]

S2K, why:confused: - Is it due to a sim training backlog or have things suddenly ground to a halt - last I heard they were dropping their minimums, surely no point if they're waiting half a year? Still no word on Eagle's latest round, are they too playing wait and see, or just running behind?

It appears that Air NZ are still interviewing/hiring steadily. Cathay, on the other hand have shifted down a gear.

Can anyone shed anymore light - also what's happening in CHC (Chook, Pac Blue).

Cheers

[BCF Breath]

Then consider the regional airports that an RJ would have to operate into..
NS, NP, NR, RO....
So maybe not that well suited.

[BCF Breath]

Cloud Cutter
There could be one more intake after the currant rounds.

But the slowdown could possibly be due to training requirements (ie letting this lot get on with the job and/or giving the trg staff some leave...), or more likely due to a new type being introduced relatively soon and not wanting to re-train new pilots straight away.

[Cloud Cutter]

Apparently calls went out end of last week - anyone got details, how many, from where, interview dates?

Cheers

[Riggwelter]

Just curious, whatever happened to all the Dash 8's that were leftover when Ansett closed shop? The Saab 2000 is a fine aircraft but is no longer manufactured. I believe Dash 8 400's are similar to them, any chance that they might be considered by Air Nelson?

[wandrinabout]

If ANZ end up with 330's to replace the 76's, then expect to see the baby ATR's buzzing around the land of the long white one.

I think its known as a "sweetner".....

[splatgothebugs]

Think as if you are all bean counters and not pilots.

Dash 8-300 to old and not really an option.

Saab 2000 made for crossair and there requirements not really anybody elses. Very expensive to aqiure new a/c and not cheap to upkeep.

Dash 8-Q400 to large to fast to expensive.

ATR42 Cheaper, commonality of fleet with 72 = sim in NZ training costs drop, a/c wear and tear due training drops, Overall a cheaper option for the long run.

I will even go as far to say that if they do get 42's it wouldn't surprise me to see Cook an NSN merge and become one company.

But thats just my two cents worth. :ok:

splat.

[BCF Breath]

If the ATR 42-500 is the winner, don't expect there to be a one for one replacement.

Maybe 14 ATRs not 17, as is their fleet now.

And don't expect to be based forever in bad ole Nelson. It could possibly get smaller as CHC and NSN are the only destinations in the south......

And "All the -8's". Heck I think there was only 3 or 4 at the most.