Uncertain times for Darwin based Cobham Crew
Whilst the subject of Pilot recruitment and retainment is an interesting topic, it is not the reason the 717 is being pulled from Darwin.
A good friend of mine (in the know) says that the Darwin base has always had the Pilot numbers assigned and in fact in recent times Pilots happily domiciled in Darwin have been forced to move to reduce the base size. Darwin has always been a great training ground for Pilots with many having cut their aviation teeth in the vibrant GA industry up there. In fact I am told there are at least 2 Darwin residents currently on the 717 hold file who where hoping for a slot to appear.
The issue with the 737 replacement I am led to believe, lies with the local governments heavy investment in the tourism market primarily targeting the Chinese ------$103mil according to their latest press release. I believe the NT government has invested a large sum of the investment money in a joint marketing strategy with the airlines. Qantas has anticipated an increase in passenger numbers between Darwin and Alice Springs and Darwin and Ayres Rock and has increased seat capacity with the 737 to accommodate forecast loadings.
Of course only time will tell whether the governments revenue was well spent and whether or not the reaction from Qantas was justified.
A good friend of mine (in the know) says that the Darwin base has always had the Pilot numbers assigned and in fact in recent times Pilots happily domiciled in Darwin have been forced to move to reduce the base size. Darwin has always been a great training ground for Pilots with many having cut their aviation teeth in the vibrant GA industry up there. In fact I am told there are at least 2 Darwin residents currently on the 717 hold file who where hoping for a slot to appear.
The issue with the 737 replacement I am led to believe, lies with the local governments heavy investment in the tourism market primarily targeting the Chinese ------$103mil according to their latest press release. I believe the NT government has invested a large sum of the investment money in a joint marketing strategy with the airlines. Qantas has anticipated an increase in passenger numbers between Darwin and Alice Springs and Darwin and Ayres Rock and has increased seat capacity with the 737 to accommodate forecast loadings.
Of course only time will tell whether the governments revenue was well spent and whether or not the reaction from Qantas was justified.
I heard somewhere that the 717s currently in Darwin are being moved to Perth due to the increase in FIFO requirements on the back of the mining sectors revival is this correct?
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I think you'll find that the FIFO charter flying is done by the 146/RJ side of the operations. The B717's only operate RPT as far as I know.
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Huh....., well 'there' you 'DO' go......!!!!!
The same, 'framework' and theory.........., only- 18x years down the track since "AN".
Wow- Good Luck- 'people'!!!!!!!!
Rgds
S28- BE
The same, 'framework' and theory.........., only- 18x years down the track since "AN".
Wow- Good Luck- 'people'!!!!!!!!
Rgds
S28- BE
sorry refering to the Qlink fifo flights they operate, been big jump over the last year and apparently the network 320s aren’t enough.
I must admit that was my gut feeling about where the 717s would be redeployed. Network can’t get their hands on the 320s as quick as they’d like and it seems the F100s are getting less reliable every day.
What happened to the fleet allegedly sitting at Toulouse and belonging to the Qantas Group?
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Whilst the subject of Pilot recruitment and retainment is an interesting topic, it is not the reason the 717 is being pulled from Darwin.
A good friend of mine (in the know) says that the Darwin base has always had the Pilot numbers assigned and in fact in recent times Pilots happily domiciled in Darwin have been forced to move to reduce the base size. Darwin has always been a great training ground for Pilots with many having cut their aviation teeth in the vibrant GA industry up there. In fact I am told there are at least 2 Darwin residents currently on the 717 hold file who where hoping for a slot to appear.
The issue with the 737 replacement I am led to believe, lies with the local governments heavy investment in the tourism market primarily targeting the Chinese ------$103mil according to their latest press release. I believe the NT government has invested a large sum of the investment money in a joint marketing strategy with the airlines. Qantas has anticipated an increase in passenger numbers between Darwin and Alice Springs and Darwin and Ayres Rock and has increased seat capacity with the 737 to accommodate forecast loadings.
Of course only time will tell whether the governments revenue was well spent and whether or not the reaction from Qantas was justified.
A good friend of mine (in the know) says that the Darwin base has always had the Pilot numbers assigned and in fact in recent times Pilots happily domiciled in Darwin have been forced to move to reduce the base size. Darwin has always been a great training ground for Pilots with many having cut their aviation teeth in the vibrant GA industry up there. In fact I am told there are at least 2 Darwin residents currently on the 717 hold file who where hoping for a slot to appear.
The issue with the 737 replacement I am led to believe, lies with the local governments heavy investment in the tourism market primarily targeting the Chinese ------$103mil according to their latest press release. I believe the NT government has invested a large sum of the investment money in a joint marketing strategy with the airlines. Qantas has anticipated an increase in passenger numbers between Darwin and Alice Springs and Darwin and Ayres Rock and has increased seat capacity with the 737 to accommodate forecast loadings.
Of course only time will tell whether the governments revenue was well spent and whether or not the reaction from Qantas was justified.
Qantas effectively solicit 'corporate welfare' when it suits, although apparently as a 100% private airline is at the mercy of the shareholders and capital markets.
Whether it is needing $3 billion in 2013, to nickel and diming Perth airport for a 'mutual investment' and ending up with a slice of government input Qantas will follow the golden ticket all the way to Canberra (or Darwin, or Perth)
Whether blinged up, approved tourists with bags full of fiat, flock to buy Darwin real estate is another thing. Adam Giles already sold them the port!
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Bear with us, but it is interesting.
Remember when QF with megaphone diplomacy announced that JQ would rise to (around) 400 aircraft by 2020?
That was former CEO Bruce Buchanan's boast when he and little Napoleon ordered the 110 A320 from EADS.
That the business is saturated with capacity and little appetite for yet more 'subsidised' subsidiaries or indeed associates they are caught...
Enter stage right, Network Aviation!
As the original JQ aircraft exit their economic life from the QF balance sheet, they can be recycled.
Phew!
Repaint them, create yet another stalking horse in the West and QF will now renew the very young JQ fleet with brand new 'non-cancellable' aircraft orders
It is well known that the JQ HK aircraft were the responsibility, financial and practical of Coward street, despite the protests, hands on heart of QF management that the 'owners' of the business in JQ paid the bills! This was a key revelation in the declining of the QF application as not compliant with the Principal Place of Business laws as applicable in HK. Those aircraft as per the findings were dispersed in the JQ segment, scattering the evidence. Bit harder to hide 90 odd new aircraft, so just as well yet another entity itself struggling to crew its flights (other than with handsomely rewarded foreigners and JQ staff) could be found to house the old aircraft lest QF management again find itself looking silly.
To the genius in QCA, pilots and their families are not even considered, it is but a contract after all.
Enter stage right, Network Aviation!
As the original JQ aircraft exit their economic life from the QF balance sheet, they can be recycled.
Phew!
Repaint them, create yet another stalking horse in the West and QF will now renew the very young JQ fleet with brand new 'non-cancellable' aircraft orders
Hi dr dre,
Not sure if « Network can barely crew their F100’s at the moment »are you sure???…..anyway they are conducting quite a few interviews at the moment.
« Pilot shortage » , yeah …..where???? probably China
I did my interview some time ago in Perth and still haven’t received a response from NW, so I don’t think they are that desperate.
For info I have +7000h on Airbus.
Regarding the terms and conditions, not everything is based on money thank god. You will find that Aussies from the sandpit and Asia are applying to get back home….that’s not even counting on the foreigners willing to move to oz.
As you probably know, QLINK has received the green light from the government to employ 76 expats (Capt & instructors)
If someone knows how long it takes to get an answer after an interview @ QLINK please let me know, thanks.
Not sure if « Network can barely crew their F100’s at the moment »are you sure???…..anyway they are conducting quite a few interviews at the moment.
« Pilot shortage » , yeah …..where???? probably China
I did my interview some time ago in Perth and still haven’t received a response from NW, so I don’t think they are that desperate.
For info I have +7000h on Airbus.
Regarding the terms and conditions, not everything is based on money thank god. You will find that Aussies from the sandpit and Asia are applying to get back home….that’s not even counting on the foreigners willing to move to oz.
As you probably know, QLINK has received the green light from the government to employ 76 expats (Capt & instructors)
If someone knows how long it takes to get an answer after an interview @ QLINK please let me know, thanks.
Bazza I was referring to there post citing a pilot shortage at Network. For the record, Cobham 717 mins are 2000TT with 500 multi PIC. This is the reason they are short too.
Coastwatch and SAR have adjusted their mins to the current climate but the 717 operation doesn't seem to want to change.
Coastwatch and SAR have adjusted their mins to the current climate but the 717 operation doesn't seem to want to change.
For the record, Cobham 717 mins are 2000TT with 500 multi PIC.
Unless of course they are trying to create a problem to be solved by importing labour.
Last edited by neville_nobody; 19th Nov 2018 at 00:29.
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Most people in the HR department were born in 1998
Network can barely crew their F100’s at the moment, in a time of a pilot shortage where do you suppose all those pilots are going to magically appear from to fly it? Considering every other major 320 operator pays far more.
Network will not attract sufficient foreign interest with the 'observable' contract on offer. There are lots of inducements 'in confidence' to the right applicant. Of course to the line pilot it 'appears' that there are pilots a plenty. Throw in a few seconded from JQ and the illusion looks plausible at first glance.
Paradoxically, the reality is something completely different:
1. A Qantas cadet college, two of them, ready to churn out hundreds of pilots, any day now.
Of course this won't happen the lead in time is substantial. It is intended for mass consumption that QF will have pilots aplenty!
2. Jetconnect
Rolled back into Australian operations at the expiration of the taxation credits! A better case of transfer priced assets is hard to find.
The actual reality was that Jetconnect had very few applicants per month, that failed to meet internal attrition.
3. Network Aviation
QF have a problem with the non cancellable A320 order. It is common knowledge JQ is well over scale. Another 99 aircraft was even too much for a lightweight board led by esteemed dinosaur Mr Clifford to stomach.
Grow Network with the cast off JQ aircraft. re-equip JQ with a fleet age of 7 years, while QF that generates all the revenue exceeds 11 years. Rather convenient that QF grow Network with the mining 'boom' having evaporated. Lucky for Little Napoleon.
4. Skilled shortage visas.
This won't stop. The have an able little team and former union executive looking to expand the beach head.
All of these points indicate they are well aware a shortage of 'qualified' applicants persists.
Pulling back the flimsy curtain exposes their narrative.
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The actual reality was that Jetconnect had very few applicants per month, that failed to meet internal attrition.
Last edited by mattyj; 19th Nov 2018 at 07:55.
I am amazed they get any applications with mins of 2000TT and 1000 hours multi engine of which at least must be 500 hours multi pic if you have no multi crew time.
Not paid during training? You must be joking.
Not paid during training? You must be joking.