7 years to widebody (A330) FO, 9 years to SY 737 command and 11 years for a BN 737 command.

Those numbers are only valid for the people already in the system; those who joined 7-11 years ago. VA is no longer in a growth phase, if anything with the loss of the Ejet and reduction in ATR VA is contracting.

Leaf... of course that is relevant to those already in the system, it's the only metric we have to go on. There's no other way to go on... weekly polls of who's planning on leaving/retiring? I would have answered differently on almost every poll.

When NZ 737 (soon) and VARA commands (not so soon) come into seniority system play the picture will only become less clear. That doesn't mean "today's time to command" isn't a valid metric to those contemplating joining the greater VA group.

Over the next couple of years whether VA is expanding, contracting or neither is difficult to judge, tbh. Are we talking capacity (ASK)? Probably slightly up. Hours flown? Down. Movement through the ranks? Massive. Compounded by drawing E190 and ATR pilots into Boeings as fast as simulator constraints allow. VA is opaque. 2 737s mothballed in Mel (one getting some attention this week), one delivered, E Jets leaving, possibly unrealistic flying scheduled for just 6 ATRs and the constantly varying Alliance capacity leased in. One 777 captain leaves and there's years of training required to move the 5 (minimum) seat/fleet changes that drives.

How long is a piece of string, its impossible to calculate.
One thing you CAN count on is more people leaving or retiring earlier than planned.

The one that I find most stunning is the pilot that gets checked to line on the 73 in the base of choice and weeks later resigns to go and fly in Asia. Bizarre.

Taking a promotion when you know you're going to leave is symptomatic of resentment/dissatisfaction imo.

It certainly happens more often when morale is poor, as it generally is now.

There's more than one name on the recent promotion list that seems to be leaving.

There's no bond for command, so many take the valuable experience with them, knowing that by leaving the door will be shut behind them in any case.

They will put a bond on it if too many people start to take it and run. They are in financial ruin in all corners, not sticking up for management here, but the continued burden of unexpected costs will just sink the ship further.

I don't endorsement costs are the problem somehow! Let not forget the 800 odd that forked out for their own.

The people I was referring to i think were bonded and must have paid to leave. Incredible.

DECs into China on 300k.

*post tax


345678

Enjoy China, even if the pollution doesn't kill you (and/or your family) you'll soon realise 300K is not nearly enough

And the company has nobody to blame but themselves.
They are more than aware that morale is low, but they are in absolute denial about the cause.
The middle management strut around head office in their pink shirts sipping lattes pretending that everything is fine and dandy.
The Executive management are too busy collecting their "Employer of choice" trophies with little regard for the fact that there is almost a "revolving door" of employees in and out.

Awesome! That should fix the route cause!
If Virgin was a great place to work, nobody would be leaving.
But because the company has absolutely zero regard for their employees, the staff are demonstrating the same level of regard towards the management.
The rot is well and truly set in and until JB goes it will only get worse, but the problem now is that even if he left tomorrow, the damage may be irreparable!

Bull

your post sounds like it could be applied to a contract operation flying 767 in Japan.

Yikes... even JT is admitting he doesn't know how to staunch the flow of pilots, and aside from the ATR fleet, doesn't know where VA will get the 737 pilots needed.

So obviously Virgin isn't the "Employer of Choice" any more.
JB should hang his head in shame for what he's done to the place.

I know some very good candidates getting knocked back in the process. Not sure what's going on up there anymore- the cadet program won't be able to save the day if that's what they're planning on.

The latest bid import to staff the 737 is apparently going down to 'the bottom of the group date of joining list'. This is unprecedented, and shows that they are scraping the barrel (numbers not quality) to keep the operation going. Suspect many people who have only just started on the 777 or ATR will be moving into the RHS of the bomber.

Why on earth is HR knocking back RPT turboprop captains then? Absolutely bizarre.

What's the story with the F100 interviews?
Good gig & $$ there with an old Skywest feel still, or has the change to VARA altered things?
Sad to see VB lose its way and have a flood of resignations.
It's prudent for HR & Management to realise who really generates the income and treat them with the respect they deserve.
A problem seen in so many airlines currently!

Who is JT?

Where has this come from, an email, memo, speech?

The CEO in waiting. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer.
Nobody seems to know where that other bloke that calls himself the CEO is these days.