Thomas Cook Boeing & Airbus recruiting

[junglie-driver]

Good evening all. Have just been notified that Thomas Cook Airlines have opened recruitment for both Boeing and Airbus recruitment. Wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if starting salaries are as advertised on ppjn.com? How are rosters now a days, is there any chance of bidding for longer trips to allow commuting?

Thanks in advance for any info. Link below:-

https://career2.successfactors.eu/career?company=TCLIVE&career%5fns=job%5flisting%5fsummary&navBarLevel=JOB%5fSEARCH&_s.crb=2Bv0S7vdCcXbMNSSmBo6KWqvvF4%3d

[Mi EASA Su EASA]

I would also be interested to know take home per month as a year 1 SFO and time to command etc. Thanks

[CraigyD]

Any info on A330 Manchester base would be appreciated! Cheers.

[aussiesteve]

junglie-driver

Salaries are as stated on ppj. Roster wise expect a minimum of 10 days off per month. Averaged around 80-85 hours over summer, winter looking rather calmer. On 321 fleet there are no long trips, except winter when there are trips around the network, including week long trips up to Scandinavia and a few night stops.

Longer trips aren't generally available in summer for SH, LH roster looks like around 4 trips a month depending on how many 'bullet' trips you have.
I know a few guys who commute on the 330 with not too much issue. SH might get rather tiring.


Mi EASA Su EASA
Expect take home of around £3.5 after tax as SFO, this can be increased if overtime is available up to an extra £1000 per month.
Time to command is varying. Every time I speak to someone about it the amount of time seems to decrease. First 8 years, then 6, now about 5 years I am told.
All depends on the growth of the airline really, saying that, it seems to be growing consistently now which can only be good. Lots of retiring captains in the next 5 years allegedly.

Craigy D
MAN 330 - LGW and MAN are the only 330 bases. Most crew in both bases will be put as Mixed Fleet on 330/321 (even if you came with 330 only rating) until you get your seniority bid accepted as 330 only, which might take a while. See above for roster. Expect to fly out or in to home base on each trip. Rarely both.

Hope that helps :ok:

[VxVy]

how many 330's are based at Gatwick? and do the 330's fly short haul from LGW too?

[aussiesteve]

I believe there's only one 330 at LGW and occasionally they'll do a Canaries or Greece/Turkey round trip.

Expansion wise it looks like TCX want to expand the 330 by a rate of one a year for the next few years. Doubtfully any of those 330's will end up in LGW due to competition from Virgin etc.
Manchester is the main 330 base for best variety of routes.

[VxVy]

Ok, and on mixed fleet flying do they roster you to fly the 330 one week, then 321 the next?

[aussiesteve]

Mainly 330 and the odd 321 flight to keep you current. That'll be once you're qualified on both. If you join on 330 or 321, expect to be on that for a year or so.

[CraigyD]

Great info aussiesteve, thanks!

[junglie-driver]

Many thanks for the response. Have any been taken on as A330 only with permanent contracts?

[junglie-driver]

Many thanks for the response. Have any been taken on as A330 only with permanent contracts?

[aussiesteve]

junglie

From what occured last year there were a few who joined as 330 only, but shortly got put on Mixed fleet at their designated base. I don't know when their CCQ courses where scheduled though, that will depend on when TCX can fit them in.
I would expect to join as 330 only, to be then given the A321 CCQ at some point and remain MFF until your 330 only seniority bid is accepted.

If you join with a valid TR (330/321/even 757) I would expect a perm contract. Last year the only people without perm contracts were the cadets who got a 7/5 contract for the year.

[VxVy]

The current advert is for rated and experienced ATPL holders. By chance, do you know if TCX consider frozen ATPL's who qualified outside the major FTO's? Or even FATPL's who are rated but under 1000TT?

[aussiesteve]

VxVy

You have nothing to lose sending in an application. I got the job last year with a fATPL and when I sent my application in I had about 1000TT too.

[VxVy]

Thanks aussiesteve, I assume cadet in their eyes is anyone with less than 1500TT regardless if rated or not.

[aussiesteve]

I believe you were classed as a cadet if you were unrated on type without an full ATPL.

FO to SFO happens when you gain your unfrozen ATPL.

[Superpilot]

A cadet in Thomas Cook is someone with no commercial experience and straight from a flight school like CTC (there have been 1 or 2 exceptions to this rule). All pilots with at least 300 hours time on type (regardless of total experience) have joined on a full time contract. Those with < 1,500 hours total time on the Junior FO contract (lesser pay).

VxVy, I'll answer your question on here...

I'm at a regional base (2 aircraft, peak 3, lowest 1) and yes outside of peak season (May-Aug), I've always had the opportunity to book at least one weekend GDO (some times even both days for weeks at a time!).

Regarding swapping flights: We don't have a Master Roster just yet (there are ongoing plans for this) so this makes things difficult. However, if you ask around via email/forums you might find someone. Then contact crewing to arrange (I believe there's a form to fill in too).

Despite the hardships the industry has faced and continues to, we're not doing too bad. Something like 150 pilots will have been recruited in 2 years with virtually nil attrition.

[StreetHippo]

Hi guys, I have my interview and Sim assessment coming up this week, any top tips?
Is it tech heavy, or just standard HR nonsense?
I'm A330 rated, can I expect mixed fleet?
And finally, time to command??
Many thanks in advance!

[macdo]

Re: 330 trips.
Generally if you are 330 only you will fly about 650 hrs a year. Rosters are random with a bit of cut'n'paste repetition until leave or somesuch alters it.
My roster this summer has generally been bullet/2 off/ bullet or 1 clear day/ 3 off. I have had 2 trips this year with more than 1 day off downroute.
Its hard to 2nd guess what next year will be like as it is yet to be confirmed what trips the company a/c will be flying. By the look of it, we may be doing a lot more of the long distance stuff to SFO/LAX/LAS, plus the usual Carib trips.
It is certainly getting busier.
Re Mixed Fleet, currently if you are MAN based it is mostly long haul, LGW is much more MFF.
Re. Commands. Currently, due to expansion and failure rates, command prospects are the best they have been since 2003. Note the time that it has taken for things to turn around. If you join now there is a retirement bulge in 2-3 years which will create more opportunities. But, in this sector, the next downturn could be next year. I would put my mind to 8 years and if it comes earlier, more to the good. This isn't the right place for people with burning desires to command. But, the work is varied and interesting, the staff are good, flying standards are high. I wouldn't wish to work in any other sector.
The interview/sim is straightforward, try to get hold of some stuff on TCG company values. Unless it has changed from last year, the sim is a mixture of hand flying and automatics exercises/ approach and go around. They aren't out to trip you up.

[Superpilot]

Expect 4 or 5 tech questions (verbal) and a similar number of HR questions.

[Superpilot]

Gatwick is down to 2 x A321s right now and an A330. I'm not 100% sure but think there's 2 Boeings right now and another 3 coming next year. MFF, many appear to cope just fine switching back and forth but that's hard for the company to organise so expect to be stuck on one or the other for extended periods of time (easier to roster this way). Would appear there's a slight surplus of Airbus pilots at LGW, think most slots will go to Boeing rated pilots next year

Recruitment update, about 50 pilots needed across both fleets. At Manchester, as seems to be the case for 2 years now, MFF is yours within a year or less.

[Jay_solo]

Any idea when the boeings are leaving the fleet?

[Superpilot]

Not for many years. We are investing heavily in keeping them going.

[A330B777]

So on the 330 out of MAN base, whats the lifestyle like at TCX?

Do you average 3-4 trips a month?
How many days away do you average per month?
Are East coast US mainly Bullets?
How long are the trips to the Caribbean (Cuba,BGI.UVF,ANU,TAB)?
And with no bidding system, just a random roster, how do crews adjust rosters to get particular trips if you fancy something else?

[Unregistere]

I'm new on this forum. I have an interview in January for a TR B757 First Officer position to be based in Manchester or LGW.
Can anyone give me informations about roster. I would like to know how many days off in a row I can expect between two periods of duty and if it's possible to commute ?
I would like to know how much is the duty pay I can expect (average winter or summer)on top of the salary they already gave me.
Where is flying the B757or can I expect to fly the B767 ?
Any informations would be appreciated

[A330ETOPS]

FDA is 3.47/hr. 2.35 is taxable. If you get Manchester, expect to fly the 767 too on long haul rotations out of FRA. Looks like we're keeping 2 on the UK AOC. I suspect a busy summer on the Boeing this year. Best of luck

[jetstreamrider]

Apologies if this has been asked recently but are there any rumours of recruitment in the near future? Cheers!