Air Contractors ATR pilots questions [Archive]

United2992

3rd Jan 2011, 06:45

Dear Air Contractor pilots (ATR),

How is the roster for the moment? How many days a month do you work? And in what kind of ON - OFF shedule?
What is the net salery after tax of an FO year 1 or 2?

FougaMagister

3rd Jan 2011, 21:07

Air Contractors jobs, payscales and entry requirements. (http://www.pilotjobsnetwork.com/jobs/Air_Contractors)

Cheers :cool:

United2992

4th Jan 2011, 06:02

Thanks, but I allready saw this information.

I'm interested how the "unstable" rosters on the ATR, actually turn out.
And what the net actual salary at the end of the month on the bank account is.

hotelmodemetar

4th Jan 2011, 10:20

Hi,

The net salary will depend on where you live, if you are married or not, if you have children or not, if you have a good tax advisor or not, etc, etc...:ooh:

420 HB

4th Jan 2011, 22:32

ppjn fairly accurate on the payscales. depends if uk or eurozone based.
Rosters well..... depends where you are based. how long is a piece of string?
Duties only unstable due to WX, sickness and noisey hotels.

Big Flynn

6th Jan 2011, 22:08

Good day

I've had a good look around the web for info on Air Contractors and would be grateful if anyone in the know could help me out on a couple of points about ACL. As a SLF TP F/o who finishes back where I start everyday, get's to sleep in my own bed everynight, night freight op's are somewhat alien to me. As there's no future at my current operator i'm trying to get a feel for freight and see if it would be an option to move on to.

I would be grateful if someone could answer some queries I have about ACL.
Do they only take on type rated bods or will they take on experienced non-rated F/o's?
Do they have relationships with any particular TRTO?
Roughly speaking is it a Monday-Friday operation? Does this mean you report to your base on a Sunday night (for arguments sake) and thats you away on tour for 5 days? Therefore would commuting from the central belt of Scotland be an option?
Chances of a UK mainland base?
If you are based at a UK base do you get paid in Euros or Sterling as per PPJN?

Like I say, any info would be great as i'm just trying to weigh up my options.

Many thanks

Flynn

hardcase

7th Jan 2011, 18:35

only type-rated pilots, skyblue in exeter is where most FO's have paid for their rating. Usually you self position to base sunday night and then home on a friday morning, you get used to it...only base you would get in the UK is MAN, as BHX is full...and UK base=sterling contract
:ok:

United2992

7th Jan 2011, 20:26

So net salery is above 3000€ on the bank account every month for beginning FO's I can see based on above information?

Regarding the roster and base...
How many days a month do you work? And is it 2 week / 2 week then?
Can you choose base on the EU mainland?

freightdoggy dog

7th Jan 2011, 21:21

Is Mad Max still at the helm ?

hardcase

8th Jan 2011, 04:10

Yeah just about

hardcase

8th Jan 2011, 10:19

United2992

all bases are listed on PPJN, if there is space at one, any pilot can bid for a base...

Big Flynn

8th Jan 2011, 10:51

Many thanks for the info hardcase. Air Contractors looks like a nice outfit to work for. I've always been against paying for ratings but the ATR actually looks like quite a good rating to have on your licence. With a couple of obsolute (but good aircraft) ratings on my licence, I might have to bite the bullet and splash some cash to move on me thinks. Freight might well be the future. Will give Sky Blue a call for further info.

Thanks again

United2992

9th Jan 2011, 17:10

still don't have an idea how the roster for FO's on the ATR looks like...

hardcase

9th Jan 2011, 18:13

a typical month is 2 weeks working, week contactable, week off and all weekends off (unless CDG base where they do weekend WAW fedex service).
:ok:

United2992

10th Jan 2011, 09:34

Do you have to be in the vicinity of the base on the week contactable?

hardcase

10th Jan 2011, 10:13

no, as long as you live near an airport that has good access into Europe
:ok:

hotelmodemetar

10th Jan 2011, 10:22

United, you can also expect 3 weeks on 1 week off, if you are not as lucky as hardcase :E

EK4457

11th Jan 2011, 08:43

A few quick questions for the chaps in the know;

If wanting to apply but don't have a rating, is it best to go through the route of getting a SSTR first or do Air Contractors not entertain that?

Basically, I can't work out if I should contact Sky Blue first or the airline directly.

Also, is the stirling contract a straight £/Euro conversion of what's on PPJN or is it a different beast altogether?

Finally, what are the chances of a MAN base?

Thanks guys.

EK

hardcase

11th Jan 2011, 19:14

as has been said many times before on previous posts...you need an ATR type rating to apply to ACL (there are lots of ATR rated guys with & without experience looking for jobs at the moment).

and as i said in a previous post if there is space at a base then you can apply if you get the job...

:ok:

EK4457

12th Jan 2011, 09:40

Hardcase, thanks for the reply. Sorry - I should actually read the thread before posting.

From what I can gather, even if I were to go down the SSTR route, there are enough out there with time on type who would obviously get in first.

Or in other words, hold on to your £15,000. Is this a fair comment?

EK

hardcase

12th Jan 2011, 11:42

its a difficult choice to make, it worked out for myself and others but then again didnt work out for many more. Its a gamble whatever way you look at it to be honest.

:ok:

saucy jack

12th Jan 2011, 17:00

As a matter of interest what sort of demand is there from the workforce for an outlying ATR base such as Toulouse? And how many crews staff such a base which, presumably, has just a single aircraft stationed there.

I ask as a TLS resident and ATR captain who might fancy being based closer to home.

Would the typical routes be the same (CDG) every night or is there a bit of variety thrown in.....such as weeks away at other outstations?

By the way I've read on PPJN that there are no DEC's currently taken...is that still the case or are there exceptions to that rule?

Thanks for your time!!

SJ

hardcase

12th Jan 2011, 18:12

Hi SJ

the TLS base is for our TRE's only, as we use the sim there. Also PPJN is correct, no DEC's. There are lots of experienced FO's to be upgraded. 6 in the last 3months, more to come is the rumour...

:ok:

hotelmodemetar

13th Jan 2011, 09:58

Would the typical routes be the same (CDG) every night or is there a bit of variety thrown in.....such as weeks away at other outstations?

TLS-CDG-TLS is operated by Swiftair with their Emb 120 aircraft. They fly the same route 4 weeks a month, all the year, same captain and same FO :ouch:

Méteo France have an ATR42 based at TLS, maybe you can give a try.

EK4457

13th Jan 2011, 13:20

Thanks guys.

Also, how many hours per year can you expect?

EK

hardcase

13th Jan 2011, 13:29

I have averaged 400hrs a year...

:ok:

FougaMagister

14th Jan 2011, 11:09

Same as hardcase; 400hrs/year, give or take 15hrs...

Cheers :cool:

420 HB

16th Jan 2011, 23:59

Guys, listen to Hardcase and hotelmodemetar. You will need a type rating and almost without exception time on type. There will be no DEC as virtually all the FOs are eligable for upgrade.
The stirling salary is not comparable to the Euro as the rate was set years ago.
you will not get to choose your base, you go where the vacancies exist.
Travel to your base is at your own cost. Accommodation on some of the routes is at your own expense.
New joiners will be contract pilots and not employed by the company.
HOWEVER, the aircraft are well maintained by the engineers. All the training Capts are first class and even with a large number of different nationalities flying everyone gets on well.
The ATR pilots rep does outstanding work. She is the best man for the job.

EK4457

29th Oct 2012, 12:52

Hi Chaps,

PPJN has the following;

Recruitment completed, 2 F/Os have just been recruited on the ATR fleet.

Does anyone know if the new recruits had a TR with time on type?

Thanks,

EK

hardcase

29th Oct 2012, 15:00

Yes they have time on type, also word has it that ACL now prefer experienced pilots instead of new type rated...

EK4457

29th Oct 2012, 15:50

Thanks hardcase,

That doesn't surprise me in the slighest. To say it's an employers market out there is an understatement!

It seems that there is no real way in to ACL as a low hourd instructor. Even if I bought a TR it seems.....

Happy flying anyway.

EK

cessnagirl

30th Oct 2012, 10:04

It's a pitty they dont consider low hours non rated guys. I'd love to fly for them!!!

dudubrdx

30th Oct 2012, 18:44

Rated on ATR, 350h on Type and 900TT, and that was still not enough to go to DUB for the interview, so no, you won't get in without a TR+ experience

FougaMagister

31st Oct 2012, 16:39

A large part of the selection is done on applications/CVs before interviewing. Incidentally, the Ops manual mentions that new joiners should have an ATR rating and a minimum of 500hrs on type. It has sometimes been less, but that's unlikely to happen these days.

Cheers :cool:

hotelmodemetar

31st Oct 2012, 17:48

30th Oct 2012, 10:04 #32 (permalink)
cessnagirl

Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tracy Island
Posts: 69
It's a pitty they dont consider low hours non rated guys. I'd love to fly for them!!!

You can always apply to Ryanair and easyjet, they LOVE cadets!!!!

REDARROW777

10th Feb 2013, 13:44

Hey there,

Just wondering of anyone might be able to give me some pointers on the selection process with Air Contractors? I've heard an aptitude test, 2 interviews and a sim. Is this true? The aptitude test... Maths and English? How many q's and in what time allowed? 2 interviews? and the sim?

I know lots of questions and Ive already started the swotting but just want to make sure Im fully prepared.

ANy info would be extremely grateful!!!!

Jump Complete

10th Feb 2013, 17:24

Also interested in getting in there but was under the impression it was all quiet on the recruiment front there at the moment (I know they had some limited recruitment recently.) Are they currently looking?

REDARROW777

15th Feb 2013, 13:58

Im not 100% sure Im hearing yes and no. But as a just incase Ill start getting the head into the books. I think they've a holding pool so maybe they're working off that.

hardcase

15th Feb 2013, 21:38

interviews for ATR rated pilots 26/27th of Feb. All spaces are taken, most if not all are recommendations I hear...

There are upgrades and fleet changes for ATR pilots at the moment so I guess the new pilots will cover those!

Prob40

26th Feb 2013, 00:30

There are also some 3 or 4 very exp. ATR FOs in a holding pool, one has just been given the nod but no further recruitment. Just hope the ATR fleet is secure given the resent acquisition of more 737s ?

highflied

21st May 2013, 18:39

Ive been called for interview on June 6th in Dublin,anyone got info on the interview?what can i expect in the maths and spelling test??its a long time since i have done a spelling test!!Any information would be much appreciated as i would love to get this job and have been waiting for what seems like a lifetime for an opportunity like this.

bluk

22nd May 2013, 09:23

Hi, highflied ! Could you share with us your total and ATR experience? I've also applied few times but I'm afraid that they invite pilots with 500+ hours on type only..
Good luck!

hardcase

22nd May 2013, 10:59

the spelling test is fine, long multipication and division is the maths test with no calculator. All very relaxed, few tech questions on ATR, nothing too tricky. You go through HR questions and thats it...:ok:

ATR-FO

23rd May 2013, 21:07

Hi,
I also have an interview on June 6th. I am type rated with zero hours on type. My understanding is they are looking for a small number of low hours guys in order to spread out when Fo's are ready for upgrade.

Any info on interview would be appreciated.