Eca/swg
 

Levantes,

Actually, Sunwing had Cypriot pilots fly for us first, last winter, and were welcomed, as that's the way we are in Canada. The Sunwing pilots were not deployed to Crete, first season, until this past summer.
Also, if you're so against pilots operating on your behalf, why complain about too many hours and a heavy winter schedule?
That kind of bitching is counter productive, it makes it sound like you need people to help you out.
It is not the pilots that make these decisions to fly in each of our countries but we do understand it keeps us employed and each others companies operating.
Consider what it takes for a company to operate yearly, there are peaks and valleys, they have to deal with it, why don't you.

The Cypriot pilots you are refering to were XL pilots and not ECA!
My answer to a previous question about Cypriots coming to Sunwing was negative because I can't see any way of them coming to work for now that XL is gone!
I did'nt complain about flying! Being on 700 hours now, a possible deployment of ECA pilots in Canada would create problems for ECA in the summer with pilots reaching 900 hours.
Furthermore the crew utilization in Crete this year was zero. Last year 2 a/c, 12 crews, 55 layovers per pilot. This year, 1 a/c, 8 crews, 46 layovers per pilot. I assume your company used approximately the same figures.
I also assume that the number of crews needed was added on the leasing fee.
I'm just wondering how much profit does ECA make having you guys.
As for the rest of your comments I can only refer you to my postings on the other Sunwing thread!

I think you might find that Sunwing played hardball at the last lease signing with ECA and insisted that ECA utilise some of the SW crew in the summer.
European contract crew are absorbed into the ECA numbers and can operate with any of the Cypriot crew , surely a better and more flexible bet if hands are not tied by lease agreements ?
I was one of the ECA contract crew unceremoniously dumped with 30 days notice ( as per our contract I hasten to add ) when the Canadian deal was kicking in . Peeved at the time , but very glad that it happened as I am now working for a much more enjoyable operator.

Well, are Canadian Sunwings pilots coming to Europe this summer to fly EU registered a/c whilst so many EU pilots (including me) are still unemployed?

FWIW, there are over 100 European pilots flying in Canada this winter, and yes we have unemployed pilots in Canada too.

The issue I have with the Sunwings operation is that it appears that Sunwings operates the ECA aircraft in Canada in the winter with Canadian pilots and then operates ECA aircraft in Europe in the summer, again with Canadian pilots.

If an equal number of ECA pilots went to Canada in the winter as there were Canadian pilots in Europe in the summer then that would balance things out.

NB. This is not an attack on Canadian pilots - I do not believe that Canadian pilots have any say on whether they are given EU work permits or not.