First Choice Airways
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: lgw
First Choice Airways
does anyone have any info if FCA will have a requirment for experienced cabin crew when the 3 767's arrive?
i currently am long haul scheduled but would love to apply to First Choice.
any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
i currently am long haul scheduled but would love to apply to First Choice.
any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: here there and everywhere
FCA
Sammy, despite agreeing that I wouldn't leave any other aviation job to go to FCA, what you are stating is not correct.
They do offer a contract that terminates on the 31st of october, but it can be renewed and made permanent at the end of it.
I got it this way last year and like me 90% of the crews.
Same thing with the new guys this year.
The other 10% either got offered a permanent part year (they started only in september and their finish date was 31st december) or they were very bad in some way!!!
As for the 767, yes they will come from Vietnam, they will be brand new inside though, refurbished like the 767-400 or the more known 777.
FCA have a policy that they don't recruit senior crew externally, becaues they don't need to. If you start with them you'll be a junior again, and no long-haul while you're temporary. You get your 767 conversion when you're made permanent.
Hope it helps!!!
Ciao
FBW
They do offer a contract that terminates on the 31st of october, but it can be renewed and made permanent at the end of it.
I got it this way last year and like me 90% of the crews.
Same thing with the new guys this year.
The other 10% either got offered a permanent part year (they started only in september and their finish date was 31st december) or they were very bad in some way!!!
As for the 767, yes they will come from Vietnam, they will be brand new inside though, refurbished like the 767-400 or the more known 777.
FCA have a policy that they don't recruit senior crew externally, becaues they don't need to. If you start with them you'll be a junior again, and no long-haul while you're temporary. You get your 767 conversion when you're made permanent.
Hope it helps!!!
Ciao
FBW
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: In the Midlands
747fly,
Don't get me wrong as I used to work for these guys, but why do you want to go to FCA?
Its very sad that charter seems to have changed so much recently and lost all the nice old fashioned touchs they used to have. Now its all about charging for everything and mega-fast turnarounds.
I'd think very seriously before taking that any further, could be a big mistake unless your with a really bad scheduled airline! There's no points to be had for ending up on a temp summer contract doing endless short-haul night flights.
Just my opinion anyway.
TDB x
Don't get me wrong as I used to work for these guys, but why do you want to go to FCA?
Its very sad that charter seems to have changed so much recently and lost all the nice old fashioned touchs they used to have. Now its all about charging for everything and mega-fast turnarounds.
I'd think very seriously before taking that any further, could be a big mistake unless your with a really bad scheduled airline! There's no points to be had for ending up on a temp summer contract doing endless short-haul night flights.
Just my opinion anyway.
TDB x
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: CORNWALL
TOTALLY AGREE WITH TDB,
SURELY THE UNIFORM ALONE IS ENOUGH TO DETER ANYONE WANTING TO APPLY TO FCA....WHAT WERE THEY THINKING OF?? HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN, WITH TOUR OPERATORS THESE DAYS SO INTENT ON BRANDING THEIR ASSOCIATED AIRLINES WITH ALL THE ALLURE OF A FAST FOOD TAKE OUT JOINT. A REAL SHAME ABOUT FCA, IT WAS SO HIGHLY RESPECTED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF AMM, WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT & PROFESSIONAL IMAGE. PERHAPS ITS ANOTHER REFLECTION OF THE CALIBRE OF CUSTOMER LEISURE AIRLINES NEED TO ATTRACT TO SURVIVE IN THIS GAME, ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTARY FACTORS WHY I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRY.
SURELY THE UNIFORM ALONE IS ENOUGH TO DETER ANYONE WANTING TO APPLY TO FCA....WHAT WERE THEY THINKING OF?? HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN, WITH TOUR OPERATORS THESE DAYS SO INTENT ON BRANDING THEIR ASSOCIATED AIRLINES WITH ALL THE ALLURE OF A FAST FOOD TAKE OUT JOINT. A REAL SHAME ABOUT FCA, IT WAS SO HIGHLY RESPECTED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF AMM, WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT & PROFESSIONAL IMAGE. PERHAPS ITS ANOTHER REFLECTION OF THE CALIBRE OF CUSTOMER LEISURE AIRLINES NEED TO ATTRACT TO SURVIVE IN THIS GAME, ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTARY FACTORS WHY I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRY.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Coventry, UK
I don't know how things work in FCA, but certainly in other charter airlines you wouldnt be permamnent 767 crew anyway. As far as I know most crew are trained on both 757 and 767 or Airbus and 767. This means that you only get a few longhauls and most of the time its the good old through-the-night TFS and PMI (which FCA seem to specialise in!)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: here there and everywhere
IN FCA you're trained on 757, A320, A321.
As soon as they make you permanent you drop one of the airbuses (nowadays you drop the A321 if you're at LGW and the A320 if at MAN) and you get your 767 qualification.
They don't train newbies on the longhaul aircraft until they're made permanent (at the end of october) because this is a way to recognise those ppl who just want a few "weeks off" in the maldives and those who really want to do this job and are willing to stay.
I think it's fair enough.
Long haul isn't all "happy and glamourous" anyway. In FCA you're NOT ALLOWED to close your eyes even for a minute. No cabin crew rest area and it's severely prohibited to take a nap, even if you're on an 11 hour night sector from PVR, after a minimum rest. (I tried my best when I was there, I swear, but they just don't listen....maybe a visit from the CAA?)
Good luck!!
FBW
As soon as they make you permanent you drop one of the airbuses (nowadays you drop the A321 if you're at LGW and the A320 if at MAN) and you get your 767 qualification.
They don't train newbies on the longhaul aircraft until they're made permanent (at the end of october) because this is a way to recognise those ppl who just want a few "weeks off" in the maldives and those who really want to do this job and are willing to stay.
I think it's fair enough.
Long haul isn't all "happy and glamourous" anyway. In FCA you're NOT ALLOWED to close your eyes even for a minute. No cabin crew rest area and it's severely prohibited to take a nap, even if you're on an 11 hour night sector from PVR, after a minimum rest. (I tried my best when I was there, I swear, but they just don't listen....maybe a visit from the CAA?)
Good luck!!
FBW
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 6
From: UK
Have to say my experience of working for FCA (was AMM when i was there !) was that the people working for them were a great bunch of guys and gals - flight deck, cabin crew GOC's, engineers, crewing etc. etc. (apologies if i missed anyone out !). As noted earlier in this posting, they do work you hard (i suspect this is true of all charter operators) during the summer months, and yes, like everyone does at some point or another, you start to get a little tired and testy after the umpteenth night flight/early/late etc. but the winter months (well, for me anyway) make up for the summer slog - sometime nearly two/three weeks + off in a row if your not called out from a SBY. I have to admit that i personally think that the emphasis on the retail side of the operation is being
heavily pushed and the safety aspect the old AMM was known for is taking a second place (i'm not suggesting safety is being undermined you understand, not going down that route !) which i feel is the wrong way around, but hey, increased revenue = better job prospects i guess !!. In summary, if you like lots of time off in the winter and working hard in the summer, you won't find a better bunch of people than those at FCA ! (Chris Browne, the cheque should be made payable to.....).
heavily pushed and the safety aspect the old AMM was known for is taking a second place (i'm not suggesting safety is being undermined you understand, not going down that route !) which i feel is the wrong way around, but hey, increased revenue = better job prospects i guess !!. In summary, if you like lots of time off in the winter and working hard in the summer, you won't find a better bunch of people than those at FCA ! (Chris Browne, the cheque should be made payable to.....).
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: DUNGEON
FCA
Joined as direct entry IFS Summer 1998 at LGW- they recruited 4 of us - strange as there were/are some very competent No.2 who could have done the job (as well as some who couldn't)
Then the ex UKL staff joined and the fun started
The old scheduling agreement was excellent
after night shifts, days off -
after days off, not starting before 0830 etc
Crewing etc very friendly/approachable - some of the
CDC's left a little to be desired (Exactly how do you do a service with a CDC making hot chocolate for the F/D and the poor galley girl (brand new and stressed out as it is ) trying to get her meals loaded into those 'orrible metal meal containers?)
Very grateful for the opportunity though and Julie Abbott - if you are still in Spain, do get in touch!!
Then the ex UKL staff joined and the fun started
The old scheduling agreement was excellent
after night shifts, days off -
after days off, not starting before 0830 etc
Crewing etc very friendly/approachable - some of the
CDC's left a little to be desired (Exactly how do you do a service with a CDC making hot chocolate for the F/D and the poor galley girl (brand new and stressed out as it is ) trying to get her meals loaded into those 'orrible metal meal containers?)
Very grateful for the opportunity though and Julie Abbott - if you are still in Spain, do get in touch!!
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: here there and everywhere
UFGBOY....
Unfortunately those days are long since gone...
It used to be the best charter airline to work for. Very good quality product for charter prices. Nowadays it's all "sell sell sell". The company doesn't take care of its crews anymore!!
I didn't want to leave the best bunch of people I've ever worked with, CC and F/D are exceptional, lots of fun when on a long trip and humour 24/7 in the crew room.
I am glad I am out of it though.
Amazing to say, now even pilots are starting to suffer from the company's change of philosophy and lack of interest in its workforce (not enough cabin and flight crews is the problem n.1) and even my partner, who's a captain in FCA, would leave straight away if he only had the chance.
But for cabin crew, if you enjoy selling and love working to reach money targets every flight, and don't mind sleep pattern disruptions every day of the week and want to join a group of VERY GOOD AND VERY FUNNY PEOPLE, then it might be the place for you!! I miss my mates so much.
Good luck!!!
FBW
PS: First officer....what you say used to be true, but unfortunately not anymore. With the exception of last november all the other winter months were full of flights-especially long ones like TFS, ACE, LPA etc. In january and march I was left with No SBY and 8 days off....same for my other half....
Unfortunately those days are long since gone...
It used to be the best charter airline to work for. Very good quality product for charter prices. Nowadays it's all "sell sell sell". The company doesn't take care of its crews anymore!!
I didn't want to leave the best bunch of people I've ever worked with, CC and F/D are exceptional, lots of fun when on a long trip and humour 24/7 in the crew room.
I am glad I am out of it though.
Amazing to say, now even pilots are starting to suffer from the company's change of philosophy and lack of interest in its workforce (not enough cabin and flight crews is the problem n.1) and even my partner, who's a captain in FCA, would leave straight away if he only had the chance.
But for cabin crew, if you enjoy selling and love working to reach money targets every flight, and don't mind sleep pattern disruptions every day of the week and want to join a group of VERY GOOD AND VERY FUNNY PEOPLE, then it might be the place for you!! I miss my mates so much.
Good luck!!!
FBW
PS: First officer....what you say used to be true, but unfortunately not anymore. With the exception of last november all the other winter months were full of flights-especially long ones like TFS, ACE, LPA etc. In january and march I was left with No SBY and 8 days off....same for my other half....
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 6
From: UK
Have to admit that conditions at LGW may be slightly different (amount of work-wise) than the samller base i was at Flybywire, so have to agree that it may be that there's a lot more in the way of duty hours in the winter now !. (the pink shirt always made the job that much harder for me as well !! lol).
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: here there and everywhere
First officer, the pink shirt doesn't help anybody, including the female cabin crew!!!
By the way, they're DESPERATE for cabin crew at the moment, and are recruiting for this summer, STILL. If anybody fancies it you can apply online.
Ciao.
FBW
By the way, they're DESPERATE for cabin crew at the moment, and are recruiting for this summer, STILL. If anybody fancies it you can apply online.
Ciao.
FBW
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: here there and everywhere
yes, that's what I meant, you have to print it out and send it. I am not sure if they require a photo anymore or not (they did when I applied).
Good luck to all the new pink and fluffy crew!!!
FBW
Good luck to all the new pink and fluffy crew!!!
FBW
Guest
Posts: n/a
I used to work on the ramp/office and in commercial. Can say one of the best companies to work for, when it was the good old AMM. Today they seem to change rosters at the drop of the hat, everyone seems stressed and the fun element is not there anymore. People seem to do their job and go home. If you like living like that go for it but the longhaul is not what it used to be for the crews. Speak to anyone if you can who still flies down the back in person, but you may well be better off where you are. But I will say the people who are still there are a great bunch with everything that the company throws at them. The only thing is the uniform! (too pink)
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 83
From: UK
From pax point of view, the new longhaul product looks great - but I guess still no crew rest on the 763 for you guys.
I did LGW-CUN with AMM last year - can't speak highly enough of the crew, who did their best to make it tolerable, but that 8 across/29" pitch config is a bugger for a 10hr+ sector.
The new fit will definately be the best on a UK longhaul charter (and looks better than some scheduled economy
).
I did LGW-CUN with AMM last year - can't speak highly enough of the crew, who did their best to make it tolerable, but that 8 across/29" pitch config is a bugger for a 10hr+ sector.
The new fit will definately be the best on a UK longhaul charter (and looks better than some scheduled economy
).
