Whats the story Virgin?
Airline recruiting in Australia works in very mysterious ways, you could probably solve global warming and the oil crisis more easily and quickly.
The local airfield that I operate from lots a guys have applications in with Virgin, most have around 2000-3000 hour mark with a mix of command multi, multi crew and turbine, but no luck yet the junior female instructor from the local flying schools gets in with very little multi time. Likewise a mate joined Ansett in 1991, and when they folded put in application with Virgin and has never had a reply. Likewise myself had an application in with Kendall's when they did their big recruiting drive in the late 90's, with about 6000 hours including multi-crew turbine on Metro and single-pilot multi, never got an interview or any response from then, so go figure!
The local airfield that I operate from lots a guys have applications in with Virgin, most have around 2000-3000 hour mark with a mix of command multi, multi crew and turbine, but no luck yet the junior female instructor from the local flying schools gets in with very little multi time. Likewise a mate joined Ansett in 1991, and when they folded put in application with Virgin and has never had a reply. Likewise myself had an application in with Kendall's when they did their big recruiting drive in the late 90's, with about 6000 hours including multi-crew turbine on Metro and single-pilot multi, never got an interview or any response from then, so go figure!
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The reality is you are dealing with a HR dept.
In my expererience, a bunch of people who know absolutely nothing about flying or a jet from their elbow.
You need to be creative to get fast tracked eg: an insider or an unpublished phone number.
Otherwise you're just in the lucky dip like everyone else.
Good luck.
MAX
In my expererience, a bunch of people who know absolutely nothing about flying or a jet from their elbow.
You need to be creative to get fast tracked eg: an insider or an unpublished phone number.
Otherwise you're just in the lucky dip like everyone else.
Good luck.
MAX
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All comments posted are absolutely correct! Especially the one about people in HR departments that do not knowing anything about aeroplanes or pilots!!! Nothing could be truer than that!
As for the upublished number, anyone care to share it!!!!????
As for the upublished number, anyone care to share it!!!!????
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Hey Bunglerat,
Are you suggesting that VB didn't do any sim checking before employing previously and then found that the employees couldn't handle the plane?
I thought the way it worked was that you paid for your endorsement with one of those on offer and then the VB Check Pilot did your Type Rating Check which became your " interview" sim as well as the test for CASA to accept the training under the VB AOC ( dubious in my opp. to say the least).I believe that the employment contract was supposed to be signed after a successful ride but, before the paperwork to make it appear legal .
If they subsequently found crew to be not up to standard,how honest was the Type Rating Test? Surely a Certification from their own Standards Department that the candidate was safe and capable would ensure that they can handle the plane? Maybe not, in the brave new world.
Cessnaman172 ,
I have lots of hours in a 172 ,all good fun and hard work .Can you still honestly count hours after 25 odd years? Must be some statute of limitations?
Even a highly funded and professional interview process is well known to be notoriously unrealiable with many top people never getting a look and many crazys slipping through the net.
I have heard of more than one getting through the VB Net with recommendations from family high up in the system.
They are not worth waiting for. In Fact , I would choose Dragon above VB every day of the week. Cathay are also looking as are many,many other good operators.There are turbo prop jobs around that may lead to bigger jet equipment.So most are foreign,.....so what?
Bucket loads more money with some of these operators than you will ever see in VB and you won't have to shell out for the endorsement.
Don't limit yourself to Australia, it's a much smaller wide world out there than it used to be.Australian aviation is improving as far as equipment goes but the conditions are taking a much bigger hit.When some of these lowcosts fall by the wayside ( in a country when only about 20% of 19 mill people fly ,can you really sustain 4 domestic airlines and 3 internationals?),or , when the pilots have had enough of the low salaries, there will be big rush of qualified jet pilots trying to get into solid carriers overseas. Beat them to it.
Just remember, when you have gotten over this hump ( and you will), after your career has become stratospheric and you are interviewing other 'hopefuls' for a job,..... remember when.
Give another sucker a break or at least a friendly ear.
Oh, and don't forget me! I may well be asking you for a job one day.
Are you suggesting that VB didn't do any sim checking before employing previously and then found that the employees couldn't handle the plane?
I thought the way it worked was that you paid for your endorsement with one of those on offer and then the VB Check Pilot did your Type Rating Check which became your " interview" sim as well as the test for CASA to accept the training under the VB AOC ( dubious in my opp. to say the least).I believe that the employment contract was supposed to be signed after a successful ride but, before the paperwork to make it appear legal .
If they subsequently found crew to be not up to standard,how honest was the Type Rating Test? Surely a Certification from their own Standards Department that the candidate was safe and capable would ensure that they can handle the plane? Maybe not, in the brave new world.
Cessnaman172 ,
I have lots of hours in a 172 ,all good fun and hard work .Can you still honestly count hours after 25 odd years? Must be some statute of limitations?
Even a highly funded and professional interview process is well known to be notoriously unrealiable with many top people never getting a look and many crazys slipping through the net.
I have heard of more than one getting through the VB Net with recommendations from family high up in the system.
They are not worth waiting for. In Fact , I would choose Dragon above VB every day of the week. Cathay are also looking as are many,many other good operators.There are turbo prop jobs around that may lead to bigger jet equipment.So most are foreign,.....so what?
Bucket loads more money with some of these operators than you will ever see in VB and you won't have to shell out for the endorsement.
Don't limit yourself to Australia, it's a much smaller wide world out there than it used to be.Australian aviation is improving as far as equipment goes but the conditions are taking a much bigger hit.When some of these lowcosts fall by the wayside ( in a country when only about 20% of 19 mill people fly ,can you really sustain 4 domestic airlines and 3 internationals?),or , when the pilots have had enough of the low salaries, there will be big rush of qualified jet pilots trying to get into solid carriers overseas. Beat them to it.
Just remember, when you have gotten over this hump ( and you will), after your career has become stratospheric and you are interviewing other 'hopefuls' for a job,..... remember when.
Give another sucker a break or at least a friendly ear.
Oh, and don't forget me! I may well be asking you for a job one day.
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I agree with the comments about looking overseas. There are plenty of operators in Hong Kong looking for pilots. I know a guy who is in Hong Kong now, who also applied to Virgin and heard nothing.
He has 4500+ hrs most on turbines, and was hired, trained and over in HK in the space of 3 months. He isn't with the best paid airline, but is making more than if he went to Jetstar or Virgin. He also didn't need to pay for an endorsement.
He has 4500+ hrs most on turbines, and was hired, trained and over in HK in the space of 3 months. He isn't with the best paid airline, but is making more than if he went to Jetstar or Virgin. He also didn't need to pay for an endorsement.
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Quote....cessna172 " I've been applying to Virgin Blue for around 4 years now'
...GET USED TO IT!!!...Ive had apps in with UPS for the last 20+yrs........Ireckon they dont want me.....but now Ijust send them in so personal can get a good laugh,take the piss out of me......roll my CV into a ball and take shots at the rubbish tin.......
piece of advice son.....just keep sending them,and dont take it personally if they dont show up at the doorstep with a limo to take you to HQ...for your job interview to fly that brand new 787
...also the HR Stuff....doesnt matter whether they know ****e about pilots,A/C etc.....has nothing to do with it....they are the ones you have to suck up to and get past if you wont the job.........now go stand in front of a mirror and start "sucking-up"...you obviously dont have many interviews under your belt........reality-fantasy.....reality-fantasy.....reality-fantasy
...GET USED TO IT!!!...Ive had apps in with UPS for the last 20+yrs........Ireckon they dont want me.....but now Ijust send them in so personal can get a good laugh,take the piss out of me......roll my CV into a ball and take shots at the rubbish tin.......piece of advice son.....just keep sending them,and dont take it personally if they dont show up at the doorstep with a limo to take you to HQ...for your job interview to fly that brand new 787
...also the HR Stuff....doesnt matter whether they know ****e about pilots,A/C etc.....has nothing to do with it....they are the ones you have to suck up to and get past if you wont the job.........now go stand in front of a mirror and start "sucking-up"...you obviously dont have many interviews under your belt........reality-fantasy.....reality-fantasy.....reality-fantasy
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All Spades, by the time line training is completed, I'd say all drivers are at an acceptable standard. Whatever your opinion of VB as a LCC, I don't know of anyone within the organisation that would check a newbie to line if he/she wasn't up to scratch. That's not to say however, that there were not (and will continue to be) those who get through their initial endorsement training with a comfortable margin - and those who barely scrape through by the skin of their teeth, thus requiring additional line training to address any issues.
Last edited by The Bunglerat; 9th Jan 2008 at 23:52. Reason: Spelling
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Bunglerat,
I have nothing against VB per say. I do have respect for Branson's achievements and VB is one of them.
I am dead against paying for endorsements and VB started this low act.
Further the way in which I was told it was done at first( no idea what happens now) was not done by any other airline that I know of. The AOC only allowed for endorsing of employees to maintain standards. Getting the guy to pay his own way , then checking him and getting him to sign a contract so you could legally sign the papers is only a way of showing GA attitude ( shonky).
I suppose you work for them and I noted that you never bothered to mention those who don't make the standard.
Is there therefore only be a green band and a grey band.How big is the grey band?
No, I never applied, rejected,whatever. I was flying for much bigger operation when they started and still do.
I don't like what I see in Aust and I feel for the guys who have to pay far more than I did to learn to fly .When they finally get to what should be their professional Nirvana, they find that there is an entry fee.
I don't just single out VB ,it's all of them.
I am a believer in voting with your feet.
I have nothing against VB per say. I do have respect for Branson's achievements and VB is one of them.
I am dead against paying for endorsements and VB started this low act.
Further the way in which I was told it was done at first( no idea what happens now) was not done by any other airline that I know of. The AOC only allowed for endorsing of employees to maintain standards. Getting the guy to pay his own way , then checking him and getting him to sign a contract so you could legally sign the papers is only a way of showing GA attitude ( shonky).
I suppose you work for them and I noted that you never bothered to mention those who don't make the standard.
Is there therefore only be a green band and a grey band.How big is the grey band?
No, I never applied, rejected,whatever. I was flying for much bigger operation when they started and still do.
I don't like what I see in Aust and I feel for the guys who have to pay far more than I did to learn to fly .When they finally get to what should be their professional Nirvana, they find that there is an entry fee.
I don't just single out VB ,it's all of them.
I am a believer in voting with your feet.
All spades, before you blow too much spoke up Branson's arse, go and have a read of the Branson the Unauthorised Autobiography, written by a well regarded journalist and then go and read the authorised Branson Autobiography version which you can purchase when you fly on Virgin Blue!
Best not to turn up to your interview at Virgin with the unauthorised autobiography under your arm.
A very interesting read including the details on Virgin Atlantic and near failure.
Best not to turn up to your interview at Virgin with the unauthorised autobiography under your arm.
A very interesting read including the details on Virgin Atlantic and near failure.
