On Airbus sim & instuctor time a factor, I look like going to Hong Kong for 330 conversion in a few months so possibly same for second officers.

Does anyone know if all the A330 slots are in SY or are some still in ML?

I believe the next course is scheduled for the 24th of September - anybody know when further courses are to be held this year, and possible fleet mixes?

Thanks.

The rumour about the Sim training is essentially true. So pack your bags for a month or so in some exotic locale guys.

The other rumour about the second sim that will be required for the A330, is that there is no bay that can take it in Sydney, and it will probably be located in Melbourne. Which makes the exercise of moving the current sim from Mel to Syd at the start of this year seem all the more like an appalling lack of foresight.

I have a start date and correspondence for the 21st of sep. Everyone on here is talking about the next course being the 24th of sep. Just curious to know how many others have a start on the 21st as well? or is the first day, a friday more a meet and great and the offical duties start on the 24th?

Regards

Waitinnomore

With all the courses going, just a quick question if anyone knows about timeframes if you have only applied recently.

I.E. what sort of timeframe from application to first call for interview, then testing, then start date?

That means you will be on the classic..........It's not bad if you like going to Perth....... a lot.

Commuting is not a "no-brainer". As a junior SO it can very expensive and very difficult. Rumored figures for new hires to the A330 are around 40. They have already started 15 or so. Assuming no cadets (there seniority outstrips everyones), then if you join in about 2 or 3 courses you will only be 15-20 from the bottom. This is best case. At 15 from the bottom you will be a "Rotator", will not be able to choose your trips and will cop a standby here and there. It will not be easy commuting for the first year or two.

If the last course is anything to go by, those that started Friday went to the A330, those that started Monday went to the 400. The 744 is the better plane for pay and conditions, it is rumored that the company starts the A330 TSO's a day or two earlier to give them seniority on the 744 guys - think of it as a consolation prize! Your first day includes getting your pass, uniform and books. You normally knock off by 11am.

Commuting can be as easy or difficult as you want to make it. It doesn't necessarily mean you can choose any flight and sometimes you have to go down the night before...

As for cost.. it is still a hell of a lot cheaper than living in Sydney!

Will A330 SOs be cross qualified onto the A380 ?
If so, has Qantas suggested a date that this may happen ?

Thanks

Sorry, I don't agree that it can be easy. You can always play it safe, give yourself plenty of extra flights, go down the night before, get into a commuter pad. This all costs time and money - and isn't easy.

I just want to highlight to new starters that commuting as a junior SO can be expensive, and time consuming. Now I'm not saying don't do it. Everyone has their own reasons, I just think comments such as it being a "no-brainer" and "easy" are quite misleading.

If you're thinking of commuting, be prepared for the cost of it (financially and in time).

It's been mentioned as a possibility in a newsletter, but nothing formal yet
Qantas has not. My guess - not in the next year

For those thinking of commuting, I have commuted for 6 years (excluding the 6 months for my course and first few patterns). The maximum it has cost me is $5000 gross (you get some back on tax for sims/ eps/ fbs).

Hope this helps

I commuted for 4 years from MEL on the -400. Not "Easy" but very do-able, especially if you are a pattern line holder. Cost about $1500 - $2000 (MAX before tax refund) per year. I was very conservative and probably spent a few more nights at the Inn or Ibis than I needed to. Also came up for fixed base sims etc.

I dont know what the 'Bus trips are like, but the -400 has a fair amount of work out of MEL which made alt pax useful.

Having said that, I would dread being a junior rotator , with standbys etc.

Fixed base sims, Cyclics, EPs etc are tax deductible.

Hope this helps

Anyone know if any calls have been made for the October course/s?

Also any idea of planned courses Oct/Nov/Dec?

Cheers.

Can anyone please tell me exactly what the QF and JQ medical examinations consist of. How detailed do they get?

I would appreciate some input especially from those that have more recently completed it.

Thanks.

just your normal class 1 plus some other tests, namely ECG, audiogram. You have to go to the opthamologist and get a blood test before you rock up...

400 courses starting 22nd oct, 19th nov, 12th dec and possibly 2/3 330 courses starting on the friday prior t these dates

does anyone know if the LOA161 rule has been changed yet? will the cadets starting soon get seniority?

Since when?

so its been canned...bout frickin time! should have happen ages ago