pilot shortage
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: MARS
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So CX270 (3 July 2011) operated AMS-HKG with only 3 crew.
"Roster disruption" was no doubt used as a lie to cover up the fact that one of the originally assigned FO's was pulled off to crew another flight that was short.
Always thought that the proviso in Ops Manual for 3 crew back to HKG was reserved for sickness in the outport.
Another clear violation and blatant abuse of procedures in what these
will do in their quest to save a dollar.
"Roster disruption" was no doubt used as a lie to cover up the fact that one of the originally assigned FO's was pulled off to crew another flight that was short.
Always thought that the proviso in Ops Manual for 3 crew back to HKG was reserved for sickness in the outport.
Another clear violation and blatant abuse of procedures in what these
will do in their quest to save a dollar.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cupboard
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, somebody got sick in Europe, hence the all-encompassing roster disruption, and thus all the "should's" and "normally's" and "exceptionally's" and "from time to time" options kick in...because we let them include such options with no negative incentives or consequences for them.
As long as there is any wiggle room or exception possible, none of the RPs or FTLs mean anything. I hope the pilot body has woken up to the meaninglessness of agreements that are meaningless, and will not accept such flimsy clauses ever again: Not the variations to the FTLs (the FTLs themselves are much improved, hence all the requested variations - if you have not read the AOA letters about this yet, you must), and certainly not in the next RPs....
It is time the pilots draw their own lines in the sand about what are show stoppers when it comes to meaningless clauses that are so easily re-interpreted, misinterpreted or simply ignored without consequences. That might might a month or two of trying to operate with expired RPs, but that will cause a lot more problems for the company than for the pilots, if the pilots can smarten up and just suck it up for a month or two until they come back in need....
As long as there is any wiggle room or exception possible, none of the RPs or FTLs mean anything. I hope the pilot body has woken up to the meaninglessness of agreements that are meaningless, and will not accept such flimsy clauses ever again: Not the variations to the FTLs (the FTLs themselves are much improved, hence all the requested variations - if you have not read the AOA letters about this yet, you must), and certainly not in the next RPs....
It is time the pilots draw their own lines in the sand about what are show stoppers when it comes to meaningless clauses that are so easily re-interpreted, misinterpreted or simply ignored without consequences. That might might a month or two of trying to operate with expired RPs, but that will cause a lot more problems for the company than for the pilots, if the pilots can smarten up and just suck it up for a month or two until they come back in need....
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: HK
Age: 63
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Time to upgrade...
Judging by the latest copy of Flight International as found on an empty chair in an otherwise overcrowded 3rd floor office, it seem that the exclusive and highly regarded Cathay Pacific is running short on new pilot applicants. While one might rightfully wonder how an airline claiming to employ 'the best pilots in the world,' could ever be short of applications, they're boldly reaching for the masses with the ambiguous slogan 'TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR FLYING CAREER.' Another way to write it might be 'At least we're better than whatever crap job you've got now.'
Yet they could have chosen wiser words to spread across a full-page advert, seeing that TIME TO UPGRADE in Cathay is currently one of the highest in the industry.
Yet they could have chosen wiser words to spread across a full-page advert, seeing that TIME TO UPGRADE in Cathay is currently one of the highest in the industry.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: WHITE ROCK, BC
Age: 61
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jetstar Asia highlights
Where do I sign up?
Base: Singapore
Salary: SGD 200 per hour
Retention Bonus: SGD 20,000 per year (for 3 years if you can last that long)
Posting Bonus: 10% of Gross earnings, approximately (200 SGD/hr x 800 hours per year) x 10% = SGD 16.000 (is this the housing allowance? If so, good luck finding livable place to live on SGD SGD 1300 per month).
Days Off: 8 per month
Singapore tax - to be paid by pilot
You do the math. From my calculations, this is definitely the answer to the mounting pilot shortage - not!
Meanwhile in China:
1. China Southern is offering USD 17,900 (more or less after tax), you get to live in your home country and have twice as many days off per month to enjoy with your family.
2. Air China continues to lose more foreign pilots than they can hire for a variety of reasons.
3. Spring Airlines cuts expansion in half due to pilot shortage.
4. The list goes on.
Base: Singapore
Salary: SGD 200 per hour
Retention Bonus: SGD 20,000 per year (for 3 years if you can last that long)
Posting Bonus: 10% of Gross earnings, approximately (200 SGD/hr x 800 hours per year) x 10% = SGD 16.000 (is this the housing allowance? If so, good luck finding livable place to live on SGD SGD 1300 per month).
Days Off: 8 per month
Singapore tax - to be paid by pilot
You do the math. From my calculations, this is definitely the answer to the mounting pilot shortage - not!
Meanwhile in China:
1. China Southern is offering USD 17,900 (more or less after tax), you get to live in your home country and have twice as many days off per month to enjoy with your family.
2. Air China continues to lose more foreign pilots than they can hire for a variety of reasons.
3. Spring Airlines cuts expansion in half due to pilot shortage.
4. The list goes on.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: coming to a bar near you
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was heavily into getting ready to apply and prepared from 95-98, still have the old Air Inc gouge book. Ended up flying in Europe instead.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: here
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I start flying in 1994 and was in USA in 1996. there was no pilot shotage.
2000 was better and market collapsed in 2001, so just 1-2 years were good.
then 2006-2007 was a good time, but collapse again in 2008.
the 6th and 7th years are the best time to get a job, but regrettably keeping a job in aviation for 10 years is very hard
next pilot booming will be in 2015-2016 and 2017 next big crisis.
happy 9/11 anniversary. enjoy the cake.open champagne and dance all night.
2000 was better and market collapsed in 2001, so just 1-2 years were good.
then 2006-2007 was a good time, but collapse again in 2008.
the 6th and 7th years are the best time to get a job, but regrettably keeping a job in aviation for 10 years is very hard
next pilot booming will be in 2015-2016 and 2017 next big crisis.
happy 9/11 anniversary. enjoy the cake.open champagne and dance all night.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: on thin ice
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It means I was in the AF getting ready to leave for a civilian job Dude.
Here's an interesting post from another forum:
AA- management asks pilots for relief
31August- 111 pilots retire (mostly >60 year olds); many 777 & 767 Captains
stock market still down...>60 year old pilots can retire 30September and lose minimal amount in share value (~$2.50USD) in defined contribution fund...after that? it's a massive loss, and being >60 y/o, not much time until forced retirement (age 65) to recover.
With many more retirements DEFINITELY only 3 weeks away (still ~ 400 pilots left >60 years old), the scare of defined benefit plan going below funding thresholds (possibly threatening lump sum payout), might spur additional retirements to soar.
Management asking 777 Captains to defer vacations, and other negotiations (relief?) occurring too.
Management opened negotiations FIVE years ago, trying to slide a concessionary contract to the pilots, during a little window of opportunity in late 2006 to early 2007. That didn't work, so they didn't bargained in good faith for 3 to 4 years.
Leverage (retirements/massive aircraft orders) finally arrives to the pilots.
Will it be squandered as pilot leadership and 50%+1 of the membership piss themselves?
Or, will they take advantage of the moment, and raise the bar for all pilots?
The next couple months are going to be interesting.
Here's an interesting post from another forum:
AA- management asks pilots for relief
31August- 111 pilots retire (mostly >60 year olds); many 777 & 767 Captains
stock market still down...>60 year old pilots can retire 30September and lose minimal amount in share value (~$2.50USD) in defined contribution fund...after that? it's a massive loss, and being >60 y/o, not much time until forced retirement (age 65) to recover.
With many more retirements DEFINITELY only 3 weeks away (still ~ 400 pilots left >60 years old), the scare of defined benefit plan going below funding thresholds (possibly threatening lump sum payout), might spur additional retirements to soar.
Management asking 777 Captains to defer vacations, and other negotiations (relief?) occurring too.
Management opened negotiations FIVE years ago, trying to slide a concessionary contract to the pilots, during a little window of opportunity in late 2006 to early 2007. That didn't work, so they didn't bargained in good faith for 3 to 4 years.
Leverage (retirements/massive aircraft orders) finally arrives to the pilots.
Will it be squandered as pilot leadership and 50%+1 of the membership piss themselves?
Or, will they take advantage of the moment, and raise the bar for all pilots?
The next couple months are going to be interesting.
