Virgin Australia recruitment
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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.
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.
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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...
Monster, I'm sure with the A320 expansion at VARA they're just preparing to wind it up 
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.
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.
Last edited by Berealgetreal; 7th Oct 2018 at 07:16.
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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!
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!
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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.