Ahhh sorry Icarus'. you know what I mean! :rolleyes: Dexlictic with only one cup of coffee.

I have amended the post. :ok:

Helicopter ? :p

cathay pacific has been approached to do the A330 line training for VB.

I doubt that as they already have 2 very experienced checkers with many thousands of hours on the 330/340 with them at the moment and more ex EK trainers and line crews just waiting in the midst.....................unless cathay is training the VA 330 crews........................;)

2 or 3 crews (VB) should have done some line flying with CX in Jan, probably all done by now.

First VB crews have already completed CX training and are back in Australia.

For some reason more senior FO's who had bids in for A330 FO positions were over looked.:ugh:

the truth sometimes reveals the MO.

If f/o slots seem to have been awarded out of seniority/start date/bid group/general normal order of things, that would most likely be contributed to the fact that the company made a small error of judgment and instead of Melbourne base, the A330 all of a sudden is Sydney based. No prizes for guessing why a few F/O's would say "hang on a minute"....

A move to Sydney for 5%. You do not need to be a mathematician to work out the fallout.

Ladder climbing would be the only reason from that angle. The fact that out of order seems to be the case is an indication of the testicular fortitude some F/O's have here....

Kudos to those who gracefully turned down the offer....

TCAS,

The EOI for FO's ONLY was offered to ALL pilots again due to the change of base. The recent awarded positions are for Sydney and all and sundry new that.

More commuters who will start bitching and moaning they HAVE to commute........

The A330 introduction is sloppy (especially crew) with a lack of information and the appointment of both positions outside start date.

As I understand it, as the A330 operation is currently outside the 2007 EBA then VB can and do as it pleases. Good luck getting any help from AFAP or VIPA they will just cry poor and say we cant do anything.

Therefore my previous comment stands, that is promotion to the left hand seat is entirely possible.

Have a look at which fleet and base 6 of the 7 guys are currently from!!!

With the 170s going, 1 airframe per month from june (or so im told) and with the majority of the 170 flying out of SYD, I am of the opinion that these appointments are to assist in managing a looming surplus of ejet crew in SYD.

The company looking after their own needs before considering engagement once again..... Tis no surprise

The only problem is more senior Ejet FO's based in Sydney applied for the position and they missed out. A couple of these guys applied to the first EOI and updated as each EOI was put out. So due to the fact the A330 is not covered by the EBA looks like anything can happen.

If anyone has sour grapes over this issue, I do hope it is directed towards management & not the guys who took the jobs.

I had an EoI in the system from Day-1, however as soon as the change of base was announced, I promptly withdrew. I wasn't trying to be a martyr, or set an example, or stick it to the company to prove a point. It simply was a case of not being interested in a move to SYD for what was on offer - & that was always a personal lifestyle decision, nothing more.

I'll be the first to agree that the whole process has not been managed well, but whatever gripes I might have with the system or the management process driving it, I bear no ill will towards the guys who got the slots - & wish them all the best. I've got better things to do with my time than bitch & moan about the fact that an E-jet F/O leapfrogged me to a bigger aeroplane.

Two of the latest A330 F/O slots were 737 syd based f/o's who were displaced onto the E Jet during the GFC for over a year as well.

So all up it's three 737's drivers and the rest were E Jet drivers moving onto the bus

Crikey they must be keen - three endorsements from three different manufacturers in three years.:eek: My brain would fuse!!

I notice that Airbus have Virgin Blue listed as a customer/operator for both the -200 and -300 A330's. Is there something we don't know about?

Air Asia X (Xanadu 2722 to you) have deferred all A330 deliveries for a year, that should free up some new airframes in a shot. They seem to operate RR powered 300s.