Virgin Sydney Bases

[drshmoo]

Any updates as to VBs Sydney base starting up? There was plenty of talk but haven't heard much recently

[Howard Hughes]

I don't know, but fourth (http://www.afap.org.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?art_id=98&nav_cat_id=127&nav_top_id=73&id=73&history=2&ds=26%2F11%2F2004+10%3A20%3A16+AM) job down on this list might be a hint...;)

[sinala1]

Sydney tech crew base opened 1st april if I recall correctly. Not a huge takeup on it, although word has it that a lot of the commands from BNE that were going to be sent to MEL are now possibly going to be sent to SYD instead.

Rumour abounded a while back re a full size syd Cabin Crew base too (as opposed to the original syd cc base that was wound down), I wouldnt think its terribly far off either.

[Dehavillanddriver]

Howard
That ad is for QF not VB

[Howard Hughes]

What I don't get is why don't they just say that? Is QF such a bad place to work these days, they can't even put the company name on it? Surely if they advertised the fact that it was Qantas, they would get more applicants and possibly of a better quality...:hmm:
I just don't get all the secrecy...:suspect:

[drshmoo]

Has anyone actually got a sydney base yet?

[sinala1]

Yes, there are about 10 or so pilots based there now. I believe the base is set to grow through upgrades from BNE, and direct hire F/O's.

[DJ747]

Expressions of interest for E-Jet Captains based in SYD, BNE and MEL circulated internally today. I guess the SYD base is set to grow.

[Transition Layer]

drshmoo,

I know it's going to be hard to give up those Latte's on Campbell Pde at Bondi, but Melbourne is supposedly the cafe capital of Australia, I'm sure you'd fit in well! Especially given your Giuseppe background!

Seriously though, im suprised it's taken Virgin so long. The number of 737s parked at T2 every night is mind boggling, must be heaps of crew overnighting here in SYD :}

[VirginBlueDriver]

Expressions of interest for E-Jet Captains based in SYD, BNE and MEL circulated internally today. I guess the SYD base is set to grow.


How the F@#K can they do that??? Or did the EBA get sorted out and nobody bothered to let us know?
What are the pay and conditions?
What is the route structure?

Talk about a f@#king circus!

[rustywings]

Regarding the F/O uptake for the Sydney Bases (or any other bases) does anyone know if VB are hiring non turboprop/jet experienced guys yet or are there still enough on the list to fill their requirements? Have they hired any direct F/O's to the E-Jet's yet?

Thanks

RW

[drshmoo]

The Bullwinkle

"They have stipulated that they don't want anybody with over 2000 hours"

When I went through recently most of the guys/girls were turboprop RPT captains and a smattering of F\O's

I understand that last years intake was of people with mainly piston time and not much more than 2000 total but not sure if its like that now... but as usual who knows

[Roost]

I know they are certainly taking alot more hours now, the 2000 hour limit was because of a lack of planned expansion when put in place, i.e. long time in the right. Since the announcement of ejets they are taking alot more experience. The last few blokes I know to have got in were 4-6000hours with 217 experience.

[mention1]

Yes Roost can confirm above. I also heard 12 per month after June :)

[Blue Ruin]

FWIW no pay and conditions have been agreed upon for the Ejet.

One major sticking point (amongst many others) is FO pay.

Company has set it at 50% of Captain's pay and attached the disclaimer "don't worry it won't effect you as none of the guys voting on the EBA/presently at VB will be FO's anyway."

The pilot body is fighting hard to improve these crap conditions for new hires.
Anybody agreeing to a position before an agreement has been reached is simply assisting VB to screw all new hires!

[VirginBlueDriver]

I'll go one step further.

The Head of Flight Operations has openly admitted that he doesn't care about new F.O.s coming into the company to go onto the Embraer.

If you accept a position on the E-Jet, you will pay about $30,000 for your endorsement to earn about $60,000 per year.

The Cabin Supervisor will take home more than you!

Yes, we are fighting to improve these conditions even though the company maintains that we won't be affected by this "B" scale, but rest assured, we as a pilot group do value newbies to the company.

[Dubya]

EMB 170 pay = 50% x 80% x not that f@^king much anyway

very poor state of affairs, indeed.

This EOI from the company is an attempt to try to split the pilot group.:}

[Willie Nelson]

Hey Dr. Schmoo,
I thought that sort of thing only happened at J* What's the story there?

[Howard Hughes]

I think it's 50% of 73 Captains pay...:hmm:

[bentandtwisted]

Are they still employing for BN and ML or is all the recruitment for SY?

[Yusef Danet]

Negetory Howard

In present form, as yet unagreed, Emb FOs will get 50% of Emb Capt pay, which is itself 80% of Boeing capt pay, so 40%.

A new hire starting on the Boeing (and there will be almost 100) will get 55% of Capt pay, so...

37.5% more, a more marketable type rating, a head start on other Boeing type ratings, experience on a type that seems generally better regarded by overseas carriers.

EMB ratings are unlikely to be cheaper than 737NG due to the dearth of simulators and the sudden popularity of the type.

Think very carefully before pursing this option, gents and gentesses.

YD

[VirginBlueDriver]

I think it's 50% of 73 Captains pay...

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong :mad:

It is 50% of Embraer Captain pay.

[Howard Hughes]

In present form, as yet unagreed, Emb FOs will get 50% of Emb Capt pay, which is itself 80% of Boeing capt pay, so 40%.
It is 50% of Embraer Captain pay.Oh my god that's terrible...:eek:

[sinala1]

The cabin supervisor salary is currently about 51K - the rumours about cs earning more than emb FOs were proven to be incorrect a number of times. This does not mean that I think the emb payscales are acceptable - just wanted to put cs pay into perspective!

[Bazzamundi]

If an Emb F/O gets around $60 and a CS gets $51, after tax and repayments of the $30 endorsement cost, the CS will probably get more net each pay than the Emb F/O. A CS doesn't shell out $30K just to get a chance to work on a type do they?

The sooner QF and VB boys get together given both have EBA's which are a total and utter disgrace, the better the collective bargaining postition. Both groups have similar issues with terms and conditions, and the race to the bottom is still going strong. Surely combined, both with EBA's open, they could achieve a strong result which would hopefully set the benchmark for the rest of the industry here to start working together. Rome wasn't built in a day, and miracles won't happen overnight, but just perhaps one day all pilots in Australia could work towards a common goal, no matter which color tail they fly.

The QF proposal is for a 5 year agreement, so this may be the only chance an opportunity like this arises for many years. Just hoping the AFAP and AIPA could perhaps do something constructive together. Given the current situation at VB, which may also be repeated at QF in a couple of months (shortage of crews), we in either company will be in increasingly strengthened bargaining positions, especially the longer these issues draw out.

[Blue Ruin]

Virgin are also trying to lock in a 5 year deal too.