Air Tanker

[fmafma]

Hello guys

Been called for a interview there? How is it? How many hours can you expect to fly, I've heard not to many!!

Currently flying for one of the Locos in Uk

[Jet2_320]

Haven't heard a thing since applying

[kwaiyai]

Yep heard the same fma but also no call re interview date.
good luck,

[macdo]

I can tell you that in the end, very few tc pilots went to AT. There were various reasons for this, but overall most found the secondment unappealing in comparison to working for TC.

[Firm Touchdown]

Here is a brief overview:

TCX contract is for 3 years
Other airframe is operating to the Falklands via ASI
Nice people
A little disorganised, but getting there
3 more airframes to come
Most of the pilots there seem happy
money - OK (not the best, but not the worst either)

[halfofrho]

Is there any information on the payscale and benefits?

They say they are holding numerous selection days throughout 2015. I wonder if anyone has attended and would like to share any further information about it?

[Krautwald]

Just out of curiosity:

1. what are the minimum requirements for FO positions?
2. any selection other than usual pilot assessment?
3. are age limit and other criteria based on requirements for RAF reserves?
4. I assume since you have to join the reserves, this is for UK nationals only?
5. rostering?

I am not eligible (not UK national) but find the outfit interesting none the less, hence my questions.

[MaxPower2011]

1. Requirements- basically a licence, Airbus rating an advantage, but we've taken cadets recently.... basically you need to be a good bloke (or girl)

2.Assessmenr- HR and Technical interview followed by Sim assessment

3. No age limit... and you don't need to be a reserve, most people aren't and most of our flying is non military, it is an option but I think the quota is just about full at the moment.

4. You just need an Easa licence, no requirement to be UK national.

5. Ah Rostering..... no agreement, getting time off certainly isn't an issue, recency can be. From my experience, you get what your given, a lot of the time you want more and if you want rid of anything it generally isn't difficult to get rid of. Although this summer is set to be busier.

Overall, there are still teething problems and frustrations, but colleagues and crews are fantastic, trips are great, command time has gone as low as 12 months lately and I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world.

[Krautwald]

Very informative, thank you. :)

I thought the outfit to be all about refuelling, which would be military related, no?

[MaxPower2011]

if you join Air tanker, you join as a civilian flying civvy registered aircraft. There is an RAF side that fly the voyager (military A330), there is an option to become a sponsored reservist in which case you would fly the voyager and the civvy 330s. However with that, you would not do any air to air refuelling or tactical stuff. It would be purely RAF passenger transport albeit with slightly different procedures to the Civvy Jet.

If you don't become a reservist you will only fly the 5 civilian A330's of which one is permanently servicing the south Atlantic air bridge, 2 are damp leased to Thomas cook flying long haul, one is about to go to Jet2 and the last one is on reserve doing ad hoc charter flying for whoever wants it.

Overall, good mix of flying which would be even more so if you opted to go down the reserve route.

[wiggy]

Q: 4. I assume since you have to join the reserves, this is for UK nationals only?

A: You just need an Easa licence, no requirement to be UK national.

Out of purely academic interest: are you saying that you can now be an RAF reservist without being a UK national, or that K can join the operation but can only do the "non RAF" stuff"???

[Flying Torquewrench]

It used to be a requirement that you had lived in the UK for more then 5 years before applying for a job. Having recently spoken to the recruitment team they will now only entertain your application if you hold a UK passport.

Not arguing with MaxPower2011 but that is straight from the recruitment team. However things might have changed since!

[wiggy]

Many thanks, makes sense, FWIW just lifted this off the RAF Reserves web site _ nationality requirements:

UK or Commonwealth citizen and lived in the UK for the past 5 years

[MikeAlpha320]

any thoughts when/if they may open up again?

[EAM]

It used to be a requirement that you had lived in the UK for more then 5 years before applying for a job. Having recently spoken to the recruitment team they will now only entertain your application if you hold a UK passport.


So, if you are not holding a UK passport or lived in the UK for more than 5 years, what ever the present requirement is, there is no chance to join them? Not even type rated? Are they hiring DEC?

[Eau de Boeing]

They have taken guys recently who don't meet the 5 year requirement, however they had to pass the security vetting and criminal records checks as expected.


As far as I am aware, they are not looking for any more DEC's at the present time.

[Like a G-LEX]

They were definitely recruiting for 6 month contract captains via an agency recently.

[Flying Torquewrench]

So, if you are not holding a UK passport or lived in the UK for more than 5 years, what ever the present requirement is, there is no chance to join them? Not even type rated? Are they hiring DEC?

EAM, sorry for the late reply. I was told that they would not hire you without a British passport! It doesn't matter if you lived in the UK for 5 years or more, no British passport would mean a PFO straight away type rated or not.

However as with anything in aviation, this could have changed a day later.

[EAM]

Thanks for info. I am 330 rated and worked at the gas station during my military service.
Thought that would give me a little advantage. :p

[Like a G-LEX]

Part time contracts? I thought they were just recruiting contractors now?

[MaxPower2011]

I would have thought it would be contractors on a part time contract, or more likely part year.

Think there are quite a few senior guys in the company eyeing up part time so I'd be surprised to see part time permanent contracts for new entrants.