Merged: Qantaslink Traineeship/Cadetship/General Employment
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere
Would you prefer they ask how long it would take at the Link before they could move somewhere else to get a command????? 
Maybe, just maybe, there are some (not all) of these new FOs who are planning a long career at the Link and would like to know. Captaincy not only comes with additional responsibility etc, but also carries a financial gain that may be important to an FO considering a family or other lifestyle decisions. After all, an FO wage at the Link is hardly good money.
Of course there will be Gen Y'ers, and anyone else you care to call impatient, "me me me", "I want it now", "I'm too good to be a FO", "I have the minimums so I should have my upgrade by now", type of people but don't paint them all with the same brush.
Maybe, just maybe, there are some (not all) of these new FOs who are planning a long career at the Link and would like to know. Captaincy not only comes with additional responsibility etc, but also carries a financial gain that may be important to an FO considering a family or other lifestyle decisions. After all, an FO wage at the Link is hardly good money.
Of course there will be Gen Y'ers, and anyone else you care to call impatient, "me me me", "I want it now", "I'm too good to be a FO", "I have the minimums so I should have my upgrade by now", type of people but don't paint them all with the same brush.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 980
Likes: 13
From: Sydney, Australia
That seems like an odd move. If you have gone the 'old' route to CPL you will have at least 250 hours when you qualify for the advanced course, if you have gone the integrated 150 hour course you probably won't.
So requiring guys to have 250 hours total doesn't mean they are necessarily getting people with any more experience than a fresh CPL. It means if you've done a 150 hour course you will need to go (work to) build hours but if you have a 250 hour CPL you won't. 250PIC or 400TT would be a better hour threshold if they wanted to avoid CPLs straight from flight school.
So requiring guys to have 250 hours total doesn't mean they are necessarily getting people with any more experience than a fresh CPL. It means if you've done a 150 hour course you will need to go (work to) build hours but if you have a 250 hour CPL you won't. 250PIC or 400TT would be a better hour threshold if they wanted to avoid CPLs straight from flight school.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
The minimums are just that, the last Adelaide course had an average of about 1500 with 100+ multi and a few years industry experience. Just because you have the direct entry requirements doesn't guarantee a direct entry position.
If you did initially get accepted with the bare minimums, the expected wait times before starting in Adelaide and then going to Sydney afterwards would allow you to build up 4-500 hours extra in a typical GA job.
If you did initially get accepted with the bare minimums, the expected wait times before starting in Adelaide and then going to Sydney afterwards would allow you to build up 4-500 hours extra in a typical GA job.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
From: On the equator
The minimums are just that, the last Adelaide course had an average of about 1500 with 100+ multi and a few years industry experience. Just because you have the direct entry requirements doesn't guarantee a direct entry position.
For those who have successfully been given the nod for DEFO positions, what sort of experience do you have?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
are some bases more in demand than others?
Melbourne has had a waiting list for over six years. Time to get a Melbourne basing varies between a few months up to two years, depending on what you're after (i.e. FO/Capt/Dash-8/Q400). I can only think of one FO in the past six years who got based in Melbourne within three months of being checked to line.
Perth and Mildura have the required crew complements (Not 100% sure about Perth), but the wait for a basing there wouldn't be too long as many Perth crew are waiting for Melbourne positions. AFAIK, all the Mildura FO's are waiting for Melbourne basings, so if you're after Mildura the wait may be short.
DIVOSH!
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Darwin
Cheers for that.
Melbs is home but not looking to get back anytime soon. Would love to live in Perth at some stage though so at least its not too long of a wait.
Why is Melbs so popular, I know its a big city but I assumed Sydney and Melbs would have similar positives and both have a lot of people trying to return home.
Anyone have ideas on rosters?
Melbs is home but not looking to get back anytime soon. Would love to live in Perth at some stage though so at least its not too long of a wait.
Why is Melbs so popular, I know its a big city but I assumed Sydney and Melbs would have similar positives and both have a lot of people trying to return home.
Anyone have ideas on rosters?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
Why is Melbs so popular, I know its a big city but I assumed Sydney and Melbs would have similar positives and both have a lot of people trying to return home.
There is no comparison between being based out of Melbourne compared with Sydney. Melbourne wins hands down. (I'm not talking about non-work lifestyle here.)
A quick look at the current Perth roster for FO's indicates a very laid back pattern. You wont be working very hard there, and only a few overnights per roster. Great if you like relaxing, not so great if you're building hours, consolidating your skill-set, or need the extra cash that you get from overnights.
DIVOSH!
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Darwin
Cheers for all the info DIVOSH
One last question I got trawling through this thread is that Qlink had a reputation for not giving consecutive days off. Is this still the case?
Rosters can suck sometimes, I work shift work now so not really fussed. Just trying to get a feel for what its really like out there.
One last question I got trawling through this thread is that Qlink had a reputation for not giving consecutive days off. Is this still the case?
Rosters can suck sometimes, I work shift work now so not really fussed. Just trying to get a feel for what its really like out there.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Cairns
Hi John,
DITO to what Di_Vosh had to say.
Rostering, days off etc etc has quite a bit to do with fleet you are on and which base.
Generally speaking the regional lifestyle is a good one, I can only speak from the perspective as a northerner, there are more often than not consecutive days off, you can generally make requests to suit your events calender and everyone is generally pretty flexible.
It is a good job if your ego will allow you to fly an aircraft that has the propeller outside of the engine cowl.......
DITO to what Di_Vosh had to say.
Rostering, days off etc etc has quite a bit to do with fleet you are on and which base.
Generally speaking the regional lifestyle is a good one, I can only speak from the perspective as a northerner, there are more often than not consecutive days off, you can generally make requests to suit your events calender and everyone is generally pretty flexible.
It is a good job if your ego will allow you to fly an aircraft that has the propeller outside of the engine cowl.......
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Perth
johnwells3366. I hope you mention all your concerns and frustrations in your interview (if you get one).
And now your concern about not getting consecutive rostered days off. Hell I'll mention it to them for you if ya want? You appear to be one of the few people brave enough to include their full name in their PPRune username. You're particularly brave for attaching a full name to a bunch of complaints about a company you're trying to get a job with.
I have also forked out the money and was waiting for an interview in August, looks like that will be a complete waist of money.
Would be nice if they emailed to at least let us know, its a big ask I know for the aviation industry but the rest of the world manages to treat people a bit better.
Ahhhhh a tad frustrated
Would be nice if they emailed to at least let us know, its a big ask I know for the aviation industry but the rest of the world manages to treat people a bit better.
Ahhhhh a tad frustrated
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Darwin
Haha venting because I want to get in so bad, yeah Ill make the worst employee in history.
Because I am casual at 2 jobs both with night shift, it can be long stretches with out consecutive days off and days with out sleep (something I am sure most young pilots have done). Not an issue as I enjoy the money. It was not a complaint simply a question.
Thanks for your input Easie
Because I am casual at 2 jobs both with night shift, it can be long stretches with out consecutive days off and days with out sleep (something I am sure most young pilots have done). Not an issue as I enjoy the money. It was not a complaint simply a question.
Thanks for your input Easie
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 808
Likes: 31
From: Home
If you don't put any roster requests in for RDO's, you should generally speaking, get 4 x 2 days off. Maybe 3 x 2 and 2 single days.
The more requests for specific DO's you put in, the higher chance you have of getting more single DO's and less pairs.
In all my years in QLink, the only times I get more single DO's than pairs, is because I've put quite a few requests in.
You generally get 8 requests per 28 day roster period. Why not just request 4 pairs of RDO's? A mate of mine used to bid for every weekend off and would get it 90% of the time!
The more requests for specific DO's you put in, the higher chance you have of getting more single DO's and less pairs.
In all my years in QLink, the only times I get more single DO's than pairs, is because I've put quite a few requests in.
You generally get 8 requests per 28 day roster period. Why not just request 4 pairs of RDO's? A mate of mine used to bid for every weekend off and would get it 90% of the time!