Life as a Second Officer at Qantas
Please correct me if im wrong.
I always assumed Qantas entry criteria were so low so they could lock a low time, low experienced pilot as SO and FO in for the many, many boring years of flying for the Qantas because they had no real command time of their own to apply for a better gig.
As opposed to going bush, doing the regionals, getting a command and then having your choice of anywhere in the world. i personally like choices and would prefer to have more than one type in my logbook when i die.
I always assumed Qantas entry criteria were so low so they could lock a low time, low experienced pilot as SO and FO in for the many, many boring years of flying for the Qantas because they had no real command time of their own to apply for a better gig.
As opposed to going bush, doing the regionals, getting a command and then having your choice of anywhere in the world. i personally like choices and would prefer to have more than one type in my logbook when i die.
Plenty of Bush bashers with stacks of regional time and more logbooks stamps than Australia post join Qf. Crew from all walks of life.
Nunc est bibendum
If you had the choice of A330/A380 or 747 what would you guys choose? Are there any particular advantages or disadvantages with each type?
There are advantages to one fleet over the other in terms of pay and lifestyle but they will affect each person differently so it's hard to say. 744 get's more pay than A330 crew. A380 S/Os will probably get about the same as the 744 drivers....possibly a bit more if they're doing lots of MEL-LAX and SYD-LAX. A330 crew get shorter trips closer to an Aussie time zone so less jet lag and you see the family a bit more often than the 744 crews who spend up to 14 days away from home.
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Thanks for the info guys
I recently got offered a job (stoked!) and the lovely recruiting ladies asked for my aircraft preference either a380, a330 or b747, although they did say it didn't guarentee anything. Its a tough choice....not that I'm complaining!
I recently got offered a job (stoked!) and the lovely recruiting ladies asked for my aircraft preference either a380, a330 or b747, although they did say it didn't guarentee anything. Its a tough choice....not that I'm complaining!
Nunc est bibendum
Mr Cat, it depends on aircraft type.
1st Year after having completed training: $80K.
2nd year: $100K
3rd year: $120-150K depending on aircraft type.
The variance between the 744/A380 and the A330 could be as much as $20-30K on those figures. Try a search of the forums for Qantas rates or similar and you should find some decent info. I know that I've put the numbers up a few times.
Marpoo, co-pilot endorsement and co-pilot instrument rating from memory. Is there a difference in training and checking requirements? Yep. Standard higher for the command rating, ability to land, amount of training given, etc.
1st Year after having completed training: $80K.
2nd year: $100K
3rd year: $120-150K depending on aircraft type.
The variance between the 744/A380 and the A330 could be as much as $20-30K on those figures. Try a search of the forums for Qantas rates or similar and you should find some decent info. I know that I've put the numbers up a few times.
Marpoo, co-pilot endorsement and co-pilot instrument rating from memory. Is there a difference in training and checking requirements? Yep. Standard higher for the command rating, ability to land, amount of training given, etc.
Nunc est bibendum
Qantas Pay rates remuneration
OK, I've hardened up the numbers a bit. These numbers aren't calendar year or FY, they're based upon time after checking out as a S/O.
Year 1: Pay rate 64.14/ hour. 744 S/Os will do about 1100 credit hours and average about 120 extra hours of overtime per annum. Add in simulators and ground training and you're looking at 1250 credit hours per annum. $80K Allowances are on top of that (About $15-20K but don't forget that you'll expend some/most/all of that when you're away depending on your eating/ drinking/ sight seeing/ vice habits. Company super is also on top of that although you'll lose some with your own (compulsory) super contribution I think.
A330 S/Os may do a bit less overtime- perhaps about 1/3 to a half- so do the maths on 1150 credit hours to be conservative. Drop (say) $6K.
Year 2: Pay rate for first half of the second year is $68 across all three types. Pay rate for second half of second year is $85 for 744 and $80 for A330- I didn't realise they were so close!
Year 3: 744 $89. A330 $85.
A380 pay rates not yet decided but I'd bet that they won't be more than the 744 given that it appears that there is growing support (supposedly) for fleet pay. What this means for S/O pay into the future I don't know.
Hope that assists. Hopefully it'll be a bit more 'searchable' also!
Year 1: Pay rate 64.14/ hour. 744 S/Os will do about 1100 credit hours and average about 120 extra hours of overtime per annum. Add in simulators and ground training and you're looking at 1250 credit hours per annum. $80K Allowances are on top of that (About $15-20K but don't forget that you'll expend some/most/all of that when you're away depending on your eating/ drinking/ sight seeing/ vice habits. Company super is also on top of that although you'll lose some with your own (compulsory) super contribution I think.
A330 S/Os may do a bit less overtime- perhaps about 1/3 to a half- so do the maths on 1150 credit hours to be conservative. Drop (say) $6K.
Year 2: Pay rate for first half of the second year is $68 across all three types. Pay rate for second half of second year is $85 for 744 and $80 for A330- I didn't realise they were so close!
Year 3: 744 $89. A330 $85.
A380 pay rates not yet decided but I'd bet that they won't be more than the 744 given that it appears that there is growing support (supposedly) for fleet pay. What this means for S/O pay into the future I don't know.
Hope that assists. Hopefully it'll be a bit more 'searchable' also!
akl-lax. not sure on frequency, maybe 3x a week?
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Are international pilots allowed to bring back 2 bottles of duty free alcohol from every trip, or is there some kind of annual limit? (just working out how best to support my habit)
I heard that a very experienced pilot close to a command on a 767 in Europe decided to come home to OZ and got into QF as second officer. With now several years seniority as S/O he can choose not to fly and stay on reserve and still earn a very comfortable "sit down" pay like the welfare dependant indiginous ones in Arnhem Land. Now that's what I call a good life style.
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Brown Cow tells us he recently got "offered" a job by Qantas!
I think he means he passed all the interviews and was "selected" for a job with Qantas!
Am I correct, so far BC...if not please correct me.
BC now wants to know how much duty free grog he can bring back into Oz following an o/s roster, to support his habit, as he tells us!
Now I presume BC hasn't yet commenced with Qantas...but he can correct me there also if I am wrong!
Could I suggest two things Brown Cow, to assist you with your future career, which I hope will be successful...
1. Have a think about your attitude, which sure doesn't impress me!
2. Make yourself known to Keg, who I suspect would also be suitably unimpressed, and learn from and model yourself on him!
I think he means he passed all the interviews and was "selected" for a job with Qantas!
Am I correct, so far BC...if not please correct me.
BC now wants to know how much duty free grog he can bring back into Oz following an o/s roster, to support his habit, as he tells us!
Now I presume BC hasn't yet commenced with Qantas...but he can correct me there also if I am wrong!
Could I suggest two things Brown Cow, to assist you with your future career, which I hope will be successful...
1. Have a think about your attitude, which sure doesn't impress me!
2. Make yourself known to Keg, who I suspect would also be suitably unimpressed, and learn from and model yourself on him!
Last edited by obie2; 23rd Jun 2008 at 09:27.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Methinks he's just having a laugh.
After all, isn't a keg something that holds a lot of beer?
After all, isn't a keg something that holds a lot of beer?
Keg said:
Lol. Well my sig block has the drinking part of it taken care of. 'Now is the time for drinking'. Nunc est bibendum.
I guess I could try and work out how 'now is the time for eating' goes!
Lol. Well my sig block has the drinking part of it taken care of. 'Now is the time for drinking'. Nunc est bibendum.
I guess I could try and work out how 'now is the time for eating' goes!