I did a VB interview late last year. The interview was going well till the interviewers started on the technical questions. For those of you who think VB dont do tech questions, think again.

My interview went for 40+ minutes, the tech questions once they started rolled one after the other, similar to what I have heard CX & QF do. I dont know how the process works but I didnt get in, & I managed to answer the vast majority of their questions.
Maybe I dont know enough influential people in VB.

So there you have it not everyone gets the 20 minute friendly chat!!!


:( :( :(

FL450 I stand technically corrected.

Not "at least" ONLY one, however.

He did not leave QF by choice and he does not have, nor will have, a flying position at VB. Notwithstanding he is a top bloke.

Of what benefit would it serve a QF pilot to join VB in a flying role?

Less money, less secruity, less status, etc, etc. :(

EP it is you who is incorrect,

Virgin have at least one ex QF domestic pilot flying with them.

He left of his own free will and is a Captain at Virgin.

The person you refer to is also ex QF and ex AN, he holds a non flying position.

With regard your last line, how do you figure that there is less security?

United, Ansett, American, US Air are or have been in financial strife. The big ones have the most to loose!

Im pretty sure all of you had to fly a jet for the first time, and you seemed to get through OK!!

The fact that an organisation requires it's candidates to go through all that psychobabble bulls*#t does not guarantee a quality candidate, nor does missing out preclude said candidate from a promising jet career.

Perhaps VB is hitting a few nerves as all it really shows is a seat on a decent piece of equipment, left or right hand side, is within the reach of even mere mortals. You don't have to be anything special, just have the required attitude and an modest amount of common sense. Doesn't that dent a few egos!!

Capt Laptop

The QF fellow was on contract to QF.

With regard to leaving QF for VB. A 737 QF F/O would have at least 3yrs (most likely more) seniority. His future career path would include a choice of B767, B747, the sexy A330 and A380. Also command on any of the same.

Earnings throughout the career, well there is just no comparison.

If he is not on the 737, he is up for $25k to join VB.

With regard to job security, as long as Australia has a Government, every cent required to keep QF flying will be spent.
QF is far from the worlds best airline, but it is absolutely the most secure airline job. Little Johnny's "Airforce One"!!

I am interested to read your thoughts on why even a second officer in QF would leave for VB.

The only exception I could conceive would be an ex-AN 737 "older" pilot who would have something to gain.

HEY Geddy,


Quote:
Give me a break!!


Cmon givem a break....thats right!

Nice work 34R.

A few nerves ARE being hit because mummy's boys after getting the big "NO" from QF realise that they might actually have to drive the family BMW on to some dirt roads out into GA to get the required experience/contacts. :{

Discussion at the family table: "Perhaps after we have bought the hours we could buy some contacts..."

Wrong again Captain Bankaccount.

Welcome to GA, enjoy your stay.

:ugh: meets :} then :ouch:

E.P you are not correct re your statement about lowest AVERAGE JET experience in the world. In fact you are not even close. I have over 10,000 hours and if i was flying with a f/o with 250 hours tomorrow, that would give us 5,000 hours more than many of the COMBINED totals flying around Europe at the moment. They all do it safely and so do we. I suggest you try and stir a pot in another area! Making baseless unfounded and inaccurate statements tends to make one look like an idiot!

Qantas and Virgin are both good airlines. They both have their good points and bad. If we could dispense with all the BS from both sides of the fence (and any in between) and construct a good quality debate on relevant issues at the time, we may all get a bit out of it.

Sperm Bank

Actually I was looking for a good quality debate, which would allow both sides to make comment. Mine are not defamatory nor baseless.

VB is the ONLY airline worldwide who has on many occassions promoted both low and moderate experienced NON jet pilots to Captain after only SIX months.

I am in fact completing studies which involve detailed research into airline experience levels at time of joining and at time of promotion.

Like it or not at years end IF all current crews are captains, VB will have the lowest average JET experienced crews in the world.

Why do you have a problem this?

E.P.

We all have an opinion on what way to go. But at the end of the day an individual will weigh up the choices on what career path to take. Whether it be Qantas, Virgin or some other airline. Basically a resume to everybody.

You would be a little surprised to find 3 years as SO flying a few days a month does not appeal to everybody. When given the choice some just might and do opt to a different path to what you perpetuate. Polling a 100 seat plus jet may be a little more inviting and a command within a couple of years making it an even more attractive path.

Correct me if i'm wrong but does a command take up to 10 years in Qantas. Too long in my books.

If you think the governement would hold Qantas above water then you just may have your head too high in the clouds. All airlines can and do fail. Qantas by chance are in a very fortunate position. I am sure Pan Am, United, USair and American Airlines not looking good do ring a bell. ding dong

E.P. good to see you are doing some study on this issue. Have you ever lived and worked in Europe or the U.S. or Asia? If you have you will know full well that what I said in my last post is correct. There are MANY companies around Europe at various times whose crews do not have even remotely the experience levels we have here in Oz. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just the way it is.

The cyclic nature of the industry and high turn over of pilots in other parts of the world does not resemble what goes on in Oz.

Your guestimate re all the pilots having commands by years end whilst fanciful for the f/o's will not materialise. There are some who will be promoted and that will have seen some of them in the right seat for 3+ years. Some will have spent less than this however their total time will be up around the 5000 hr mark. Some more, some less.

During your research, how do you go about finding the experience levels of the pilot's in various companies? We have a good percentage of young fellows in command whilst the majority have airline experience both here and overseas. But none of that information (hours,exp. etc) is available publicly as far as I am aware.

I guess you would know that many of the European regional size jet operators have vastly inexperienced crews flying with each other on a daily basis. They only stay on the regionals for a short time before moving onto bigger equipment.

I could write many pages on this issue as I have first hand experience with it. I think if you are going to make statements like you have, you should at least provide documented evidence to support your statements. This current VB v's QF debate (debacle) is not enhanced by perceived short handed remarks or comments.