Astraeus Cadets - an update

[pjdj777]

As I type I am shattered after a night Athens there and back.

Line training is gathering pace now, no need for a safety pilot, lots of flights over the next couple of weeks.

Just like any form of flying, the more you learn the more you realise that there is to learn, every flight is a real challenge with new discussion points, features and hurdles to overcome.

I just did my first real low vis approach into LGW - I've done low vis approaches in senecas etc but in a 73 the transition from instruments to visual is very dramatic, the ground seems to come up very quickly indeed, a real adrenaline shot!!! All that came after dodging the thunderstorms climbing out of Greece - an eventful flight to say the least ;)

On a rest day today, might have a quiet beer early evening ish but need to get to bed early for tomorrow morning's Faro flight.

It's all go...wouldn't have it any other way.

[salapilot]

Well dond pj. How are you guys coping financially ? I know the scheme meant that you would be on a limited salary for a while, so has there been any talk of a permanent contract once you have done the 6 months ?

sp

[MJR]

Hi PJ,

Pleased to hear it all seems to be going well. Now you are really getting into it what sort of rosters are you expecting to fly and do you always end up at LGW when its time for bed.

cheers


MJR

[pjdj777]

Hiya guys.

Financially, well it's not been that bad really, to be honest the only real problem I've had is paying rent in one place and still having a mortgage in the other, I'm not living the life of luxury but not starving either. As for permanent contracts, we'll tell you closer to the time, sorry but I really don't want to tempt fate.

The roster is getting very busy indeed, mine is:
Malaga, off, off, Athens (night), rest, Faro, Off, Faro, Standby, Athens, Alicante, Zakinthos, off, rest, Rhodes, standby, Athens, Alicante, Zakinthos, off, off, off, Taba, Athens(night), rest, Rhodes.

I always end up back at LGW, however "bed time" is a variable these days :p

[fonawah]

Just wondering how you guys/girls are getting on. I think it was over a year ago when we were getting updates on your training and new jobs etc.
Any chance of a further update?:D
many thanks
F

[featherman]

Hi Fonwah,

Just came across your posting regarding us elusive "Astraeus Cadets"

Well we are all still alive and kicking, albeit almost two years (shock horror!) down the road. And, yes, I am pleased to say we are all still working for Astraeus! We have all done a heck of a lot of flying and obviously flown to many destinations under varying extremes of weather, met some great characters and had some great stop-overs too!...all good character building stuff and very exciting!

I believe we have all now exceeded 1000 hours on the 737 300/700 and have become a little more "seasoned". What this means basically is that the job is more enjoyable with fewer surprises than during the tentative early moths of flying when you really are learning the ropes so to speak. As many of you are well aware Astraeus has a strong training element to it in the form of "Bond". We have, to a greater or lesser extent, all been involved in Bonds activities. I personally have had the pleasure of flying as safety pilot on the odd base-check day. Its good fun if not nerve racking for the student! It’s strange to think that just a few months ago we were each in the same position.

What I have learned though is that a charter airline like Astraeus is not for everyone. It is, and can be very, very hard work. Unless you are truly passionate about what you do you cannot give it the 110% it deserves. The flying, although fun, is demanding with sector lengths now up to 7 ½ hours! As far as weekends and social life goes, it’s all a bit of a sacrifice. Suffice to say, its still a great job and I personally wouldn’t change it for the world.


Now over to the rest of you guys……..

(ps InFinRetirment....many, many thanks and Happy New Year!...did you get my email?

[Snigs]

Just out of curiosity, how many of the original PPRuNe cadets are still flying the line with Astraeus?

[CrashDive]

All of them bar one, i.e. pjdj777 has moved to an airline that's able to offer him a base nearer to his home - the rest of them are still at Astraeus.