Post Covid recency ?

[giord]

Hi all,

what will happen recency wise to those pilots (with experience) who happened to be looking for a job just prior the covid lockdowns and are now looking at possibly 2 (?) more years without a job ? Are we all going to be automatically out of the game by the time the gigs pick-up as we will be severely out of flying recency ? Line ops discussed.

Thanks for your inputs.

[PilotLZ]

It's predominantly a matter of supply and demand, with some significant co-factors being experience, contacts and how well you match what the employer is looking for on a personality level. Many pilots manage to find new jobs even after a couple of years outside aviation. Many struggle even while being current and recent on multiple types. It's about being what the particular gig is looking for - and they're all different.

[macdo]

In terms of recurrent sims, there are a lot of TRE's/TRI's offering assistance to those between jobs. Sim operators have been helpful in the main. There's even some (UK)Job Centre funding to pay for it, but you have to fight hard to get it.

[ford cortina]

I assume you're in the UK, then Alan Carter (ex Wamos Air)has a company, you might need to search him on facebook, he is offering £60 an hour in his 737 NG Sim for unemployed pilots,as a pilot himself he may be able to help.

Also if you need a body for an LPC, I am sure many of us will happily help where we can, for fuel money only.
Well I will, but I spend most of my time abroad.

Best of luck, we have all been there its a horid experience.

[FGE319]

As above, there is some job centre funding available for this situation to keep currency. If you have an Airbus rating and some experience, there is a company that I'm aware of looking for First Officers for some non-UK bases (you'll likely be based outside the EU initially but can bid to come back), and a limited number of Captains, so there is work available, it's just a case of not being too picky in what/where you're doing it, depending on your own circumstances.

I'm going to need to speak to one of our First Officers if you need further info, but you should definitely (subject to having maximum £6k I think in savings) be able to get a recurrent sim funded at least partly by the DWP, as it will keep you available for work in your specialism.

[giord]

Hi guys,

thanks a lot for your replies !
It is mainly flying recency I am talking about, not the SIM as I get the chance from time to time to jump in for an hour and do a bit of stick and rudder work.
Problem is that SIM hours do not count as "last flight on type" so if an airlines requires a last flight let's say within 12 months I cannot apply. This is my main concern.
Many thanks for all your inputs !

[Joe le Taxi]

Of course the precipice comes at three years, where EASA recommends (but not mandates) that a full type rating course is required for renewing a type rating. This used to be five, and I would like to see the three year precipice removed (or at least made less precipitous)! I have heard some training providers are using discretion to make the refresher training significantly less than a full course, where appropriate, up to a limit of five years.

[sonicbum]

The recency thing is really a non-sense sometimes and it really must be assessed on a casa by case scenario, which I'm afraid is usually not the case.
I know a guy who is a sharp and experienced TRI/TRE with over 10k hours, he had a medical stop for about 18 months and in the mean time he was made redundant by his company back then. He kept working as a freelancer in the SIM conducting LPCs but went quickly out of 12 months recency by the time he got his medical back. He struggled hard to find back a job on the line due to this lack of recency while he was sitting for hours and hours in the SIM every week both at the back and in the front supporting cadets skill tests, obviously 90% of those hours were dealing with abnormals and debriefings but - hey - he did not have a 30' min sector possibly flown in all CAVOK in the last 3/6/12 months so he would definitely have been difficult to retrain...

[ivor toolbox]

List of Official Record Series 4 issued in response to COVID-19 (http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=list&type=sercat&id=128&filter=1&reorder=refOrder)

CAA have varied recency / validity periods if that's of help to anyone.

[jondoyle]

Very well done to Mr Carter for offering those services at those rates at a time when some people need it most.
It’s NOT the same in the corporate world.
A very large sim provider is looking for between £1500-£2000 Stg to complete 3 touch and go’s in an midsize corporate aircraft. Scandalous if you ask me.

[giggitygiggity]

In terms of recurrent sims, there are a lot of TRE's/TRI's offering assistance to those between jobs. Sim operators have been helpful in the main. There's even some (UK)Job Centre funding to pay for it, but you have to fight hard to get it.
Pilot cant afford a revalidation.
Job centre helps with the funding.
Pilot gets job.
Taxman get's £30-40k a year.

I know it's not that simple and it's good to hear there is assistance, but a shame if it's unnecessarily tricky.