Virgin Australia recruitment

[Flyboy1987]

Anyone else apply 12 months ago and haven’t heard a peep yet?

[Snakecharma]

Pyro, I reckon 11 years is optimistic - my guess is closer to 15 for the 737, prob 25 for the wide bodies (not that you mentioned the wide bodies in your post)

[MonsterC01]

Given historical retirement / leaving rates at Virgin without taking into account any fleet growth or reduction you could probably work on the following time line for B737 Commands.

NZ: 8-10 yrs
PER: 10-12 yrs
SYD: 12-15 yrs
MEL: 15-18 yrs
BNE: 20+ yrs

It’s also worth remembering that we’ll get a new CEO next year so there could be any number of significant changes coming which could effect these time frames.

- we have an 11 aircraft wide body fleet which has never made a dollar for the company. Will they go? Or if the keep the wide body fleet and go to a common type will they increase the fleet size to try and get some profitable economies of scale?
- Does Alliance continue to fill our 100 seat jet requirements going forward on a more permanent basis, much like Colbam do for Qantas? Or do we bring it back in house like the E-jet?
- what happens with the VARA F100’s when they can no longer be supported with spare parts in a few years time? Do they get replaced? Does that flying get farmed out to Alliance as well? Does VARA get wound up?
- What happens to the ATR fleet going forward? Do they try and grow it into the regional market again? Or do they wind it up?
- what happens to Tiger going forward? Does it grow or stay the same?

Lots of questions that won’t be answered now till we have a new chief in the chair. But the answer to these question will have a profound effect on the career progression of anyone who has joined Virgin in the last few years, or is looking to join Virgin in the future.

[piston broke again]

Also worth considering (but not an issue for external applicants right now) is that conditions on the new EBA that were to be locked in for November rosters are rumoured to be in limbo - ie not achievable for November. Interesting when this gets announced to all crew...

[Snakecharma]

Monster, slight correction, the 777 was and is making a profit, agree though that the 330 isn’t.

[airdualbleedfault]

Monster, I'm sure with the A320 expansion at VARA they're just preparing to wind it up

[Oakape]

Some have been on that list for over three years waiting

One has been on for 6 years I'm told.

[snakeslugger]

Originally Posted by InZed

It’s only a matter of time until Christchurch base closes, I’m told.

mate, that gem has been going around for the last 10 years...

[Berealgetreal]

MonsterC01 figures look correct for people in the company as opposed to new joiners. So a command on the B737 in SYD as an example is within reach of pilots that joined in 2008 in rough terms. Some 2010 joiners gained a PER B737 command and these are the most junior in the 737 Aus based operation.

I think the quickest jet command is probably VARA F100 as whilst as whilst that fleet hasn’t growing massively, the use of the fleet has increased significantly. I’m not sure if the B737 NZ operation would offer a quicker route.

There are a lot of variables, change of CEO and property/share market probably the biggest. I personally see the 330/777 continuing as the slots are valuable as is the oncarriage. VARA will only grow bigger in my opinion and the Ejets won’t be coming back.

One point that hasn’t been made is that the vast majority of pilots are GenX. Most Captains are around 45. In around 20 years time there will be an avalanche of commands. Hard to tell where they will fall on the current list. Good luck.

[betterluckythangood]

G'day All,

Apologies - I'm a little late to this thread! Does anyone have any rumours on when/if Virgin will hire direct onto the 737 again?

I have a strong desire for a Perth basing so i'm encouraged by the previous comments re time to command in Perth.

Appreciate any light anyone might be able to shed.

Thanks!

[viewsonic]

Originally Posted by betterluckythangood

Does anyone have any rumours on when/if Virgin will hire direct onto the 737 again?

I have a strong desire for a Perth basing so i'm encouraged by the previous comments re time to command in Perth.

Appreciate any light anyone might be able to shed.

Thanks!

wouldn’t hold my breath for a direct 737 Perth(any Au base actually), this wave of hiring started about 2-3 years ago so lots of unfrozen SO’s and NZ crews about to be released to window seats/returning home. Even if they do become available the hold pool will have people in it that are holding out for these positions. If you want Perth, take the F100 and at the end of your freeze decide if you want to stay on for a command or jump ship to the 737/A320, etherway you’ll be senior to the hold outs who may or may not get a start..

[AAA1]

Anyone have any idea when recruitment might commence? I'm in Perth but would be happy to travel and move for the chance.

[Aussie-kiwi]

Type rating

Anyone on a Nov/Dec/Jan type rating for NZ based 738?

[GoDirect]

Is anybody able to give an indication of the approximate hours and experience of those getting hired for the NZ based operation at the moment on the 738? Is hiring steady at the moment for people applying with lower time (say 1200 - 1500 ish TT with 500 plus heavy turboprop)? Enquiring on behalf of a friend. Thanks.

[pilotchute]

I always think of a Lockheed Electra or an AN 12 when someone says "heavy turboprop". Am I wrong?

[bouncebabybounce]

Originally Posted by pilotchute

I always think of a Lockheed Electra or an AN 12 when someone says "heavy turboprop". Am I wrong?

i was thinking more A400M 😅

[Flyboy1987]

Originally Posted by pilotchute

I always think of a Lockheed Electra or an AN 12 when someone says "heavy turboprop". Am I wrong?

You ever tried picking up a caravan?

[pilotchute]

No but I have flown one overweight. That was rather "heavy"! 😁

[anonfly]

Numbers have stabilised apparently so anybody’s guess how much longer you will be holding for.

[roundhouse]

Could anyone be kind enough to PM me or post how long the hold file was for them in recent times?