Contracted 737 pilots for the summer (all with hours on type) only got a bond for the company course/linetraining.
A few pilots that self sponsored a 737 rating trough AB have been employed and are paying an unconfirmed amount for their linetraining. As far as I know no inexperienced 737 pilots has been employed recently, but quite a few is stacked in the standby pool.

Rumors are that they stopped hiring Direct entry Captains on the Q400..

I can confirm that.
When I went for the interview there was a Q400 capt and he was told that they no longer were looking for Capt.

Got this the other day from them:

Unfortunately at this moment there is no detailed information available at the moment regarding next coming positions on Q400.
For sure we will let you know as soon as there will be new developments.

Kind regards,

airBaltic Corporation
HR Department

I think it's time to forget about them and move on. If only there were places to move on to right now :ugh:

Any news
 

Hi guys! Anyone who has been on an assessment lately with any news regarding when AB might start hireing pilots!

And D8 when did you recieve that email? last month, week ???

last thursday

:mad: :ugh:

Hold Pool
 

Hi,

Anybody else recently passed both stages of the assessment at airBaltic for the 737 fleet and told to wait in a hold pool?

Good luck to everyone.

Hi

I went to Riga for the second stage after SIX months waiting in the pool. I succeeded and once again in the standby pool :rolleyes: apparently to Dash fleet.

cheers

:mad::mad::mad:

NP2010. A number of pilots were contracted for the 737 with an end date at the end of October. The contract included a small bond which expires at the end of the contract, and it was stated that this was to cover initial and line training. The contract is direct with Air Baltic not through an agency. Some of the pilots had experience on the 737, and some had recently completed a type rating with BT Training, gone through the interview process, but have considerable experience on other types. There is no indication at this time as to whether any or all of us will be kept on after October: we will have to wait and see. That was the contract, and we accepted it: nobody made us do it!

Some other 737 FOs had completed a type rating on the 737 with BT but had no experience on other types, and were offered a summer contract (as above) with a line training package which I believe is 70 Euro an hour for 300 hours. During the period of the contract they are being paid according to the BT salary scale appropriate to their experience (so the 70 Euro per hour is being deducted from salary). It was their choice, no one made them do it! I don't agree with it, and I don't think they do (I was on the induction course with some of them) but they feel that it is the best chance to get their career going, and I can't argue with them, and their motivation.

I hope this clarifies some of the rumour that has been posted on this thread (OK, I know it's a rumour network, but here is some fact)!

F50
 

Any news or rumours about the F50. I've been in the standby-pool for quite some time and still don't have a clue what to expect...

Any information is appreciated!

I don't think anyone is likely (or even required/well advised) to mention on a c.v. that your contract was P2F. I think it is sufficient to merely state the fact that you only worked there for such a short time ,as that was the duration of contract offered.

Much more problematical is only acquiring 300hrs on type, as 500 is usually the absolute minimum for most airlines looking to employ you on a subsequent short term contract.
Of course airBaltic may take you back next summer, but more likely they will prefer to take someone else on reduced wages for the period and put another 300hr pilot on the market.
With the rate of departures on this fleet there remains a small chance the contract will be extended over winter, but it will certainly only be for a few, and not everyone.

newpilot2010 - On the contrary!!
 

With LCC setting the standard for this glorious business, PTF guys are exactly what they are looking for:E. PTF guys clearly state that they are the kind of person whose willing to sign up for about anything to keep them from collecting an income. Even better, state in your résumé that you are ambitious and profit oriented, on the behalf of the shareholders. Willing to bet how much you are willing to pay for the position in competition with other applicants :yuk: I’m sure that the few lucky ones have just what it takes to keep his carrier going in the line of PTF – at least for a while……..:ugh:
IF you don’t like this kind of employment and need a decent income, stay away from aviation, get a real job and fly for recreation only. Hell you may even like it :ok:
I know, I’m a grumpy old fart..:}

Hi Guys!

i've got rated in the NG recently. Looked at AB as an opportunity to go for, but, seriously, paying 21k for a 300h line training isn't motivating myself that much!

The question is: at the moment, which airline should i apply to?

Flight experience is not a plus. Only 250h TT, after finishing Atpl course.


Cheers!

Well, by you posting here I guess you still perhaps got some interest in AB? And though you´re hesitant in further P2F they sort of got you by the b*llsack. With 250hrs and a rating you probably don´t have all that many other options these days..? Who convinced you to buy a rating? Claim you Euros back, sue them! :yuk:

If anything, when willing to paying to fly, go for a P2F scheme where you get "hired" upfront. I.e FRaud or someone down that dark alleyway.. At least those guys are upfront and honest leeches.

Off course, these "airlines" are not an option once you´re already rated, as they cannot earn their well earned profit on your rating. Maybe it would be cheaper to do a full new CPL/IR program, under an alias to get a fresh non-rated CPL. Then apply to FR as inexperienced cadet? :ok:


:ugh:

Just to clarify, FRaud ,as you refer to them, do not do P2F (yet :hmm:), they do SSTR, following which , if you meet the standard (and only if) you will be employed as a contractor.
Not saying it is the "ideal" scenario, but you do not (yet, I say again) pay for (or have deducted any contribution for) line flying.

That is a valid remark, and point taken. There is a fine line here..

However on the other hand, if you do NOT pay them (a premium) for your SSTR you do not get to fly or work for them. As in ldsouto´s case. He probably have zero chance of obtaining the golden chance of paying for an interview, as he has already bought his rating somewhere else.

So with FR you have to pay to fly either which way you look at it. Albeit it not P2F line training.

Oh well, we´re all aware of this anyways.

Back on topic, I guess a further exodus within Air Baltic will pick up when hiring resumes at the greener pastures. For those looking in: hang tight and good luck.

There is a price difference in 737 rating between airBaltic and Ryanair, but when you factor in the 70€ an hour deducted from your salary by airB for the first 300hrs line flying flown + the fact it will probably only be a Summer contract till end Oct, Ryanair doesn't sound so bad.
Agreed, for anyone with the rating, FR is not an option, as they cannot make money from you. Having said that I am not sure if airB will offer a F/O position (even the 300hr that you "pay" for) to someone who is not completing the rating there, as at the moment the 300hrs option is the carrot they can dangle to get someone to "buy" the rating with them. I think if you are already rated, you will not be hired by them in the current situation.
Motto, don't pay for a TR without a job offer, or at least the possibility to top it up with some line flying (even if I find the whole concept of this quite reprehensible, it must be said that the TR alone is REALLY a waste of money)