What I have heard matches your comment.

2025 training slots for commands should get down to 8 years seniority providing the fleet renewals go as planned. These would likely be 737 commands too and not A321.

It's rumoured to go down to 8 years this upcoming training year for SYD and MEL in SH. That's down from 19+ years in 2019. Slightly skeptical but it's plausible.

I think the first A321 commands are slated to be type transfers not promotions as the fleet is introduced, and I don't think there'll be too many in total to start with (I believe only 3 A321s arriving next by the end of next FY). So yes the majority of SH commands will still be slated to be 737 for the next few years, until the A321 hits a critical mass then will become the majority.

But they'll probably still need new pilots onto the 737 as more will leave for LH, and I think it's safe to say they'll still be training pilots onto the 737 in the 2030s. They were training pilots onto the B744 in the late 2010s with that fleet nearing retirement.

Regarding the 737, people joining towards the 2030’s will need to be cautious as there is no RIN process SH.

Given what management are saying, there should be work for all 737 pilots on the A321 with the increase in back of the clock flying even with a lower amount of airframes.

The 747 pilots at least had the RIN process to fall back on. Based upon management history with subsidiaries who knows what will happen with the remaining 737 pilots (if any are left) at the end of the fleet replacement.

There’s a “kinda RIN” where surplus 737 crew get first dibs at the 321. I wouldnt be too stressed about not having a seat to go to if you’re on the 737.

I think that’s jumping at shadows and there’s an awful lot that could occur between now and then.

Can someone please explain what RIN means?

Reduction in numbers. Got it

The recruitment process is a heck of a long ride. All to be rounded out with a sim in the 76 in the later evening.

I don't quite agree with the sim being so late, I was in recently and had been up since 3a.m for a flight that morning and obviously with the pre interview nerves and jitters certainly don't think that my best foot was put forward when it came to what is indeed a taxing sim ride. (Yes yes, people will say have a sleep, but tough to do when you're nervous)

Along with the thousands of dollars applicants put forward for those that aren't Bris based in money towards a suit, accom, travel and of course the need to take a couple of sick days because rosters don't always align!

Can say though, that ALL the people encountered in the Qantas hiring department where superb individuals. I hope if they read this they can pat themselves on the back.

After my sim ride I expect a thanks but no thanks , really not too confident, but I bloody well hope that consideration is placed on the efforts that some people go to to put a good foot forward and/or the time of day that the sim is utilized. I myself was already at the back end of a very long day.

​​​​​It would be interesting to know if anyone could say or hypothesize the attrition rates at various stages and what the process is for final selection, I'd have thought that the HR panel interview would hold considerable weight when outcomes where delivered? If we are all pilots there is already an acumen to be able to fly or at least a proven record of an adaptability to comply with SOP's etc. (& not hand fly on steam gauges a jet)

As a pilot, we focus on the sim. As a HR self licking ice cream driven process, the focus is on your non technical and interpersonal skills plus interview preparation.

I wouldn’t stress too much about the sim. As long as you showed an improvement from start to finish (demonstrating a rate of learning) which means you can be trained, then you’ll be okay.

Cant break any hard rules like going below minima, etc

Did you have to do it that day? For me I did it a few weeks later. Went home did some prep etc??

I’ve just been through the assessment day process. We couldn’t actually do the sims straight away, as the sim had broken, and they were trying to get more slots/assessors organised to clear the backlog. (I don’t think there was anyone local on my day - one from US, couple flew in from NZ, Perth etc).

But they did say it doesn’t matter when you do your sim with regards to the hold file - it is based purely on the date you attended the assessment centre. And we were on week 7 of an 18 month recruitment process.