Air NZ Jet
The medical will retire a few before they die. It is true though that many 'older' pilots would retire if faced with a full-time A320 roster but let's face it, a few trips across the Tassie in the widebody if a pretty desirable position to be in and most will do it as will most of the younger guys/girls when they reach that age. It is pointless getting twisted in a knot over it as it is changes to legislation that have allowed it and the over 65s have as much right as anyone to use the applicable laws to extend/maintain their careers as they see fit. When I was overseas flying the retirement age at my airline went from 55 to 65 at the start of the tax year in 2006. If you reached 55 the day before you were out the door, if you reached 55 the day after you could go another 10 years, sometimes life sucks and we always get these scenarios where things change that disadvantage different groups. You can't blame those on the Tasman routes for taking advantage of those changes.
You can't blame those on the Tasman routes for taking advantage of those changes.

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The medical will retire a few before they die. It is true though that many 'older' pilots would retire if faced with a full-time A320 roster but let's face it, a few trips across the Tassie in the widebody if a pretty desirable position to be in and most will do it as will most of the younger guys/girls when they reach that age. It is pointless getting twisted in a knot over it as it is changes to legislation that have allowed it and the over 65s have as much right as anyone to use the applicable laws to extend/maintain their careers as they see fit. When I was overseas flying the retirement age at my airline went from 55 to 65 at the start of the tax year in 2006. If you reached 55 the day before you were out the door, if you reached 55 the day after you could go another 10 years, sometimes life sucks and we always get these scenarios where things change that disadvantage different groups. You can't blame those on the Tasman routes for taking advantage of those changes.
It craps all over the bidding system and roster balancing.
Many of us are accepting of them continuing past 65, but not of the special branch that’s been created on the Widebodies to accomodate them at the expense of everyone else.
Maybe it is?
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Bumping this to the top in the hope of more updates. I originally got the “currently unable to progress your application” email in May, but have now completed the cognitive assessment and am waiting for an interview board date. Some questions to throw out there…
How many externals have been interviewed/hired so far? How long is the tag and release list now?
Future recruitment board dates, how many per month, how far in advance are they filled? What is the timeline like up until the start date. Any other useful interview info?
Why is the 777 so much more senior than the 787? (Based on previous upgrade comments)
For first preference options, what are some S7 vs S8 considerations? Likelihood of only being offered F20?
What is the company KiwiSaver contribution?
How many min days off per roster? How many LH trips? Trip length?
How many weeks annual leave?
How good/bad is pilot morale out on the line right now?
PM’s welcome. Cheers.
How many externals have been interviewed/hired so far? How long is the tag and release list now?
Future recruitment board dates, how many per month, how far in advance are they filled? What is the timeline like up until the start date. Any other useful interview info?
Why is the 777 so much more senior than the 787? (Based on previous upgrade comments)
For first preference options, what are some S7 vs S8 considerations? Likelihood of only being offered F20?
What is the company KiwiSaver contribution?
How many min days off per roster? How many LH trips? Trip length?
How many weeks annual leave?
How good/bad is pilot morale out on the line right now?
PM’s welcome. Cheers.
Hi all,
Does anyone have info. on the NZ ATPL Air Law exam? Or have any notes please?
Apologies for posting on this thread. Need to do this exam and appreciate the help!
Thank you
Does anyone have info. on the NZ ATPL Air Law exam? Or have any notes please?
Apologies for posting on this thread. Need to do this exam and appreciate the help!
Thank you
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Bumping this to the top in the hope of more updates. I originally got the “currently unable to progress your application” email in May, but have now completed the cognitive assessment and am waiting for an interview board date. Some questions to throw out there…
How many externals have been interviewed/hired so far? How long is the tag and release list now?
Future recruitment board dates, how many per month, how far in advance are they filled? What is the timeline like up until the start date. Any other useful interview info?
Why is the 777 so much more senior than the 787? (Based on previous upgrade comments)
For first preference options, what are some S7 vs S8 considerations? Likelihood of only being offered F20?
What is the company KiwiSaver contribution?
How many min days off per roster? How many LH trips? Trip length?
How many weeks annual leave?
How good/bad is pilot morale out on the line right now?
PM’s welcome. Cheers.
How many externals have been interviewed/hired so far? How long is the tag and release list now?
Future recruitment board dates, how many per month, how far in advance are they filled? What is the timeline like up until the start date. Any other useful interview info?
Why is the 777 so much more senior than the 787? (Based on previous upgrade comments)
For first preference options, what are some S7 vs S8 considerations? Likelihood of only being offered F20?
What is the company KiwiSaver contribution?
How many min days off per roster? How many LH trips? Trip length?
How many weeks annual leave?
How good/bad is pilot morale out on the line right now?
PM’s welcome. Cheers.
P&W engine issues have delayed the company publishing an updated course forecast and they've also cancelled a number of A320 courses this year due to training capacity issues.
Morale is rather low at the moment due to ongoing lifestyle concerns. Bid satisfaction is down, 777 Pilots are getting flogged and Airbus Pilots are doing 3 Call rosters a year. Unfortunately, managements decisions around post COVID fleet and Pilot numbers have proven to be woefully inadequate. We simply don't have enough Aircraft at the moment, especially with a number of NEO's grounded without engines, which is somewhat masking a current Pilot shortage. Recruitment should keep ticking over to ensure we have the numbers to fly additional Aircraft as they arrive, or get new engines.
The 777 is more Senior to the 787 simply because it pays more, except for SO's who are on the same rate regardless of fleet. S7 vs S8 really comes down to route structure. 777 you'll mostly be doing LAX, SFO & IAH while the 787 goes everywhere else. For what it's worth, 777 has the better Crew Rest!
LH Trip length can vary from 2 days to over a week on ULR Trips (SO's only do ORD at the moment). Company releases a bid pack for each roster specifying the average days off and hours flown. If you bid for short trips you'll do more than if you bid for long ones, but with few exceptions, everyone has to fit within the "window". It's a Seniority Bias system meaning a Senior Pilots bids carry more weight than a Juniors but we're all expected to do the same amount of work so keep that in mind when bidding.
10 Days off per 28 day roster with a few fleet specifics around dipping below and rolling averages.
Annual leave is 34 Days + 11 Public holidays which can be converted to leave or accrued as AHR's (days in Lieu). The leave system is a bit convoluted, we have an annual ballot to book leave so you really need to plan ahead and we used balancing days to take leave in either 7 or 14 day blocks. Long Service leave and other benefits come later.
7.5% Kiwisaver.
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There have been 2 external boards this year that I know of, so ~20 interviewed with 6 expected to start in Nov. Roughly 40 Pilots are either on LWOP or Regional Trainers on Secondment.
P&W engine issues have delayed the company publishing an updated course forecast and they've also cancelled a number of A320 courses this year due to training capacity issues.
Morale is rather low at the moment due to ongoing lifestyle concerns. Bid satisfaction is down, 777 Pilots are getting flogged and Airbus Pilots are doing 3 Call rosters a year. Unfortunately, managements decisions around post COVID fleet and Pilot numbers have proven to be woefully inadequate. We simply don't have enough Aircraft at the moment, especially with a number of NEO's grounded without engines, which is somewhat masking a current Pilot shortage. Recruitment should keep ticking over to ensure we have the numbers to fly additional Aircraft as they arrive, or get new engines.
The 777 is more Senior to the 787 simply because it pays more, except for SO's who are on the same rate regardless of fleet. S7 vs S8 really comes down to route structure. 777 you'll mostly be doing LAX, SFO & IAH while the 787 goes everywhere else. For what it's worth, 777 has the better Crew Rest!
LH Trip length can vary from 2 days to over a week on ULR Trips (SO's only do ORD at the moment). Company releases a bid pack for each roster specifying the average days off and hours flown. If you bid for short trips you'll do more than if you bid for long ones, but with few exceptions, everyone has to fit within the "window". It's a Seniority Bias system meaning a Senior Pilots bids carry more weight than a Juniors but we're all expected to do the same amount of work so keep that in mind when bidding.
10 Days off per 28 day roster with a few fleet specifics around dipping below and rolling averages.
Annual leave is 34 Days + 11 Public holidays which can be converted to leave or accrued as AHR's (days in Lieu). The leave system is a bit convoluted, we have an annual ballot to book leave so you really need to plan ahead and we used balancing days to take leave in either 7 or 14 day blocks. Long Service leave and other benefits come later.
7.5% Kiwisaver.
P&W engine issues have delayed the company publishing an updated course forecast and they've also cancelled a number of A320 courses this year due to training capacity issues.
Morale is rather low at the moment due to ongoing lifestyle concerns. Bid satisfaction is down, 777 Pilots are getting flogged and Airbus Pilots are doing 3 Call rosters a year. Unfortunately, managements decisions around post COVID fleet and Pilot numbers have proven to be woefully inadequate. We simply don't have enough Aircraft at the moment, especially with a number of NEO's grounded without engines, which is somewhat masking a current Pilot shortage. Recruitment should keep ticking over to ensure we have the numbers to fly additional Aircraft as they arrive, or get new engines.
The 777 is more Senior to the 787 simply because it pays more, except for SO's who are on the same rate regardless of fleet. S7 vs S8 really comes down to route structure. 777 you'll mostly be doing LAX, SFO & IAH while the 787 goes everywhere else. For what it's worth, 777 has the better Crew Rest!
LH Trip length can vary from 2 days to over a week on ULR Trips (SO's only do ORD at the moment). Company releases a bid pack for each roster specifying the average days off and hours flown. If you bid for short trips you'll do more than if you bid for long ones, but with few exceptions, everyone has to fit within the "window". It's a Seniority Bias system meaning a Senior Pilots bids carry more weight than a Juniors but we're all expected to do the same amount of work so keep that in mind when bidding.
10 Days off per 28 day roster with a few fleet specifics around dipping below and rolling averages.
Annual leave is 34 Days + 11 Public holidays which can be converted to leave or accrued as AHR's (days in Lieu). The leave system is a bit convoluted, we have an annual ballot to book leave so you really need to plan ahead and we used balancing days to take leave in either 7 or 14 day blocks. Long Service leave and other benefits come later.
7.5% Kiwisaver.
It will be interesting to see if further leases are added if the 320 Neo fleet are going to be grounded.
With the 777 being so senior, every window seat position creates seat changes that filter all the way down, and with training capacity issues on the 320 it’s difficult to say how the numbers will work out, in the short term at least. If the leases are going to stick around for a number of years they’ll have to properly crew them eventually.
As for the NEO’s, 2 of 3 Domestic 321’s have been parked and stripped of their engines to keep the international ones going. Believe we’re due a 4th Domestic delivery this month which will likely end up the same.
If the issues did escalate to the point of NEO’s being grounded it would be absolutely devastating as all our CEO’s are non-EDTO Domestic configs. The international fleet is entirely NEO’s.
Like the RR Trent 1000 on the 787 however, I doubt we’ll see the whole fleet grounded, just more restrictions and inspections.
In theory, none of this should have any impact on recruitment because we’re already short on Pilots. New 787’s start arriving next year along with continued NEO deliveries. When the smoke clears, last thing we want is to still be parking Aircraft due to a lack of crew.
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A320 rosters
Hello all,
could someone please tell me how hard the 320 guys and gals work?
as I understand it, airnz pays a 40hr work week, so I imagine they could theoretically push a pilot a bit harder than their Qantas equivalent for same money ?
thanks!
could someone please tell me how hard the 320 guys and gals work?
as I understand it, airnz pays a 40hr work week, so I imagine they could theoretically push a pilot a bit harder than their Qantas equivalent for same money ?
thanks!
Your probably mistaking a base salary with incentive pay.
hard enough that no one wants to stay on it and bid across to SO. Not to mention you’ll make more as an SO.
You might be getting confused with wording around salaries. A320 pilots get incentive pay after 59 flying hours over the 28 day roster. What counts as “flying hours” for the purpose of incentive pay is complicated but it basically boils down to flight time or duty minus three hours, whichever is more, for each duty period. Whether that amounts to working hard or not depends greatly on the make-up of the roster. Ten Tasman returns would be about 70 hours for the roster with 18 days off, that’s much closer to “hardly working” than “working hard”, on the other hand you can do a lot of shortish domestic duties with single days off and not much, if any, incentive pay. It just depends on the crumbling of the cookie. Mostly you get a mix of both. Personally my only complaint is finishing late, having a single “day off” then starting early. If I can’t have a beer on one of the nights then it doesn’t feel like a day off, IMO. (And I don’t even want a beer most of the time, it’s just knowing that I could have one if I wanted to.)
Ten Tasman returns would be about 70 hours for the roster with 18 days off, that’s much closer to “hardly working” than “working hard”
