Mega Merged: REX Recruitment/Cadetship and Working for REX
From what I gather old mate they already are! If you look at the REX seniority list (Approx 250+), REX have more "pilots" on the books now than ever before. However, they have not reinstated any of their cancelled runs (all because of lack of crew), and are still cancelling flights due to the lack of available Captains, although the reduced January schedule has mitigated this significantly.
So what happens when demand starts to pick up in a couple weeks? Just more of the same I suppose!
The only thing the Cadet program, and the employment of low-timers has done to date is artificially fatten up the numbers. Oh, and eliminate the regular casual day payments for F/O's. Sorry guys, time to try and really survive on $15K P/A less than the average wage!
So what happens when demand starts to pick up in a couple weeks? Just more of the same I suppose!
The only thing the Cadet program, and the employment of low-timers has done to date is artificially fatten up the numbers. Oh, and eliminate the regular casual day payments for F/O's. Sorry guys, time to try and really survive on $15K P/A less than the average wage!
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JQ about to ramp up recruiting again.....and also vb by the look of it...
better upgrade the cadets fast to fill all the leaving cptns positions, seeing lkh is only willing to give 2% in the new eba..
better upgrade the cadets fast to fill all the leaving cptns positions, seeing lkh is only willing to give 2% in the new eba..
Probably the subject of another thread, but keep an eye on a certain struggling QLD operator. Perhaps more breathing space for REX, and the only way they will move back to QLD after the late 2007 debacle.
Mind you, it will all be dependent on them grabbing the drivers before the opposition gets them. Otherwise it could be a very short lived revival!
Mind you, it will all be dependent on them grabbing the drivers before the opposition gets them. Otherwise it could be a very short lived revival!
Just an update for anyone who is interested on what Rex DE applicants are going through at the moment.
A lot are on 'active' hold. Have been told during early November to expect and be ready for a start in Dec or Jan, and no further correspondence has been received since then. Further to this.....messages left and emails sent with the applicable person....have not been replied to.
Most that i know would potentially be upgradable in 6-12 months as they have ATPL and multi requirements met.
People are starting to look (and get in) elseware.
A lot are on 'active' hold. Have been told during early November to expect and be ready for a start in Dec or Jan, and no further correspondence has been received since then. Further to this.....messages left and emails sent with the applicable person....have not been replied to.
Most that i know would potentially be upgradable in 6-12 months as they have ATPL and multi requirements met.
People are starting to look (and get in) elseware.
Typical behaviour Chadzat, and not just from REX management, but nonetheless typical.
The assertion by the REX Chief of staff (or whatever his title is these days) that by the middle of 09' REX will have a "surplus of pilots" has apparently been swallowed by more than one REX manager. As such they probably feel there is no need to respond to messages and emails!
By the middle of 09', it will be interesting indeed to see what the reality will become.
The assertion by the REX Chief of staff (or whatever his title is these days) that by the middle of 09' REX will have a "surplus of pilots" has apparently been swallowed by more than one REX manager. As such they probably feel there is no need to respond to messages and emails!
By the middle of 09', it will be interesting indeed to see what the reality will become.
I smell a rat here VH-XXX.
The move out of Mangalore is definitely on the cards. Whether the Cadet program actually arrives in Wagga Wagga, well...?
Rex are bottom heavy with pilots. The reduced January schedule has resulted in a true "surplus" of pilots including Captains!!! As virtually all of REX A/C are fully owned, then having them in the air less, and with a solid load factor (as has been the case in recent weeks) means that the imperative to return to an expanded (normal) schedule just may not be there. See where we are going here?
I reckon LKH is about to lower the boom on the Cadet program. He already has too many drivers, and with the major airlines defering their recruitment, he can afford the luxury of not having to compete for labour.
As the vast majority of REX routes are monopolies, with absolutely no-one in a position to compete, it will mean that most ports will now be offered say 4 even 2 flights a day instead of 6. If you want to fly, then you had better line up early to grab what seats are available. No more crewing issues (in the short term at least) and load factors that are a been counters dream.
As for the bottom 20 or so on the seniority list, well that's life boys and girls. Rex will not hesitate to cut you loose as soon as it suits them!
The move out of Mangalore is definitely on the cards. Whether the Cadet program actually arrives in Wagga Wagga, well...?
Rex are bottom heavy with pilots. The reduced January schedule has resulted in a true "surplus" of pilots including Captains!!! As virtually all of REX A/C are fully owned, then having them in the air less, and with a solid load factor (as has been the case in recent weeks) means that the imperative to return to an expanded (normal) schedule just may not be there. See where we are going here?
I reckon LKH is about to lower the boom on the Cadet program. He already has too many drivers, and with the major airlines defering their recruitment, he can afford the luxury of not having to compete for labour.
As the vast majority of REX routes are monopolies, with absolutely no-one in a position to compete, it will mean that most ports will now be offered say 4 even 2 flights a day instead of 6. If you want to fly, then you had better line up early to grab what seats are available. No more crewing issues (in the short term at least) and load factors that are a been counters dream.
As for the bottom 20 or so on the seniority list, well that's life boys and girls. Rex will not hesitate to cut you loose as soon as it suits them!
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Oh, ok, didn't know there was any rats. Was there on Sunday and a local told me they would be out by the end of the month and off to Wagga citing conflicts as the cause. No idea what he was on about until I looked in here. He then said another school in Melb was on their way with primarily Indian trainees.
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G'day Krusty,
I read LKH's comments on 'retrenchment' with interest. As a cynical person I immediately thought it was scare tactics to justify a crappy EBA agreement, but now I'm not so sure. Surely the majority of people at the bottom of the list are Cadets. Chopping them will mean the company has wasted a large amount of time and money. Won't the company do all it can to try and keep them and flick the direct-entry guys instead?? I'm not sure where they would stand with that legally though.....
I read LKH's comments on 'retrenchment' with interest. As a cynical person I immediately thought it was scare tactics to justify a crappy EBA agreement, but now I'm not so sure. Surely the majority of people at the bottom of the list are Cadets. Chopping them will mean the company has wasted a large amount of time and money. Won't the company do all it can to try and keep them and flick the direct-entry guys instead?? I'm not sure where they would stand with that legally though.....
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Last on first off.........
I would suggest no saab drivers will be axed; perhaps look to the pelair metro drivers. maybe/hopefully for those folks a similiar offer as was extended to the airlink drivers to join the main rex saab fleet.
I would suggest no saab drivers will be axed; perhaps look to the pelair metro drivers. maybe/hopefully for those folks a similiar offer as was extended to the airlink drivers to join the main rex saab fleet.
VH-XXX. The rat I was refereing to wasn't meant to imply that the move from Mangalore was not proceeding. It is.
The rat I smell is that the move out of Mangalore may be followed by a very brief stay in Wagga Wagga! IE: LKH is going to wind up the Cadet program, and once in Wagga, it may be much easier to just make it all go away?
CTOT340, irrespective of whether the redundant pilots are Cadets or not, the retrenchments will happen in reverse order of seniority. As for the company having wasted an enormous amount of time and money, since when has that been an issue when arrogance and pride are on the line?
The rat I smell is that the move out of Mangalore may be followed by a very brief stay in Wagga Wagga! IE: LKH is going to wind up the Cadet program, and once in Wagga, it may be much easier to just make it all go away?
CTOT340, irrespective of whether the redundant pilots are Cadets or not, the retrenchments will happen in reverse order of seniority. As for the company having wasted an enormous amount of time and money, since when has that been an issue when arrogance and pride are on the line?
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food for thought
I'm curios Krusty and co, if cadets have on paper a 'guarenteed job as FO on the SAAB upon successful completion of the program' and the redundancies do happen, where does Rex stand legally?
If they cull from the bottom of the seniority list as you say Krusty, this doesn't include cadets as they dont actually have a seniority number yet.
Perhaps they'll need to cut FOs so that the cadets can get in considering some hefty promises that have been made...?
(Just speculation of course...
)
If LKH is really ordering the retrenchment of flight crew due to a "surplus", why have they not yet re-opened routes that have been cancelled and the Brisbane base?
Also, in response to the cadet command upgrades and not getting enough hours for it- have you flown over YMNG or around regional VIC and NSW lately? Nearly every second call sign is from the rex flying school. These guys have had enough time on their hands to do a lot of flying and you'll be surprised how much more (than the 70hour x-country command the course provides) they've been able to clock up with the low rates being charged. Many meeting the 100 hours at least...
food for thought anyway
If they cull from the bottom of the seniority list as you say Krusty, this doesn't include cadets as they dont actually have a seniority number yet.
Perhaps they'll need to cut FOs so that the cadets can get in considering some hefty promises that have been made...?
(Just speculation of course...
)If LKH is really ordering the retrenchment of flight crew due to a "surplus", why have they not yet re-opened routes that have been cancelled and the Brisbane base?
Also, in response to the cadet command upgrades and not getting enough hours for it- have you flown over YMNG or around regional VIC and NSW lately? Nearly every second call sign is from the rex flying school. These guys have had enough time on their hands to do a lot of flying and you'll be surprised how much more (than the 70hour x-country command the course provides) they've been able to clock up with the low rates being charged. Many meeting the 100 hours at least...
food for thought anyway
If I was a conspiracy theorist odyssey, I'd probably agree with some of the things you say. But whilst applying our food for thought we should always attempt to have a reasonable grasp of reality.
Here's the way it is. If prior to the Cadets obtaining a seniority number, Boss man decides to retrench established pilots off the bottom (as he is compelled to do), he will be equally compelled to re-employ those retrenched pilots prior to awarding any more seniority numbers, Cadets included. That's the EBA, that's the law.
Good point regarding REX not re-establishing the cut services. See the last sentence of this post!
As far as the Cadets without any previous flying experience obtaining the min 100 hours "real" command, it has been identified previously that this is but one of the hurdles they need to overcome. If by chance they manage to simply extend their training by 30 odd hours, then good luck to them. Somehow I think the been counters at Baxter Rd may have something to say in that regard. If you are hearing stacks of REX training callsigns, then good, but most thing come at a price! I believe that someone has mentioned something along the lines of an additional $4,000 for the difference!
We'll see how they go in around 5 years. Because that's the time frame required to amass the min 2,000 hours total under the AOC. Then there's the 500 multi command under the IFR?
If they last till then, jump through all the hoops, sail under the star of a benevolent regulator, survive their Training and Checks, then Hell, I'll be happy to let my family fly with them. My point has always been, the Cadet program does nothing to solve REX's chronic shortage of Captains and "upgradeble" F/O's. That's where the real problem lies.
Here's the way it is. If prior to the Cadets obtaining a seniority number, Boss man decides to retrench established pilots off the bottom (as he is compelled to do), he will be equally compelled to re-employ those retrenched pilots prior to awarding any more seniority numbers, Cadets included. That's the EBA, that's the law.
Good point regarding REX not re-establishing the cut services. See the last sentence of this post!
As far as the Cadets without any previous flying experience obtaining the min 100 hours "real" command, it has been identified previously that this is but one of the hurdles they need to overcome. If by chance they manage to simply extend their training by 30 odd hours, then good luck to them. Somehow I think the been counters at Baxter Rd may have something to say in that regard. If you are hearing stacks of REX training callsigns, then good, but most thing come at a price! I believe that someone has mentioned something along the lines of an additional $4,000 for the difference!
We'll see how they go in around 5 years. Because that's the time frame required to amass the min 2,000 hours total under the AOC. Then there's the 500 multi command under the IFR?
If they last till then, jump through all the hoops, sail under the star of a benevolent regulator, survive their Training and Checks, then Hell, I'll be happy to let my family fly with them. My point has always been, the Cadet program does nothing to solve REX's chronic shortage of Captains and "upgradeble" F/O's. That's where the real problem lies.
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How the heck is a low time cadet FO supposed to get 500 multi command, stuck in the right hand seat.
I suspect that the cadet's and direct entry guys for that matter (min 250 multi req's) aren't being told of this massive hole in their career progression plans. I had been told that captain upgrades have been fairly rapid 12-18 mths as FO, i can't see this being at all true. Makes the time spent on the measley FO pay even longer if ya don't have the upgrade requirements.
Is there a way around this??? ICUS?? Then ya need a ****load of training capt's, which i don't think they have.
One thinks they would be better off doing a multi/CIR in their own time, goin bush for the 500 multi command, then jumping in the direct entry route, REX or otherwise........
I suspect that the cadet's and direct entry guys for that matter (min 250 multi req's) aren't being told of this massive hole in their career progression plans. I had been told that captain upgrades have been fairly rapid 12-18 mths as FO, i can't see this being at all true. Makes the time spent on the measley FO pay even longer if ya don't have the upgrade requirements.
Is there a way around this??? ICUS?? Then ya need a ****load of training capt's, which i don't think they have.
One thinks they would be better off doing a multi/CIR in their own time, goin bush for the 500 multi command, then jumping in the direct entry route, REX or otherwise........