QFlink Exodus 2.0
 

Rumour has it 10+ captains from BNE off to Virgin. 2008 all over again?

Surely the new CP hasn't caused this has he?

Are they on the CRZFO ground school are they?

But what about the jets!? They're coming any day now.

Maybe that carrot is starting to look a little shrivelled and wrinkly.

I was under the impression that Virgin had put a hold on recruiting until next year sometime?

Not just QF Link
 

Word has it that a CX captain, former training captain on the 747 has left to go to RFDS Western Section on the PC-12 for life-style improvement. Derby. Go figure. The grass is always greener, even if it's mostly green cans on the dirt.

When will (globally) aviation management realise that experience and knowledge can't be bought? The RAAF went through a mass exodus in the mid 1980's, lost lots of airframes including a 707.

You have to engage your employees positively. The BBs of this world that say that a feedback of "I'd rather poo in my hands and clap than admit that I work for J******" is engagement, well, they need to be shot, first against the wall when the revolution comes.

In the meantime, as GA pilots exodus for the hopefully fullfilling, the overworked and bored of us will apply for those vacancies. Good Luck to all! (and happy new year)

Ned

Off to Virgin Mainline or Virgin/Skywest ATR ?

Will these be painted in Virgins Colours?

ATR's have been in Virgin colours since there introduction last year.

Pity they didn't learn the lesson.

On the note of the CX pilot moving to Derby... Is there any truth to the rumour that 4 ex CX pilots left Cathay and not only moved to Karratha, but paid $1m each for the business, KFS..

If that's true, it doesn't say much for life in Cathay..

It's true. Also, two highly experienced F/O's I used to fly with went to CareFlight/Flying Doc a year or two ago, good lads too.

Cathay has long gone down the gurgler as a worthwhile airline career, it's 15-20 years to Command, no more new base slots, a training bond...erm 'forgiveable loan', and a minimal housing package in one of the most expensive cities on the planet.

Many senior, experienced F/O's, such as those above, are tired of the aggressive management, the Hong Kong crowds and pollution, the slow career progression and no hope of a basing opportunity.

CX has more than its share of marginal performers in the C and T department, one bad day with one of these clowns and your career is seriously affected. Add to that the constant night flights and jet lag, layovers in Saudi. And the jets ain't so shiny any more because of the corrosive South China atmosphere. For some, a 'regional' or GA in the clean environment, wide open space and freedom of Oz doesn't sound that bad.

Cathay Pacific Airways to GA; who'd 'a' thunk it?

Almost a "trumour". It was 3 of them. See the KFS website.

Actually, compared to what you just described it sounds great! :ok:

I would rather live in Wagga and fly a Saab than live in Honkers or Dubai and fly anything. Except of course, if you wanted to make a living you would probably be better of driving a truck than flying that Saab in Wagga.

Guess he enjoys being awake all night then.........:ok:

Rumour has it also that QFLink recently picked up an ex Emirates 777 capt, to become a 300 F/O. Grass not always greener.....

Correct, currently line training

There's more to the story ...
 

The CX Capt heading to the RFDS is a (relatively) junior Captain who was assigned across to the Airbus from the -400 a few years ago. He's been commuting to PER (with difficulty) while waiting for a basing (which isn't going to happen), hence the move. He's also been given grief with housing in HK, so no surprise he wants out.

His wife has recently qualified as a nurse/midwife and is going to join the RFDS too, so I'm told.

As for him getting used to night flying, he's well practiced at it. That's 90% of what we do on the Airbus. Single Pilot too, given the lack of experience most new joiners are arriving with.

Will miss flying with him. He's a good guy.

Just depends on peoples priorities, some the only goal is the shiny jet, others realise that lifestyle and family life are far more important. Some have to attain the shiny jet to realise that though!

Good one those that leave and make the move, it's a tough one but there is no point being miserable in life, far too many people in life(and flying) are like that.

Puff- it also can be 'been there done that, proved to myself I can and made more $$$ in 10 years than I can make in 30 under the Australian taxation system! Can now afford to come home and relax for the next 15 years of my flying career.' Also, the experience of life as an expat cannot be overestimated- amongst many other positives (and yes there are negatives too), you learn just how naive and sheltered the Australian world view is-it really is an island at the end of the world (and what a sheltered workshop the Australian aviation industry is). Flipside is thats what makes it a great place to live and work-when you can afford too!

Well said "That Man".
Could not agree more,particularly the "World View".:D

Well said all
 

I must apologise for seeming to hi-jack this thread and make it not what the original poster intended, concern for his regional airline, and the diminishing experience levels associated with exodus. The points I was trying to make are;

Exodus is not new, not localised, it is universal - but it costs dearly.

Does anyone outside the pilot community see this?

The Supply vs. Demand equation is not solved by reducing ad absurdum the minimum pilot requirements, that only adds more burden to the training captains. Also it effectively chokes your recruitment, because QFLink are offering cadet pay for all new entrants, therefore paying peanuts reaps what it sows.

What will it take to change?


God forbid an accident. Hopefully sanity and discussion will prevail.

Ned.

Simple Really

Get rid of the Higher School Certificate requirement..

How amazing, I get more of a tingle and warm feeling thinking about that ex Cathay capt moving back home with his wife to begin a life of relative normalcy in the Western Australian outback, than that of someone doing the opposite and moving overseas to some dusty sandpit or urban stink hole.

Good on em, I can imagine it will be defining moment in their lives and one they won't regret!

Really?

The HSC thing again?

With another pilot shortage looming on the horizon, is Qlink resorting now to subliminal messages to recruit new pilots?! Check out the latest Macca's commercial being shown on the Brissie tennis. At the very end of the commercial where the scene pans out from the Macca's car park, there goes a Qlink Dash8-400 "quietly" taking off in the top left corner in the background! Very clever recruiting at the burger stand, boys and girls!
Eat here or take away?! Oh, wait a minute... maybe a possible change again in the catering policy is what is really looming here!! Very clever again.

Or perhaps the editors forgot to take out that Dash in the shot during post production? :ugh:

Re exodus - I would say that the network will suffer some 'hiccups' but I don't think we'll see the same level of recruiting we saw from DJ back in '08 read - cancellation of flights.

Looks like a Classic anyway...if it were a Q400, you wouldn't see it in the shot for very long :E

Fuel-Off :ok:

And where is this pilot shortage? And when is it going to happen again?

Seems to me that JB would know where his next intake of pilots will be from. Sure to make a dent.

Virgin isn't expanding its Jet fleet... It is expanding it's byproduct "Skywest" and I'm not too sure many current turbo prop drivers would leave just to go fly another boat.

Maybe it's not only then the "shinny jet" syndrome but also a "painted tail" syndrome...

I don't know about "shinny" (sic) jet syndrome. You'll probably find that they are leaving because they are tired of working for the Qantas group (and enduring the way it treats its staff). Working for QLink used to be reasonable pay with a good lifestyle. That was why I stuck around for so long.

However, with successive EBA's the remuneration remained static (no, went backwards IMO), while lifestyle definitely went backwards.

That's the main reason I left.

I couldn't be happier with the choice I made (and the opportunity given me). I now have a lifestyle far superior to what I had :)

Good luck to all the QLink pilots on hold awaiting a start. You won't regret it :ok:

I'll second what Jarse said.

I spent 5 years at QLink and initially I thought I would be there until retirement, but when lifestyle disappeared, so did I.

The move may have been a short term reduction in pay, but long term it will be much better with better lifestyle. It is not unusual for me to get 15 days off per roster.

Whilst there is a little difference in salary, I wouldn't imagine too many would be keen to go from from one turboprop to another, unless the new basing was preferable.

*COUGH combined seniority COUGH*.

3 Year Captain Salary (FY2012-13):
ATR $108,908
Q400 $103,700
Q300 $96,918

The HSC thing is an interesting one, a good number of the senior guys and girls do not have the HSC ( employed prior to the change of ownership ), and they don't seem to have an issue doing the job.

Completing year 12 as a mature student is pretty easy, there are many training organisations that offer correspondence, one week intensive courses or night TAFE.

Josh, if you're talking combined seniority between Eastern/Sunstate, I was on the negotiating committee in 2007/8 (from memory), and we came to an agreement way back then.

The meetings were facilitated by the company (to its credit), however I believe to this day that NK and MD (privately) did not think the two pilot councils would ever reach an agreement, as there previously had been quite some antipathy between them until now.

Some time after the final proposal was presented to the company, we were advised that the process would go no further. I can't remember what the reason was (or if any was in fact, given).

It's seven years later................... What has changed?

Virgin not expanding its jet fleet, how did they get to 99 from 80 18 months ago if they are not expanding? They have been adding more than retiring, equating to a net 10-15% capacity increase by seats.

Virgin not expanding it's jet fleet....?? Be patient, it might be a short wait!!

Role on....

Markis10,

I said, "Virgin isn't expanding their jet fleet"... Not Virgin 'hasn't expanded their jet fleet."

The wheel has stopped or perhaps grossly slowed down in Virgin.

They have rebranded.
Painted aircraft.
Changed uniforms.
Bought 330's.
Established a business class.
Focused more on cabin service.

Now, it has to make money and prove it's been worth it before there will be any more significant re-investment. And it'll happen! I'm not saying it won't. But the dudes in the right hand seat better get comfortable.

All the immediate future expansion in Virgin, will be on the ATR fleet and through Tiger. Perhaps LWOP from Virgin to go take up a command at Tiger is an option for current Virgin FO's?

Layovers? Try living here!

Time to revive this thread? 50 cadets to QF this year. Quite a few of to Emirates and then there is the F100's in Perth and a trickle to Cathay. Going to be an interesting year!

Can't loose too many off to Perth. Heard that the numbers are upwards of 90 applying for a F100 slot. Interesting as that is nearly a fifth of the pilot base.

I always find the numbers thrown around in the crew room and here on PPRuNe to be over inflated.
90 applying for Perth? I doubt there are 90 FOs in QLink with ATPLs since Part 61, and I doubt the Senior Captains or Qantas Cadet Captains would apply, and only a few junior Captains would see it as a worthwhile move. Any pilot chasing a new airline would be waiting to see what happens at Mainline, or already on the way to the sandpit, neither of which requires jet time.
90 pilots without the required minimums however….