Well, my seniority is in mid 300s and I just turned 50!:rolleyes:
Lots older than me less seniority, about 20 younger than me but more senior.
Hoping to leave shy of 60 but most don't.:hmm:
Some of those on LWOP have no intention of coming back but most would if things change.
How many of you guys advocating fleet pay voted for EBA8?:E

International fleet plan as per October 2013:
9 x 747-400
10 x A330-300
12 x A380

Despite all the negativity around the future for the Qantas fleet, I believe there may still be some surprises around the corner. Which in turn may lead to more pilots being hired (if these aircraft are crewed by mainline pilots).

The 789 is an extremely viable option for mainline, specifically for Australia-Asia, Perth (Bris,Adel) - Dubai, and also Pacific routes.
The rumoured low acquisition price of these aircraft make them a very attractive whether that be through a purchase outright or if capital constrained, on sell to leasing companies for a profit then leasing back.

Secondly, there is a possibility of mainline operating rumoured fleet of 25 A320/321. With a group order for 110 odd A320 and a distinct possibility that Jetstar Hong Kong with fly the same amount of services as RedQ, the aircraft have to go somewhere.

QF were close to an order of A320 prior to Sept 2001 for mainline ops, however a very attractive deal for B738 came about when American Airlines had a sudden excess of 75 NG's on order and QF needed metal fast due to the demise of Ansett.
The NEO's become available early 2016 and A321Neo's would be a perfect fit to replace B767 on golden triangle and off peak Perth routes.
Additional advantages of A321Neo's for mainline is capacity increase over B738 & existing A321, also aerobridge access to 2 forward doors, streamlining turn around and giving premium pax the advantage of boarding separately or turning left on entry.

My figures came from Bid Book using the latest data for BP294. From that in LH there are 138 pilots age 59+, don't know about domestic but I doubt there would be that many.

Old mate,
I was referring to the published fleet plan, not the current QF fleet:
http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos/view/...antas-2021.jpg
A380s flagged to be the only international a/c, 747s retired and any A330s fully domestic.

Reckon that would resolve any debate about S/O fleet pay.
Anyway, I just hope QF has some international aircraft - and pilots - come 2021!!

Still 10 x A330 due back from Jetstar, at least half of which started in Qantas colours originally.

oldmate,
Think there are also 15 747s still operating (6 ERs and 9 regulars)
Although only 9 (all 6 ERs and 3 regulars) have been renovated to the new SkyBedII config. The other 6 get retired as the A330s come back.

438 ,
Inclined to agree with you that the 320/321neo are likely to be the better choice for the narrowbody due to the issues that Boeing has with engines given wing height

Too many Pilots?:hmm:
Paxed yesterday to another crew base to fly today and tomorrow.
So paid for yesterday, plus allowances and a hotel for the night.:zzz:
Obviously short of Captains at said base or they wouldn't use me.:hmm:
Turn up today and instead of an F/O fly with a training Captain in right hand seat, (called in from leave!) because they also don't have enough F/Os.:ugh:
So if we are too expensive it is more due to the way we are being used!:ugh:
Talk on the flight deck about morale, management incompetence etc etc.:hmm:

Moa999
One rumour is that due to the 787 pylon stuff up the A330s may NOT be coming back and the 767s will be here till 2020!:mad::eek:

Why would any sane person apply to QF now?
Just my 2c but I'd take a job with Tiger over QF.

Bbzbbzbzbzbzbzzbzbzb

Of course they will hire again, I would think though it will be on a contract that doesn't resemble anything that is seen in QF at the moment. Just a question of how many years it takes to 'break' the union workforce to allow the 'new' contract.

Tankengine,

I assume that is the rumour referred to here:
Aviation Business: B787 headed for a different role in Qantas?

Certainly an interesting rumour. Would Boeing really manufacture different engine pylons (assume it is already different between the GE GEnx and RR Trent 1000) - though the one of the requirements of swiss cheese design was to standardise parts so you don't get the wrong part on the wrong aircraft

My fleet numbers are from an investor presentation on the Qantas website, for 'future fleet' 2016 onwards.
http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/fleet-efficiency-engineering.pdf

Tankengine,
My understanding is that the pylon problem only affects the first 4 B787 airframes for Jetstar. Still another management stuff up which will change the aircraft destinations for the first 4! So just a slight delay in the retirement plans of the B767. Hence the delay of HNL going to the A330 now not until Oct14.

Beginning to look like there is something to this engine pylon theory. 787 Route announcements Mel-Dps, Mel-Akl (trial), Bne-Dps. All short routes with long runways.

Looks like they are just trying to find something to use it for to me.

Will Qantas Mainline ever hire another pilot on a permanent contract?
 

Ahhhhhh, No......


How's about we talk about Virgin.....

cynphil,
I heard first eight but perhaps that was engines.:O
Whatever the number it is clear that the early ones will have shortish range.:ouch:

Hiring's pretty slow going at old Virgil. Tiger not so much.

So any chance that Qantas will be hiring over the next 2 years?

Seems somewhat promising if they get the 787s.

The previous chief pilot always said that the next planned hiring was likely to be in 2016. Whilst I cannot see that occurring, I can see a need for late 2017 if the new type goes ahead.

I wouldn't get too excited just yet. Remember there's a couple of hundred pilots on leave without pay in various places around Asia and the Middle East. Many of them with 787 endorsements and families who would be very happy to come home. Until there are enough new aircraft to absorb the LWOP guys and also represent a clear expansion, I don't think we'll see too much recruiting.