Cruise Pilots
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
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CX cruise pilots are normally their cadets, who are without exception Chinese nationals. Having said that, CX's normal minimum requirements for FO are only 1000 hours and FATPL. It's all on their website.
I haven't heard anything about QF cruise pilots for a long time but I can tell you there are people with a LOT more than 2000 hours in Oz who still can't get a look in.
I haven't heard anything about QF cruise pilots for a long time but I can tell you there are people with a LOT more than 2000 hours in Oz who still can't get a look in.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
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What about KLM, dont they have relief pilots...?
I watched a program on Sky TV about KLM and there 747 in which there was pilots in the crew rest and flight deck if my memory serves me right.... (I could be wrong though)
I watched a program on Sky TV about KLM and there 747 in which there was pilots in the crew rest and flight deck if my memory serves me right.... (I could be wrong though)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
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True, KLM have Second Officers (KoKo's - Koffie & Koffers) but may I suggest that if you haven't been to KLS, NLS or been trained by one of the Dutch armed forces you forget about KLM. They appear to be a little choosy.
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: UK
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I couldn't quite figure it out. First, the Virgin chap said our minimum hrs are high due to the limited number of landings a pilot will get flying the line - one or two a month; hence you needed to build experience in other airlines, preferably short-haul ones. In the next breath he talked about this cruise pilot thing. When Virgin offered a cadet scheme in the past, they had their A320s and a limited short-haul network. Of course today they only have long-haul & ultra long haul.
Economically it would make sense on three-crew routes, but from experience building I can't quite see it squaring with the initial comment.
Economically it would make sense on three-crew routes, but from experience building I can't quite see it squaring with the initial comment.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
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Which is just one of the reasons I think it won't happen, though a tie-up with a short-haul operator has been mooted. Only (IIRC) three people got onto the VS cadet scheme, and I think Virgin Sun folded before they would have got on line. I'm not sure what happened to them subsequently. The earlier cruise pilot scheme was around 10 years ago, and had pretty high entry requirements of around 1000-1500 hours - and they all got to go to Sun to start their FO time with VS after cruising for a couple of years. Pretty much all those guys now have commands.
Scroggs
Scroggs
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Europe
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when i worked for vs, they recruited 5 cadets...all worked on virgin sun A320/321, then after virgin sun closed i flew with one of them, the only one who got onto the A340, he said the rest were at easyjet, etc.
when i first joined vs as cabin crew 10years ago, i met a guy downroute who had 2500TT and 1000hrs jet time with Monarch and he was a cruise pilot, i asked him why he left to be a cruise pilot and his reply was "it was the only way to get into vs at the time", most of the others had similar experience to him.
when i first joined vs as cabin crew 10years ago, i met a guy downroute who had 2500TT and 1000hrs jet time with Monarch and he was a cruise pilot, i asked him why he left to be a cruise pilot and his reply was "it was the only way to get into vs at the time", most of the others had similar experience to him.
Join Date: Dec 1997
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Thanks HC. I was aware that 5 had started the cadet thing, but I was under the impression that only 3 finished. Anyway, I remain doubtful that a second scheme will be forthcoming, but who knows?
Scroggs
Scroggs
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Oasis Airlines
Can't provide any details, website, requirements etc. but I have heard that new start up Oasis Airlines flying Hong Kong-LGW may be looking for cruise pilots on their 2 B747-400s. Sorry I can give any further information but I don't know any! Just one to watch out for - due to start commercial ops towards end of October I believe.
