Virgin Australia - Phoenix Rising from the Ashes?
Yes maybe true. However staff support was there plus lots being trained. And they were friendly. When I last flew with Qantas there were far too few staff on the ground assisting...often none, and those who were there were surly. Understandably no doubt. So at least they seem to be trying at virgin to make the customer experience better. Update...first flight booked with jetsrar recently..jq15 to Cairns tomorrow as they were the only option..frigging cancelled today. Now have to cancel all bookings up there. Qantas jetstar continue to amaze how bad they are now.
Last edited by extralite; 5th Sep 2022 at 20:37.
For someone joining the ranks today, what kind of movement would be expected, such as bases, time to command etc.? Before the keyboard warriors get their knickers in a knot, it's just a question ok. I thought it would be interesting if anyone has any thoughts, given the number of pilots that are not returning and, I assume, some increased attrition.
Bases as an FO? Very quick for everywhere but Brisbane, and for Brisbane a couple of years. Commands? I don't think anyone is going to be able to put a reasonable number on it at this stage other than to say, quite a while. There are too many factors to wash out including fleet changes, inactive pilot return, changes at VARA and general pilot retention. Quickest base for a command would probably be Adelaide, but with those above factors it's pretty hard to tell.
Why? Inactives have priority to come back over externals. If you're on the inactive list then you've already worked there, and have first hand experience on how long it takes to go from job ad to window seat when you first start. All the inactive guys that I know who have come back describe a much easier and faster process.
Last edited by belongamick; 12th Sep 2022 at 04:37.
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Problem is, the company said they’re hiring external etc and busy.
Todays import were pretty senior people. Guys and gals on the inactive list down lower thought they would be back shortly (and not taking jobs elsewhere due to that) and today they’ve said that courses are now full and no more planned.
with external interviews starting in a fortnight, are they telling these people that it could be a very long time before start dates?
Todays import were pretty senior people. Guys and gals on the inactive list down lower thought they would be back shortly (and not taking jobs elsewhere due to that) and today they’ve said that courses are now full and no more planned.
with external interviews starting in a fortnight, are they telling these people that it could be a very long time before start dates?
Last edited by Bumble_Pilot; 12th Sep 2022 at 10:17.
Yeah it’s all taken a bit of a unexpected turn. Still plenty on the inactive list to go back so you wouldn’t expect any external starts before this time next year, especially with no more inactive course starts planned for the year. December and January are dead months for obvious holiday reason so hopeful expectations are they start up the monthly import of inactive early next year, or, some other plans they’re keeping close to the chest (they were suspiciously low Second Officer like minimum requirements for direct entry FO.. for australia anyway)
Definitely a piece of information missing as external recruitment at the moment does not add up
Definitely a piece of information missing as external recruitment at the moment does not add up
Problem is, the company said they’re hiring external etc and busy.
Todays import were pretty senior people. Guys and gals on the inactive list down lower thought they would be back shortly (and not taking jobs elsewhere due to that) and today they’ve said that courses are now full and no more planned.
with external interviews starting in a fortnight, are they telling these people and it could be a very long time before start dates?
Todays import were pretty senior people. Guys and gals on the inactive list down lower thought they would be back shortly (and not taking jobs elsewhere due to that) and today they’ve said that courses are now full and no more planned.
with external interviews starting in a fortnight, are they telling these people and it could be a very long time before start dates?
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The reason the company has started to accept external applications is because the last bid import before this one went so low on the list. The last inactive pilot on that import was only about 70-80 from the bottom of the list. The reason for this was because they were primarily filling ADL and PER FO slots.
The most resent import was for SYD ans MEL FO slots, and as a result they were filled by inactive pilots much higher on the list. This highlights the fact that the vast majority of inactive pilots on the list probably only have bids in for east coast bases.
Don’t be surprised if some external applicants get picked up for courses before we have exhausted the inactive pilot list. Especially if they are willing to accept any base in the network.
The most resent import was for SYD ans MEL FO slots, and as a result they were filled by inactive pilots much higher on the list. This highlights the fact that the vast majority of inactive pilots on the list probably only have bids in for east coast bases.
Don’t be surprised if some external applicants get picked up for courses before we have exhausted the inactive pilot list. Especially if they are willing to accept any base in the network.
Yes they are about 100 from the bottom, it includes VANZ F/O’s they have an excess of Captains but are very short of F/O’s.There is a training bottle neck until 2023.
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Thanks for the info.
Not expecting to jump anyone on the list to return that’s for sure.
Just wondering if they will likely build a healthy hold file of FO’s for when the list is exhausted.
Time will tell.
Not expecting to jump anyone on the list to return that’s for sure.
Just wondering if they will likely build a healthy hold file of FO’s for when the list is exhausted.
Time will tell.
The info I have is that it all depends on the bidding behaviour of the inactive pilots. Just because the latest intake was 100 or so from the bottom of the list doesn't mean much. At this stage, there are still probably 500 inactive pilots who aren't interested in returning. That may or may not change. Theoretically, if they all changed their mind and wanted to return, you could wait until 2026 before external recruitment.
At the earliest, I wouldn't expect external recruitment until the end of 2023.
At the earliest, I wouldn't expect external recruitment until the end of 2023.