To KA or NOT?

[Kapt. Ive]

Can't see what she's still doing in the company anyway? Probably still trying hard to write one off ? Matter of fact; I can't see why any of you freighter-trash put up with the KA Cargo sh!tty conditions, money, hours, rosters, (lack of) training, back-stabbing, geriatric airframes, bla-bla...

[AnQrKa]

Feather,

“This thread has turned into a debate about KA's command course... some pass, some dont.. like it or not, you cant and wont change their system, thats just life here at Dragonair.”

This is a major gripe for a lot of pilots at KA. The way some pilots have been treated by the management following a thumbs down command course is appalling. Especially considering the little training / lots of checking mentality that pervades the system.

[JY9024]

I wouldn't be to concerned about command failures or passes at KA, or if the training department has a "check only" mentality. This airline's upper management seems on the surface to have no idea on how to run a successful airline in a competitive market. As mentioned before, KA has become a profitable company only due to a protected route structure, something that it is loosing control of very quickly. Management seem to concentrate on cutting costs only instead of expanding to new destinations and making the most of Asia's massive growth potential. Every day you pick up a newspaper there seems to be another airline invading our destinations and intern, sucking up our growth potential. They seem to have this mentality that if we cant make a profit on that route on the first day, then we wont do it. BA has just started daily Pudong and are prepared to run at a loss for three years before they can produce a profit for years into the future. That's forward planning on BA's behalf, something KA doesn't have. We have been planning to start SYD services and have ordered the aircraft to do it, but at this stage no start date has been announced, apparently it was due to start in October this year. We have just closed our office in Puket, we were the only airline to fly direct, I'm sure some other carrier will start daily returns and make it a success. I guess the point that im trying to get across is that from the outside it seems KA doesn't have a bright future in our current position, unless we have a major management restructure or at least a change of thought. You may think that I'm just another management basher but the thing is, that in the four years that I've been here, I've never heard from our CEO or anyone from his department one what we as a company has planed into the future. I just hope that someone up there on the 5th floor, does infact have a plan!!!

[A4G]

KA is not a pleasant place to work. It has certainly deteriorated over the last few years. Staff morale has plummetted. It would appear we have the budget/bonus system in place for managers and this has resulted in a constant attack on the COS etc etc etc. This system was disbanded in some other countries years ago because of the end increase in overall costs from this type of management. Sadly KA believe their training is a world beater and this is partly a result of the lack of overall management exposure to other operations and an unfaounded belief in the current system. Someone doing a command at any airline within 18 months can expect close scrutiny and a fairly intense course but KA unfortunately don't support a candidate before or during a course. Instead barriers and hurdles are put in place and if not cleared then out you go. No retraining or discussion just go away and come back in a year. Their are no come backs on the training department or trainers. No checking to see what might have helped or what we could have done better. Guys are getting things thrown at them on their command sims they've never seen before or had any training in!!! Most disturbingly a lot of guys on the command go down on the last day in the sim. So the whole exercise has been a waste of time for the candidate not to mention the stress and waste of $$$$$ for the company. This situation should be addressed as soon as possible.

[Feather Boa]

AnQrKa A4G

Guys, Why so much focus on the command courses? If the company doesn't change tack and start looking at future planning and areas to which it can expand, THERE WILL BE NO COMMAND COURSES!
I feel for some of the guys that haven't got through, but the system wont change because some guys are seen to be hard done by.

I stand by my previous statement, some are successful and some aren't, and it wont change.
We should all be more concerned with the direction the company is going!

Fx