Rumour has it that apparently Cantas has been in talks to furlough a number of its pilots to Europe?
Insider’s, is there any truth in this matter?

There was an email sent around to 737 crews for a very limited number of places in Europe for a period of time.

I think there was a large response of willing candidates.(maybe only 15 spots????)

No details have been forthcoming.

Furlough is not part of the CA. Leave without pay is, but QF doesn't generally organise that.

There are many examples of pilots on fleets that are in surplus going to other airlines for a spell then returning. With the loomimg surplus on the A330 or the current one on the classic, maybe that is the source of the rumour you heard.

I would be very wary of Leave of Absence (LOA) from QF.
The devil is in what the letter of agreement doesn't tell you.
Insist that they still contribute to your super, loss of licence and that you have continuity of service.
Who pays for your requalification on return? Do you have to exhaust leave before you go etc?
Years down the track a little LOA can rear its ugly head and affect long service leave, sick leave, super, redundancy etc.
Tax is always an individual responsibility; even though you may have right of abode in EU the Oz ATO has onerous residency requirements.

Thats why they call it "LEAVE WITHOUT PAY".

Warning! Warning! YesTAM has had experience of this type of arrangement that is in effect an invitation to resign. The letter may talk of "leave without pay", "furlough" and all sorts of other stuff, including promises, incentives and all sorts of honeyed words. However in my case (I think the letter was drafted by Oldmeadow in person), there was this little clause that says "For the purposes of company records, you will be shown to have resigned". In other words, if I had accepted the agreement, no mattter what honeyed words it contained, and wished to return a few years later, I was ****ed.

If you really wish to enter an agreement to do this, it must state exactly how you will return to Qantas, in detail. Furthermore, it must also spell out the consequences of what will happen if you or Qantas fail to exercise your rights. Watch for the clause at the end (or the beginning) that can be construed to destroy all the other clauses. If you do not understand it, get advice.

To put it another way, it is no good saying for example;"After thirty days this option will lapse". You have to spell out exactly what your rights will (or won't) be after the option lapses. Do not leave anything open to interpetation because anything left hanging will be used against your interests.

Words that should ring alarm bells include: "At the company's unfettered discretion" (Meaning they don't have to be "reasonable") and anything that gives the company an option to terminate your services or not offer you a position back.

I believe the postings are to easyJet to cover an FO shortage over Summer.

And I suppose all the poor buggers in England who have been sweating it out for a job with Easy Jet will be real pleased to see Qantas pilots warming their seats for them...

think you will find that it is whilst they do some training - so even the temp hires there would have been looking for a new job pretty quickly.

its all done through some hire mob anyway. not directly to easy jet.

Centaurus,

EZY have been recruiting flat out for years and still can't train people fast enough to keep up with expansion and people leaving to BA, VA, EK and the like. We've recentlry dropped our entry requirements to 500hrs, have put Ab-initio cadets through, taken DECs and STILL can't fill the seats.

The QF guys will be welcomed with open arms as it will mean our guys only doing 95hrs a month instead of 100!! It will also allow some F/Os who coudn't otherwise be spared to go on their command courses.

Europe is a slightly diferrent scene to Aus....

Spot on Wizofoz!

Wiz...I just had a thought, will the QF guys know whats hit them?...doing 4 sector days from STN, LGW, EDI, GLA. Thos poor cosseted boys wont know whats hit them! (plus their R/T standard will have to improve!!)

4 sector days? Bah piece of piss - try 5 sector days between Sydney and Canberra.

With 3 aircraft changes, 2 aircraft variants (previously 3), approx 25 min turnarounds - usually much less when your running late.

Haughtney, you appear to have no idea about the rate and intensity of flying that the QF 737 crews do. My advice is to keep your trap shut to avoid looking further foolish.

How will they get around the JAA Licencing requirements?

Dunny Blue

Been there and done yours.

Been there and done similar to Haughtneys.

My money is on him.

However try it. It will be a great eyeopening experience.

Pity it's not a winter gig, as that would offer you another entirely new dimension which could only be to your's, and Q's benefit.

Regards

Maui

maui - nah sounds to hard for me, i am staying in OZ

Sounds like an interesting gig. How do they get arround licensing and visa requirements? And if Easy Jet are finding it so difficult to recruit, why don't they offer short term contracts of this type to non-Qantas pilots?

They won't be out of STN,LGW, GLA or EDI as they are all now Airbus bases. The only Boeing bases are LTN, NCL, BFS and some will go to LPL whilst we convert to the Airbus.

Blue, how about 6 sectors BFS-STN-BFS-BRS-BFS-STN-BFS!!

The flying is interesting, but we do some hellishly long days and up to max FTLs a lot of the time.

Short term Visas and license validations won't present a problem.

Certainly coming from QF to a European Lo-Co would be an eye-opener!!

I was waiting for a 6 sector reply!

Do we have 7 ------ anyone anyone? Bueller?

Going once, twice........!!!!