787 Endorsement?

Surely with decades of Boeing time & such a large Airbus Fleet to manage.

Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to get an A320 endorsement?

Easier to keep current on Domestic sectors
Easier to manage & understand the issues that the majority of her pilots face.
Expand the skill set to cover both Airbus & Boeing

I would have thought there was enough Boeing Widebody time in the logbook.

But to be the QF CP having significant 787 time will be a distinct advantage over any other internal candidate. You don't think being Jetstar CP is to be the pinnacle of a stellar career?

Can someone tell me how many female 787 Captains there are at JQ?

Must admit to being very disappointed in her decision to go for a 787 endorsement. She already has heavy Boeing experience, the vast majority of pilots she is representing are A320 pilots. Doing her airbus endorsement would give her exposure to:

External type rating providers
Short haul network with true low cost elements (25 min turnarounds)
Some 'interesting checkies
Much easier to get out of the office to do a days flying.

Also I have heard that J* are running a 'specially' organised course for her. So much for cost cutting.

Not a good move at all.

Most of JQ pilots fly Airbus.

Looks like they have circumvented the seniority system to employ a 787 direct entry captain if she doesn't get CP approval.

How can a Boeing pilot talk to an Airbus pilot about Airbus. Those who have flown both will understand.

Unlike JQ as well they usually go for the cheap option.

:ugh:

Ummmm I think it's simpler and cheaper to endorse an experienced 76 pilot onto the 78, than a non Airbus rated pilot onto 320/330?

There isn't a lot to the casa chief pilot approval for high capacity operators such as jetstar.

The focus is on making sure the person is an appropriate person and they have the appropriate support systems in place.

Iron Bar, nope, she is doing the FULL 787 endorsement. My comment was more about the fact they are running a non scheduled course specially so the new CP can be endorsed. Surely the fact that she doesn't have A320 experience would push Jetstar towards rating her on that aircraft.

Ah, ok fair enough. Who knows, probably small stuff in the bigger picture. JQ flight ops have enthusiastically spent stacks more money before, for much less result.

Every course is unscheduled until they schedule it.

Sounds like a daft statement, but type rating courses are scheduled for when they need them, they aren't like the number 8 bus that comes past at the same time each day.

I wouldn't read anything into the fact they they have scheduled a 787 course for her. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if she does an airbus course as well.

In any event I think you would find it will be much harder for her - or any other person in her position - to actually concentrate on the type rating course as she will be still doing some tasks associated with her management role. This will also impact on her ability to do any line training (I.e. I would think it likely that the line training will be disjointed) and any consolidation will be limited, so it will be quite difficult from that perspective.

Just as a side comment, it seems that plenty of people are happy to bag out management pilots, be they jetstar, Qantas, virgin or wherever. There are exceptions to the following statement, but most management pilots are, in my opinion, doing their best to juggle all the competing priorities and and do not go out of the way to screw over their respective pilot groups. Many are happy to bag them out, far fewer are prepared to put their hand up to offer themselves as a viable alternative

That's all true SC but most courses are scheduled months in advance. Your analogy is correct in that the GS course is like the number 8 bus going past.

I also agree with your statement about the majority of management pilots. The pilots I was always suspicious of were those who made a big noise in the Union then at the first opportunity went to management and those who made a big noise about wanting "Their Command!"and taking the first management spot that came along without wanting to spend much actual time in the LHS.

Are you serious as Snakecharma?

If your statement was correct the CP to be, would already hold the CP approval.

Isn't MR hanging around a little longer than planned as CP?

Does it really matter what type she flies?

The 787 may have been part of the deal.

She has given up a secure position at Qantas to join another airline in the perilous position of Chief Pliot.

A Gutsy decision! Good luck to her.

To me the 787 makes sense from a technical and ease standpoint. If the troops dont like it then stiff, she's not there to be popular.

If the nominee is 'light' on relevant experience, I would expect CASA to require some form of mitigation, i.e. a deputy with extensive Airbus experience.

Why would anyone think she has resigned from QF, or is even emplyoed by JQ?

Now, as for rumours, is there any truth to the one about a certain jump seat refusal?

Sha also handled the recent RIN very well. Something worth keeping in mind.

A perilous mission without a parachute.......... doubt it.
Think of all that Super at risk.

I tend to agree with the above.

An A320 endorsement would have made far more sense for so many reasons.

Perhaps she made it a condition before signing up. Who knows.

Comparison to Virgin;

General Manager Flight Operations flies the B737
CP Domestic flies the Embraer 190
Deputy CP domestic flies the B737
CP International (B777 and B737) flies the B777
Deputy CP International flies the B777

The current GMFO was the previous CP International and flew the B777, however when he moved to the GMFO he decided it was more appropriate to return to the B737 as it makes up the majority of the fleet plus it's far easier to fit domestic flying in around the office days.

As management pilot I switched to a short haul aircraft as I could keep in practice without being too long away from the office.

Don't Jetstar have Fleet managers who report to the Chief Pilot?

The current Qantas Chief Pilot is an occasional A-380 Captain and, from memory, has never flown the 744 or A-330. Does that matter?

The previous Qantas Chief Pilot did not fly anything for about 4 years before he relinquished the position.

It seems to me the Chief Pilot's role is largely regulatory these days and it's up to the individual Fleet Manager and his/her administrative staff to keep track of the specific issues relating to any one fleet.