Flybe?

[gg190]

My step-dad has been talking to a Flybe pilot today who told him that Flybe are desperately seeking pilots willing to work based out of the Isle of Man, as they have very few pilots willing to work here (It's viewed as something of a backwater!).

I was brought up in the conversation, and even though I don't have a CPL yet, this pilot mentioned it may still be worth contacting Flybe as they may be able to give some assistance toward the qualifications I still need to get. He said it was best to contact somebody local on the Isle of Man (he even gave a name).

I took the above with a pinch of salt, I've been looking at becoming a commercial pilot since I was 15, and I am well aware that sponsorship does not exist these days, I was also sceptical about the 'local contact' part, do Flybe even handle any recruitment on the Isle of Man? I also couldn't find a single contact number for Flybe on the Isle of Man either on their website or the IOM airport website.

It just doesn't sound right to me, had it been anybody but a pilot working for company saying it I would dismissed it immediately, but I thought why would he have said if he didn't have something to base it on?

Anybody heard anything similar? Or is this (as I suspect) somebody getting the wrong end of a stick!

Thanks

[autopilot_off]

I'm affriad this sounds like someone who thinks they're still working for Jersey European! All recruitment is handled through HQ at Exeter and unfortunately personal contacts are of very limited use.

I can assure you there's a good few hundred people in the hold pool who would happily work out of the IOM if it got them in the right hand seat of the Dash!

On the bright side, Flybe do indeed run some sponsorship schemes through FTE, OAA, Cabair and PTC which you may well like to investigate... Good luck!

[gg190]

Auotpilot_off, thanks for the reply I thought that would be the case!

I've looked at the sponsorship schemes in the past and as far as I can remember I am ineligible for them as I am no longer 'ab-initio'.

[G SXTY]

Flybe have absolutely no problem finding 200hr CPLs who will go anywhere for a first job - even Fraggle Rock. Persuading them to stay there long term is more of a challenge, but IOM residency alone is unlikely to get your CV to the top of the pile.

And autopilot off is right, not even recommendations from friends or family within the company are much use these days. Recruitment is all handled by one small department, and for low-hours applicants the only recommendations they are interested in are ones from flying schools.

[EK4457]

Which is surely a good thing!

G SXTY - any inside info on any Flybe recruitment?

Thanks
EK

[Coffin Corner]

There certainly isn't a "few hundred" pilots in the main hold pool. But what there is, is a few hold pools. There is a hold pool with 200hr/experienced pilots in it (Mr Layman from the street if you like). Then there is a hold pool for sponsored cadets, there is a hold pool for the MPL students, then there will be a pool for the impending Thomas Cook cadets.

As for recruitment, nothing any time soon.

CC

[G SXTY]

Latest from rumour control is that there are a couple of type rating courses planned for later this year, which will presumably be made up of MPLs and sponsored / mentored CPLs. Very unlikely to include anyone not on this list (i.e. everyone else).

Don't expect any significant recruitment for the foreseeable future (whatever that is). However, when the market does eventually improve, I wouldn't be surprised to see a mass exodus. An awful lot of FOs (not to mention captains) will be free of their bonds and have enough hours and experience to go off and fly something nicer and better paid than their current equipment. Some people are already looking at the sandpit and doing the calculations.

When the likes of BA, Easyjet and the charter airlines start looking for experienced but non-type rated pilots, expect Flybe to be recruiting low-houred people within a few months.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Actually I don't see easyJet (or Ryanair) EVER hiring an experienced FlyBe pilot ever again (wish they would I like 'em).


The old model is dead.


WWW

[G SXTY]

Not sure many ever went to O'Leary Air. Not my idea of a step up.

I hope you're wrong about Easy, I really do. I guess time will tell.

[portsharbourflyer]

G_Sxty,

The Easyjet TRSS scheme which was the way in for those with at least 500 hours multi crew experience on heavy TPs or light jets but without medium Jet Experience has been closed for some time. This does suggest that recent recruitment at Easyjet is experienced A320 crews from Agencies and low hour pay to fly cadets from either CTC and OAA. If this trend continues then it seems WWW is right.

[flyhighspeed300]

I did some work experence with flybe ops at exeter last year. (end of 2009) Flybe recruitment told me they get over 300 pilots applying to them every month.

Yes the person is correct about the Isle of Man with a low amount of pilots. The reason for this is because this is 1 of 2 places where you do your line training with them after getting a TR at flight safety international at farnbourgh airport.

After doing your line training with flybe you can be posted else where which most pilot chose to do. I think but could be wrong its 300 hrs line training on a q400.

basically pilots come and go from the isle of man, thats why there is always a shortage. The ops recruitment can choose at any time to recuit more pilots.

[dwshimoda]

flyhighspeed

I think but could be wrong its 300 hrs line training on a q400.

Yes - you are wrong, so why post something that you do not know to be fact?

For a start, it's usually a number of sectors, not hours, and secondly, that's a hell of a lot more "hours" / sectors than we look for on the B757.

[Coffin Corner]

It's 40 sectors if it's your first type. Not sure if that's a JAR limitation or airline specific

[dwshimoda]

It's 40 sectors if it's your first type. Not sure if that's a JAR limitation or airline specific

Yep. Airline specific.

Can't understand why people bother to post such stuff when they don't actually know. If you do, contribute, if you don't don't - stop spreading ill-founded rumours.

[lander66]

gg190,

I was just wondering if you at least made the phone call, you never know what they might say (even though it is probably, "have a look on the Flybe careers website"). Even if you don't gain any better employment prospects from the call, at least you may get a decent inside contact.

[Coffin Corner]

If you call Flybe on the phone the only thing you'll achieve is to p*** them off.

[gg190]

Originally Posted by Lander66

I was just wondering if you at least made the phone call, you never know what they might say (even though it is probably, "have a look on the Flybe careers website"). Even if you don't gain any better employment prospects from the call, at least you may get a decent inside contact.

No I didn't primarily because it is made very clear on the Flybe website that pilots not meeting their direct entry requirements should contact one of their approved training schools. The only phone number on their website which may have helped me out was for their human resources department, and I didn't think that they would appreciate my call.

Originally Posted by Coffin Corner

If you call Flybe on the phone the only thing you'll achieve is to p*** them off.

This is the second reason I didn't contact them, Flybe strike me as an airline that does not like to be phoned! Even if you're a customer.

[adverse-bump]

i suspect this 300 hour rubbish has come from some pay to fly scheme! I think it says alot about the type of person who goes through with these things that they need 300 hours to pass a line check!

[Desk-pilot]

Flybe situation

As I see it Flybe are currently tight for crew, but this situation should ease with the gradual return of Q400 crews as the Greek operation winds down. What I can tell you from the inside is that there are now a number of people planning to hand their notice in because they are off to Emirates/Qatar etc. Whether these numbers prove significant enough to trigger recruitment in the short term I don't know (and I suspect nobody else does either)

Much will depend on how the economic cycle pans out in the next 12 months and how much the sandpit attracts people. My gut feel is that some recruitment will be needed in the next 12 months.

Desk-pilot

[Otto Throttle]

The only phone number on their website which may have helped me out was for their human resources department, and I didn't think that they would appreciate my call

You are quite correct in your assumption - HR have nothing whatsoever to do with pilot recruitment at Flybe.