Fleet change in QR?
 

Hi!

If I were to join QR now, as a type-rated A320 Direct Entry Captain, how long would it take to move onto the -330/777/787?

Thx!
C*

36 months after final line check
Plus transfer approval from management.

but for left seat on the 320, the anecdotal evidence points to five years minimum.

Thx for replies so far.

Is there any seniority system? How does it work? Do you bid for a fleet change, or get it assigned by the company?

Any idea how the transfers will work with the arrival of the new 787's and the A350'? I guess it might quite a lot of internal movement...

You get assigned by the company depending on operational requirements, although I know of some pilots who started the ball rolling by speaking with the CP about it.

Best to plan for 5 years. Bear in mind there is a lot of recruitment directly on to long haul.

Hello guys,
Just a quick question....joining QR on the wide body with close to 4000hrs....how long does it take to get command on the wide body ?
Your replies will be appreciated

With 13 A380s and 100+ 787s and A350s on firm order, somebody has to fly the mini-Bus to feed those longhaulers... :cool: Talking to a few QR pilots recently, it sounded like entry onto the 787 was from the A320/21 fleet in most cases. Perhaps the A350 will get A320 pilots as well as transfers from the A330 fleet...

It will be interesting to see if QR also orders the C-Series from Bombardier to operate on long, thin routes. Another big pilot recruitment push to fill those airplanes as well with a unique type rating...

Widebody Command
 

You will need
-3yrs in the company from date of final line check
-6500hrs total flight time (in fixed wing aircraft)
-2000hrs on aircraft greater than 100 tonnes

Once you are selected for command upgrade, you will have assessment flights, interview, full type rating (P1) and line training.

If you are starting on the A330/A340, there is a 50% possibility that you will go to A320 for Command.

Recently there has been a lot of movement off the 320 onto the WB fleets. There are a lot of WBs coming. People who joined on the 320 3.5 years ago got their fleet transfers (if that's what they wanted) within 2-2.5 years of final line check - both seats.

Spanner

Spanner,

Good information. Were A320 pilots able to bid specific aircraft types of interest (i.e., 787 or A330) or were they allocated to a specific fleet based on fleet need?

Iver

I'm not sure of what happens exactly. I joined on the fleet I wish to be on. 12-18 months ago we were all given the choice to bid for our desired fleet and seat. Nothing similar has happened since. I gather that the fleet transferees usually get some sort of Boeing or Airbus choice. Recent refugees from the A300 fleet had a choice of anything. The setup is that initially you are meant to join onto the 320 and then transfer either big Airbus or Boeing. That then supposedly governs your progression afterwards. Some still join directly onto the 330 or 777.

The basic facts are that a lot of wide body aircraft are on order which means that if you get put on the 320 initially you can expect a move if you want within a reasonable timescale. If you stay in Airbus world within the airline you may end up back on the 320 for your upgrade.

Spanner

Upgrade
 

With the present state of things, how long does it take for a new hire joining on the 330 and close to 4000hrs on airbus to expect his upgrade
Thank you guys in advance

Ref2010

Your question was answered in post #8

"You will need
-3yrs in the company from date of final line check
-6500hrs total flight time (in fixed wing aircraft)
-2000hrs on aircraft greater than 100 tonnes

Once you are selected for command upgrade, you will have assessment flights, interview, full type rating (P1) and line training.

If you are starting on the A330/A340, there is a 50% possibility that you will go to A320 for Command. "