Nice - no wonder the Costa crowd have no respect for the 'lazy pilots'

Not caring about walk arounds, company phone never turned on ...and now above.

Our own worst...

Boys , if it's such a bad thing don't do it!

I think a separate group could potentially be a good thing, but a 2 year commitment? Thats ridiculous, max 6 months at a time would be much more reasonable. Also, due to the nature of the trips (i.e. long and changing often) we would need some kind of protections on days off, or maybe a guaranteed string of 7 each month. Doing 9+ days trips with two days off in between is not conducive to any kind of life style whatsoever. The current way the trips are organized and changed would mean essentially being on perpetual reserve for 2 years. Also, speaking of changing trips and days off, some kind of financial incentive for extending into days off (this is standard at other cargo operations)......


Other idea's????

I'd say don't sign on for it until they provide more information about the t&cs. Not enough information provided to make it worth anyone's while. Definitely makes you wonder, what's in it for them? At the end of the day that's all this company cares about.

Just ask the A319 guys what happens when you volunteer for something based on a vague letter.

Basing in some of the freighter "hubs" would be a game changer.

Wishful thinking...

Frank, we are already experiencing that, its called a roster! On another point............

There was a muted base for the Freighter op last year, though not much happened. The building are all there so you never know.................

The 2nd email from CPB said quite clearly that replying expressing interest in no way committed anyone to anything. So for me, yeah anything is worth exploring, though I won't be committing to owt til I get a whole lot more info.

Funny. I took over the plane yesterday from a cpt. who was talking about this email. Basically all he could say was, It's a Trap. Called him admiral but didn't seem to have a sense of humour.

Anyway it seems that everything EK throws at us is considered a trap. Lets hope this is a good thing for the guys and gals who are interested !

why 2 years.... maybe they realise that once you are in you may change your mind fairly quickly..... oh but wait..... I signed on for 2 years... If they make it six or even 3 months it may just be a pretty good change..... But 2 years?????? that seems a bit strange to me.

What about the fact that they want security regarding planning. If you give 3 months options people will change constantly and from a planning pov will make that a complete nightmare.

why will it be a complete nightmare from planning.... This month I fly the freighter, next month I fly passengers. What will be the big change to make it a nightmare?

Honestly I think 4k pilots who change on a monthly basis will be difficult to plan. At the moment the planning department knows that they can place any pilot on any fleet, which gives them more variables to puzzle with. If they split the freighter and pax they reduce the variables but it will be steady as they have a pool of pilots for pax and one on freighter. If that pools then changes on a monthly basis, I can imagine that it will be very difficult for planning, but correct me if I;m wrong. 2 years may seem a bit over the top, which could maybe be reduced but Id say nothing less than a year.

I do see your point though. I assume the planning here is done automatically but I'm not sure about that.

For those of you who fear it's a trap, don't like changes to roster, deadheading, Maktoum, no tarts, making your own meals/coffee, waiting during delays, min rest, figuring out the flight/duty section in detail, it's only a small fleet, you will never come back.....THEN DON"T APPLY!

And more importantly, feel happy about not applying.

I reckon there will be base group who will fly cargo and as required there will be relief supplied by main fleet.

halas

As much as i would like to take up this option, as much my experience with EK tells me to be very careful.

The company demonstrates in an almost daily rhythm that they change goalposts as faster as their clerks get to Costas every morning. They will initially offer T&Cs that may attract enough pilots. But we all know, that within three months they will adapt the goodies to make them suit their needs & greeds and the poor sods that signed up for two years will be stuck with rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Trust has gone for a very, very long time. No one believes anything no more what EK says or even signs. They will reap what they saw.

The 777F is to be replaced by 748F, deal with Boeing many requests for 777F but Boeing needs a big order for the 748 ( EK ),wait for the announcement.

Guys remember the list of interest 6 years ago asking Airbus guys to move to 777.
This list was then renamed to list of commitment.
So it is a trap!

I can't see this really being any different to SQ and CX passenger vs cargo. SkyCargo are pretty good at what they do, going from a complete outsourced operation 10 years ago to where they're at today. Its not rocket science, they cannot continue with the mixed fleet flying and this should have been on the cards from the very beginning

Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?

Africa?........

Cargo Ops
 

What could go wrong ...?

More time in West Africa? (cheaper hotels and halfway between Europe & South America cargo hubs)
Your published roster will be 'just a suggestion'
Deadheading on the freighter vs pax flights
More (than average) contract 'adjustment' not in your favour
More (than average) NOTOC and load sheet errors
Over worked LM & GE
Catering, hmm, shall we say 'challenges'
Expense claims to be filed every month due irregular ops
Etc.