Virgin Interviews en-mass!!!

[swamp monkey]

Anyone know if virgin are interviewing pilots who are currently bonded elsewhere?

Is the question on the application another means of short-listing potential applicants?

[wateroff]

I know it has been done, any very basic details, pay / rosters etc?

Tally me banana

[The Hedge]

markben

did you indicate on your application that you were willing to pay for endorsement training?

Would be interesting to see if those who ticked "no" get an invitation.

[wateroff]

I ticked nay

[KRUSTY 34]

I ticked no.

Game on!

[G.A. Boy]

I ticked nay! Also put my preferences down.

[markben]

Just checked to be sure, I ticked NO too!!!! It was a very long time ago. :}

Marker Beacon

[Fred Gassit]

I ticked no, they've never called me.......:{

[Roost]

Yes, I am one

[Repro]

They phoned me about a month ago for an interview.
I gave them my 3 requirements.

1. Brisbane base
2. Captain.
3. $250,000 a year.

I think their still in shock.
No reply yet.

[AnQrKa]

Repro,

Wow, you really showed em, didnt ya.

Did they crumble into a heap and meet your demands.

Or did you just miss out on the job.

Which begs the question, why did you apply for it if you were just going to play silly games?

[KRUSTY 34]

Repro,

got a good bite out of that one!

[galdian]

Well with all the Captains leaving, the high (by real airline standards!) upgrade fail rate of 50%, the need to crew the new Jungle Jets (won't even start to ponder again the safety implications of a brand new Captain flying brand new type probably with a 300 hour brand new First Officer straight out of GA into some strips that wont be 3500m ILS equipped) as well as the EBA sweetner of VB crews being allowed across to international I reckon there's a very real probability of DEC's in the near future.

The shareholders and Mr Godfrey are not total idiots, at some stage the crap from Bull**** Castle as to why aircraft are not in the air earning money will be finally unacceptable and DEC's may be the only immediate fix possible.

I am happy to disagree with people but anyone who thinks there will be a deluge of applications from DEC pilots willing to crawl over broken glass to fly for VB for $170K Oz are delusional, further they have no idea of what's happening in the world of aviation and maybe should get out a bit more often. Taking some reality pills wouldn't hurt either!

Maybe when THEY rang HIM he just got his DEC "application and requirements" in early, I would further suggest that one of his 3 requirements may be negotiable.
Indeed with the delay of VB in responding I would not be surprised if his pay requirements have probably increased!! :D:D

Interesting times indeed!

[Whiskery]

Hey KRUSTY there's one born every day!:ok:

[Repro]

Yes, Krusty 34 and Whiskery, there are some girls out there.

Galdian, as far as I'm aware, they still get $135,000 + $15,000 bonus.
So that's $150,000 Grose.
After tax, maybe about $90,000 in hand.
Might as well be a check out chick at Coles.

If they want pilots, they will have to pay the going rate.
Which is now up to $260,000, and climbing.

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys.:O

[KRUSTY 34]

Careful Repro, he'll have another go!

Seriously though; My company has finally admitted that we now face the the most serious threat in our history. Hala bl@#dy luya.

Mind you, still no talk of any improvements to wages and conditions. They hang on don't they.

The reality is that time is almost up.

If they don't do something now, we're screwed!

[AnQrKa]

pay peanuts and you get monkeys that can fly glass jets too. Its not that difficult. The monkeys appear to be doing a good job of it.

[Towering Q]

I never realised the checkout chicks at Coles were on such a good wicket.:hmm:
I will have to practice my "Any cash out today sir?"

[Repro]

They get overtime and get to go home every night to.

[puff]

Yeah Coles checkout chicks would be on about $33K plus overtime, might end up with $40K for a 45 odd hour week including weekends.

I agree pilots should be getting more but comparing airline pilot wages with Coles is going a bit far...GA no worries however!!

[Repro]

Some of you need to be spoon fed.
Compared to overseas pilot wages, Virgin Blue is the equivalent to working for Coles wages.:ugh:

[Dixondik]

Err, is this coles in Dubai or in Australia?

[hoss]

hey i take this 'coles' analogy quite seriously, i work for qantaslink.

infact Towering Q i think you'll find the standard call is "any flybys" and then "cash out".

aspiring to be a senior checkout checker;).

[AnQrKa]

Compared to MANY jobs overseas, flying for virgin is actually a well paid job.

But you wouldnt be ozzies if you werent bitchin about how tough life is.

[Dehavillanddriver]

I think you need to be careful comparing wages between countries

What is the cost of living
What are the conditions - both working and living

For example - you might earn up to 100000 UK pounds per year working for Ryanair, but that doesnt equate to 100000 pounds converted to OZ dollars say 250 k AUD - the buying power isnt there

PLUS you pay for your uniforms, you pay for your airport parking, you pay for your manuals, you pay for your sim, and they treat you like ****

Emirates is the same - you appear to get well paid and not taxed BUT you pay a lot in indirect taxes, you can be slung out of the country at any time (you are a "guest" in their country), you have to work long hours and dont get any more days off that VB pilots currently do - and your not living in your own country

As for the US.

The glory days are gone there.

Was talking to some US Airways pilots the other day and their wages have DECREASED by 40% in the last 2 years.

A comparison with Australian conditions

An Embraer Captain in the US makes about USD 60K from what I am told

Should Australian pilots push for more? YES

Should Australian pilots regard themselves as hard done by? No probably not

As for Coles wages - there are actually people raising families on what Coles pays - we are not doing so bad in comparison

My point is be realistic - dont sell yourselves short, but dont push so heard that you get nothing...know where the line is

[swamp monkey]

How long ago where you given an interview.

If anyone else has had any luck, would appreciate your experience

[Towering Q]

Senior Checkout Checker Hoss.
A considerate consumer should pass the barcode section of their flybuys card over the swipe thingy whilst the checkout operator is processing the purchases.
This reduces their workload at a critical time and can be particularly helpful if they are being checked to line.:ok:

[ScottyDoo]

Seriously though; My company has finally admitted that we now face the the most serious threat in our history. Hala bl@#dy luya.

Unfortunately there is no shortage of pilots amongst one billion indians who will happily step in to accept the going rate just to get themselves (and a hundred or so of their closest relatives) into a civilised country.

The "pilot shortage" will be averted.

[jack red]

...................one billion indians who will happily step in to accept the going rate just to get themselves (and a hundred or so of their closest relatives) into a civilised country

That sounds suspiciously like management spin to me. ;)

[flamingmoe]

Repro,your attempt at a wind up seems to be falling on deaf ears! Keep trying.

But just to set the record straight,your figures for a DJ 737 skipper are about 5 years out of date. Current offer on the table approx 170k + o/time above 71hrs (in 28 days).

Not quite there,but getting close,and by no stretch of the imagination is it "peanuts".

Regards,

Monkey.

[neville_nobody]

Unfortunately there is no shortage of pilots amongst one billion indians who will happily step in to accept the going rate just to get themselves (and a hundred or so of their closest relatives) into a civilised country.

:=:=

That ain't going to happen because all those Indians do not have the coin to pay for their training. Same in China. There might be a billion people, but how come all these Chinese airlines pay for the entire cost of training their pilots. Same in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan etc etc

IT got burned by India because those people can live in their own country and work through the Internet for peanuts, same with call centres, not so in aviation.

The competitive advantage in wages only works if people stay in their 3rd world country. If Mr Harshvardhan wanted to migrate from India to Australia and be a 737 FO he ain't going to survive on Indian wages. You'll need to pay him Australian wages and so the competitive advantage is lost.

Personally I'd be more worried about a MPL license that is where airlines will start paying people peanuts if they can get CASA to rewrite the rules.

The only people you will see moving into Australian Aviation will be from USA or south Africa, maybe a few Europeans. Don't forget that half the pilots in Europe would not have the minimum experience requirements to fly a PA 31 in Australia let alone a jet.

[Repro]

flamingmoe, sounds like things are looking up.
But I still think your being short changed.
How does US$12,000 a month NET,
Free accomodation and monthly tickets home for 10 days sound.
Infact, I can live cheaper overseas than I can in Brisbane.
Australia's getting very expensive.
I know of a few Qantas F/O's that are bailing out and going overseas.
That has to be a fair indication of the state of aviation in Aus.

[ScottyDoo]

That ain't going to happen because all those Indians do not have the coin to pay for their training.


Enough of them do. Plenty of rich indians out of a grand total of 1 billion. Just like enough of them have the coin to pay for their dodgy medical school training and end up elsewhere peddling their "skills".



IT got burned by India because those people can live in their own country and work through the Internet for peanuts, same with call centres, not so in aviation.
The competitive advantage in wages only works if people stay in their 3rd world country. If Mr Harshvardhan wanted to migrate from India to Australia and be a 737 FO he ain't going to survive on Indian wages. You'll need to pay him Australian wages and so the competitive advantage is lost.


You're missing the point. It is not about competitiveness or trying to get these indians to slave for less. It's about filling the front seats of the airplanes. How many threads have you seen around here pointing to ads featuring unfeasibly low (by old standards) experience requirements? Regionals happy to take guys with 500hrs... that sort of thing.



Personally I'd be more worried about a MPL license that is where airlines will start paying people peanuts if they can get CASA to rewrite the rules.


Exactly. And who do you think a lot of the holders of these licences will be?



Don't forget that half the pilots in Europe would not have the minimum experience requirements to fly a PA 31 in Australia let alone a jet


Half the pilots in Europe would have no interest in flying a PA31 because with only a handful of hours, they can jump into the RHS of a 737.

This idea in Aust that you need thousands of hours to fly a piston twin is very outdated. As employers are beginning to find.

[MinimaNoContact]

Got the invite too...
With the new rumoured bond instead of pay for rating... what will the new T&C's be?
Training wages? Salary decrease?
What is the current deal anyway if anyone knows?

[galdian]

Minima and others

I believe you guys have been put in an unenviable position - as per another post I made I really do believe VB (and QF also) are in a state of flux, people are leaving which in its own way is great as everyone sees movement however too much loss of experience over a short time weakens an organisation, tie that in with the expansion asperations of VB in particular and things get really interesting (and I would suggest the regulator should get a little bit nervous too!)

I would suggest VB Flight Ops management themselves do not know quite what direction to take - they are fighting fires on many fronts and the concept of a lack of "suitable" pilots for recruitment is something probably outside of their experience and they are having a hard time understanding how things have changed - bearing in mind most of the management went through a period where was a huge surplus of extremely well trained, available pilots (for whatever reason :E). Some people are unable to see anything outside of their own experiences, nothing ever changes!!

So for you guys - at the very least to attend an interview and go through a sim session will be great experience, the more experience you have in interview sessions will only lessen (a little bit) the anxiety of future interviews; further I would suggest for the above reasons EVERYONE should tick the "willing to pay for endorsement" box to get the interview.

Anyone who wants to think I am saying this just to try to make life hard for VB, well fair thought but wrong. Sorry! :(

One of the things I have learnt - if you are offered a position you have a choice to accept or decline, if never offered a position you have no choice.
The aviation game is very different from when I started (you lucky bastards :ok: and, err, ladies :ok:) and promotional prospects and movement are unprecedented, if offered ANY position you have to decide whether it is a good deal, average deal or a poor deal - and accept or politely decline.

Good luck to all and the hardest thing to remember - when you get in the sim enjoy the biggest, best video game you will ever experience. Hard under the pressure, I agree, but try!

[morning mungrel]

Any one have any idea on what you're being interviewed for? Last couple of people I know got 737. (Last month) Could be the start of the Embraer thing. Gonna need a few crews for that I guess. Then again, could be for the threatened AWA's too........ read the fine print my friends.....

[Charliethewonderdog]

I like the idea of ticking yes, doing the interview for practice (unlike Q and J* it's free I believe) and then saying no to the conditions if you are not happy with them. Sends a better message than clicking no, and you've taken up one sim spot and gives the peoplewho actually want the job a better chance.
Now hopefully everyone says no and I'll be garanteed a job, ha.:E just kidding
It would be good if some from VB could post the new offer, and any info on Bases and pay for the EMB... not thatI clicked yes or anything just curious.
Mind you my email address is "[email protected]"

[Warped Wings]

Join VB and YOU WILL PAY for your endorsement indirectly through a training wage.

[galdian]

And if offered a position THEN you can decide whether it's a good deal, average deal or poor deal and THEN either accept or politely decline. :ok:

[knackeredII]

galdian,

So that would be an enviable position then, not an unenviable one!

Had me confused!

[Dogman]

Got offered the interview too, but politely declined as the available dates didn't suit.........am i nuts?:ugh:

Anyway, we'll see if i get offered again......:hmm:

[Cheers5]

I like this bit from the letter

13. Lastly, we do emphasise that we prefer you to correspond by email, and not to phone us
at this stage of the process, as multiple phone calls from many persons will only delay the
necessary arrangements being made.

gives it a nice personal touch, don't you think!

[porch monkey]

Starting money on the embraer is 61 g at present.

[KRUSTY 34]

Not enough!

[G.A. Boy]

Deffinately not enough! Any idea on basings and or routes for the E-Jets. Mainly interested in Melbourne.

[MinimaNoContact]

61K is laughable... even for piston guys considering the move to jets, consider this salary while trying to keep up with the cost of living, not to mention locking yourself into a bonding agreement that will keep you tied up with these outfits for between 3-5yrs. All this when it is turning into a pilots market...

Of course VB are waiting till guys spend the money on a flight to an interview and the pay the cost of accomodation before they will surprise you with the pineapple of a lifetime... almost as good as the NJS one.

[Howard Hughes]

Anyway, we'll see if i get offered again...
You will!:ok:

[High-Bypass]

If you want to make a lasting impression during the interview, fly down to ML on one of their competitors aircraft and leave the top corner of your boarding pass poking out the top of your pocket during the interview, or inadvertinantly drop it on the floor as you walk out !!

[Roost]

An email from VB recruiting today when asked the question, as a few of us from this current round have wondered. Note this is a mates email not mine...
Subject: RE: Invitation to Virgin Blue Flight Crew Interview
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:18:57 +1000
From: [email protected]
To: ********************

Thanks ********** for your response. In relation to your questions the fleet we are recruiting for is not specified it could be any of our fleet. Candidates are responsible for paying for their own endorsement and base can only be advised once we know you are successful and when you are available to start line training. Virgin Blue pay rates for First Officers are as follows:

B737 F/O Level 1 : $77,651 pa
B737 F/O Level 2 : $84,710 pa
B737 F/O Level 3 : $91,769 pa
Hopes this answers your questions.

Thanks


Flight Crew Recruitment Team
Virgin Blue Airlines

[Roost]

Does anyone know what decides what level pay you will go on?

[Charliethewonderdog]

B737 F/O Level 1 : $77,651 pa
B737 F/O Level 2 : $84,710 pa
B737 F/O Level 3 : $91,769 pa
Hopes this answers your questions.


Does that mean the jungle jets would be %80 of that?

Level 1 - 62K
Level 2 - 67K
Level 3 - 73K

Surely wont expect you to live in Sydney on that money and Pay for your endoresment????? Maybe I should ring NATJET back??hmmm.

[porch monkey]

61 or 62 is correct for the Embraer it seems at this time. The levels are related to things like total time, time on type, etc. Remember though that the money and the issue of paying for the type rating or not is still part of the eba, which I might remind you HAS NOT been voted up yet. It seems the guys still aren't happy with it, they are trying to get something better for you all. More power to them.

[galdian]

KnackeredII

Probably looking at it from different angle.
Of course if ever offered a position with any airline that is enviable, you then have to make a decision.
The UNenviable part is that there are so many options out there both in Oz/NZ and overseas is accepting VB/pornstar and coughing up $30,000 for an endorsement the best option?? If you decline will you ever be offered the position again??
I believe the companies attitude will have to change, who knows maybe even no bonding if a particular company thinks that may be a way of attracting the "better" remaining applicants to themselves rather than their competition?
Crystal ball is at the workshop for a tune-up so throwing that in as a "maybe, why couldn't that happen??" thought, certainly not guarenteed! :ok:

To borrow a phrase from another time and place: "would YOU want to be the last guy in VB/JQ who paid for their endorsement??"

[Capt Basil Brush]

Proposed FO pay rates, July 2007.

B737

Level 1 $93,010
Level 2 $101,466
Level 3 $109,921

Plus Overtime above 71hrs/28 days.

EMB

Level 1 $74,408
Level 2 $81,173
Level 3 $87,937

Plus Overtime.

[galdian]

Any information on proposed DEC pay rates for the 73 ?? :eek:

[Capt Basil Brush]

You will have to get your crystal ball out of the workshop to answer that one.

[KRUSTY 34]

Basil,

Are these figures the latest to be put to the pilot group by management?

By my reckoning it appears an increase of approx 15% for the EJ and 20% for the 73?

Seems like a bit of ratcheting going on.

[KRUSTY 34]

Just caled a mate on a layover in Perth.

He confirmed the latest offering and the above numbers.

A move in the right direction with regards to pay, but there is a lot of devil in the detail.

Read carefully!

[Howard Hughes]

Got this interesting email today!;)
Dear Howard,

This email is to advise that the following new roles have been posted for Long Haul

-Manager Flight Operations
-Manager Flight Operations-Technical
-Manager- Flight Standards
-Manager- Operations Support

[GAFA]

Roost,

Do you know if those figures include the retention bonus ($9000 for FO’s)?

Capt Basil Brush,

Do those figures include the retention bonus?

[KRUSTY 34]

As far as I know, the retention bonus is additional.

If you leave before the year is up. No bonus.

[Blue-Footed Boobie]

How do we define what level 1, 2 & 3 all means?

Blue Foot

[radar vectored]

Congrats to those of you with interviews. :D

Could you please tell us your experience. e.g. Total time and current aircraft.

Good luck!

[MinimaNoContact]

Radar Vectored...
I got an invite but turned it down... for now.
4600 total, 1500 jet

[porch monkey]

The levels refer to a combination of total time, time on type etc. Don't know what the actual figures are tho.

[aero979]

anyone out there receive an interview with just multi piston time? seems most candidates have multi crew turbine???

[DirtyLaundry]

Have heard VB have put ERJ on hold for awhile until they can sort out
their crewing requirements for the 73??

Isnt that something :}

[Stubby]

Has anyone out there who has responded to the VB interview invitation got another response back yet confirming place,times or dates etc..?
I suspect no confirmations will come out untill after tommorows response deadline??:hmm:

[GAFA]

My understanding is all new FO’s join as Level 1 unless they have 500 hours on the B737 or 500 hours jet with a MTOW above 50000kg.

[Mr Wright]

Entry level F/O start at level 1 with requirement to hold ATPL

Level 2 requires ATPL, 500hrs with VB or 500hrs over 50000kg and TT2500+

Level 3 requires 2000hrs with VB or 2000hrs over 50000kg and TT4000+

These requirements changed for new hires after 1 Nov 06.

[Bendo]

SO does your pay rate go up automatically as you pass the experience levels?

eg: I have 3400TT with no jet - would I step up to Lvl 2 when I have done 500 hours at VB? :confused:

[G.A. Boy]

Just received confirmation of my requested dates for interviews and SIM in Melbourne. by email. :)

[deckchair]

Mmmmm. With 1700hrs, 530 multi command and no invitation in my email inbox
(despite pressing send/receive like i'm sending morse code) i guess i'm further down the food chain than i thought!

[Gateway Customer]

with jetstar asking applicants to pay an additional $15 to apply,do you think they realise that there is a pilot shortage and this may encourage people like myself to go Virgin!!!!
quite infuriates me that Jetstar expect another $15 to process my application.
Jetstar better get there @hit together or the 80 pilots a month the Virgin boys are interviewing will be all working for Virgin not Jetstar.
GC

:ugh:

[wateroff]

Are the guys and gals still overnighting 4 nights a week?

nb Deckchair, a glut of guys with thousands of hours turbine only just getting the invite..... hang in there mate - you'll get a go.

[hoss]

G.A. Boy,

Out of interest, how soon did you reply to DJ?

I just recieved an email telling me that I was too late and did not get any of my preferred times/dates. From the times on my computer I replied immediately about 3.5 hours after they sent it.

About 10000, 6000 multi crew turboprop/jet, 5000 command blah blah blah.

Oh well, next time:).

[Wellhung Unit]

Bendo....Yes

Wateroff.....Bne base yes, mostly 4 day trips..Still
Melb Base it varies, not as often as the Brissy boys/girls

[G.A. Boy]

Hoss. Well you beat me to forwarding my candidate nomination form back by at least half a day. :confused:

[slice]

hoss - did you ask for mel or brissy ?

[hoss]

both, from memory 1 of the BNE days and 3 of the MEL time/dates.

feeling a little bit ripped off:sad:.

[porch monkey]

Maybe I'm just cynical, but it would appear to have been nothing more than a great fishing exercise. Send out invitations to apply to pretty much everyone, and simply take the ones that seem to suit best. First come first served huh? How does that work for the poor working stiff in central Australia who can only get to the computer a couple of times a week. Seems it might be better to be unemployed and sitting on the net!!

[MONK]

deckchair....

Mmmmm. With 1700hrs, 530 multi command and no invitation in my email inbox
(despite pressing send/receive like i'm sending morse code) i guess i'm further down the food chain than i thought!


DeckChair......

I've got nearly 5000 hours....multi crew turbo prop/heavy wide body jet time and still nothing.....oh well....

[DUXNUTZ]

2300Hrs, 800 Multi-Crew Turbine (500 command) and no sniff. Clicked not willing to cover endorsement though! :ok:

[deckchair]

Thanks Monk, now i know for sure i'm way down the food chain. What would be unfair is that applicants like you get in soon and have to pay for your endorsement, and applicants like me get a chance down the track and maybe avoid the endorsement cost.

[KRUSTY 34]

Heard from a mate that that the HR dept are ringing those who have been "invited", but ticked the no box. Seems that they no longer meet the min requirement and are being asked, "what do you want to do?"

Definitely sounds like a fishing expedition. "Oh You've got the interview but...."

Time will tell.

[training wheels]

excuse my ignoarance, but the 500 hour min twin requirement for VB .. is that command hours or is co-pilot time ok?

[Chocks Away]

It was command multi, Training Wheels, as co-pilot time in oz is just that...co-pilot time and they're after Multi command.
My way of thinking, there is no substitute for this hands on command time on twins, as you will learn alot and very quickly when your signature is signing everything :) ... but things are changing quickly...

[Cool banana]

Maybe it’s a move by Virgin to absorb some of the available pilot that otherwise might have been headhunted by Tiger and Qantas (whenever it decides to hire).

[coaldemon]

Hell all of this conjecture about the usual theories but could this burst of interviewing be because they are about to take 20+ guys a month for a long time? So every month will be a big month for interviews for a year or so. I love conspiracy theories, its where paranoia and low IQ meet...

[Stiff Under Carriage]

4700TT, 2000ME, Multi Crew Turbine, application in with VB since 2002.

No email/invite received.

[pakeha-boy]

....you jokers that are posting your flight hours and not getting replies.....now I know why....ever heard the word....APPRENTICE:ugh:

[heywatchthis]

Apprentice = Cheap Labour