DHL UK: Wotsit like to work for?
 

I'd appreciate any comments from pilot/s currently working for DHL (UK) about roster patterns, lifestyle etc. I did a sim. recently and if I was offered a course I'll have to make my mind up pdq.

Cheers

DW

DW, check your PM's
JBF

Am in same boat as DW. Would appreciate PM too.

Thanks for the info JBF and the rest. On the whole seems very positive. Good news today - I passed the sim. trying now to thrash out a course date (3 months notice
:{ )

All the best

DW

DW and Imho

If you don't mind me asking......presume you're both type rated/experienced and considering a move from another airline?

Hi Hansard,

No I'm not type rated but fly a 737 for a lo-cost airline.

DW

Something for prospective F/O's to be aware of when they join DHL is that they will only do about 300hrs a year. You will be away from home a lot but you do bugger all flying. If you join with about 1000hrs it will be about seven years before you even get considered for a command. And of course then you will have to contend with totally untransparent and secretive command board.
Don't join if you want a career!!!!!!!!!

Hansard,

I'm not typed either but would not considered myself inexperienced for the F/O's job. - although that's a subjective question ;)

Rotary,

Thanks for info, 300 hrs p.a. sounds just fine for me, I'm not chasing the hours (anymore)

imhotep

check yr pm's

DHL/Night Working
 

Gentlemen of the Word of Freight,

I too have recently been interviewed by DHL and am awaiting a sim ride.

I have never worked nights before,and would be interested to hear from anyone about;

making the change from years of working days to nights

the constant changing sleep patterns between days off and working-especially long term (I would want to make this a career move)

the safety aspect i.e low arousal states=less safe operation per se ?

I do appreciate that everyone will be different in the way that manage,but any thoughts on coping strategies and views generally would be gratefully accepted.

Anyone have a contact for the recruitment gentleman or lady?

L8 - Sick's reply is probably rather over-dramatic, but it is certainly true that night ops are unlikely to increase your longevity!

As to how to cope, every individual is different and I'm afraid that until you try it there is really no way to predict how you personally will be affected.

I would also appreciate information on rosters, lifestyle, etc if anyone is willing to oblige.

Thanks
NH

NH
Check your pm's
JBF:ok:

Although I can't tell you what DHL is like to work for, having been a creature of the night for the last 7 years or so in a non-flying job, I'd just like to make a few points about working nights.

The main drawback is that this is difficult to integrate with any sort of normal family routine, especially for those with young children, who generally end up with the regular half-day upset of their circadian rythm when they take time off, which is then reversed when they go back to work. They are effectively subjected to being more or less constantly "jet-lagged" to some degree. This is definitely not good for health or the ability to function properly at home or at work.

For those of us without such responsibilities, there is no reason for this to be a problem at all if we are prepared to stick to roughly same routine associated with a normal night shift pattern during our time off. Such a lifestyle has in fact got a lot going for it...

It's not the usual sort of rush-hour rat-race hassle just getting to work for a start. This theme continues throughout the night - instead of the relentless palaver associated with daytime competition to utilise transport, communication and social infrastructures of every kind there is a generally more relaxed working environment with easier social interaction. I'm convinced that people are nicer to each other on the night shift.

Some of the very early mornings in summer are also the most heart-achingly beautiful time to be alive - most day shift bods rarely get the opportunity to experience this apart from farmers, anglers, bakers, posties and other such early risers.

However, even they don't have the privilege of sloping off home to sleep through the mundane rigour of British mornings - a time when no-one appears to be at their best in any case. Mornings are boring for most folks, who are really not interested in anything other than getting through their day until about mid-afternoon.

By getting up in the afternoon one has a few hours to interact with the day shift masses while they are beginning to relax a little and re-discover their sense of humour (which is probably due to their increasing proximity to knocking-off time). This is therefore the best time of the day for any kind of half-decent non-robotic service from shops, banks, or any business you may have to deal with over the phone for example.

For me this is also that part of the day during which I might do a spot flight instruction with a student who is generally happy-as-Larry to be commiting aviation instead of working.

During his time off, a night shift worker can be up by lunchtime without too much difficulty, and could for example share "brunch" with family or friends with the best part of the day remaining do with what he will. There is also the advantage of rarely being the first to fade during an evenings socialising, although a slightly earlier rise will mean that he can easily be asleep by the middle of the the wee small hours if he has nothing better to do. :bored:

Human beings are really very adaptible and the only health problem such a lifestyle should cause you is perhaps a touch of bad skin in winter due to lack of daylight. Although I have heard that night-shifts can cause problems for female fertility, I would not be surprised if this only relates to those who are likely to experience any of the other health problems relating to continuously disturbed sleeping patterns - stress, blood pressure, digestion etc.

If as a night-shift worker you are disciplined enough to stick to the same basic sleep routine, and organised enough to squeeze everything you need to into the remaining two-thirds of your life then there's no reason why you shouldn't be at least as healthy and happy as you would be if you worked days - and possibly even more so.

For example, a day-shift worker who regularly indulges in a busy social life over the weekend could concievably wreak more havok to their circadian rythm, and long-term health.

DHL would appear to be about the only outfit which offers UK based crews the opportunity to work constant nights flying exclusively SLF-free big shiny jets.

YOU LUCK-EE, LUCK-EE B757ARDS !!! :hmm:

DHL

DHL is a very good company to work for; although the management could make it even better. DHL is let down buy unbalanced rostering (One half the crew is working really hard, and the other is on permanent holiday), penny pinching HR and unsuffient time off at home (esp for Captains). If those at the top sorted these little problems DHL would be brilliant.

Good luck to all that have applied.

Airprox
What exactly are you basing your 'unbalanced rostering' statement on?
Who is on permanent holiday?
Have you bothered to raise these matters with anyone who could do something about it, or is it just a general whinge?

Dreamweaver, you must be getting withdrawal symptoms missing the joys of night freight.
From your location at "FL100buddy" can we guess that you used to work for a shed company in exeter that was bought by one in LPL?
if so, you know one your captains went to DHL last year and would be able to help you decide.
Is life not that great on a 737 for whoever you are with now?

74Freight

u r of course right on the money & probably toying with me. i know the young man u refer to. like all the other 'ex - exeter' hombres, i'm still in therapy ;) start at dhl in may - looking fwd to it.

all the best

dw