J- Air Contracts Canceled

[The Dominican]

Good luck to all the J-Air guys (and at least one gal that I know of) I hope you find something soon.

This paid hobby of ours that we loosely call a career is very ungrateful :ugh:

[kanin]

Is this the EMB 170 contract I was looking at in 2008? 2 1/2 year contract with parc?
I am/was still looking forward to this...

[Jumb0driver]

Sorry Guys (and Gals), but Japan is technically in recession, and the Japanese are very nationalistic. With the virtual demise of the flag carrier, JAL, there will be many Japanese pilots out of work, and the ministry of labour (labor in the US) will not tolerate J pilots out of work whilst there are foreign pilots working here. So there will be a slow but sure programme to renounce work permits, cancel visas etc., until the situation is resolved. Right now we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Air Japan, Skymark.....

[The Dominican]

Japan is out of the recession already, it seems your information is a little outdated (two tears to be precise) and I wouldn't count JAL out of the picture just yet when they are expecting a profit for the next quarter, I think that for the first time in JAL's history that airline is being viewed and administered as a business and not just as a flag carrier and I believe it will come a smaller and meaner profit machine when all is said and done. Skymark has already stopped all hiring of foreign pilots as well as Edo Air and Starflyer and they are hiring ex JAL pilots but not canceling the foreign pilots contracts. ANA just announced a LLC that will operate from Kansai and the rumor (only a rumor of course, but it is appropriate since this is PPRUNE) that they will interview JAL pilots for that venture as well. In aviation it is all a guess of course but your view is one of a glass half empty and I think it is half full, time will tell but I'm not dusting my resume just yet.

[shannon boy]

This is from BBC news today

The big manufacturers questioned said they expected confidence to fall back to -1 by the end of the year.
Japanese exporters have been hurt by the strong yen, which has fallen below 84 to the dollar again, despite government intervention to weaken it.
The dollar buys fewer yen as the Japanese currency strengthens.
The Tankan survey of 11,000 companies is carried out every quarter by Japan's central bank.
The survey, which reports the percentage of optimistic firms minus the percentage of pessimistic ones, hit a record low of -58 in early 2009.
Manufacturers now expect the reading to fall back into negative territory by December, thanks to the strong yen, while company investment plans were weaker than previously forecast

I think you should look again at your glass.

I am just wondering about the article in FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL two weeks ago that said JAL was terminating the entire B744 fleet as of the end of 2010. What do you expect to happen to these 36 fully crewed aircrafts' flight crew? I say they will be pushed into the likes of JP express etc, and guess who will be pushed out? Got your duster?!

Not today of course, but over time.

[GoForIt]

I believe the J-Air contract is canceled as of March 2011, right? The surprising thing here is that the J-Air contract lasted this long.

JAL will certainly survive and see better days in the future. It is almost impossible to imagine Japan without JAL. It is no longer the national carrier, but most in Japan still think of it that way.

[shannon boy]

SABENA, SWISSAIR, PAN AM. ring a bell? and none of these airlines existed in a country where there was an efficient competitor like ANA is in Japan. If the market dictates that JAL goes away, or becomes JAL light, then that is what will happen. But one thing is for certain, there is not a snowball in hells chance of the Japanese government or taxpayer allowing 485 B744 crews to walk the streets of Narita, if JP express and others are employing Americans(N&S), Europeans, or should i say GAIGIN. Let alone hire new ones.

[The Dominican]

What do you expect to happen to these 36 fully crewed aircrafts' flight crew? I say they will be pushed into the likes of JP express etc, and guess who will be pushed out? Got your duster?!

I understand what you are saying Shannon don't get me wrong, I also understand that there is nothing that excites pilots more than to see the downfall of other pilot groups and I can understand your enjoyment on the matter but what you don't have is the insiders view of the market, It is my view (looking at it from the inside) that the market will not only absorve the displaced JAL pilots but that the situation at JAL is not as dire as it looked just a year ago, second you need to get the updated information and not just present your opinion on baseless facts because JP express doesn't even exist anymore and are you aware of the relationship between the ANA pilot group and the JAL pilot group? I didn't think so, Also If you really think that the YEN will remain at 84 for a prolonged period of time you are are naive as you sound. So to answer your question No! I,m not looking at dusting my resume just yet. Sorry that I wasn't a source of entertainment for you

[shannon boy]

Oh but you are....

However, in reading your post I am wondering where you were when 150 plus JALways guys were terminated last year. Those guys had been working for JAL, fat dumb and happy, then all of a sudden after 17 years, SEVENTEEN YEARS, they were given the boot. They were told on March 2nd 2009, and all flying for then ceased by March 31st. Those guys probably had CV's just as dusty as yours. So, it is not with glee I write this, but as a gentle hand around your shoulder, whispering quietly in your ear, .........start dusting

[meguro]

Looks like the Devine Wind is back and this time he has morphed into 'Shannon Boy'. Can't seem to shake those engrish signs all through the posts.

[shannon boy]

make a sentence out of these simple words,

straws, clutching, at.

and our survey said,......errrr errrr.

close but no cigar.;)

[7triple7]

Shannon Boy,

You can't reason with tools such as this Meguro and Dominican. They are "so intune" with Japanese culture that they know what the Japs are going to do even before they know it themselves. Stockholme Syndrome I believe. Anyway, good advice, if they think it can't happen to them too, then all the other expats will have the jump on them in the new job search.

[The Dominican]

You can't reason with tools such as this Meguro and Dominican.

Thank you gentlemen, I am moved by your preoccupation for my next employment and I thank you for your advice but what I would appreciate even more is if we could exchange points of view without resorting to name calling and childish remarks, after all if your perception of how things will develop in Japan are indeed correct I would like to maintain a professional relationship with as many colleagues as I can so that I can network my next search

Thank you

[meguro]

I guess I am going to be working on the "sentance" for while................Ahh Devine wind, itsumo isho..(Always same, same)

ha ha ha ha ha ha :D:D Choto engrish desu yo?

[shannon boy]

Dominican

Thank you for your reply. The dusting of the CV was 'tongue in cheek', initially responding to you mentioning it. However, I certainly would get no joy or relish anyone losing any job. Purely from a selfish point of view it would never do me any good to have more pilots out of work, but my concerns are not as non cerebral as that. I was once lulled into the false sense of security that you display here. You have written glowingly about AJV/JP express for years. It is easier to see changes from the outside, unlike you looking from the inside out. And it is pretty obvious to me, and others that times are a changing in Japan. And you are a guest there. When the Japanese cancel contracts, they do in en masse(recently, 737s, 744s,742s,EMB170/190s). It would be terrible to be one of 150+ 767 pilots looking for work. All chasing the same jobs. All with exactly the same time and experience. One thing that will get you a head start is time. To be ready, prepared in case the worst does in fact happen. If you dont want to dust it, at least locate your CV and keep in your top drawer. Sure use it as a beer mat or something. But just keep it handy.
None of this is said in jest or bad taste.

Meguro

How long does it take to string three provided words together and make one sentance?

I will make it simple for you.

You are clutching at straws if you think you can guess as to who I am. We have never met, I assure you. But if your 'modus operandei' is to guess, thinking you are correct and keep going down that road, I would have serious concerns for you decision making abilities. Especially when there is overwhelming evidence to suggest you actually do not have a clue who I am.

[crj705]

Why do a few people always feel the need to come on here and remind the AJX pilots that we all need to keep our resumes ready? Why do they always assume that we live in an ignorant blissful world with no common sense?

Every person at AJX that posts on here has said time after time that we all know we are TEMPORARY help. We all know it could end tomorrow. We all know that it has happened before. Yes, we already know all of this and have said it time after time. But yet, you feel the need to come on here and keep telling us that we really don't know and don't really accept it because we don't come on here and bitch and moan about everything 100% of the time.

It has been made clear lately that the ANA union will not allow any more Japanese pilots at AJX. Doesn't matter if they are JAL or skymark. And if you will notice, we haven't hired any in a while.. (It makes them look bad to have other J's working more for less money.) Could they change their mind and decide to replace us all at a moments notice?? YES. Will it happen in the near term? I think it is unlikely.

ANA and JAL might be both be japanese airlines, but they are 2 totally different animals. The writing was on the wall at JAL for a long time. Financially troubled, your fleet was going away, the union did not want you on the -400, etc. That is not happening here. Our most uncertain time is going to be when the 767 goes away but that is still years away.

Also, ANA has announced that their new low cost carriers will be staffed by foreign cockpit and cabin crews. This announcement is only a few weeks old so it doesn't sound like its lights out for all foreigners just yet.

[shannon boy]

I didn't feel the need to come on here as you say. I was commenting on a post by dominican regarding another company, J-air. This led, quite naturally to the discussion being widened out to JP express, especially as this ending of contract, en masse, seems quite indicitive of Japanese culture in airlines. You disagree? You dispute this? Actually, you have agreed to it in your post. You correctly reminded everyone that you all know that you are temporary guests in another country. I think foreign pilots giving up good jobs on 737s etc in the USA or Europe would be quite interested to hear this. I suspect, quite a few would not at all be best pleased if they had just signed up to JP if you, one of JPs staunchest advocates have just said publically that this is just a tempoary assignment, one that you would not at all be surprised to hear was ending, or in fact, you seem to expect to hear this news.

Really?

[The Dominican]

Dominican

Thank you for your reply. The dusting of the CV was 'tongue in cheek', initially responding to you mentioning it. However, I certainly would get no joy or relish anyone losing any job. Purely from a selfish point of view it would never do me any good to have more pilots out of work, but my concerns are not as non cerebral as that. I was once lulled into the false sense of security that you display here. You have written glowingly about AJV/JP express for years. It is easier to see changes from the outside, unlike you looking from the inside out. And it is pretty obvious to me, and others that times are a changing in Japan. And you are a guest there. When the Japanese cancel contracts, they do in en masse(recently, 737s, 744s,742s,EMB170/190s). It would be terrible to be one of 150+ 767 pilots looking for work. All chasing the same jobs. All with exactly the same time and experience. One thing that will get you a head start is time. To be ready, prepared in case the worst does in fact happen. If you dont want to dust it, at least locate your CV and keep in your top drawer. Sure use it as a beer mat or something. But just keep it handy.
None of this is said in jest or bad taste.

Thank you for your response Shannon, I find it interesting that you have read some of my post and concluded that I think my position is "secure" and at the same time I have been criticized by some of my colleagues for being blunt about the condition of instability of the contract world, the Ironies of life. I again tell you that I appreciate your concern but I have no sense of urgency and it is not because I am blinded to the market conditions in Japan but rather because I see the market conditions worldwide and with many opportunities developing in the international market I just don't feel that sense of urgency or impending doom even if I am to loose the job tomorrow, after 30 years in this business and having had the rug pulled from under me quite a few times all of a sudden finding myself unemployed is simply not really that big of a deal because if there is something that I have learned in this career is that you will loose many jobs but the next one is always around the corner and I just think that your interpretation of the world job's market is just plain wrong, don't worry about the day that I will find myself unemployed (next week, next year or whenever) I'm not, Why should you?



The answer to that question is no and many of the reasons why I feel that way I can't really discuss on this forum

[shannon boy]

Thank you for your response Shannon

You are most welcome.

[rcl7700]

Posted Date: 01 October 2010 17:16:08

Job Description

Position: JCAB licence holder – EMB 170 Captain

Duration of Contract: 3.5 Years

Base of Operation: Japan

Minimum Requirements


• Total time in excess of 4,000 hours
• Jet time in excess of 2,000 hours
• Excess of 500 hours PIC time on mutli-crew commercial Jet or 200 hours on E170
• PIC time within the past 6 months prior to application
• Valid JCAB ATPL + Class 1 Medical & Radio Operator Licence
• No history of aircraft accident / incident
• No criminal record
• Ability to complete full assignment term
• Able to reside in Japan (no commuting from outside Japan) during assignment term
• Captain Experience in Japanese Airline and must hold JCAB Captain Approval


Another gig for crazy foreigners willing to continue living on the edge.......

[crj705]

Shannon,
Sorry if my reply seemed a little aggressive. We have had some pretty spite and hate fill attempts in the past and try to convince us that we really didn't know anything about japan. We all hope for the best but prepare for the worse.

[meguro]

Gents
It may be a benefit to this dialogue, for the audience to search posts from 'Divine Wind'. It will be quite evident with whom the recent 'Shannon boy' posts are from. I won't detail the gramatical signature, it's as conclusive as DNA.
I am still working on the "sentance" and promise to get back to this post. In the mean time I am laughing over a glass of red wine, this may be viewed as prophetic, even hubris.
All reading this post need to picture an under weight nobody, drivng a black van, with a flag of the rising sun and nationalistic music blaring. My reaction is always the same, to smile and wave.
Gambate ne

[shannon boy]

I know not who, or what you are on. I am not the devine wind, or anyone else, I assure you. As i said earlier, if you are so sure that i am somebody I say repeatedly I am not, then you really need to examine your decision making. I am irish, from a town near shannon airport, co clare in Ireland. its called sixmile bridge. I am sure that you have enough knowledge of your 'devine wind' to know the he/she and I are not the same person. Regarding your decision making, or lack thereof, if I ever hear your voice over a PA, I will remove myself from said aircraft as you are definatly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. or is it that the lift(elevator) does not go all the way to the top!

How did you ever pass a phychometric test I will never know. Scary stuff. But regarding what you must be either injecting, or shoving up your nose, I strongly suggest you cut the dose.

[shannon boy]

Greatly appreciated crj. As I said earlier, none of this is meant to shock or scare. I wish all those involved all the best, and hope that none of my own doom and gloom scenarios come to pass.

regards,

EINN boy

[Turkpilot]

I worked at J-AIR from beginning of 2009 to mid 2010. Never again. Working for the Japs was more stress then i ever dealt with in my life, they have absolutley no common sense, and are some of the worst pilots. I am more then happy at my current chinese carrier. And the gal that was there didn't make it through the sim.

We started with 30, lost 6 in sim, 6 quit, and i got into a fight with of the old ex B747 gods and never got my signoffs after having 187 hours in the left seat. No matter what i could do, they would have never signed me off. All because this idiot jap instructor insisted on making my life a living hell.

No i am not bitter, just wish i didn't waste my time with those people. And yes i am not politically correct, i am honest!!!

[7triple7]

Yup, like I said, complete tools. For I am the divine wind. I suspect the 2 are buttbuddies as they seem to have pretty much the same opinion and always come to the other's aid. I have friends at J-air/ANA and they both hate working for their Japanese masters.

[E165]

BLAH......BLAH.......BLAH
You guys sound like bunch of high school bitches. For Christ's sake, grow up. No matter where you are, you should at least try to make the best of it. Read through the threads for any other airline in Pprune or other pilot forums. You have whiners and you have ones who try to make the best of what they have or where they are. Doesn't mean the "optimistic" sounding ones are drinking the cool-aid. Maybe a few are, I probably suspect. But I can bet you the majority aren't. If you had bad experience(s) somewhere and think you got screwed, maybe you should look in the mirror first and ask. If you really, really think it wasn't your fault and it was a conspiracy against you, then maybe you just took the **** end of the straw, but suck it up and take it like a man. Life isn't fair and doesn't usually fan out like you want. I know this forum allows you to "vent" your frustrations, but come on, stop poisoning the ones who try to make the best out of a situation. It is what it is. Not just in Japan, but in Korea, China, and rest of the world. The grass is always going to look greener on the other side - and after you cross over, it's not as green as you thought...

So now, girls, let's all sit down in a circle, take a deep breath, hold hands, and chant, "kum ba ya...."

And by the way, Japan already passed being in recession. With the current deflation turmoil, it's in a depression (the politicians just masked it and won't admit to it). :eek: Surprise, surprise.

Y'all have a good day now. Fly safe, y'hear? :ok:

[7triple7]

Thanks Tim Geitner/Jerry Springer.

[Fratemate]

Stockholme Syndrome

Yup, like I said, complete tools.

Casting aspersions on others whilst not being able to spell correctly adds little to your, already lacking, credibility. While you check the dictionary, try researching 'irony' and see what it says. Clue: it has nothing to do with removing the creases from clothes.

[7triple7]

Ahhh, the dreaded spelling police. It was more a matter of typing too fast than not knowing how to spell dickweed. I promise to sloooow down. You got the message though, right? Try researching asshole, theres a picture of you there.

[7triple7]

So where's the irony genius?

That was a feeble attempt at humor, are you a 10 year old?

[AiSnack]

A-NET Q400 peeps still OK ? Still hiring ?