QF mainline drivers. Pls read.
 

From Flight. 4th Sept.
QANTAS begins low cost rejig.
-'Details of fleet, livery and Australian Airlines'headquarters will be announced in coming months.
The launch is expected to cause a pilot drain on European, Middle East and Asian carriers employing significant numbers of airline pilots qualified to work in Australia. Dixon says that studies have already identified an adequate supply of pilots.'

Hmmm, any thoughts? :eek:

Time to get the JAA ATPS!!!

Umm, assuming they'll be looking for endorsed pilots, and considering the value of the Pacific Pe$o, wouldn't the majority of them have to take a pay CUT to come here?

I don't think so, Tim.....

Anyone know who to apply to? Does the new company have an address as yet? :D

Noted a similar thing In Qrewroom and tend to agree with Hugh.

There may be 767 endorsed pilots o/s who may want to return to Oz (gday Slasher) but I wonder whether or not they would do it for less than the current drivers are getting.

It would be a pay cut for every one of them!!

One wonders whether this is a shot across the bows of the AIPA ship!!

Interesting times!!

Don't kid yourselves fellas, a good number of Impulse and Virgin pilots took a pay cut just to get home. They'll be hammering down the door to get a job in Australian Airlines at half the pay the Long Haul pilots get! Don't be too surprised if a lot of QF F/O's also apply for a B-scale command. This might actually get the QF 747 drivers out of dreamworld also. They couldn't give a rats that National Jet and Impulse have devastated career prospects at QF Shorthaul and that the 767 guys are working their backsides off with domestic patterns. Maybe now that disapearing career paths will affect them they will finally sit up and take notice!

There are truck loads of 767 drivers with Australian passports all around the world. Will they all accept sub-standard conditions just to fly the red rat, I think not.

However it will be curious reading to see the QF pilots response to a further degredation of their collective careers and potential earnings ..........

Skycamel,
Tell me you are not keen on leaving the desert. The hot weather is almost over. :D :D
Flying aircraft more than a couple of years old again; having part of the pay cheque taken for tax; And no more Dhaka! (well maybe we can scrub that last one).
:eek:

2XL - they won't be flying the red rat.

If you read the releases you will see that Australian will be a completely separate business unit. Personel will be emloyed by Australian on rates applicable to Australian.

They won't neccesarily even use QF handling, only if it is cost effective (ie: cheaper than someone else)

kiwi - the Geoff Dixon press release I read and article in the Financial Review suggested that Australian Airlines may stay with the current QF colour scheme etc. I understand the jury is still out as the management team is assembled to make these decisions.

It will be interesting to see if Qantas decide to recruit direct entry 767 FO's from the current hold pool ?

2XL, you said..

Could you explain what you mean by current hold pool.

Cpt F my understanding is that there are many pilots who have passed the QF pilot selection and are on the "hold pool" awaiting an offer of employment. I know many of these pilots already fly 767's and as such may be ideal candidates for the new Australian Airlines. You savvy ?

AIPA's stated position is that Australian Airlines aircraft should be crewed by QF pilots under current pay and conditions. Otherwise "industrial mayhem" could ensue (if I remember the President's quote accurately). Remember that all of the Austrlian Airlines information to date is with regard to a PROPOSAL to be put to the QF Board. Obviously a lot of work yet to be done.

As to the comments about how QF pilots will react to possible erosion of their conditions: we have already given away many conditions in the last couple of EBAs. It never ceases to amaze me that, on this forum, supposedly professional pilots almost slaver at the prospect of seeing the pay rates for pilots in the major airlines being reduced.

There should be a concerted effort to raise the pay and conditions of those in the smaller airlines - not vice versa. Rememeber that one smoking hole can bankrupt an airline. If a doctor makes a mistake he kills one person - if we make a mistake we could kill 400!!

You'll probably find that current QF 767 drivers are the cheapest 767 drivers around. Methinks that they'll fly the things. It will be cabin crew, inflight service, reduced seat pitch and ground handling that'll be targetted for cost reductions.

1. I don't see how you can further reduce the seat pitch on a QF 767, unless you want to carry jockeys around.

2. Most people that have spent a few years overseas know that Oz is the best place to live in the world, and will gladly take a pay cut to get back here. I did!

Spinnerhead, Some Japanese 767-300s carry up to 320 pax [Yes - 320!] QF carry 230!
QF would lose more money in a 2 week longhaul Pilot strike than gain in 200years operating "Australian Airlines" Strange this should be proposed while most unions are in EBA negotiations? Don't book a "firm" seat! ;)

If AIPA, (and other QF employee unions) doesn't see the formation of Australian Airlines as a threat, then they would have to be blind in my opinion!

My guess is Australian Airlines will follow in the same footsteps as Cathay Cargo took, for their recruiting. The positions WILL be offered to current QF pilots first, with a deadline given to fill the slots. If, by expiry of the deadline, ALL slots are not filled, then the vacancies will be advertised externally.

Naturally the conditions will be less than the QF pilots now enjoy, however there will be the opportunity for fast promotion dangled as the bait. Once removed from QF mainline (by transferring to AA) there will probably not be the opportunity to return.

Divide and conquer is the strategy! Get AIPA and the other workforce reps to work on this NOW - it's a multi-edged sword.

Tankengine, my point exactly. The average Japanese fellow is the size of a jockey. ;)

BTW... Qrewroom down at the moment? 15:22 EST Friday. :confused:

Tankengine and Spinnerhead European Charter Airlines have benn flying 767-300's in 320+ config for years. They even get 290 odd in the 767-200's. I can assure you the average European has a larger frame then a Japanese national.

Could it be the new A330's go to Australian Airlines ?