loveflying737

So what makes you think that there is no time line in place. Has it ever occurred to some of you that this might be the case and that the VA team might be happy with the progress they are making.

It really would be pointless employing s heap of crew and have them sitting around for months on full salaries (from a company point of view anyway)

As pilots we make such wonderful "lounge managers". Just because a company does not follow our time line does not mean that it is off track.

Although the PPrune posts would be fewer it might be better for us as pilots to do what we do best - fly aeroplanes - and leave other people to do their jobs. If and when it all goes pear shaped, by all means citicise, and boy can us "perfect beings" find things to criticse.

Just maybe everything is on track and VA is going to hold a wonderful launch to celebrate the start of operations on schedule. I wonder how many will have anything to say about that.

gypsypilotwife

The V Australia website does indeed state the closing date of 14th Dec for Pilot Applications.

But ...........once you click on "check out our current career opportunities" section, it indicates they are accepting Expressions of Interest - again. Any ideas what this means?

Thanks!

Wiley

loveflying737, apparently knowing the South African pilots who arer heading up the V Australia team as well as you apparently do, I can only assume you're very new to Australia (if you're living in the country at all). I hope I'm not causing offence whan I say that that it clashes with our national culture to be as in love with management as you seem to be, and may prove to be an impediment to repeat drinking partners should you continue to wear that love of yours so obviously on your sleeve.

That said, I can't recall anyone wailing about not being given a job yet. The complaints have been over the silence from V Australia over intervirew dates. I understand everyone who was called in December was told to expect interviews to be scheduled for sometime in January.

The fact is, if that time line is adhered to, many if not most potential candidates for a job as a pilot with V Australia will probably be unable to attend, unless the interview dates happen - by sheer luck - to co-incide with their days off. I'm sure V Australia would not want their candidates maintaining a dying Australian tradition of pulling a sickie to attend their interviews, as many will have to do should V Australia stick with their advertised interview dates of 'sometime in January'.

In my company, if I want particular days off, I need to know quite some time in advance, as bidding for January rosters closes early in December. I assume it would be very much the same for most pilots employed by any major airline.

Most pilots are required to give three months notice to their current employers. If V Australia want to get their first recruits in May - as they've apparently told some applicants - (which I agree sounds a bit early for already endorsed crew), they'll need to get a move on, as I'm assuming most people offered a job would want considerably more than 24 hours to consider making such a major decision. (There's a huge gulf for most of us between attending an interview and actually making the Big 'D' to put in our resignations and move halfway around the world to (in most cases) a job offering considerably less money.)

I know it will be for me.

loveflying737

Wiley - good to see you back on for(u)m.

I am not sure if you were concerned about me taking offence - rest assured none taken. I don't live in Aus (unfortunately). I also don't love management, at times there are many of them that I don't even like.

This however does not apply to the two gentlemen in question. I am not going to belabour the point but as you have realised they are both highly respected and certainly of the better management people I have dealt with in my years in aviation in SA.

Having been around for a while I suppose I have progressed from wingeing about things before they happen to waiting until there is something to winge about. Also being a Japie I suppose I have learnt not to sweat the small stuff. When you see things that most people find unimaginable, happening to people around you, having to make work related decisions at short notice does not head up one's list of problems.

I am sure that the HR department in VA is aware of the timeframe needed by most pilots and more especially by those making an international move. Their modus operandi has not differed much from that of the other international carriers with whom I have dealt in the past few months and these have been established national carriers.

Having made the decision to move I made all my arrangements and prepared myself and family to move should I receive short notice that I had been accepted by another company. I found that the advance preparation seriously reduced the stress of being given short notice of a commencement date. Fortunately I only had to give 30 days notice.

Good luck with your move and if you make it into VA and decide to work for the sum being offered be sure to get around to meeting the guys that have been discussed. They both enjoy a beer. Then let us know what you think. LF737

loveflying737

7x7 - In the Afrikaans "woordeboek" "strum" would appear between "struik" and "struweling". It is not there so I am sorry you will have to look for another group to suspect. "Stumm" does appear in the "worterbuch", but please let us not revive WW2

Don't fret - VA are not offering visas and there are very few SA pilots who hold the required qualifications, visas and an Aussie ATP licence. I must ask - as a PR visa holder, residing in Aussie with his family would an ex South African pilot still be considered to be a foreigner taking a job away from an Aussie or would you welcome him as a new migrant. The Aussies I have met would certainly go with the latter. LF737

halas

With the US economy starting to Tank, maybe they are reviewing their start-up date and destinations?

After all, when AN launched their international brand - into asia - it was badly judged and timed.

Just as the "Tiger" economies were hunted, caught, neutered and released licking their wounds, Ansett turns up with much hoorah and ignorance.

Couldn't have timed it worse if they had tried.

Food for thought though.

halas

Tidbinbilla

At the risk of locking this thread - can we get back on track?

This thread is not about the meaning or origin of words.

TID

MTOW

Sooooo... back on topic. Can I assume that, to date, no mere line driver has yet received an invitation for interview


...be it in English, Afrikaans or Strine?

Dynasty Trash Hauler

cant help but think the timing is very poor.

there is a feeling over here in the US that things are about to go south bigtime.

globallocal

Heard a rumor from a friend (only a rumor) that some of his friends have got interview dates for SO positions. I did clarifying that maybe it was the first round of phone calls but he said they where given interview dates.
Can anyone shed some light? True or False.
Not after a SO slot but SFO, so maybe they are starting from the bottom?

BR715

do you know wat sort of hours/experience these people have?

Dragun

Just spoke to a guy who said his mate was called two days ago and told to expect an interview date in March. Wasn't given a date, just a month.

60 & below

Hi Guy's I also recieved a call asking if i was still interested in a DEC She indicated that if we were selected for an interview in March we would recieve a email late Feb with an interview date. Good luck to all that want or need the job.

Best Rate

...And good luck to all that are hoping for decent T's & C's

evyjet

Once again very poor first impression of the way things are being handled. Calling in Feb for interview dates in March!! Great!!.... Ask your current employer for the whole month of march off , "just in case".

I'm sure they will be accommodating to all of us regarding this, but I still think they should be able to plan ahead far better than this!

Evyjet

MTOW

Don't know what it's like for others out there, but notice to attend a late Feb interview this late in Jan would be guess and by God for me. It would all hinge on whether I happened to have scored those particular days off.

Maybe they purposely make it hard as part of the test to see how keen you are? I'm sure they wouldn't be happy to learn you'd pulled a sickie to make the interview, as some will have to do if they're that keen to attend.

fumes

For anybody who has been called recently and offered an actual interview date (or month as it may seem), are any of you 'non type rated' and 'not living in Sydney'?

gypsypilotwife

Hi all,

I'm an ex-Sydneysider (currently overseas) and very keen to return to put our two sons back into Aussie school.

Let's hope the V Oz interview calls (or emails) start coming this week eh?

Good luck everyone!

gondwalla

I have interviews shortly. I was told a lot of SA guys are being considered. Also told they have a deal with EK not to take too many 777 drivers!

jetblues

For what it is worth VB Domestic crew received a letter from their COO last year saying interviews would be in Feb08. So there should be some action shortly.