Traveling back home once with SIA Cargo

[LOK]

Dear friends,

I would like to ask ex-pat Flight Crew working for SIA Cargo,how often they think could one visit his home country(for 1 week) once he is flying for SIA Cargo,how easy it is to do this,and if there is any sort of biding system concerning the Flight Crew schedule.

Thank you

[4PW's]

In answering the question, there are a few things to consider. The first is the roster.

Being with Cargo, you'll find your roster changing regularly. Flights get re-timed, re-routed and sometimes cancelled, at the last minute or half way through a trip.

Your trip can be extended before you depart Singapore or as you're about to embark on the final leg 'home'.

But once safely back in Singapore you will always get the requisite number of days off as mandated by the AOC.

On these days you need not advise the Company of what you wish to do or where you may be including, if you wish, leaving Singapore.

Secondly, between short trips, or at the end of a sequence of days off following a long trip, your roster may show what are referred to as grey days.

Grey days are days off over and above the minimum for the month, or as required by the AOC following an extended (long) trip.

You may be called out to work on grey days.

So if you hope to leave Singapore on a grey day you risk having to return asap to conduct the duty Scheduling are entitled to ask you to do.

If another pilot is available to do the duty, you may be able to sweet talk Scheduling into looking for someone else, but this is unlikely as we're flat out like a lizard at a waterhole - not enough crews for the flights.

What all the above means is that yes, you are likely to get time to return home.

Whether or not it is a week depends on the trip you've just completed.

On average, you can expect a four to six day block off every month as you'll be rostered at least one extended trip away per month, sometimes even two.

Hope that answers your question.

You need to be aware that we work quite hard here.

Don't be thinking otherwise. It is not all roses. Roster changes frequently occur, sometimes doing away with your desperately needed 'six days off'.

[sgt_pepper]

4 PW's,
Following the regulation how many days off must you have every month?
How long do those extended flights take?
Thanks for your reply
s_p

[LOK]

4 PW's ,thank you for your reply.Very helpful inforation,

Best regards LOK