View Full Version : Virgins Tiger Uses Contact Pilots Not Employee's
Ejector
4th Apr 2017, 00:40
In reading a recent thread here called "Tigerair fleet change to B737" there is talk of the A320's being phased out over 3 years for B737s, be it a little delayed with a few little hick ups like Bali etc.
BPA: "The removal of the Tiger A320's is part of the group fleet simplification plan"
As 737's remain unpainted and switch between VIRGIN brands.
Anyway, it appears that Tiger / VIRGIN Group are "employing" 737 pilots as contractors through agency's and not as an employee.
Is this the new norm for Aussie Airlines now ?
PoppaJo
4th Apr 2017, 01:05
It's a transition thing. It's pretty simple stuff.
Nothing new. All airlines that have gone through this sort of fleet swaps do the same thing.
At the end of the day, they will have periods where they run low on crew due to pilots off doing type ratings etc, so in comes the contractors. Obviously if they directly recruited they would be overcrewed once the fleet swap ceases
The contract pilots are employed under the Tigerair EBA. The only thing they don't get as far as I'm aware, is a seniority number. What they do get, is a free type rating and a fixed term.
morno
galdian
4th Apr 2017, 05:00
The intent for the F/O's I believe is that they could/should be offered permanent positions at the end of the contract ( 18 month term was mooted) if they're suitable (and why wouldn't they be??) and there's a requirement for F/O's (with all the movement in the aviation scene expected over the next few years almost guarenteed you'd think).
Seniority would be based on END of contract date not start so anyone joining the Virgin group before the contract end date would have a higher seniority, that of course would include any DEFO's taken on by Tiger if that happened.
They also recruited for Captains on same deal except offer to retain Captain status higly unlikely - 0% sounds about right unless really strange things happened!
So far no contract captains AFAIK, whether any intent or idea's dead in the water no idea.
Cheers.
UnderneathTheRadar
4th Apr 2017, 06:37
The Townsville refueller told me that VA are having trouble recruiting at the moment - to the point where at a recent interview, some of the potential candidates who actually turned up were dressed in shorts/t-shirts - don't know if that thought that was acceptable or if they just didn't care.
Icarus2001
4th Apr 2017, 06:59
told me that VA are having trouble recruiting at the moment
No job opportunities shown on their website...
Current opportunities | Virgin Australia (http://careers.virginaustralia.com/cw/en/listing/)
Found this one for VARA, Fo's for ATR and F50????
https://www.flightdeckconsulting.com/jobs/virgin-australia-regional-vara/
Then there are the Tigerair jobs...
https://tigerair.com.au/corporate/careers
The Bullwinkle
5th Apr 2017, 06:33
The Townsville refueller told me that VA are having trouble recruiting at the moment - to the point where at a recent interview, some of the potential candidates who actually turned up were dressed in shorts/t-shirts - don't know if that thought that was acceptable or if they just didn't care.
The Townsville refueller also told me that one candidate turned up and brought his lunch along to eat during the interview!
Icarus2001
5th Apr 2017, 07:19
http://i37.tinypic.com/2s79h00.jpg
I hope pilots out there are not wasting their hard earned cash on the above interview prep company, seems they don't even have a clue them selfs.