Qantas Link Trainee First Officer Level 1&2
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Some of us that were unsuccessful have gone into bigger and better things within 12 months and don't need to bother with qlink.
Good luck to all in hold, I'm sure your number will come up soon.
Join Date: May 2017
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Yes we are all "carrying on"
Some of us that were unsuccessful have gone into bigger and better things within 12 months and don't need to bother with qlink.
Good luck to all in hold, I'm sure your number will come up soon.
Some of us that were unsuccessful have gone into bigger and better things within 12 months and don't need to bother with qlink.
Good luck to all in hold, I'm sure your number will come up soon.
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Just hope all the guys know that there are quite a few opportunities around ATM, don't sit up north in your c210 waiting for a qlink start date if you're a level 2 trainee, job hunt, qlink will call you eventually.
I understand it's hard to leave a stable job, especially if you're on hold with the link, but you may be waiting forever and miss other opportunities.
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Why this negative conversations about you're national airline? I thought for Australian this would be the dream? For me coming here it is. I am interested but giving more options the thought now.
Join Date: Jun 2016
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Heard a couple of guys up north and northwest got the call up last week. Both had been on the hold file for over 12 months.
Seem to be still churning through the candidates, however less are taking up the offer
Getting worked harder and paid less than some charter companies is no longer just a dream. Qlink is more national GA than airline 
At least we get the hat though.
Seem to be still churning through the candidates, however less are taking up the offer
At least we get the hat though.
Join Date: Jul 2013
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My only advice for people on hold would be to keep an eye out for other options, especially if you're a level 2 trainee, this recruitment drive may attract 50 DE applicants.
People have been known to be on the hold file for years.
Join Date: Sep 2017
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It's worth the wait although I agree it isn't fair to keep people waiting for so long. They seem to feel good about just having all your names in the hat.
However, if you get the call it's a great start to your airline career.
However, if you get the call it's a great start to your airline career.
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Can anyone give any definite info on level 2's starting? With enough people saying the captains hats are too white to take on 'inexperienced' pilots/the program hasn't started yet, it's hard to tell whether a position at QLink is actually tangible for the level 2's on hold.
Join Date: Jun 2016
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Level 2's?
Can anyone give any definite info on level 2's starting? With enough people saying the captains hats are too white to take on 'inexperienced' pilots/the program hasn't started yet, it's hard to tell whether a position at QLink is actually tangible for the level 2's on hold.
Can anyone give any definite info on level 2's starting? With enough people saying the captains hats are too white to take on 'inexperienced' pilots/the program hasn't started yet, it's hard to tell whether a position at QLink is actually tangible for the level 2's on hold.
Join Date: Aug 2015
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I am a year 2 FO in the least busy base, on the 65% base wage. I'm working on average 20-25 hours duty a week barely ever doing a call-in, my group certificate read a bit over 90K last financial year. My counterparts from ground school earned similar. Some who wanted to work more got into 6 figures. (not me, I'm lazy)
Those who join on the 55% wage can effectively expect 10 grand less than my wage for the first three years. This means you'll still earn 80-90k PA, living in a major city working in a much safer environment than any GA company. Commands will be quicker than they have been in the past. I'd estimate I'm about 6 months off a command. 2.5 years ain't bad!
Not saying this will happen forever but guys in the T&C department and even some line Captains who are on the classic fleet, helping out over the ditch are earning circa 250k PA. 1 SYD (line)captain got very close to 300k last financial year (he might have even hit it).
So for those reading the wage bashing, it's simply not true and there is plenty of coin to be made in this job. It is a far superior job than any GA company I worked for (and I worked for 4). If anyone's got more questions feel free to PM me.
Join Date: Jun 2016
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I'm going to try and add a bit of balance to this argument. There is plenty of coin to be made and Qlink and it is by far the most enjoyable job I have ever worked in. The travel benefits are great too.
I am a year 2 FO in the least busy base, on the 65% base wage. I'm working on average 20-25 hours duty a week barely ever doing a call-in, my group certificate read a bit over 90K last financial year. My counterparts from ground school earned similar. Some who wanted to work more got into 6 figures. (not me, I'm lazy)
Those who join on the 55% wage can effectively expect 10 grand less than my wage for the first three years. This means you'll still earn 80-90k PA, living in a major city working in a much safer environment than any GA company. Commands will be quicker than they have been in the past. I'd estimate I'm about 6 months off a command. 2.5 years ain't bad!
Not saying this will happen forever but guys in the T&C department and even some line Captains who are on the classic fleet, helping out over the ditch are earning circa 250k PA. 1 SYD (line)captain got very close to 300k last financial year (he might have even hit it).
So for those reading the wage bashing, it's simply not true and there is plenty of coin to be made in this job. It is a far superior job than any GA company I worked for (and I worked for 4). If anyone's got more questions feel free to PM me.
I am a year 2 FO in the least busy base, on the 65% base wage. I'm working on average 20-25 hours duty a week barely ever doing a call-in, my group certificate read a bit over 90K last financial year. My counterparts from ground school earned similar. Some who wanted to work more got into 6 figures. (not me, I'm lazy)
Those who join on the 55% wage can effectively expect 10 grand less than my wage for the first three years. This means you'll still earn 80-90k PA, living in a major city working in a much safer environment than any GA company. Commands will be quicker than they have been in the past. I'd estimate I'm about 6 months off a command. 2.5 years ain't bad!
Not saying this will happen forever but guys in the T&C department and even some line Captains who are on the classic fleet, helping out over the ditch are earning circa 250k PA. 1 SYD (line)captain got very close to 300k last financial year (he might have even hit it).
So for those reading the wage bashing, it's simply not true and there is plenty of coin to be made in this job. It is a far superior job than any GA company I worked for (and I worked for 4). If anyone's got more questions feel free to PM me.
When you've got ga and regional (using that term very loosely) operators offering well over 100k base to fly a death pencil it makes you wonder. There are so many other options now.
If you're looking to stay with the props then qlink is hard to beat. Otherwise why wouldn't you go to Rex, airnorth, skippers etc get a command in 12 months from starting then go to jetstar.
There's no doubt that the money has improved but with the movement going around it can't stay stagnant.
Remember these guys aren't doing roadshows because theyd like to do everyone in GA a massive favour and save you the commute, but because crew are going elsewhere or waiting for something better.
There was a time when they'd charge you a couple hundred $$$ just to sit the psych testing. It's nice to see the tables favouring the pilots for once.
Last edited by thelunchbox; 16th Sep 2017 at 18:52.
Thanks for giving an in sight to the company and a more upbeat response to what has been here recently. Do you have an information on current recruitment? Some people have been on the hold file for 12 months, is this length of time going to improve in your opinion?
Join Date: Sep 2017
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Thanks for giving an in sight to the company and a more upbeat response to what has been here recently. Do you have an information on current recruitment? Some people have been on the hold file for 12 months, is this length of time going to improve in your opinion?
Latest from the rumour mill is class sizes are decreasing with fewer than 10 in the past couple of courses. Surely the roadshow was proof that they are still short.....fingers crossed anyway.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Excuse my ignorance but is the reason the size of the classes have decreased because they can't fill those positions of have had to reduce due to available resources or something different altogether?
Join Date: Sep 2017
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Remember these guys aren't doing roadshows because theyd like to do everyone in GA a massive favour and save you the commute, but because crew are going elsewhere or waiting for something better.
There was a time when they'd charge you a couple hundred $$$ just to sit the psych testing. It's nice to see the tables favouring the pilots for once.
There was a time when they'd charge you a couple hundred $$$ just to sit the psych testing. It's nice to see the tables favouring the pilots for once.
- Gaining qualifications is extremely expensive
- Time taken to gain requisite qualifications (ATPL etc)
- Other more viable alternatives
- Adversarial employee relations
Who can afford to live in a major city when remuneration levels for First Officers are so low? As is the case in Europe and USA, expensive cities are suffering the most, those applicants signing up want cheaper cities in which to live.
One wonders whether Qlink will get enough pilots for Sydney? As they are amusingly finding out with the turboprop operation flying JQ in NZ, they cannot find pilots, as evidenced by large numbers of flights continued to be crewed by Australians on secondment, at huge cost..
It has to be training resources for sure. JQ nz is still doing interviews I think its a matter of getting courses sorted with training staff, I doubt filling them would be an issue as there is a bunch of QLINK/JQ pilots on active hold. Pretty much a way of saying we will call you when we need you, in the meanwhile we don't have to pay you. Fair enough makes sense. Saves $$$