Current situation for Thomas Cook pilots ?

[Fonsini]

Now that the dust has started to settle on the financial and passenger related fallout from the Thomas Cook collapse I wondered where exactly the pilots are left standing.

Is it as simple as all 600 pilots now being unemployed or are other airlines jumping in to snap up all those experienced flyers ?

Either way, best wishes to all the TC employees affected by the collapse.

[rotorwills]

The timings of their demise, Thomas C. has had a serious impact upon their potential recruitment. I trust that they will find a home as soon as possible. Wishing all the very best.

[Bravo Zulu]

Hoping they all get jobs asap.. a couple of my pals at TCX all have multiple leads.
It seems Jet2 / TUI cant get them quick enough which is great!

ATB

[Meester proach]

Yes, TUI taking DEC it seems for summer only deal, that must be pretty rare.

Good luck to all involved

[slowjet]

Hard to wade through all the posts but interesting debate going on in the "Terms & Endearment" section regarding "Seniority Lists". Casts some light on the situation facing some companies trying to do the best thing. Said it before & so have others; be loyal to your licence which authorises you to fly for hire & reward. Being loyal to what is painted on the side of an aeroplane has no place on the dole queue. As a loyal FO for many years awaiting progression, watching DEC commands is very painful and does not endear loyalty. Summer season only is not a bad way providing that there is little time to train up the loyal bods. Following winter, shove the DEC's to the bottom of the FO list (if there is one). Otherwise, it is a market, tough on both employers & employees

I still consult on Selection Boards & fiercely tell the HR nerds to stop asking the dumb question, "How long do you intend staying with us ?"

Market rules, market conditions. Heartfelt good wishes to all at TC, many of whom will have been through all this before . Conditions are far more favourable than when mates of mine were chucked onto the dole queue in the early nineties.

[macdo]

I would say that the current feeling within the pilot group is nervous (the degree of nervousness largely depending on how to pay the bills), but positive. Fortunately, in addition to the obvious targets of J2 and TUI, there are quite a few good quality jobs out there at the moment, all looking for quality candidates to fill them. The industry seems to regard TCX pilots as being largely good quality, so this is a happy match. The first few are already reporting offers in the bag and that figure will ballon between now and Christmas. What has been interesting is that quite a few people are using this jolt to look seriously at some of the things that they might have liked to do, but in reality would probably not have done so. It is also really uplifting to see both the union and potential employers and individuals going out of there way to help the TCX group. THe small acts of kindness really count.

[Consol]

https://www.aerlingus.com/careers/careers-in-the-air/direct-entry-pilots/#/tab-0-direct-entry-pilot-programme

[bringbackthe80s]

That’s for copilots though right?

[giggitygiggity]

That’s for copilots though right?

Co-pilots are pilots too!

[ShamrockF]

That’s for copilots though right?

Aer Lingus hire everyone as a First Officer initially. Quite a number of captains have gone there in the RHS with the understanding their jobs will be more secure and stable than their previous operators.

[flyingmed]

Hard to wade through all the posts but interesting debate going on in the "Terms & Endearment" section regarding "Seniority Lists". Casts some light on the situation facing some companies trying to do the best thing. Said it before & so have others; be loyal to your licence which authorises you to fly for hire & reward. Being loyal to what is painted on the side of an aeroplane has no place on the dole queue. As a loyal FO for many years awaiting progression, watching DEC commands is very painful and does not endear loyalty. Summer season only is not a bad way providing that there is little time to train up the loyal bods. Following winter, shove the DEC's to the bottom of the FO list (if there is one). Otherwise, it is a market, tough on both employers & employees

I still consult on Selection Boards & fiercely tell the HR nerds to stop asking the dumb question, "How long do you intend staying with us ?"

Market rules, market conditions. Heartfelt good wishes to all at TC, many of whom will have been through all this before . Conditions are far more favourable than when mates of mine were chucked onto the dole queue in the early nineties.

Couldn't agree more! :D I recently overheard a few young co-pilots (ex Monarch or TC) talking about potential 'short cuts' to the left seat on wide body in a 'flag carrier' airline. They were not so amused when another senior co-pilot pointed out that they will be waiting 15 years if they are lucky! By all means I wish those pilots the best but please don't bite the hand that feeds you! Don't be the person that undermines a long serving loyal employee with other carriers (if there is a form of seniority)

[Meester proach]

Well, Generation Y/Z think they are entitled to an “ upgrade “ as soon as they meet the minimum hours. In my day you had to have the hours but more importantly be suitable .

if you join BA/ virgin on LH, you should be clear it’s the long game.

One of my colleagues is off to KLM. He reckons several years as a second officer now, before incredibly slow progression , but he’ll earn more than me in his career I’m sure .

[deltahotel]

Jrudge

There’s a massive thread about seniority on Terms and Endearments which pretty much covers all aspects of this subject. Seniority is a pisser if you’ve just lost your LHS job. Seniority is a transparent system which protects career advancement for loyal FOs coming up to command. It all depends on which side of the fence you’re sitting at the time.

I’m sure that TCX skippers will readily find employment, but possibly not in the seat of their choice.

I think that long serving (loyal) pilots in either seat may take exception to the implications of your comment ‘.......detriment of ability.’!