SmartLynx
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Stockholm
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Lockeed,
How was the Online assessment ? How did you prepare and also with the ATPL? Did you do aviation exam before or how did you prepare. I havent prepared due to been working and didn't know if I was going to hear from them and then suddenly out of thin air I got an email this morning.
I just feel after reading this thread that it feels like a scam. Even tho I know it feels like p2f is the only way for us newly graduated pilots with hours below 250.
How was the Online assessment ? How did you prepare and also with the ATPL? Did you do aviation exam before or how did you prepare. I havent prepared due to been working and didn't know if I was going to hear from them and then suddenly out of thin air I got an email this morning.
I just feel after reading this thread that it feels like a scam. Even tho I know it feels like p2f is the only way for us newly graduated pilots with hours below 250.
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Germany
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Dear all,
I have also been interested in this programme, but compared to a standard Type-Rating course, the amount of given training is on the lower end.
With SmartLynx you get: 9 days ground course/ 12 hrs FTD/ 40 hrs FFS/ Skill Test and base training for 35 000 Euros.
I don't know any details about the offered contract after training, but I think it will only be upon demand of pilots. If you look at their customers (half of them are in trouble have made pilots redundant), this demand will in my opinion very low (please keep in mind, that graduates from end of 2019 and 2020 are not flying and also their own pilots).
I have another offer for a A320 Type-Rating from a well known company in germany, which includes:
15 days ground-school/ 39 hrs FTD/ 32 hrs FFS/ Skill Test and base training for 21 000 Euros.
So you get a lot more hours in the FTD to familiarize yourself with the aircraft and to be fit for the FFS-sessions (but only eight FFS sessions) + longer ground school.
For me it's an overpriced rating, to keep their simulators busy.
I have also been interested in this programme, but compared to a standard Type-Rating course, the amount of given training is on the lower end.
With SmartLynx you get: 9 days ground course/ 12 hrs FTD/ 40 hrs FFS/ Skill Test and base training for 35 000 Euros.
I don't know any details about the offered contract after training, but I think it will only be upon demand of pilots. If you look at their customers (half of them are in trouble have made pilots redundant), this demand will in my opinion very low (please keep in mind, that graduates from end of 2019 and 2020 are not flying and also their own pilots).
I have another offer for a A320 Type-Rating from a well known company in germany, which includes:
15 days ground-school/ 39 hrs FTD/ 32 hrs FFS/ Skill Test and base training for 21 000 Euros.
So you get a lot more hours in the FTD to familiarize yourself with the aircraft and to be fit for the FFS-sessions (but only eight FFS sessions) + longer ground school.
For me it's an overpriced rating, to keep their simulators busy.
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: France
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A good friend of mine did the type rating in april 2019. We both did the selection with a Romanian company called Blue Air. But at the end he chose for Smartlynx because he wanter to fly Airbus. I regretted going to Blue Air. However he did get a contract after the type rating. But then again, this was in the peak season of 2019. It's hard to believe that this year it will come close to 2019 and before.
I personally will never pay for a type rating again without having a job guarantee.
Good luck to you all.
I personally will never pay for a type rating again without having a job guarantee.
Good luck to you all.
Join Date: Oct 2018
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If you want to do type rating do it at independent training center which would cost around 15-20k. Believe me my friends who did TR at independent training center and at SLX are at the same condition during last 1 year. No job, no salary (even they have contract with SLX). With the difference of 15K you can fly SE or ME more or less 50 hours so you can keep yourself current and into the aviation.
Their service agreement contract is totally illegal in my opinion but not binding in European Union because it is offered via 3rd country company. Having this contract or not having is exactly has same meaning=unemployment. Sooner or later this type of bogus schemes and contract will be forbidden however politicians need to wait and see some catastrophic event which involves such contracts. There is nothing here to compare with RYR contracts because they are much more socially responsible.
2021 will be hard year for pilots who has such contracts therefore flying times will be very little. If SLX starts to operate this year it will be maybe with 5-8 A/C at most. Like one of the post said I would not be surprised if they let new TR students fly instead of those finished on 2019-2020.
Think twice.
I would say if you really want something in aviation do a teaching course for ground schools or obtain FI rating. Because teaching sector will revitalize faster than commercial flying since there is at least lag of 2 years.
Their service agreement contract is totally illegal in my opinion but not binding in European Union because it is offered via 3rd country company. Having this contract or not having is exactly has same meaning=unemployment. Sooner or later this type of bogus schemes and contract will be forbidden however politicians need to wait and see some catastrophic event which involves such contracts. There is nothing here to compare with RYR contracts because they are much more socially responsible.
2021 will be hard year for pilots who has such contracts therefore flying times will be very little. If SLX starts to operate this year it will be maybe with 5-8 A/C at most. Like one of the post said I would not be surprised if they let new TR students fly instead of those finished on 2019-2020.
Think twice.
I would say if you really want something in aviation do a teaching course for ground schools or obtain FI rating. Because teaching sector will revitalize faster than commercial flying since there is at least lag of 2 years.
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Poland
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I would say you are wrong. I mean this would be the case in ideal world. Unfortunatelly, majority of people thinks this way: everyone is doing ATPL now - I should do it to... So masivelly training will start when airlines will start to hire again. Those who will start training now, will be finishing by that time and be "job ready", those who will start in that moment will in big numbers finish training just before another crisis.
Its the same in economy, if the taxi driver tells you he is buing stocks cause its awesome way of making money its a good time to sell yours.
Its the same in economy, if the taxi driver tells you he is buing stocks cause its awesome way of making money its a good time to sell yours.
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Europe
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The entire ACMI and non-scheduled sector is, by and large, a fisherman's job. The sales team may or may not get a sound contract for a long-term flight programme, especially in times like those. One-off flights are also not a given - you may get 10 of those this month and then none for the next 2 months. So, by default, go in with your eyes wide open. You may be crazy busy at times and then idling for months on end. And the latter hurts a lot if you don't have a proper base salary to see you through times when there's little to no flight activity.
What (kind of) gives some hope is that Smartlynx seem to have sound connections with travel agencies in their region. So, some charter work will be there for as long as international travel to any leisure destination remains a possibility. However, what will happen with all the aircraft which normally worked for clients abroad? My guess is that few of them will be flying a meaningful schedule this summer. May I be wrong. And this is what will determine how many pilots will be needed.
What (kind of) gives some hope is that Smartlynx seem to have sound connections with travel agencies in their region. So, some charter work will be there for as long as international travel to any leisure destination remains a possibility. However, what will happen with all the aircraft which normally worked for clients abroad? My guess is that few of them will be flying a meaningful schedule this summer. May I be wrong. And this is what will determine how many pilots will be needed.
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Paris
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My friend was there and the info I have is the following. The costs of the TR at SLX are rising since 2016 from 20K now up to 35K, before there was no job guarantees, everything depends on the personal performance at the ATO and of course the demand.
As preavious guys said, there are many many courses from 2019 finished and didnt fly at all. I guess that these guys wont fly at SLX as they have no any rights to get the job. It was always 50/50.
But if you pay for a guarantee, it doesnt mean, that you fly your big hours during some months. Be prepared to accept as many unpaid leaves as they want to give you. Even if you fly 5 times a month, all other dates during this months will or can be unpaid leave. The job guarantee can also take months/years to fly some hours. I am just speaking during corona times, previous years the guys flew maximum as they have been very short of "low paid" pilots.
Remember, there is no sense to do a type rating on any aircraft without job guarantee, as it isn't worth anything with no flight hours on type. So if you have the funds, do it with SLX and job guarantee, but remember, be prepared for unpaid leave weeks/months.
As preavious guys said, there are many many courses from 2019 finished and didnt fly at all. I guess that these guys wont fly at SLX as they have no any rights to get the job. It was always 50/50.
But if you pay for a guarantee, it doesnt mean, that you fly your big hours during some months. Be prepared to accept as many unpaid leaves as they want to give you. Even if you fly 5 times a month, all other dates during this months will or can be unpaid leave. The job guarantee can also take months/years to fly some hours. I am just speaking during corona times, previous years the guys flew maximum as they have been very short of "low paid" pilots.
Remember, there is no sense to do a type rating on any aircraft without job guarantee, as it isn't worth anything with no flight hours on type. So if you have the funds, do it with SLX and job guarantee, but remember, be prepared for unpaid leave weeks/months.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sky
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Corona_FO
Thank you for the information but I do have some followup questions if you don't mind.
You have FO in your nickname so let me assume you have given indications applicable for First Officer fees. But what I wonder is, is this still paid in full during the current crisis?
And also, you mentioned a fee per flying day, is there any payment per flight hour on top of this flight day payment? Or any other "out of home" expense payment? Could you elaborate?
Thanks!
Negan
I, myself, have nothing to do with any typerating costs but thank you for the concern.
Thank you for the information but I do have some followup questions if you don't mind.
You have FO in your nickname so let me assume you have given indications applicable for First Officer fees. But what I wonder is, is this still paid in full during the current crisis?
And also, you mentioned a fee per flying day, is there any payment per flight hour on top of this flight day payment? Or any other "out of home" expense payment? Could you elaborate?
Thanks!
Negan
I, myself, have nothing to do with any typerating costs but thank you for the concern.
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Mars
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You do all remember the base training incident with this outfit I hope? I would post a link to the youtube videos but as a newbie I am not permitted. Smart Lynx is not greta one to have on your CV when looking for the next job!
Did you ever fully read the final report on that training incident? I mean, I am not a fan of Smartlynx, but they are little to blame in that incident. And you might actually want to credit their instructor for bringing a plane with essentially only manual trim for pitch control and a double engine failure back to the runway without leaving a smoking hole in the ground.
About having them on your CV... in times of need, airlines are not all that picky about previous employers. Typerated and hours on type is what they will care about first and foremost. But we are in any case quite far from any pilot shortages in the coming years I suppose. Why anyone would take Smartlynx up on this expensive typerating and 'job guarantee' is a mystery to me.
About having them on your CV... in times of need, airlines are not all that picky about previous employers. Typerated and hours on type is what they will care about first and foremost. But we are in any case quite far from any pilot shortages in the coming years I suppose. Why anyone would take Smartlynx up on this expensive typerating and 'job guarantee' is a mystery to me.
Join Date: Oct 2018
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FredFlintstone
What is your point? You mentioned like it is the first and ever aviation accident in the history? Nobody would care what airline you fly for but your skills, professionalism and knowledge. How you perform in SIM and assessments. Airlines names are just a brand.
What is your point? You mentioned like it is the first and ever aviation accident in the history? Nobody would care what airline you fly for but your skills, professionalism and knowledge. How you perform in SIM and assessments. Airlines names are just a brand.
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Rome
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Greetings to all!
I have my online assessment and interview scheduled in the next few days.
Has anybody done it recently?
Any tips?
Any particular questions asked?
Any help will be highly appreciated.
I haven’t yet decided if I will go for their program should I be selected. Thought I’d do the selection process and decide.
I have my online assessment and interview scheduled in the next few days.
Has anybody done it recently?
Any tips?
Any particular questions asked?
Any help will be highly appreciated.
I haven’t yet decided if I will go for their program should I be selected. Thought I’d do the selection process and decide.
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: EUSSR
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You really have to wonder sometimes. Facts:
- Smartlynx fleet consists of 12(13?) aircrafts
- There is no planned massive expansion apart from 5 leased A330s announced in May 2021
- Hence Smartlynx will need ~85 pilots for operations (60 for existing fleet +25 to cover the new A330s)
- Smartlynx already had 2 Type Rating groups in May 2021
- Smartlynx are now organising 3 more Type Rating groups in Fall 2021
- assuming each group is at least 10 people, that means ~50 extra pilots or twice the amount of pilots needed to operate the fleet
- Smartlynx is asking 35k for the A320 Type Rating as opposed to a typical cost of 15-20k
- Smartlynx does not guarantee a job on completion of their Type Rating course, only "a job interview"