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Merged: V-australia Interviews, T's & C's etc?

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Old 1st Sep 2008, 12:26
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Merged: V-australia Interviews, T's & C's etc?

Love of them or hate them, supposedly they are recruiting.


Anyone any info on what to expect at the interview? Heard some interviewed recently, plz PM me with info if you could...

Ta.

Save the sarcasm please.
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Old 1st Sep 2008, 22:16
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I'm sure they are DUXNUTZ.

But will they get enough drivers (especially F/O's) with the deal they're offering.

You still out there Sir Donald?
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 01:00
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But will they get enough drivers (especially F/O's) with the deal they're offering.
They won't have a problem finding Captain's, plenty of people willing to sell their soul to be cruise F/O and if required cruise F/O's will be upgraded ASAP to fill the F/O seats!
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 02:27
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That's something I'm curious about Howard. You join QF or any other international airline as an S/O, do your time, and progress to the right seat. Logical career path.

If you join VA as an S/O that career path doesn't exist. What has been purported (move across to DJ after 3 years, and then move back after another 3!) simply lacks credibility not to mention practicality. Now if that were to change then maybe the poor T&C's offered (especially for F/O's) might fly. If it doesn't, then the money on offer may just have to be reviewed.

As for the current batch of S/O's,

Caveat Emptor boys and girls!
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 02:46
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if required cruise F/O's will be upgraded ASAP to fill the F/O seats!
Yeah but what about V OZ minimums for FO's?
  • 4,000 hours total flying time
  • 2,000 hours multi-crew, multi-engine jet aircraft in excess of 40,000 kgs
I highly doubt that there would be that many Cruise FO's with 2000 hours jet over 40T

So are they going to drop their own requirements that they stipulate?
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 03:05
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What about the entry requirements GA Trojan, I would assume that is only for direct entry candidates! Companies can vary requirements as required to fill the seats, there is no barrier to them fast tracking some of the more experienced cruise F/O's many of whom have considerable experience, even if they don't have time above 40T!
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 04:22
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Given the pathetically low remuneration on offer ($53K for an ATPL rated S/O) Howard, I can only speculate that the majority of S/O candidates are hoping for just that.

Problem is VA are due to start flying in DEC. Be interesting to see just how many F/O's they get by then.

The clock is ticking!
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 09:32
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Serious question, how do you know they haven't got the numbers?
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 09:40
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I am sure their will be enough young pilots out there willing to start of on the Cruise F/O wages.
So even if the bloggers here don't think the remuneration is adequate there will be some who think it is fine to get a foot in the door and get experience on the 777.
You cant always have what you want it doesnt matter what you do.
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 10:37
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They can't be having that much trouble getting FO's, I have 5000 tt with 3500 hours on jets over 40000kgs and haven't even received any replies to my application? Then again I may just not fit the profile they are looking for, but this would suggest they have plenty to choose from.
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 13:10
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Quote ga_trogan
Yeah but what about V OZ minimums for FO's?
  • 4,000 hours total flying time
  • 2,000 hours multi-crew, multi-engine jet aircraft in excess of 40,000 kgs
I highly doubt that there would be that many Cruise FO's with 2000 hours jet over 40T


G'day trogan, the above minimums for SFO's are only for direct entry pilots. Once you are in there is no requriment for the 2000 jet and can be promoted based on SIM performance and overall performance within the company etc when ever management sees fit. You are correct there are not many CFO's with 2000 jet over 40t however there are a few with close to or just over 1000 jet 40t
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 01:48
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BR715,

Can you tell me where in the VA industrial agreement (if you can call it that) does it mention any sort of progression from the back seat to the right seat. My understanding is that VA has only alluded to S/O's progressing, via DJ and then back again. Even though DJ HR have no official knowledge of this!

I would suggest that any talk of vertical progression from back to front within VA is speculation at best. Logically VA should do just that. But to date they have made no indication of it being a possibility.
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 05:17
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BO43,

As another famous Redhead once said,

Please explain?
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 05:37
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I think he is trying to bait you to see what it is you actually do fly....

J
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 06:53
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The V Australia application form says 'Flight Time requirements are preferred hours, but exceptions may be made dependent on the applicant's aircraft type and experience. Pilots with less experience than stipulated are welcome to apply.'

So even though I dont meet the FO requirements, I still put in my application. Though, I said in the 'please tell us why you want to work for VA/why should we hire you?' box, I'm only interested in becoming a FO and in the future a Captain.

Figured, if they dont call me I've lost nothing as I can't see myself accepting the SO T&C's, however if they accept me as a FO then it's a BIG WIN for me!


Not holding my breath..
go_soaring! instead
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 08:39
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Hi Krusty

You are indeed correct that the individual contract does not cover the progression of pilots specifically, in fact there are a lot of things that does not cover or is very vauge. It however does talk about general suitability and performance within the company at your specific role, be that as a SFO or a CFO.

What has been told to some candidates in the interview process (depending on there hours/experience) is that 1- To get some further experience, i.e flying sectors you will probably have to go back to VB at some point. Don't take this as gospel but apparently this would be to pilots with limited 2 crew operations or no previous time on jets or descent size turboprops (specifically guys off a baron, king Air)
2. Pilots with more experience i.e. previous jet experience or high time turboprop pilots to my knowledge were not told they MUST go back to D.J

In lieu of all this candidates were made aware of the reality of things. What i mean by this is that in 2-3 years (for example) there was no movement due to industry downturn etc pilots will be given the option to go back to VB however it wont be a mandatory thing. They were also told that the company would endevour to
promote people vertically. I guess this is all well and good to be told in the interview but where the problem lies is in these poorly written individual contracts which really as Krusty pointed out doesn't guarantee anything.

In a nut shell all you can do is go off what you were told in the interview and hope that when the time comes management will stick to what people were told in the interview process (dont hold your breath though)

Hope this answers your question Krusty
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 09:27
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$53K far out hope they will be offering other perks. I'm getting nearly dubble that on single pistons
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 09:55
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Thanks BR715.

Pretty much what I already knew. I Just think it's a shame in this day and age that a company is either unable or simply unwilling to give their professional candidates a reasonable measure of contractual stability.

Part of the hype over the launch of VA was they were going to have the best pilots available. Yet the reality is they offer substandard conditions and vauge career opportunities. So, will the pilots they attract be the best available? What else about them should we be wary of?

I think they could/should do better.
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 09:57
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It is always interesting to read these posts from those that are not on the inside and compare them to what is actually happening.

In the short term, the aviation world has changed dramatically. Even though there may be a shortage of pilot worldwide, there is an oversupply both in America and Australia. The bargaining power simply may not be there at this point unless you are willing to move far away from home.

For me, it comes down to the job and the people I work for...do I trust them? Is it a job that I love and am I willing to do? Do I look forward to going to work, do I respect the people I work for, do I trust them to do the right thing. In my last two companies, the answer was simply...NO. I didn't trust them, they were dishonest, they used their employees and it was all about the mighty dollar...at all costs. Never mind the future, today is it.

I have been involved with V now for about 10 weeks. I must say that I have never been involved with a better group of guys, dedicated to the success of the mission. I just finished my B777 type rating and I have to say that it was the most enjoyable course that I have ever been on. My training partner was simply superb, my instructors top notch, and the Vaustralia training manager...simply the best that I have ever been associated with. No egos, no games, no "make it harder than it has to be", simply get on with the business at hand. I have now been with 5 airlines and without a doubt, the atmosphere at Vaustralia is the best that I have ever or could ever imagine.

I have run into some of the training fight attendants for the company that I have worked with at other companies and they are simply the best flight attendants that I have worked with. They see what I see...something different across the Pacific. Vaustralia will be successful because of the people and talent that they are hiring, not by screwing the people they hire.

So for now, I trust them to do the right thing by me. I respect and admire each and every member that has taken the risk to join this new airline.

The pay isn't the best, but at the end of the day, enjoying your job and being proud of the company you work for is worth alot. I am proud to say that I am a First Officer at V and I believe that at a minimum we are going to drive United out of the market and compete ferociously with Qantas on the route.

No more petty games, no more egos, just a bunch of hard working people ready to make a difference.

So sit on your "high horse" and talk about how bad it is at V,,,then come join us in the crew room and see how much we enjoy it. I wouldn't trade the experience for all the "tea in China".
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Old 3rd Sep 2008, 10:13
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Good on you V-SFO some one who is in touch with reality.
I would love to join V Aust as a LAME on the 777 but unfortunately they wont be doing any of their on spanner turning for the forseeable future.

But I do believe if you have joined at the start of this operation and it turns out to be successful then $53k might just be the spring board to the right seat. Some companies still reward loyalty. QF isn't one of them, hopefully V Aust will be.

From my experience most people in the Virgin group are happy and willing, it reminds me of the way QF used to be.
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