The way I understand it is only required for “blue card holders”

Expats are considered blue card holders, you get one once you join the company.If you work for some other company you already have one so this could be sentence for them. I don't think language is limiting now, they will need a lot of people soon although I cannot understand why anyone would like to join.

I think current positions are posted only in Turkish I assume this already means it is for Turkish nationals and blue card holders. Blue card has nothing to do with expats. You don’t get blue card if you join as a expat employee. In order to explain blue card simple google search would be sufficient. It took me 3 seconds to have this information.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Card_(Turkey)

May I ask why you think it’s not worth to join?
Just to make a decision up in my mind :)

Lot of short sectors, night flights, salary in turkish lira which lost 27 percent of value in last four months would be some of it...

I would suggest also to take a look to Istanbul traffic rating.
They hired a good number of folks from the Baltic ACMIs that already work for them in Sabiha.
Good luck anyway to all interested 👍🏻

At night flights you get additional payment . There is nothing better than short 2 legs of flight. You always get paid as well per sectors, amount depending on block time. Hardly ever 4 sectors. Istanbul has terrible traffic but simply you rent an apartment close to airport which many does. However if you coming from EU life quality is not so good. There are few pilots from Baltic ACMIs but still 85-90% of pilots are Turkish origins where most of them have Turkish airlines background. Great aircrafts mint conditions. 6-3 roster is amazing. At this moment 6 days are finishing with night flights so you have almost full 4 days and first day of 6 start with morning duty but not before 9 local time. Very high standards and followership of SOPs. I don’t have to mention standby ticket rights at Turkish airlines network for your mother, father, brother, wife and kids just after 3 months. Free upgrade chance for commanders.

You will never find an offer around flying 40-50 hours and make more than double of any offer in Europe. Amazing catering basically business class meals. real good operations, like in legacy you just sit and fly the aircraft rest is taken care. 10 K for experience FO and 15k for captains after tax. Even after Turkish lira losing value. Every six months salary adjustment. You get every 4 months 1 month basic salary as bonus.

These are the facts at the moment. In the future nothing is guaranteed like anywhere else. Just don’t listen people who are not even work there or been in any companies in Turkey. I am writing because as pilots we should not spread false information and I would like to inform fellow colleagues with the right information.

Thanks for your answer. Question is always if it’s worth it compared to what I have already… I do have a 5/4 roster, and my salary (low, for the job) a bit more than 1/3 of that. But I also live in Central Europe, which many take into account when it comes to live abroad: how is it to live in turkey? What if I need to go to the doctor? Will the company help me in any way?
There’s a whole lot of questions that go over money and amount of sectors you have to do

Hi UBERFLY, thank you for your realistic post. Could you tex me in private please?

Hi, how much is a realistic net salary for captains, and how much flying for that money (hours and/or sectors)?

Thanks!

Hey guys. Those days I'm going to join the interview in Istanbul. Anyone recently done that? Thanks.

I omitted to mention that the interview is for B737 experienced Captains. Any insights? 👁👁

Salary compensation and expact contract
 

Hello everyone,

While many aspects of the terms and conditions have been discussed, and I appreciate all the information that has been shared, I have a specific question regarding salary for expat captains.

Given the ongoing depreciation of the Turkish Lira, is there a salary adjustment mechanism in place for expatriate captains or all pilots ?

Additionally, what is the expected number of flight hours per month for a captain?

Finally, I've read that several new A320neos are scheduled to arrive in late 2025 and early 2026. Could someone with insight into the matter confirm this information?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Ajdustments every 6 months, nothing for expats more beneficial (like exchange correction) than for local pilots. So couple of months you gain and rest you loose.

I just saw that AJET started recruiting again, heard they are only looking for EASA and EU citizen, is that correct?
anyone been contacted recently for interview?

I think it's open to British, as they offered me a selection date, but the further pre interview form filling made me flake out.

Residence
 

Thanks guys for the info.

For expAct is it fast to get a residency and open a bank account?

How fast is going the occ if already type rated on A320?

Are you on payroll first day of training? Or there is a salary training ?

Thanks a lot.

The residency you will likely begin the process after you have completed the 3 1/2 week ground school/OCC. The idea is you find a place to rent first and get all the necessary paperwork from the landlord and get notarised. It is now a well trodden path so is more fluid than the early bird arrivals into the company.

Yes you go directly onto the payroll from day 1 OCC. It is direct to the pay band according to your Airbus/Boeing experience. No handicapped salaries during training.

I hope this answers your questions.

EASA pilots tend to move through swiftly and most especially if Italian. ICAO a few more hoops to jump through.

Thanks very much for your prompt answer. It helped.

Now waiting for the assessment invitation.

Good luck. I suggest you stick with the process no matter how testing the paperwork can be. You won't regret it I'm fairly sure of this. Super welcoming company in its infancy.

I forgot to mention bank account. It's pretty straight forward. The company provides a covering letter and you descend en masse to get your bank accounts opened before pay day. From what I'm told the admin processing has become more straight forward as the various agencies/bank have seen enough company Yabancis walk through their doors. Ah that'll be another Jonnie foreigner wanting an identity card/stamped document)))