Me neither. Havent got the money. Currently on jobkeeper with the bank and car finance breathing down my neck, whilst exec management at my airline sip champagne and eat caviar. Same with all politicians and hangers on in Canberra.

Just read this, a run-down on Alliance's E190 plans, https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...e-embraer-e190

First E190 not expected for entry into service until Feb 2021, despite delivery in Sept. Alliance looking at a few layout versions, most E190s will be all economy at 100 seats but some likely to keep Copa's business class cabin and some might even end up in an all-business layout similar to Alliance's Fokker 70.

Between Alliance's E190s and Rex putting B737s on the triangle, Australia's regional airlines aren't doing too bad it seems!

Yes......but, now they will have to compete on the open market against Qantas, Jetstar and hopefully Virgin. Completely different ‘kettle of fish’. It’s a bit different to contract flying, where you get the cash regardless, or surviving on $60 million handouts from the govmint. Time will tell.

More ex Alliance F50 and F100 pilots returning after Air Japan redundancies.

Returning to what?

Exactly!!...Its not like Alliance is going to say 'Welcome Home, here have an E-Jet type rating'..

Alliance obviously knows the industry and also understands about managing a successful business.
I would guess if you are ex Alliance you would remain ex Alliance. They know as soon as the industry picks up again, you are gone again to chase the coin amongst other things especially in Japan. They will read between the lines and spot the bull**** regardless of how much you practice your acting skills and your STAR responses. No soup for you...next!
L.B

[QUOTE=Daddy Fantastic;10876064]Exactly!!...Its not like Alliance is going to say 'Welcome Home, here have an E-Jet type rating'.

QUOTE=Littlebird
I would guess if you are ex Alliance you would remain ex Alliance. They know as soon as the industry picks up again, you are gone again to chase the coin amongst other things especially in Japan. They will read between the lines and spot the bull**** regardless of how much you practice your acting skills and your STAR responses. No soup for you...next!
L.B

I think you will find these pilots are intelligent enough to know that they would not obtain E190 slots. However once the present Alliance pilots are transferred to the E190 there would be slots on the F50 and F100 which these pilots could slot in to quite easily. I think you will also find that most of these guys have had enough of living outside Oz and will never leave again. On the other hand those who have not experienced flying and living overseas might find it quite tempting to move abroad. Mind you regarding the comment about Japan. Just remember a lot of pilots don't make it in Japan and are either let go during their conversion course as an FO or never make command. It is quite challenging, just 8 months to complete the conversion, provided you pass everything first time. If you fail the first JCAB check you may not be given a second attempt.

Absolutely!! I would agree with that. Alliance knows they are not top dog but do try their best, treat their staff well. They realise pilots want the ANA 767 contract etc.. However that does not mean they should take you back when things go belly up like now. Its not meant in a mean way, just that they want people who will stick around as being at home is more important to them than globetrotting the world looking for the next big gig...

If a guy had left after 10 years with a great record and wanted to do a stint overseas then come home, sure you know he is genuine. However a guy that did the bare minimum and left as soon as his bond was up or even before, no chance Im afraid!!

I think you will find these pilots are intelligent enough to know that they would not obtain E190 slots. However once the present Alliance pilots are transferred to the E190 there would be slots on the F50 and F100 which these pilots could slot in to quite easily. I think you will also find that most of these guys have had enough of living outside Oz and will never leave again. On the other hand those who have not experienced flying and living overseas might find it quite tempting to move abroad. Mind you regarding the comment about Japan. Just remember a lot of pilots don't make it in Japan and are either let go during their conversion course as an FO or never make command. It is quite challenging, just 8 months to complete the conversion, provided you pass everything first time. If you fail the first JCAB check you may not be given a second attempt.[/QUOTE]

Sure from a business point of view it might make sense to get a type rated F50/100 driver back on board to fill a vacant slot. However he would still most likely have had to have left on good terms, been in Alliance for a while and possibly looking at staying for good just so he can be at home in his home base. My bet is that not too many ex Alliance pilots will get back in though due to leaving in the first place for something bigger and better...They will do it again when things pick up. Im not judging these pilots, Im just saying I can see things from Alliance's point of view as well.

With deliveries of the E190 to start this month, you'd think Alliance would have started advertising for positions by now? Haven't seen anything on Seek.com. Perhaps they are upgrading Fokker pilots to the Ejet internally?

I have it on good authority that they will definitely be looking at type rated E190 drivers for said positions. There will be some internal movement from the Fokker 100 to the E190 but type rated is of HIGH Priority if they can get it. Cant blame for that, pure business sense and to prevent 2 training events when they only have to do 1 if they can get it..

February is apparently when they expect to be flying and making money of them so as you say there will probably be adverts soon. Border closures are not helping the situation but I suspect they would want to start getting guys on board training by November at the latest to be ready and up to speed.

Is this the first of Alliance's Ejets to be delivered? It's first flight since March of this year, so possibly a post maintenance test flight before the ferry to Australia?

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...69cmp#2580558e

The Japanese licence is one of the hardest in the world to obtain, astronaut medical, all written exams and an ultra pedantic flight test. If you have one and experience in Japan, you’d be very attractive to Japanese employers once things pick up.

A younger pilot might be tempted to head back to the land of the rising sun and could find it difficult to convince Alliance that he was going to stay. An older pilot with <10 years to retirement would be more likely to stick around. If he had left on good terms, could convince them that he wanted to see more of his grandchildren and was sick of chasing money then he might be in with a chance.

Agreed, not sure why anybody would want to put themselves thru that Japanese nonsense anyway for a bit of extra coin. I know an ex 767 captain who did not get the job after flying the 767 for 10 years as PIC for a legacy carrier.

As for Alliance they seem like a good bunch and a terrific company to work for. You could be at home with family and friends, flying in a stable environment and treated with respect. I really dont understand why somebody would go to Emirates for example, take all that abuse, fatigue, poor treatment and mis-management especially seeing again how these foreign carriers treat their pilots and cabin crew, its quite disgusting.

It will be interesting to see how many ex Alliance pilots get knocked back after re-applying for a position since the world just imploded under Covid. I think some will get back in but not many..

[QUOTE][Daddy] Agreed, not sure why anybody would want to put themselves thru that Japanese nonsense anyway for a bit of extra coin. I know an ex 767 captain who did not get the job after flying the 767 for 10 years as PIC for a legacy carrier.

Obviously not up to JCAB standard.

[QUOTE][krismiler] A younger pilot might be tempted to head back to the land of the rising sun and could find it difficult to convince Alliance that he was going to stay. An older pilot with <10 years to retirement would be more likely to stick around. If he had left on good terms, could convince them that he wanted to see more of his grandchildren and was sick of chasing money then he might be in with a chance.

I think you will find the oldest pilot who left Alliance was a well qualified Capt. in his mid to late 40's. Also quite a few of them had been in the company well over six years. Alliance could easily employ those pilots that they want to rehire on the basis that they (The pilots) paid for the sim training and their salary commencing on their completion of line training which would take less than a week.
Further there are still some pilots who are still employed, flying and holding command positions who may return if offered positions on the F100 or F50.

As to the earlier comment about pilots leaving for Japan and the ME. You will find those pilots left because they feared for their jobs due to the downturn in the mining industry not for the "Coin" offered. I guess it is in the interests of some of those presently employed and those hoping for employment to tarnish the reasons of those returning.

Just remember it would be in the airlines interest to employ pilots that they know, who are qualified on the F50 and F100 and are familiar with the routes and company SOPs.

As to the earlier comment about pilots leaving for Japan and the ME. You will find those pilots left because they feared for their jobs due to the downturn in the mining industry not for the "Coin" offered. I guess it is in the interests of some of those presently employed and those hoping for employment to tarnish the reasons of those returning.

Just remember it would be in the airlines interest to employ pilots that they know, who are qualified on the F50 and F100 and are familiar with the routes and company SOPs.[/QUOTE]

Uncalled for comment. Im certainly not wishing any ill will or wanting to tarnish the record of those returning or those who left. If you read my earlier posts I clearly stated Im not judging these pilots for leaving, everybody has their reasons but I can see it from Alliances point of view as well. They may not want to re-hire them due to the fact they know they will leave again once Emirates and ANA pick up again etc..

As I stated I think some will get re-employed but not that many. Of course I could be wrong and if these guys get their jobs back then good for them as we all have families to support but dont be surprised if you dont get your job back if you left for the big shiny 777 at Emirates.

There are many hungry young pilots out there and Alliance know this, they may be willing to invest in them instead for both the company and the young pilots futures.

What about hungry old pilots ?🤪

I’m guessing a “ hungry young pilot “ is sub 30, the rest are old

I would suggest the +35yo pilots are less likely to leave (again) when things pick up, compared to the “hungry young pilots” who have not yet dipped their toes in the sandpit, etc.

I see your point however the Sandpit 3 will also call on guys with experience on type throwing money at them when things get good again. It could go either way but I can understand why Alliance may be reluctant to take most if not all of these guys back on.

Hey Daddy
Have you organised your job or promotion yet, heard a senior F100 "checkie" is now in Perth also a F50 "checkie" with another Air Japan ex Alliance F100 captain is in Brisbane. More are coming, you need to keep promoting the idea that these ex Alliance guys should not be employed. Best of luck.

Is their first Jungle jet still coming in October?

Grow up chump!!! Clearly adult conversation is not your strong suit.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....376d4116db.jpg

COVID’s chaos a big opportunity for little airlines

Alliance Aviation has seen opportunity in the COVID crisis to expand its fleet, and will take delivery of its first Embraer 190 jet by the end of October.

ROBYN IRONSIDE

AVIATION WRITER

By smashing Australia’s airline industry to pieces, the COVID crisis has created a unique opportunity for smaller operators to grab valuable market share from Qantas and Virgin.

Both Regional Express and Alliance admit the fleet expansions both airlines are undertaking were not even imagined at the start of 2020, which was to be Qantas’s year — marking the airline’s centenary.

Instead, Qantas has been forced to axe more than 8000 workers, ground dozens of aircraft, many indefinitely, and take on about $3bn more debt to survive the pandemic.

Virgin Australia is also shrinking its fleet and workforce but through the process of administration will at least emerge with fewer financial constraints than its larger rival.

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said it was as if the COVID crisis had reset the industry and taken it back to square one.

“It’s like we were running a race and Qantas was way out in front and Virgin was some way behind and Alliance and Rex and all the other airlines were well back from there,” Mr Sharp told The Weekend Australian.

“All of a sudden a rope was thrown across the course and tripped up Qantas and tripped up Virgin, tripped up everybody and we all had to go back to the start and do it again.

“It means there’s a fresh start for the industry coming up and anyone could do well in this race.”

To that end, Rex was in the process of finalising finance for six Boeing 737s formerly leased by Virgin Australia to operate on the Golden Triangle routes of Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane.

The new additions would expand Rex’s fleet to 50 aircraft, with the possibility of another four 737s by the end of 2021.

Similarly Alliance was awaiting delivery of the first of 14 Embraer 190 jets, taking its fleet to 57 aircraft by June 30.

Managing director Scott McMillan said expansion had not been part of Alliance’s plans for 2020, until the pandemic turned the world on its head.

“Our history has been punctuated by opportunistic aircraft purchasing,” Mr McMillan said.

“When we started Alliance we bought our first aircraft post-September 11, when aircraft values got smashed. We bought some more in the middle of the global financial crisis and again in 2015, and we’re doing exactly the same with the Embraer 190s.”

Unlike Rex however, Alliance’s sights were not set on the competitive regular public transport sector.

Mr McMillan said the demand for charter services had skyrocketed during COVID and he was convinced the new customers they had acquired would be permanent.

“A lot of people and a lot of companies have come off scheduled airlines services in the regions and on to charter, and realised how good it is. They’re not going back,” he said.

In a further twist to the market reset, pilots, engineers and cabin crew were returning to the regions where many began their aviation careers.

The Victorian-based owner of Sharp Airlines, Malcolm Sharp, said the halt in the attrition rate had been one of the few silver linings of the pandemic.

“It’s actually steadied the ship for what was probably not sustainable for the regional aviation industry,” Mr Sharp said. “We were forever in a training environment where we were bringing new people on, training them, only to see them move on to the larger airlines.”

Qantas declined to comment but indicated it would protect its market share. On Friday the airline announced it would add Sydney-Merimbula to its network in a blow to Rex, which operates the only service on the route.

Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah has previously said the post-administration airline would likely lose some market share by cutting unprofitable routes. The carrier has already dumped seven destinations.

Pretty sure Alliance didn't need $52m help to get back to the start line, or even had the need to go all the way back there.

Has the aircraft pictured arrived in country? I can't find it on the usuals. Looks schmicko. Especially the big titles and Emirates style belly. A fly over of Virgin, Rex and Qantas HQs might be in order for the first flight.....

Planespotters probably know more! Keep an eye out for Mode S hexcode ACC705 on flightradar24.

https://www.planespotters.net/airfra...ervices/380dol

Doesn't look quite as good as the one in the photo above, at the moment, but I'm sure it'll get repainted soon.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9884149

Hey Daddy just for you. I believe Alliance does have a seniority list in that when a position is available the airline does peruse the list and offer positions in that order but it is not strictly followed.
I see from your previous postings, you for one is not for promotion on seniority but on merit. I would say for people already on the list they would disagree. However the unemployed or dreamers would like to do away with it. Remember a few hours on a CRJ is not considered a lot of experience. Especially where the type rating was bought instead of earned. Also anything under 45 tons is considered light.
Perhaps you should have thought of qualifying for an EU licence first which would have enabled you to obtain a position with a regular airline without having to buy a type rating. However if you felt buying the rating was a quicker way to achieve your goals a 737 or 320 rating would have been of greater benefit, at least both are over 50 tons. Unfortunately only having King Air experience would have made the conversion pretty demanding and in the case of the 320 nearly impossible. You seem to have applied for jobs far and wide, however most airlines like stability, what they don't want is a pilot obtaining a type rating and then leaving for greener pastures. Also, pilots in their mid forty's without genuine command experience raises questions as to their suitability unless they are from a legacy carrier where time to command is slow. Any way best of luck.

Looks like it has. A sneak peek of a tail on their FB account of VH-UYZ - which doesn't appear on the CASA register yet. Uniform Yankee....... UNITY call sign???

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....98483a894c.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....08c48f5f5.jpeg

Nice, it does look good!

Now it makes sense. As a wide crusty old 89er told me 1 and 1 always makes 89....

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4d78c6564a.jpg


https://www.accc.gov.au/public-regis...iance-airlines

Virgin Australia & Alliance Airlines

Date lodged:
23 October 2020
Status:
Under consideration

Summary

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on around 40 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which is available from the link below.

The Applicants submit that they are seeking authorisation in order to efficiently manage capacity and quickly respond to changes in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including by:

• Sharing information, including in relation to costs, willingness to operate, capacity, utilisation, anticipated demand and pricing about the Relevant Routes.
• Agreeing capacity, flight schedules, and aircraft type, including whether a carrier will suspend or continue operations, which carrier will operate the Relevant Routes and under what commercial arrangements (e.g. wet lease or codeshare, or a revenue – sharing model).
• Putting in place temporary commercial arrangements that are most suitable for the Relevant Route considering demand and risk profile in the exceptional current market conditions.
• Potentially, entering risk and revenue sharing mechanisms and agreements as to price.

A full copy of the application for authorisation is available below.

The Applicants have also requested interim authorisation to facilitate the immediate planning and coordination of services on the Relevant Routes prior to the ACCC’s final determination in relation to the substantive application for authorisation.

The ACCC invites submissions on the interim authorisation request by 10 November 2020 and on the substantive application for authorisation by 20 November 2020. Further detail on how to make a submission is in the consultation letter below.

Timetable
23 October 2020

Lodgement of application and supporting submission.

27 October 2020

Public consultation process begins.

10 November 2020

Closing date for submissions on interim authorisation.

Week of 16 November

ACCC decision regarding interim authorisation.

20 November 2020

Closing date for submissions from interested parties.

December 2020

Applicant responds to issues raised in the public consultation process.

January/February 2021

Draft determination.

February/March 2021

Public consultation on draft determination including any conference if called.

March 2021

Final determination.

Applicant(s)

• Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd
• Virgin Australia Airlines (SE Asia) Pty Ltd
• Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Pty Ltd
• Alliance Aviation Services Limited
• Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd
• Alliance Airlines Pty Limited

Looking more likely now that ex Virgin Ejet drivers will get the E190 gig with Alliance.

And ATR pilots get completely shafted with Alliance completing the full takeover of all of VA ATR ex-routes.

Honest question - why?

I couldn't see anything that indicated there was any imperative that Alliance had to/would of necessity employ ex VA JJ drivers.

It may be Alliance see a great benefit in solely employing ex VA JJ drivers...their choice.
It may be Alliance see a great benefit in employing no ex VA JJ drivers at all...their choice.
It may be Alliance mix and match from the massive pool of experience now available...their choice.

Doubt anyone could argue that for whatever reason Alliance seem to do what they do well, no reason why they shouldn't continue that in recruiting whomever they think will suit their operation best.

Now if there are secret agreements/handshakes going around - now that could be a different matter! ;)
Cheers

That’ll be VARAs number is up too. 10 of their RPT routes in the west are on that list, another 100 odd pilots about to be on the street

Two very experienced ex VA Ejet pilots have already started in senior roles at Alliance. Other ex VA Ejet checkies have also been interviewed.

They don't need to of course, but considering this,

and how the industry generally works, you'd think the ex VA Ejet drivers stand a good chance.