REX suspends Cooma services - due to pilot shortage
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: S/E Australia
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Halfmoon - thats quite funny! I interviewed with them a month or so ago and found them to be quite disorganised and unprofessional.
I received a ****ty 4 minute briefing on speeds and power settings for their Metro Sim of which i've never flown one before let alone been in a full motion sim for that matter - and flew the approaches right on the mark.
i have round 1300hrs and had not flown for a while. The candidate before me said he didn't go so well on the sim - so i thought i'd be in with a shot. Interviewed well and all good.
Next day i got an email in the arvo from Sandy at Rex HR to say "sorry / candidates very high / unfortunately - blah blah blah... same letter as you!
Me scratches head all confused and proceeds to get tanked on Sat night and laugh it off. In fact one part of me thinks that they just get people down there to utilise their sim with kickback from that outfit trading as Ansett. Also the other possibility is that they are going to try and lobby Government to allow cheap labour in the country again by crying out that there are not enough suitably qualified pilots out there?
The following week on the Monday at Qantas i had Testing and Tuesday (Medical / 767 Sim and interview) for QF Link and had a call from them congratulating me on being successful!
So wow, i'm really dissapointed that REX didn't scoop me up - Guess i'll have to go with second best being QF eh?
I received a ****ty 4 minute briefing on speeds and power settings for their Metro Sim of which i've never flown one before let alone been in a full motion sim for that matter - and flew the approaches right on the mark.
i have round 1300hrs and had not flown for a while. The candidate before me said he didn't go so well on the sim - so i thought i'd be in with a shot. Interviewed well and all good.
Next day i got an email in the arvo from Sandy at Rex HR to say "sorry / candidates very high / unfortunately - blah blah blah... same letter as you!
Me scratches head all confused and proceeds to get tanked on Sat night and laugh it off. In fact one part of me thinks that they just get people down there to utilise their sim with kickback from that outfit trading as Ansett. Also the other possibility is that they are going to try and lobby Government to allow cheap labour in the country again by crying out that there are not enough suitably qualified pilots out there?
The following week on the Monday at Qantas i had Testing and Tuesday (Medical / 767 Sim and interview) for QF Link and had a call from them congratulating me on being successful!
So wow, i'm really dissapointed that REX didn't scoop me up - Guess i'll have to go with second best being QF eh?
Last edited by RYAN TCAD; 2nd Nov 2007 at 11:53.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: S/E Australia
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just to confirm and cap off with what a two dollar tin-pot outfit they are, - i just dropped my mother off at Mascot - who is flying down on the 0810 to Albury with them this morning (ticket was purchased by her employer unfortunately) and as i was leaving, she called me to say they have at least a 1 hour delay.
Because - (from checkin chick at the counter) the pilots had to fly to Cowra last night and there was some delay and they now have to have their full 10 hours rest which means this flight is delayed this morning!
Now that checkin chick has obviously had to rattle this sort of correct tripe off before! That pilot shortage seems to be biting them where the sun don't shine baby!
Because - (from checkin chick at the counter) the pilots had to fly to Cowra last night and there was some delay and they now have to have their full 10 hours rest which means this flight is delayed this morning!
Now that checkin chick has obviously had to rattle this sort of correct tripe off before! That pilot shortage seems to be biting them where the sun don't shine baby!
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: usa
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm glad its not just me. I aced everything the sim, tech quiz and maybe screwed up a couple answers in the interview. They didn't want my 4500hrs of saab experience, instead they want 250 hr monkeys for 6 years.
halfmoon,
I think you may have hit that nail on the head mate!
Why spend time and money on qualified professional pilots, when you can suck in the unitiated, train 'em, chain 'em, and get them to pay for the lot.
A home grown workforce, locked into a financial prison, with the only hope of escape at the governer's pleasure.
Pure Evil, Pure Genius!!!!
I think you may have hit that nail on the head mate!
Why spend time and money on qualified professional pilots, when you can suck in the unitiated, train 'em, chain 'em, and get them to pay for the lot.
A home grown workforce, locked into a financial prison, with the only hope of escape at the governer's pleasure.
Pure Evil, Pure Genius!!!!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Sydney
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Myself and 2 others I know went through the interview process at the start of the year. All of us had ...
Total time 2,500+
Multi Command 1,000+
Night 250+, with extensive IFR hours in machines such as Chieftains, Aerostars etc. One of the 3 even had a degree in aeronautical engineering.
How many of us got a position?
Zero
Total time 2,500+
Multi Command 1,000+
Night 250+, with extensive IFR hours in machines such as Chieftains, Aerostars etc. One of the 3 even had a degree in aeronautical engineering.
How many of us got a position?
Zero
What has been The Company's response (if any) to "If you want to retain your pilots, try paying them a higher salary". I'm not quite up to date with the latest in terms of negotiations b/w the pilot group and Management.
Apologies if this has been answered before.
b.
Apologies if this has been answered before.
b.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Halfmoon - thats quite funny! I interviewed with them a month or so ago and found them to be quite disorganised and unprofessional.
i have round 1300hrs and had not flown for a while.
i have round 1300hrs and had not flown for a while.
in fact one part of me thinks that they just get people down there to utilise their sim with kickback from that outfit trading as Ansett.
Just to confirm and cap off with what a two dollar tin-pot outfit they are,.... Because - (from checkin chick at the counter) the pilots had to fly to Cowra last night and there was some delay and they now have to have their full 10 hours rest which means this flight is delayed this morning!
How much will the endorsement cost me?
You are free to obtain a Dash 8 type endorsement from any supplier, however our preferred supplier is Qantas Flight Training. If you choose Qantas Flight Training, the cost to the applicant will be approximately AUD$10,000 (after QantasLink subsidy).
You are free to obtain a Dash 8 type endorsement from any supplier, however our preferred supplier is Qantas Flight Training. If you choose Qantas Flight Training, the cost to the applicant will be approximately AUD$10,000 (after QantasLink subsidy).
Remind me, how much will you be taking home in your first year at Qantaslink minus your 10 grand endorsement cost?
Guess you will just have to go for second best eh Ryan?
What if I fail the endorsement? Do I get my money back?
No
No
Last edited by Shapeshifter; 3rd Nov 2007 at 07:22.
Krusty,
I assume there is some form of Representative Group on the pilot's behalf, have they tried to get the message thru to management or negotiate or have some form of dialogue with them?
Just interested to hear what's happening on both sides of the fence.
b.
I assume there is some form of Representative Group on the pilot's behalf, have they tried to get the message thru to management or negotiate or have some form of dialogue with them?
Just interested to hear what's happening on both sides of the fence.
b.
No worries boocs.
The issue was raised at a meeting back in April. The Regional Express Pilot's Comittee, REXPC, proposed that unless REX dramatically increased wages, the attrition of pilots would lead to serious harm for the company.
The current EBA is not due to expire untill July 08. Technically, no ambit claims can be made regarding wages, conditions etc untill negotiations for the new EBA commence. The reality is that any sort of move in this direction will have to be initiated by the company. Of course they could do something now if they wanted to, after all it is they who pay the wages. As far as the EBA discussions go, you can claim all you like, they don't have to accept it.
The proposal by the REXPC was therefore a suggestion on how to mitigate the current situation. It was estimated that the cost to the company would be approximately $6.25 a ticket! The Company has seen fit to discount any action in this area, as is their perogative.
The only response possible from the pilot group, has been with their feet. The current attrition rate is in the order of between 30%-40% P/A, and the pace is accelerating! Very frustrating, and very tragic!
The issue was raised at a meeting back in April. The Regional Express Pilot's Comittee, REXPC, proposed that unless REX dramatically increased wages, the attrition of pilots would lead to serious harm for the company.
The current EBA is not due to expire untill July 08. Technically, no ambit claims can be made regarding wages, conditions etc untill negotiations for the new EBA commence. The reality is that any sort of move in this direction will have to be initiated by the company. Of course they could do something now if they wanted to, after all it is they who pay the wages. As far as the EBA discussions go, you can claim all you like, they don't have to accept it.
The proposal by the REXPC was therefore a suggestion on how to mitigate the current situation. It was estimated that the cost to the company would be approximately $6.25 a ticket! The Company has seen fit to discount any action in this area, as is their perogative.
The only response possible from the pilot group, has been with their feet. The current attrition rate is in the order of between 30%-40% P/A, and the pace is accelerating! Very frustrating, and very tragic!
Sounds like a 'loss of face' thing as well. Aren't the owners/boardmembers from Singapore or somewhere in Asia?
Thanks for the info. How hard is it to say "enough's enough?" Obviously too hard.
good luck.
b.
Thanks for the info. How hard is it to say "enough's enough?" Obviously too hard.
good luck.
b.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Third Barstool on the left
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ultralights,
that is not correct - I know of candidates with over 3,000 hours getting a run.
boocs, the notion that asian cultures have a monopoly on "loss of face" thing is a myth - we call it pride here, hence the old saw
"pride cometh before a fall".
that is not correct - I know of candidates with over 3,000 hours getting a run.
boocs, the notion that asian cultures have a monopoly on "loss of face" thing is a myth - we call it pride here, hence the old saw
"pride cometh before a fall".
boocs said:
You think it hasn't occurred to management that improving the T&Cs might help to retain pilots? If you think that then you probably also think other pilots need to be informed of the necessity to retract the undercarriage after takeoff (so as to reduce drag and make the aircraft more efficient).
KRUSTY 34 then said:
That REXPC is either 1, not too bright, or 2, dishonest.
Management know, that even if you give the pilots a $20K rise they will still move on. Why is it the pilots don't know that?
I actually suspect they do know that, but have chosen to taken the dishonest route instead. What do you think this dishonesty has done for their credibility in the eyes of management?
I assume there is some form of Representative Group on the pilot's behalf, have they tried to get the message thru to management ... ?
KRUSTY 34 then said:
The issue was raised at a meeting back in April. The Regional Express Pilot's Comittee, REXPC, proposed that unless REX dramatically increased wages, the attrition of pilots would lead to serious harm for the company.
Management know, that even if you give the pilots a $20K rise they will still move on. Why is it the pilots don't know that?
I actually suspect they do know that, but have chosen to taken the dishonest route instead. What do you think this dishonesty has done for their credibility in the eyes of management?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Suitcase
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aircraft -
OK, hypothetically, would they still move on if you gave them a $100K payrise?
Probably not - "but thats ridiculous" I hear you say..."the airline can't afford it!"
OK, let the market decide what it can afford. Let the "poaching" continue, from the aero club to Rex to DJ to Emirates, let the market decide. It will all settle down eventually, it just requires a correction. Three cheers for the free market...
I just hope you don't expect the Market to keep a firm hand on minimum standards, training and experience.
The market is essentially deaf to the warning bells of disaster.
Management know, that even if you give the pilots a $20K rise they will still move on. Why is it the pilots don't know that?
OK, hypothetically, would they still move on if you gave them a $100K payrise?
Probably not - "but thats ridiculous" I hear you say..."the airline can't afford it!"
OK, let the market decide what it can afford. Let the "poaching" continue, from the aero club to Rex to DJ to Emirates, let the market decide. It will all settle down eventually, it just requires a correction. Three cheers for the free market...
I just hope you don't expect the Market to keep a firm hand on minimum standards, training and experience.
The market is essentially deaf to the warning bells of disaster.
aircraft,
you really are a tool, but we all know that.
Why were the REXPC being dishonest, when they were simply pointing out a possible course of action to retain experienced staff? In view of absolutely nothing forthcoming from management in this area, at least they suggested something!
If you truely believe that the retention of current pilots in this crisis has no merit, then please share some of that logic with the rest of us.
If you believe that the retention of pilots has merit, then please feel free to share your thoughts on that also!
One thing is certain. Commands at REX running at just over a year. There is no indication that the current attrition of pilots will decrease anytime soon. The company has stated that the cadetships are the only viable way of replenishing the ranks. In a years time, who will you put into the left seat???
Finally, I agree with your assertion that even an extra $20K P/A will not retain pilots, It will take more than that!
you really are a tool, but we all know that.
Why were the REXPC being dishonest, when they were simply pointing out a possible course of action to retain experienced staff? In view of absolutely nothing forthcoming from management in this area, at least they suggested something!
If you truely believe that the retention of current pilots in this crisis has no merit, then please share some of that logic with the rest of us.
If you believe that the retention of pilots has merit, then please feel free to share your thoughts on that also!
One thing is certain. Commands at REX running at just over a year. There is no indication that the current attrition of pilots will decrease anytime soon. The company has stated that the cadetships are the only viable way of replenishing the ranks. In a years time, who will you put into the left seat???
Finally, I agree with your assertion that even an extra $20K P/A will not retain pilots, It will take more than that!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: AUS
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Remind me, how much will you be taking home in your first year at Qantaslink minus your 10 grand endorsement cost?
Leave and you have a bond to pay out with Rex (you don't with Qlink)....stay and you earn 10K more per year base than a Rex FO.
What was your point again Shapeshifter?