View Full Version : GSS 747-400s
Smokie
16th Nov 2002, 15:15
Saw a bright, shiney, sparkly, 747-400 this morning at LGW, with
GLOBAL SUPPLY SYSTEMS painted down the side of the fuselage.
Anyone got jobs there yet ? or is this question off limits ?
Intruder
17th Nov 2002, 07:05
The first group of pilots transferred over from AACS. I don't know if GSS is recruiting from outside yet.
G-GSSA is the only airplane they are operating directly. They are currently wet leasing N491MC from Atlas while awaiting its registry transfer to G-GSSB.
They were conducting interviews 2 weeks ago in Stansted for the 2nd A/C. Did anybody go?
Unwell_Raptor
17th Nov 2002, 20:31
http://www.gssair.co.uk/
BRISTOLRE
18th Nov 2002, 08:11
N491MC is now OO-TJA for TNT Airways. The original plan was to sub in 491 but this a/c since been re-reg
JW411
18th Nov 2002, 14:23
BRISTOLRE:
You are wrong. N491MC was originally scheduled to become OO-TJA but that plan fell by the wayside some considerable time ago. OO-TJA is actually ex- N494MC
So when the second a/c is supposed to arrive?
Could you comment on Ts and Cs please?
Intruder
20th Nov 2002, 18:22
Last I saw in the CAA OR-2 report, January 2003.
Captain Airclues
21st Nov 2002, 16:39
I don't work for them, but several ex colleagues do. Captains get £54,000 p/a, plus £2/hour allowances. They are away up to 22 days a month. I don't know what the F/O deal is.
Airclues
HalesAndPace
22nd Nov 2002, 04:31
On standby in soggy MAN so not all my figures to hand....
Think FO pay is £34K(?) - but £25K bond over 5 years.:eek: Might also have to take days off down-route, so monthly time away could increase.
What is the average time for command upgrade if you join now?
I understand that most captains at the moment are ex-BA on pre-retirement... I may be wrong though...
JW411
26th Nov 2002, 19:44
I cannot believe what I am reading! If it is really true that GSS only pay their Captains £54k and F/Os £34k for driving 744Fs around the world for 22 days a month then I am totally amazed. I earned more than that (not even allowing for inflation) 20 years ago for doing much less.
For example, in the mid-1980s I was being paid USD5500 basic per month (tax-free) for sitting in the left seat of a DC-10. The going rate for 747 captains at that time was USD7500 per month. (For the money-minded among you, the rate at that time was around USD1.10 = £1).
I suppose the GSS management (like the Grinning Pullover) relies upon the poverty-stricken ex-BA guys who feel the overwhelming need to top up their niggardly BA pensions in order to make ends meet thereby lowering the ante for the rest of our aviation community.
I am in the fortunate position of still being in a well-paid and very interesting job. I get paid a hell of a lot more than a GSS 744F captain and I have to say that they are depressing the industry.
Why, oh why, can't they just retire gracefully? They want us all to love them while they are with BA and give us sh*t if we don't support their ideals. They keep telling us that what they have got is what the rest of us should be aspiring to and demanding our support.
Then they retire at 55 and prostitute themselves for some pocket money. Can't they see that they are screwing things for the new generatation?
Any comments on F/O conditions with GSS? (Rosters...) Is it feasible to commute?...
Mister Geezer
23rd Dec 2002, 19:36
JW 411
Bear in mind that for an ex Nigel B744 Captain. £54K on top of a final salary pension from BA is not bad going.
thunderclap
15th Jan 2003, 20:31
I gather from a mate who works for GSS that the salary structure is as follows:
Captains 58-81 grand over ten years
Co-pilots 33-47 grand over ten years
Work 20 days a month/4 weeks leave a year/ 2quid an hour allowance/ Captains mainly ex-BA/Co-pilots from wherever they can get them. He says they are a very friendly bunch to work for.
:D :D
any idea about time to command? Typical roster?
thunderclap
18th Jan 2003, 00:29
GSS
Second aircraft arrives next week GGSSB (ex 491MC)
Third aircraft maybe in October 2003
I believe a couple of co-pilots to get command soon(i.e after about 9 months in GSS although ex AACS) Ex-BA Captains range in age from 55-59. Company policy is to upgrade from within rather than take on direct entry captains. Getting experienced co-pilots who would be suitable for an upgrade within a few years even is proving difficult as pay is so poor.
Trips range from two days to ten days but a lot of commercialing at present. I know a few of the Captains who left BA, and they all seem as happy as those who went to SIA although poorer.:D :D
Has GSS have any sort of interline agreements regarding staff travel (subload)/stanby tickets with other carriers?
parcel
23rd Jan 2003, 10:07
BA pilots would love to stay in BA and soon they will be able to, when the CRA changes to 60. Many fly because they love to fly, not just for the money. Forcing pilots to leave BA at 55 gives the competition just what they need: experience and quality. Can't really blame these airlines for taking as many BA people as they can get.;)
thunderclap
6th Feb 2003, 23:53
JU29, the answer is NO to any interline agreements. Of course the retired BA pilots have their own well earned staff travel.
All is not well with the GSS pilots at the moment. Recent pay deal has favoured some at the expense of others.:mad: :mad: :mad:
Nothing new in that I suppose. I gather some ex BA pilots are going to leave in disgust and those with new ratings will follow when they have gotten some hours on type.
Management runs the show on a day to day crisis scenario.
The guys seemed so happy before Christmas, not now though.
thunderclap
13th Feb 2003, 23:29
13% for the ex AACS pilots/ 3% for the rest.
:p :D :O :yuk: :yuk: :yuk: