How about a lack of ability to actually train anyone who wants to do it anyhow.:}

That is an awfully big statement and if true, should result in their AOC being pulled. You have an obligation to tell more.......

Around the world, right now, there are hundreds of Australia pilots who have "paid for their jobs" through direct payment for their type rating, salary sacrifice, bonds, reduced training pay etc etc. What about those guys?

I'd bet that pilot for pilot Jetstar F/Os are no different in standards, motivation and background than F/Os at any other middle size western airline. If you have rich parents and they pay for your instrument rating and multi time then you might gt a job 2 years earlier than someone not so advantaged. Someone "bought" your job didn't they.

Flying is too good a life to get all tangled up over definitions.

Captain Sherm,

There can't be too many that paid for their jobs to fly abroad, especially when they could have stayed at home and done that. In fact I have worked abroad and can't think of one that paid for a job...or took salary sacrifice(???!!). What is that anyway, some satanic ritual you now do to get through the selection process?:ugh:

So back to the original post then, does this mean there are F/Os in Jetstar who have turned down the opportunity of a command just because of where it is based?
When the opportunity for my first command came up, I took it regardless, and that was on a turboprop. I know now that life is about more than what seat you sit in/aircraft you fly, but in the early stages of my career, initial command wasn't something you turned down....unless you weren't right in the head. Christchurch and Hobart might not be the first choice for many, but surely you are unlikely to be stuck there forever...and they are not exactly Baghdad or Kabul. There are plenty of people who go to worse places for jobs. Speak up guys.....what's the matter with ya's???

You never knock back a Command position.

Either the FO's are a bit soft and don't want to leave mum and dad, are in their comfort zone or can't be bothered doing the hard work for a command upgrade.

As one of the previous poster said Hobart or Christchurch isn't third world.
Hobart should have a Harvey Norman store and Gloria jeans coffee shop, Christchurch would at least have TV by now.

Kangaroo Court

A bit over 3 years into my OS stint I was faced with redundancy, as my type was being phased out, or I could choose continued employment on either A330 or 777, on the basis that I paid for my rating (25,000 USD salary sacrafice over 2 years)) but on full MD 80 pay plus per diem, until I qualified.

I choose continued employment and have now spent 8 years flying a delightful machine, the 777. Interestingly, an american colleague of the time stood on his digs spat the dummy and departed back to the states where he spent several years playing keyboard on a 727, ground instructing, and eventually after about 5 years left seat of a 320.

Who do you reckon made the better choice?

My circumstances are not unique. I know of about 20 who made the same choice and probably in excess of 100 who have achieved the same by buying endo's for a specific job. I don't like it , but it is the reality of todays world.

Regards Maui

Re JQ commands... Most FOs have bids in for all bases. Not all FOs have the minimum hours for initial command. In fact, all FOs who have been at JQ for more than 12 months are senior enough for a command but 90% would lack the experience. So, with all these aeroplanes coming the company has been employing a large amount of DECs. A combination of enticement and the fact that some/most are training captains means that they are going to MEL/SYD.
So, its not that nobody wants the command its just that we have to wait until we have 1500 hours on type before we are given the go ahead to start the training process.

Hope this helps!

For you or the greater good?

It's only the reality because we've made it the reality. we are our own worst enemy. :ugh:

D Hav

I'll do a deal with you. I will gurantee you that I will never pay another cent for my own self interests, when you give me a guarantee of 100% solidarity.

BTW Ive got the stripes for protection of the greater good. Or are they scars?

Maui

I think Maui has it right. I, and many like me from THAT year, would never walk past, or over, a pilot with a legitimate right to the endorsement I was offered. But when, as a 40 year union member I am asked to reflect on whether a salary sacrificed 777 endorsement dis-serviced anyone, I have to say a resounding NO. The First Officers I helped train along the way are brothers and sisters, whatever the colour of their passport. And a piece of self-righteous stupidity like refusing to make a small down-payment on my future would have helped them and my life not one bit.

Fact is......somehow, some way every pilot pays for his/her endorsement.

As for Jetstar pilots, they have the sheer joy of waiting less than one handful of years for their command. My time to 4 stripes was measured more in decades. I wish them well.

An airline is a cyclical business, all booms must bust, and so will the quick rides to Command.

"A combination of enticement and the fact that some/most are training captains means that they are going to MEL/SYD."

So Pleats, what sort of "enticements" are we talking about?

So what are the Command Requirements exactly?

1500 hours on Type + ....?

:zzz:

yes, ok, we're here, this should be good. What enticements are there??

The enticement is the MEL or SYD base, thats all.

No Pilot shortage. Just short of the sort of keen young lads with a bit of Turboprop experience in some Aussie or NZ company, for that tends to be the very narrow band from which Australasian Airlines recruit, unless you have a mate somewhere in the system. Experience counts for little. I am 45. 6500 Hrs, 3200 Saab, incident free flying all over the World and no people complaints either. Have decided to come home and think I have found an old turboprop night freighter gig, pays enough to semi retire from Aviation and use my skills elsewhere. Not required by Pacific Blue, Virgin Blue, or Jetconnect and not a word from Jetstar. But a Christchurch base would suit me for the rest of my flying life, 20 years or so. Guess they will bring in a South African instead!:hmm:

Have 7000 hrs 4000 airbus not a word from them either!
Why do we need a bunch of damm yarpies!

Despite the pilot shortage, Jetstar is full (for the moment).. recruitment is on hold for a few months.

As for some of the sky gods out there... get a life fellas, some of you really think your %^&& doesn't stink.

Nicely written by a 5 y.o.

Repeat after me

" I am not smarter than a 5th grader"

( it's a good show to, sad really )