280 + internals - testing closes midnight 15th April

Thanks for the info.
How long are they giving people to complete the testing?

Does that mean the testing links have gone out the externals? Or is the 15th the closing date for internals?

Hi anybody knows how big the hold file is. Apparently many guys been waiting over 10"months

Hold file was about 150ish in December '17. They were all expected to be in by August this year. Of course training capacity could have some influence on that.

Would that be considered low? Also approx how many pilots they looking to add for this round of hiring?

Approx only 100 from JQ, would of been higher if the cadets had the requirements. Also, being an SO is not everyone’s ideal job so that might also explain a low number across the group.

Chickoroll

Why do Australian and some other Asian airlines employ S/O Cruise only pilots in the first place? I can’t think of anything worse or soul destroying, than joining an airline and then only allowed to sit in the cockpit in the cruise, not trusting to carry out takeoffs and landings.
Are the pilots recruited so short on experience, or is it a cost saving exercise in they are paid less than a fully qualified crew member?
All modern jet airliners are designed to be flown with 2 crew, there are no Checklists for a third pilot. (Long Range ops obviously use augmented crew for mandatory rest)
In my Uk airline all new hires fly as fully trained P2 sharing the landings as required. In fact for example Uk to US East coast trips are crewed with only two pilots even on an A380.
Lack of sectors on Long Range trips sometimes requires the odd Sim to keep up recency, but not an insurmountable problem.

S/Os at QF are hired purely for augmented crew flying over longer routes. I guess it’s just the cheapest way to do it and when things are moving, new hires have a chance to get a window seat fairly shortly after joining (some even on day 1).

I think getting the odd sim is an insurmountable problem at the moment at QF. Qantas has been on the Jetstar back burner for over a decade and they have now found themselves so far behind in crewing numbers and training capacity that they are looking at almost 50% of type ratings being trained externally next year. This year they’ve managed to put 340 pilots through training courses and next year this is forecast to be around 600.

50% offshore?!!

Geeeeesus

I guess that's not part of the transformation budget eh

<Off to adjust my bids>

OneDotLow- how are guys getting window seats day 1? Are QF hiring on 737?

In this recent wave of hiring, people have been offered PER 737 FO on day one. Due to the contract, they did need to technically start day one as a trainee SO, but we’re immediately offered an upgrade. My info is that this was primarily offered to pilots with 737 experience. Not technically direct entry to the 737, but not far off it.

Offered open slather to all on day one from what I've heard
Some took it some wanna see something else for a while

Pretty good choice to have

Yes same in BA a year or so ago with large recruitment surge, some direct onto 777/787/747/A380. Training capacity swamped and A320 Type Ratings outsourced to Easyjet training company. Lack of Long Haul route training sectors and training Captains, also led to a few months delay as 'Cruise Pilots" with new hires who were recruited direct on the A380.

Anyone know of any other bases being offered to new starters for 737 FO positions? Or only PER at this stage?

PER is the junior base, so there would be gnashing of teeth and rending of garments if a new hire got a prized east coast slot instead of a current pilot.

Only PER and only because it’s a junior base, ie people don’t want to move/live there.

ADL is also junior for similar reasons. Some pilots are getting ADL within 12 months.

MEL is a few years.

SYD and BNE are more than that, but with the rapid influx we’re experiencing that will come down.

Of the 35 737 slots awarded last year, I think 2 came from the 380 SO ranks...:E

Cheers thanks for the insight

Which goes to prove that you can fool some people some of the time.

Not easy to entice people into working a lot harder for less money. Unless its a short term preparation for an upcoming widebody F/O job.

Latest info is it now a few months. Apparently 787 September 2017 joiner, 2 bid periods online as SO (112 days) and MEL 737 slot.

SYD & BNE are unlikely to be far behind.