More Aussies move south of the Equator to join Virgin Blue.
 

To try to keep pace with the rapid expansion of Virgin Blue and their demand for IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE, endorsed and experienced crew, I'd like to pass on my very best regards to a some of the guys with whom I've had the pleasure to work over the past 5 or 10 years.

Two in particular of whom I've recently heard - one a namesake from SQ and MAS, and another also from MAS and from the Land of the Rising Sun. Both are taking incredible salary DECREASES to work back in Oz - but then '89 pilots were NEVER salary orientated when it all came down to it...as those working for VIRGIN BLUE have demonstrated from Day #1.

Good Luck, guys. We ALL look forward to the day a "returnee" joins ranks with you!! He's SURE to receive a "warm welcome".

Kaptin M please speak for yourself only. I was salary orientated back in '89 and do not mind now admitting it. I do not know of anyone at the time who was not.

Sorry to disagree with you 772, however I know of about 1,640 others who were also NOT salary orientated - as their actions proved!

That aside, a 'phone call from the Hammo (Hamilton Hotel) in Brisbane just now (2030 EST) leaves no doubt that the "new recruits" are receiving a warm welcome home!

Cheers and beers guys!

When will this 1989 crap stop! Don't you all have a hobby or something else to keep you busy!
Sounds like some old school boys club with the secret handshake.

toecutter, you've been around about a week (registered Nov. 2001), and of your 9 posts the majority of them are on subjects pertaining to 1989. Yes, it does crop up with monotonous regularity on this (D&G forum) because it affected ALL of the Australian domestic pilots then - some of whom were early to mid 20's - and their families. So I guess there's at least another decade's worth of 1989 stories in store for you!!!

Buy yourself another pair of Dr Scholl's nail clippers and resume your apparent pre-occupation if you can't take it, or head down to the Hammo for a drink with the boys and girls.

So what do you have to do to get some sort of interest from them?
I'm type rated on all of their planes ('Cept the -700/800, but the transition is very easy to do) and got plenty of heavy jet, multi-crew, overseas, turbine, and command time.
And yeah, I'm more than happy to take a pay cut if it means living in Godzone!

Kaptin M I have misunderstood the intention of your original posting on this thread. My position was that the orientation of most of the pilots was salary pre '89. Hence the enthusiasm for the 29.42% ambit claim which went terribly wrong.

Ps. How do some of the DJ ex '89 pilots feel about receiving less in salary and benefits than what they earned in '89.

How many stick hours do the DJ pilots average each month and do they have reserve rosters.

How the hell cant you get the big tick in the box 18 wheeler. Get that big blond bloke on the line and say where the hell is my interview. :cool:

Yeh Id consider VB at a quarter of the salary Im on now but only if it was tax-free. Not because I want more money (I have enough of it now), but because Ill be f**ked if the Australian bloodey government gets one red cent out of me ever again in tax. Not after what those pack of bastards did with it in 89. Just paying departure tax every time I leave makes me vomit in disgust.

Kaptin M - A great night was had by all at the "Hammo" last night!! You contibution played a major part of the kitty, as VB never tasted so good. Thanks for that, and other send off cheers, including the rocket salute on departure from the "Golf and Country club resort" where you live. :D