Life expectancy at THY/B737 fleet.
 

Just had a chat with a former colleague presently in the process of living THY.
His September rosters reads 107 hours with 7 days off and 220 hours of duty 16 days out of base and multiple consecutive back to back night duties. .He is very worried about his health. Hopefully his last month.
In the last month there have been three fatalities among B737 crew of which one expat and two locals all of them heart attacks while on duty or during layovers. Also rumors about a stroke to a A330 expat FO. Think twice..or three time before even applying. The situation is apparently getting worse.. Many expat THY B737 skippers are screening with my present employer "the" EU low cost operator . By large a professional and lifestyle paradise in comparison. THY "best European Airlines" proving more and more a greedy unfair and irresponsible exploiter.

Unfortunately this is a standard in Turkey. Problem starts with the local work and rest regulations, which allow for this kind of rosters.

Few examples:

- Normal duty can be planned for up to 14 hours FDT with four landings, plus 2 hours of "Captain's Extension". So you are expected to be on duty for 16 hours.

- Monthly FT limit is 110 hrs and yearly is 1000 hrs, but the rule refers to calendar month and calendar year. For a week (7 consecutive days) you can do 36 hours, so here is an example on how the planners are looking at it: for the last two weeks of june you fly 72 hours (36+36), and the first two weeks of july you fly another 72 (36+36). So, guess what? You flew 144 hours in four weeks, but for them it is still legal, even when this is 54 hours more than you would be allowed to do in Europe.

- As per the example above, if you join a company in the middle of the year, expect to fly as close as possible to the 1000 hrs for the remainder of the year, provided all other rules are complied with.

- Regarding the rest times: If you do up to 6 hours duty, expect a rest of 8 hours, from check out, to check in (real resting time about 5 hours), if you do 11 hours of duty, expect 10 hours from check out to check in (real rest 7 hours), if you do more than 11 hours expect 12 hours from check out to check in (real rest of 9 hours) and still they allow to reduce the rest with Captain's decision.

- 7 days off is the minimum legal, and this is what you can expect at most operators.

My advice, come to Turkey only if you are jobless and desperate. Otherwise stay well clear.

Heard of the case of one local while on layover in TBS, but I didn't know there were already three cases. Not surprised!

It depends if you fly to Amsterdam :}

Hey guys I'm plan to have a interview with thy on the 737 can any one tell me a baud the inter.

The problem do are Turkey's FTL but they are carrying European passengers. Should they fly locally it would not be of our interest but they are flying to Europe , expanding at a vertiginous rate their presence and taking passengers from EU carrier that have to abide to EASA FTL with an unfair competitive advantage.
After the death of an EU citizen B737 DEC we thought it was time to do something about it. A letter was sent to the EAA ( European Airlines Association) and to the EU parliament transport commission denouncing the situation. This also in light of Turkey renewed bid to Europe accession.THY is promoting its self as the " best European airlines" whilst in terms of safety guarantees for the passengers is in effect statistically the worst. Fatigue was partly to be blamed for the AMS accident still THY iin its ruthless pursuit of profits has not taken any initiative as this thread shows.. Internal sources are telling me that the safety situation is dramatic. Many near accident happens on a daily basis due to incompetence added to tiredness and fatigue. No initiative have been taken beside a pathetic attempt to try to put the blame on younger generation pilot " monitoring " ( ??) skills by the means of " briefings" that my sources described as "pantomimic" . That shows once more the absolute managerial incapacity and blindness in identifying the real causes which evidently are the extremely poor professional environment, the widespread lack of a sufficient understanding of the written and spoken English language , non existent company safety culture, basic misinterpretation of the concept of CRM and whose effect in conjunction with the above mentioned slavery like FTL, could soon prove disastrous.

Or maybe just that your friend knows about it because turkish airlines lets all know when a colleague passes away unlike maybe your EU lowcost which doesnt give a crap.
People pass away for different reasons..general bad health(smoking/no exercise) and genetics.
Your case against turkish airlines is laughable as are you.

Lorito since I'm here I tell you "a boud" the interview. You passed.

IMFE, I'm really not sure if there was any need to post that. Everyone would be aware of what you are getting at but many people died that day and many friends and family lost loved ones.:=

Judging by the OP and subsequent posting about the amount of hours that can be worked I am staggered that their authority can let these airlines get away with that sort of abuse.

Makes me extraordinarily grateful for my FTL scheme and bidding system too.

De Facto Turkey can still apply to become a province of China and Turkish Airlines can participate in the " best Chinese airline " award, your choice.
You are wrong . in all my employment I received notice of deaths of colleagues both flight deck, cabin and ground personnel. I still remember how surprised I was by their number of such emails regarding pilots in THY. I see you don't have an MD degree The causes leading to an heart attack are cumulative and stress and fatigue are the most powerful. But I see now you removed the Chinese airlines FTL reference from you post showing some intelligence :ok:

No wonder the THY safety manager resigned after the AMS accident because his report mostly blamed THY. His option was to hand in the report and get sacked or change it and stay. He had enough, handed in the report and resigned. The stories he can tell you about THY and it's atmosphere and culture.. :sad:

De Facto
 

Sadly your post shows the predominant attitude in Turkish Airlines and possibly in Turkey. The most probable response will be censorship. Expect not to receive email of condolences anymore. They will hide it under the carpet..but remember sooner or later ( probably sooner) someone will lift the carpet and the **** you hid will come out.. just wait for the next **** up.Still the lack of guts of Turkish pilots enduring this situation without reacting, is appalling. Expat are very simply leaving.

In not saying that working in turkish airlines is easy,the 1000 hours is a lot indeed and 107 hrs/month is indeed a lot.
I think firstly that using death of people to fuel your personnal agenda is disgusting and secondly that working as a pilot is far from being the hardest wirk out there even if at 1000 hrs/year which averages 83 hrs/month....
I doubt these are the responsible issues for dying of a heart attack,it may be adding to one person overall health issue but thats it.
If you are stressed doing your job then well time to change profession...

Yes i edited my note about my previous chinese airline where one pilot died in his hotel room,heart attack i think.I put my hand on fire he was smoking like cheminey all his life.
I worked many years in china,and yes work is hard,very long duties but it is the pilot responsability to care of his health and manage his fatigue.
Regulations are followed i guess in turkish airlines so the rest is up to the pilot...im sure they have better hotels/overnights and food than chinese airlines as well..
How can a 330 FO die due to stress?how old was he?do you seriously hold the airline responsible?this is serious.
How long did the expact captain work for turkish?

De facto , are you even aircrew ?
I left an airline in the Middle East because of ridiculous fatigue , and the death of a colleague on the flight deck , but this THY sounds completely over the top .
Amazes me the EASA authorities allow them to operate in Europe .
Mind you , they allow Ethiopian in , and their FTL abuse is legendary . I went for an interview , and after talking to two F/ O s in the simulator lounge , left on the next stagecoach .