MD-11F pilots/Helsinki base
 

Hi all,

Just wondering are there many MD-11 pilots out there without a job that would also be able to move/commute to Helsinki.

I would have thought that the number of qualified md11 pilots would be quite small and also in a position to take on this gig recently announced on Flight.

I'd be interested in it but am not MD rated so was wondering is this upcoming gig a 'closed shop' so to speak? Are there many out-of-work MD pilots at the moment?

Also, do any of you have previous experience of Sigma Aviation? The usual contractor support issues, etc.

Thanks.

The ad does not indicate Helsinki, so it appears you are effectively advertising this service. This is most likely the founder of this contract service trying to obtain free advertising through this forum.

Jeese, relax!

Far from it. Although, I'd happily run my own company if I could.

The ad on Flight says Location:Finland and Company:Sigma Aviation. I have ties in Helsinki. There is a thread about this in the Nordic forum. If you google Neff, up comes the Helsinki base tie-up with Finnair Cargo.
You don't have to be a company owner to work this one out, Wrldwide.

Perhaps if you did a search on my previous posts instead of taking the time to write your post, you would have subsequently not written your post!

So, any MD11 pilots out there that can answer my questions? Would you be interested in that kind of roster/company size/remuneration, etc?

Thanks.

UPS currently has over 100 pilots on furlough, many of them off the MD11, so there are plenty of MD guys on the street looking for work. Best of luck to everyone!

Here's some information that was recently posted on the private UPS pilot forum:

Any furloughed crew members who are still looking for work we are still hiring at Nordic Global which is a MD11 Finnair Cargo subsidiary out of Helsinki Finland. We just started flying in August with just 6 of us and 1 airplane. We are flying to HKG, ICN and BOM out of HEL so far. They are in need of Md11 crew members who have flown the Md11 in the last 24 months. 4 more UPS pilots just started over here and everyone is very nice to work with, it is a very small company with 2 MD11's so far. If you have 500 hours PIC in something heavy and 5000TT they can hire you as a Captain if you have MD11 experience. It is a 20 on 10 off schedule with travel paid from home which is incuded in your 20 days on.

Sprite is correct, I was in Helsinki recently & Finnair were readying MD 11 for Service ( ex Finnair a/c) for ops out of Helsinki

maybe this is the one

Nordic Global Airlines to Launch All-cargo Service | Journal of Commerce

Thanks for the responses. Especially upsfr8rcaptain, rather enlightening.

I'd say they'll have no problem finding rated crew by the looks of it. I, too, would like to sample it but perhaps not this time around.

Does anyone know why Sigma is doing the recruitment now and not paramount? I see paramount did the initial recruitment. These behind-the-scenes agreements intrigue me.

Thanks.

Sprite,
My humble apologies for my tone and statements.
Cheers

Soon to come:

Finnish tax as you would be base in HEL working for a Finnish airline. No way around that, legally that is, even if you are on paper based elsewhere. Tax people are looking contractors working in Finland with a magnifying glass due to the Blue1 contractor use in the last few years.

Grey area is, if a work permit, basically a D type Schengen visa (National rules, limited access to other Schengen countries) or a residence permit based on employment is required.

JAA/EASA ATPL or CPL. Validations of non JAA will stop April 2013 and by that time one must complete the 14 subjects with a prior approval from CAA on what credit is to be given if any and if a theoretical course is required.

Blue1 is just now in the process of sacking a large number of pilots in a pilot community that is relatively small even considering that Finland is a small country.

Other than the above Finnair has been a top notch operator for years with excellent service, maintenance and training. The postholder flight ops and training are very experienced and certainly know their jobs.

I have no doubt that if the tax, work permits, licence and labour are not an issue to an individual, NGA will have a good bunch of people to hang around when on the road and well maintained aircraft to fly.

Are you JAR qualified
 

To answer your question. If you have your JAR license, they are accepting applicants to fly the MD11. If you do not have your JAR and only an FAA license with a MD11 type then yes you can get a job, but with no type at this time it is closed.

Hi all,

For your info, they are still hiring people non type rated. But during your line training for those non type rated you will get half salary, plus you will be bonded 25000 USD by the airline and 25000 USD by the broker.
No direct captain entry if you are not type rated!, you will start on the right seat.

Safe flights!!

Hello all,

Does anybody know where you would be employed and where taxes are paid?

Employed? Taxes? From info that is available, isn't this a contracting job where you are contracted by an agency and not by the airline?

Hope that you guys are lucky when applying, I would cut a toe off to fly the tri-beast!

MD80Rookie

Buenos Tardes Toro78... I think you are talkig bs... A friend of mine just stared as DEC ,not type rated... your call

Buenas..
Did you friend start recently with NGA? Previous heavy experience?

Regarding taxes, if you are an EU-citizen and able to prove that you pay taxes in your country of residence, finnish tax man should not be able to squeeze you.

Rgds,
Rookie

Being an EU-Citizen has nothing to do with the tax. Only with social security payments and associated fees.

Again the Finnish tax authority reserves the right to tax anyone working on a "Finnish registered aircraft" even if you spend more than 6 months away from Finland. Also working for a US based crew leasing agency does not guarantee tax indemnity. You are responsible, by being contracted to a Finnish company, to report your income (Mandatory) to Finland.

Should your country of legal residence have a tax agreement with Finland, this in essence removes double taxation. IE you only pay the tax in one country. Say that the country of your residence has 20% tax and your Finnish tax would be 40%, the Finnish tax authority reserves the right to tax you for the difference. Situation in reverese can be possible, but knowing Finnish taxes I doubt it.

There is another little clause in the tax law that requires the Finnish company obtaining services from contracting companies or other business identities outside Finland to declare to the Finnish tax authority all details pertinent regarding these businesses. Same applies to ALL contact and personal CONTRACTOR/EMPLOYEE details. With this info the Finnish Tax authority can communicate with your country of residence to make sure that they are not shorthanded.

There are several publications on the web and in PDF format regarding the subject that are a must read for anyone considering working in Finland.

This whole discussion was quite academic in content some years ago. Unfortunately the economic situation and our government sending money by the billions to certain other countries has left the taxman to search for new ways and places to find money.

There are ways around of paying Finnish tax. If someone comes up with a legal way, I would be very happy to learn about this. Since the country is about out of money, the taxman is after each and ever soul for every cent.

I am not a tax lawyer, but I have been forced to learn this garbage. My lawyer is very good and he is available for consultation should someone be in a need.

Thanks for the info 747JJ. I believe that i have confused tax agreements and EU law.

Anyone working there has more news on that?
Salary is not bad but if Finland takes 40%, than it goes on the very very low side

FYI , taxman is taking about 40% from your salary if you are a captain and about 35% if you are a copilot. In Finland taxman wants the money right away and after you have paid ,you can claim a part of it back. Even then it is not quaranteed that you will get any of it. Welcome to Finland where you can spend all of your euros :)

Is this "Air Team" we are talking about? Not much info to be found anywhere on the operation so far. I also heard that the probable base was now going to be HHN not HEL?