Merged: QANTASLINK Crewing Crisis!
A very valid point made by Neville Nobody.
I reckon that it is an easy out for Qantas of having to run regional operations. Once it was Australian Airlines and Ansett that had to operate these routes, now Qantas will have have a look what is really profitable and can be operated with a Dash8-400 or Jetstar A320 and in turn gives them good oncarriage to Qantas mainline will stay the rest will go and they will use the excuse of pilot shortage.
Another nail in the coffin for regional Australia.
I reckon that it is an easy out for Qantas of having to run regional operations. Once it was Australian Airlines and Ansett that had to operate these routes, now Qantas will have have a look what is really profitable and can be operated with a Dash8-400 or Jetstar A320 and in turn gives them good oncarriage to Qantas mainline will stay the rest will go and they will use the excuse of pilot shortage.
Another nail in the coffin for regional Australia.
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Now that's a damn shame Farts 'n sparks 
. Most of you blokes are long termers like myself. You guys are much appreciated (by us pilots at least) for the "nothing's a hassle to fix" attitude to your work.
Possibly a reflection of the high standard of your work.
I hope you collectively get what you're looking for. You deserve it.
. Most of you blokes are long termers like myself. You guys are much appreciated (by us pilots at least) for the "nothing's a hassle to fix" attitude to your work.
Fortunately there are never any avionics defects on our a/c or we'd really be in trouble!
I hope you collectively get what you're looking for. You deserve it.
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crew crisis!!
just quickly this "pilot shortage" is not confined to oz......those folk in NZ are starting to see what oz is going through...no standbys, more sectors per shift, being told not to get sick!!! etc etc... and as yet...no increase in pay or conditons reflecting the extra work. And after all of this...who suffers???? joe public who just wants to go from A to B.
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Originally Posted by Mr Gibson in the article posted above
airline pilot was required to have a total of 1500 hours
The Hill, to be realistic, while your company is able to keep its schedule, and the only real affect is that their pilots are working harder, they're not likely to increase your conditions. When you start seeing a 60% annual pilot attrition rate, you might see some improvement in pay etc. If your company is smart they may be proactive, but none of the Australian companies have been particularly proactive, with most taking a "deal with it when it happens" approach and then going into a panic when they realise it really is happening.
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Foreign influence
with all of the above mentioned taken into account..at what point are pilots from countries such as south africa going to be given a shot???
and yes I understand and respect that Aus pilots get first preference but with all thats being said will that be sufficient?
and yes I understand and respect that Aus pilots get first preference but with all thats being said will that be sufficient?
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In the end, the whole concept of seniority will have to be abandoned so as the companies can employ DECs.
Pilots will benefit as the result of such deregulation of employment practices is higher salaries and better conditions.
Think about it.
Pilots will benefit as the result of such deregulation of employment practices is higher salaries and better conditions.
Think about it.
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Some Help Please
If anyone here has done the sim ride and interview for QL. Do they use the Flight Director. And are there any questions they can recall from there interview.
Im sorry if this message is completely out of context.
Im sorry if this message is completely out of context.
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No working on days off, feeling sick then stay at home and no extended duties. If managers get emotional then just remember how Qantas treated you during the 90s. Bring it home to Kuma or Kamareo whatever he is called . This is the only time you got to change things for the better
Good Luck .
Good Luck .
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QL Short of Pilots... not acting like it
I went to the QL recruitment web page
http://qantaslink.bfound.net/det-con...&CoId=189&rq=1
Cripes.. they are charging *the applicant* for the psychometric testing and for the police check. I wish they'd start acting like they needed pilots.
Sorry about the rant... I showed my other half, she has never worked in aviation and she assures me this ranks "up there" with paying for your own type endorsement. oh well...
http://qantaslink.bfound.net/det-con...&CoId=189&rq=1
Cripes.. they are charging *the applicant* for the psychometric testing and for the police check. I wish they'd start acting like they needed pilots.
Sorry about the rant... I showed my other half, she has never worked in aviation and she assures me this ranks "up there" with paying for your own type endorsement. oh well...
Advice given to the ski industry yesterday:
QantasLink today advised Mount Hotham Skiing Company, as the operator of Mount Hotham Airport, that they have recently experienced a higher than normal pilot attrition rate and will not be able to operate seasonal services to Mount Hotham during the 2008 snow season. QantasLink anticipates services to recommence from Sydney and Melbourne for the 2009 snow season.
As a result of this advice MHSC is working with QantasLink to provide other options for guests, via Albury Airport located approximately 2.5 hours drive from the resort and an already established gateway from northern markets to sister resort Falls Creek.
As a result of this advice MHSC is working with QantasLink to provide other options for guests, via Albury Airport located approximately 2.5 hours drive from the resort and an already established gateway from northern markets to sister resort Falls Creek.
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QL and particularly Dixon only have themselves to blame for this debacle.
Young pilots: do NOT join Qantas Link. It is a one way track to oblivion, with no progression to mainline and a management that STILL treat pilots like something they found on the bottom of their shoes.
The costwatch contract elsewhere is indicative of what Dash 8 pilots in this country (not those who move to Japan to get the even bigger $) should be getting. If Geoff Dixon is too stubborn and mired in the mentality of 20 years ago to pay proper aircrew salaries then Qantas will suffer.
How do QL think they will serve Mt Hotham next year? What miracle will come along in the meantime? A pilot training scheme...ho ho ho
Young pilots: do NOT join Qantas Link. It is a one way track to oblivion, with no progression to mainline and a management that STILL treat pilots like something they found on the bottom of their shoes.
The costwatch contract elsewhere is indicative of what Dash 8 pilots in this country (not those who move to Japan to get the even bigger $) should be getting. If Geoff Dixon is too stubborn and mired in the mentality of 20 years ago to pay proper aircrew salaries then Qantas will suffer.
How do QL think they will serve Mt Hotham next year? What miracle will come along in the meantime? A pilot training scheme...ho ho ho
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From the horses mouth, they have no intention of offering ANY progression - different company too difficult, set a precedent then everyone from engineers to flight attendents would want intergration.... Also no more money - the thinking is that people will always leave for a jet job and better money. Nope - all will be better in 2 years "WHEN THIS PILOT SHORTAGE IS OVER".
Time to jump ship guys - if you were ever thinking of it - now is the time!!!!!
Time to jump ship guys - if you were ever thinking of it - now is the time!!!!!
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Backing Missing Link, also from the horses mouth, if the expected number of captains depart the scene, direct entry captains will be on the way. There are allready people on the wait list. Anyone contemplating a defection, run whilst you still have a chance. Qlink will soon start crumbling before your eyes.....
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I guess that means bypass pay for everyone else (who meet the minimums for a command).
And yes, the next wave of QL captains getting the nod from Virgin, has just commenced.
This will be a very interesting year.
And yes, the next wave of QL captains getting the nod from Virgin, has just commenced.
This will be a very interesting year.
That is exactly the point newsensation.
The whole idea of mitigating this crisis by the employment of Direct Entry Captains is a nonsence.
The reason we have a crisis is because of crap wages and conditions. All the suitable candidates for the regional airlines are going straight to the majors. The major airlines haven't even begun their expansions, so this trend will continue for some time yet.
So what will management do with regard to DEC's? Offer the same crap wages and conditions to a pool of candidates that simply do not exist! As well as that, REX and I'm sure QFlink are having trouble meeting training schedules due to an exodus of their Check and Trainers. Anyone joining one of the Regionals today, would most likely be looking at a command within 12 months anyway. Provided of course they meet the min experience requirements, and provided there are enough Check and Trainers left to train them!
So we can ponder the idea of DEC's untill the cows come home. The reality is that without substantial increases in wages and conditions, it will make little or no difference.
The whole idea of mitigating this crisis by the employment of Direct Entry Captains is a nonsence.
The reason we have a crisis is because of crap wages and conditions. All the suitable candidates for the regional airlines are going straight to the majors. The major airlines haven't even begun their expansions, so this trend will continue for some time yet.
So what will management do with regard to DEC's? Offer the same crap wages and conditions to a pool of candidates that simply do not exist! As well as that, REX and I'm sure QFlink are having trouble meeting training schedules due to an exodus of their Check and Trainers. Anyone joining one of the Regionals today, would most likely be looking at a command within 12 months anyway. Provided of course they meet the min experience requirements, and provided there are enough Check and Trainers left to train them!
So we can ponder the idea of DEC's untill the cows come home. The reality is that without substantial increases in wages and conditions, it will make little or no difference.