I think I saw some stats that suggested total A330 flying hours are up more than 10% from 12 months ago- hence shortage on those aircraft. 737 hours are also up hence the need for more crew on those aircraft. Basically they've worked out they can work the aeroplanes harder but we didn't and don't have the crew numbers to match. Add to that the VRs that were taken just 18 months ago as well as the retirements from the A330, 737 and A380 since and it's easy to work out why we're short.

And that's before we start loading up for expansion caused by the 787.

As you say, Qantas is short of crew and in desperate need of good drivers who can get up and running ASAP. First step by HR? Wipe out over a third of the cadets waiting in the wings. Now we've lost a bunch from link that Qantas rejected, I guess up to 15 years of neglect without the job to show for it was enough for them. That's plenty of good talent that is no longer working for the group.

Qantas showed their hand with the recent recruitment round. If they were willing to throw away the cadets already in group companies, it's clear that the internal expressions of interest was just a carrot to try and stem the flow to the Middle East and Asia. I reckon chances are slim to none that any internals with a Y chromosome will get a job in mainline. Hopefully I'm proved wrong on that front, time will tell. Plenty of great captains and FOs internally that deserve the job but I wouldn't blame them for a second if they decide not to wait for Qantas to see the light.

Has any externals received a 'sorry - bad luck' notification from HR after completing the 1st round of testing?

If not, then I'm assuming as some externals have already been given 2nd round invitations, it is not a case of 'no news is good news' :-(

I imagine that after the 500-1000+ pilots did stage one and the select first few got the nod for stage 2 in Nov/Dec HR are left with a huge 'bellcurve of results'. For everyone(majority) sitting in the middle of that curve it will now be lucky dip/black magic on who and when someone gets picked for futher testing...

Just a numbers game now, at the mercy of the system... Could be 12mths before someone gets an email.... 🙄🙄

Sadly I know of a couple of externals who have been told 'no'. One of them struck me as an eminently suitable candidate.

In any job vacancy the best (according to the company perception) candidate gets the gig. It's not to say others were poor or in fact would not do a better job. That's how the system works. Pilots are not special other than employment tends to flow in rapid waves followed by seemingly endless calmness. This is perhaps why QF apparently still maintains this 'hold file' system. So it's up to the candidate to toot the company's train set in the way the company think is right during the interview process. Do it well and you won't be the 'majority in the bell curve' who quite possibly won't be required. Successful or not an attitude focusing on self improvement and individual development will always be more productive than blaming uncontrollable external factors that are baked in an oven of wishful mistruths.

Just to clarify, was this after completing the psychometric assessment or after submitting the initial application?

Has anyone been given interview dates post November?

EY Airbus, post assessment center.

Anyone have any idea about the sim profile?

I heard this is the last week of assessments for 2016?

For those that have done the sim over the past few weeks/months, how long did it take for HR to get back to you with a yes or no?

Also, did you get a start date at this point?

QF AA Cooperation Hampered
 

Growth on Pacific routes might possibly take a bit of a hit.

I wonder whether this will have any effect on medium to longer term fleet plans and therefore pilot recruitment numbers?

Nocookies | The Australian

Qantas’s plans to dominate the skies over the Pacific have been left in tatters and its popular routes into San Francisco and Dallas placed under review after the Australian carrier and American Airlines ditched plans to expand their partnership.

The airlines yesterday dumped plans to expand their alliance after the US Department of Transport tentatively blocked the deal and rejected pleas from Qantas and American for an extended deadline to appeal the decision. The DoT said their arguments were “unpersuasive”.

“This is an extremely disappointing sequence of events for Qantas and American Airlines, as well as for customers, and ultimately for trade between the United States and Australia,” Qantas said yesterday as it revealed it would no longer appeal the DoT’s decision.

The airlines, which already codeshare and offer frequent-flyer reciprocity with each other, had hoped to win antitrust immunity from the DoT to deepen and expand the relationship into a revenue-sharing joint venture.

But the DoT blocked the deal because it would reduce competition by allowing Qantas and American to control about 60 per cent of airfares between the US and Australia.

The rejection means Qantas will now review its direct flights into San Francisco and Dallas, which were launched last year in anticipation of the expanded alliance going ahead.

American also launched flights ahead of the expanded partnership — from Los Angeles to Sydney and Los Angeles to Auckland — but it’s understood they will remain in place.

“Both American and Qantas made it quite clear at the time of announcement of the proposed expanded alliance back in June 2015 that a number of services were only made economically possible as a result of the joint business agreement,” said JPMorgan analyst Guy Bunce.

“As a consequence, if this is no longer possible then the following services could be at risk of reduction and/or cessation including: Sydney-San Francisco, American’s Sydney-LA, and maybe even Qantas’s Sydney-Dallas.”

Mr Bunce said the decision to reject the new alliance was likely to be immaterial for Qantas’s earnings in the short term but it could have wider implications for the airline’s international business and its ability to grow its bottom line. Qantas had expected to grow its trans-Pacific traffic (which accounts for 40 per cent of its international revenue) by 9 per cent through the new deal.

“This decision could impact the long-term profitability of Qantas’s most important international market, but we feel the current share price already reflects significant earnings risk,” Mr Bunce said.

With the deal now dead, Qantas and American said they would be “severely limited” in their ability to work together to grow on the trans-Pacific routes. “As a consequence, each airline will need to assess their trans-Pacific networks,” the airlines said.

“Qantas and American Airlines will now separately assess their positions before deciding on next steps. Both carriers are committed to finding ways to work together more closely to deliver benefits to customers that neither could offer alone.” American Airlines said it was “very disappointed” with the DoT’s decision.

PG

All has gone quiet..??? Any news from those interviewing??

Email went around today saying merry Christmas, resuming ops normal in the new year.

Email today said they're shutting down for Christmas and next contact will be in the new year.

Really? Who got that? Guys waiting for a yes or no or people waiting for an assessment day?

I haven't heard anything either way since completing the online components.

Both. Those who are yet to attend an assessment day as well as those who have. Surprising really. I thought the fat lady had already sung her song.

I did the sim a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get any Christmas email about expecting more info in the new year. I'm guessing that's a no then- Doh!