Ex Rex Pilots; Would you have stayed if....
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sydney
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Goodonyamate,
I think that we have ALL done this, and no one has said that it is "beneath them". The point being made is that whilst it has been common practice for many a year, the roster and turnaround times made it possible to do.
Nowadays, the turnaround times are extremely tight, the pilots are working more and more, and the help being given them is less and less. Whereas in the past it was no problem to do this as the schedule had time to allow for this, now they roster you the MINIMUM time to turnaround an aircraft. In that time you are also supposed to SWAP aircraft and do an entire preflight on the new one, which could be 2km away from where you are parked. There is NO transport specifically provided for this (you have to try to negotiate some), and then when you run late, they ring you on your one day off to berate you for being 3 mins late!!!!!
OR... if you try to speed things up to help with on time performance, and you try to combine a few routine actions, then you are hauled over the coals for not following SOP's .... even though the SOP's contradict themselves in two or three places, and you HAVE followed the SOPs in one book. when you point this out you get told "DON'T be a F**king smarta%se " (yes... sworn at!!!)
A lot of the time, when you are rostered a break, they also throw in an aircraft change - which means that you can work for 8 hours without a break, and no food provided. IF you say "no, I am going to HAVE my break" then all hell breaks loose....
Add to the fact that most new employees in admin/clerical roles are now singaporean, with no regard for the employee, but an inbuilt sense of deferral to management then the help to the employee becomes less. There was a case where an F/A wanted to move to a check in role. She was told "I will interview you, but you won't get the job because KLH has TOLD me that I must employ this (singaporean) girl. If I do not employ her in the vacant check in position, then I must employ her elsewhere.... ie supernumery, and it comes out of my budget"
As I said before though, when things run smoothly - and a few years ago as well, it was / is a GREAT place to work. As soon as the screws got tightened, then it became less enjoyable.
I think that we have ALL done this, and no one has said that it is "beneath them". The point being made is that whilst it has been common practice for many a year, the roster and turnaround times made it possible to do.
Nowadays, the turnaround times are extremely tight, the pilots are working more and more, and the help being given them is less and less. Whereas in the past it was no problem to do this as the schedule had time to allow for this, now they roster you the MINIMUM time to turnaround an aircraft. In that time you are also supposed to SWAP aircraft and do an entire preflight on the new one, which could be 2km away from where you are parked. There is NO transport specifically provided for this (you have to try to negotiate some), and then when you run late, they ring you on your one day off to berate you for being 3 mins late!!!!!
OR... if you try to speed things up to help with on time performance, and you try to combine a few routine actions, then you are hauled over the coals for not following SOP's .... even though the SOP's contradict themselves in two or three places, and you HAVE followed the SOPs in one book. when you point this out you get told "DON'T be a F**king smarta%se " (yes... sworn at!!!)
A lot of the time, when you are rostered a break, they also throw in an aircraft change - which means that you can work for 8 hours without a break, and no food provided. IF you say "no, I am going to HAVE my break" then all hell breaks loose....
Add to the fact that most new employees in admin/clerical roles are now singaporean, with no regard for the employee, but an inbuilt sense of deferral to management then the help to the employee becomes less. There was a case where an F/A wanted to move to a check in role. She was told "I will interview you, but you won't get the job because KLH has TOLD me that I must employ this (singaporean) girl. If I do not employ her in the vacant check in position, then I must employ her elsewhere.... ie supernumery, and it comes out of my budget"
As I said before though, when things run smoothly - and a few years ago as well, it was / is a GREAT place to work. As soon as the screws got tightened, then it became less enjoyable.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
1 Post
Apache,
That's right on the money.
I too have been sworn at by a certain "manager" of c&t.
What can you say, his exceptional people skills obviously keep him in the job.
An accident or incident is not too far off in my opinion. Cultures like this do not foster open communications.
That's right on the money.
I too have been sworn at by a certain "manager" of c&t.
What can you say, his exceptional people skills obviously keep him in the job.
An accident or incident is not too far off in my opinion. Cultures like this do not foster open communications.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bloomin heck!!
If HALF of what apache has said here is true ( and I suspect it's considerably more) then stuff trying to get a seat with the regionals. I'm one of those folks that has been following the pilot situation with a CPL/MEIR/ATPL's but employed as a professional in another industry. From Apache's post, I simply cannot believe this level of UN professionalism can exist in aviation today. Yes I've heard snippets of stories from others but this seems like a complete nightmare!! The impression here is of an industry which is simply trying to screw its employees for everything, their enthusiasm, personal lives, anything they got!! and treat them like sh*t into the bargain.
Why on earth I'd want to switch to that I'll never know. I love flying (as most do), but not that much.
Why on earth I'd want to switch to that I'll never know. I love flying (as most do), but not that much.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hell...where angels ride harleys
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
any idea how many more have left? or Are leaving?
I wonder how REX would react if someone like AIRTEX or SKYTRANS publicly stated that REX were "poaching" their pilots?
probably stopped now anyway, as people realise that the t&c's aren't worth the hassle.
I wonder how REX would react if someone like AIRTEX or SKYTRANS publicly stated that REX were "poaching" their pilots?
probably stopped now anyway, as people realise that the t&c's aren't worth the hassle.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quite right, the T & C's are not worth the hassle. I would love to work for a regional such as REX but I am one of those persons who cannot do a job if I dont feel that I am being correctly remunerated.
I have 6000 TT, 3000 ME turbine command and am under 40. Being a baggage handler for the rest of my career would not make me feel respected and the fact that I would have to start on the FO's wage is the nail in the coffin. Additionally, walking 2K's to change A/C in the middle of a shift and look after kids and grannies is a distraction from what you should be doing. Change all that and my resume will be in the mix.
I have 6000 TT, 3000 ME turbine command and am under 40. Being a baggage handler for the rest of my career would not make me feel respected and the fact that I would have to start on the FO's wage is the nail in the coffin. Additionally, walking 2K's to change A/C in the middle of a shift and look after kids and grannies is a distraction from what you should be doing. Change all that and my resume will be in the mix.
