VA NZ Rosters

[DUXNUTZ]

Anyone care to chime in with current rosters and general working conditions @ VA NZ (Pacific Blue) ?

Is it still the revolving door of yester-year?

[scardycap]

No. New contract has slowed down movement. Flying is good and the guys on line are great. Rostering is a bit hit and miss but you can't have it all.:ok:

[Gate_15L]

New contract has slowed down movement.

Hmm, you might need to tell that to the 10 FOs that have gone to Air NZ, the few that are off to Japan and the other captains that are off the Sandpit... thats in the last 10 months..

[astinapilot]

That's been pretty much NZ wide not VANZ specific with Air NZ hiring etc. It is fair to say compared to a few years ago it now has a good contract, a good bunch of guys and fairly stable. This is the first hiring in 2-3 years.

I see you are from SYD, if you are looking the current positions, do not commute, it will not work and you will not enjoy it. You will then moan about the lifestyle to other guys and make yourself unpopular.

It is a great job, but even living in NZ you can be busy with an average lifestyle some months.

[always inverted]

Sure, 10 or so FO's gone/ going to air nz. One captain so far is going shortly to the sand but no others have gone in the last year... at least one, maybe 2-3 more FO's to Asia/ana shortly but, NO command upgrades for about the last 2 years.
Think the comment re the movement was relating more to the commands, could be wrong...
Rosters range from 20-85 hrs per month, depending on how you bid and how the cards fall.
10/ 28 off.
I wouldn't have thought another 8 fo's were required but obviously something is going on.
Good routes, good bunch of guys.
But yeah, commuting wouldn't work in the long term. Probably one of the better 737 jobs around overall. Just don't start moaning if you get in, if you do, then the door is over there.

[DUXNUTZ]

Thanks guys. No moaning and no commuting, got it!

[Anthill]

Company looking to upgrade some CzFOs, if they are interested.

[blackteal]

DUXNUTZ no one likes a moaner, but I wouldn't say you can't commute at VANZs. You just need to be realistic, have a back up plan and remember your duty to sign on fit to fly with the required legal rest. Look to other regions like Europe and the States where commuting is considered normal to get you back "home".

In actual fact, just like Air NZ there are many pilots that commute to various parts of Australia and many pilots that commute to some of the most beautiful regions of NZ (if you've lived in Auckland you'll understand why). Some commute hours by car, by turboprop or jet from the regions, and some even by boat!

Like others have said, VANZ would be one of the best 737 jobs in the region. The money is slowly getting better (albeit still lagging behind VAA and VAI), the guys on the line a great, they are now on the Virgin seniority list and rosters can lead to a lifestyle that is amazing to working like a dog hating life.

The biggest issue is the uncertainty of the operation, and despite a lot of guys happy either way if it was closed down and flying based back out of Australia (with their jobs in tact), there are still some (who you wouldn't blame based on their lifestyle) who a striving to keep costs low to keep flying based in NZ.

Overall DUXNUTS, a great job (but don't go telling too many people). :ok:

[bloke 3000]

Too many in nz have too much at stake to rock the boat. Keep the costs low, don't make noise and the place will quietly trail along behind the Mother ship in Brisbane. We'll send you a cheque every week, just please don't change anything.

Pockets of genuinely good people and great flying, but don't expect what you've become used to in Aussie and most certainly don't expect anything to change.

[atlas12]

Hi guys. I understand commuting is off the cards, but for someone who wants to spend time back in oz, is it possible to request say 7 block RDO's a roster? Are there any guys over there who do this sort of stuff? Cheers