Hi Meds,
I hope for your sake and the others that this actually works out for you all, opportunities sometimes come round in the strangest ways and I applaud you for the courage to take it and I hope you can look back at all the ones who made fun of you or discouraged you to take this chance and share with us all the adventures and things you learnt over there. I realise that other countries do things very differently and we cant be narrow minded, saying that please do be careful and I'm sure you have done your due research and have made an informed and educated decision.
Just remember that whenever you attempt something thats a little out there or a little different or a little risky you'll find alot of people telling you it cant be done or thats stupid and try to descourage you, chances are its because they havent got the courage to do it themselves and sadly to say this industry knows how to bag out, back stab and make fun of there fellow pilots.
Good luck to you all and I hope you return to Oz with some awsome stories to tell of the adventure you've had over there.:ok:

Hi Guys,
im curious to know if this Indonesian recruitment drive is solely targetting Aussies, or is it open to other nationalities as well?

And also perhaps a heads up on how the Company decides on who gets to the ATR or Xi'an aircraft fleet?

Safe landings

What I also find intriguing is that Merpati has just opened their Part 141 cadet pilot training school. Approval was given in August this year, they have two C172s and will have ten more in 2010. If they have they own cadets, then why have this programme for non Indonesian nationals?

This is not "bagging the idea" as Andy05 puts it; just asking where it all fits in, in the larger scheme of things?

training wheels
 

I would say that:

a) most of the young topguns over there just want to fly jets and do get their own way bypassing flying turboprops.

b) Australia has a good standard of pilot's. Maybe this poaching will increase safety in the long run?

BTW: They are also seeking Aussie instructors to pilot those 172's you speak of.

Ok, fair enough. And do you have a contact for their flight instructor job too? :)

Jobs for sale
 

Yeah mate, but that C172 instructing job'll cost you 1000 bucks thanks.;)

You're right, but don't let this Multi Turbo-prop cloud your vision. All newbies get 'shiny jet syndrome' (my self included), but believe me, like your first dose of the clap, you will get over it.

I just suggest all involved are very cautious about handing over money for a job. If it looks like a fish, swims like a fish and smells like a fish, then it probably is a fish. And something here smells somewhat fishy.

So meds, you got the job without any interview, sim or psychometric tests? Or were these all done last week by Merpati HR?

Good on you medsdeb for having a go.
And good to see overseas managements recognising the good training given in Aus. If you are keen, you will enjoy the ATR and the change of culture, and develop more of a World outlook on aviation than the sometimes bitchy competitive struggle one endures in a smaller environment. Also good to see those airlines prepared to take on other culturally different crew to reinforce safety in their patch too. You should always be prepared to speak up if you are not happy with some things. Your life may depend on it..!!

Merpati bowing down to Aussie pilots
 

Hi guys, sounds like a bit of an ego stroke doesn't it? Can anyone say circle jerk? :rolleyes: (Not just cos I am a Kiwi)

The motive behind the recruitment of expats is not so high minded to me. There is a shortage of pilots in Indo. They only churn out 200 a year I hear. Not enough to cover expansion plans by the likes of Merpati, Lion, Garuda, Batavia, etc... all of whom are now seeking expats to top up the numbers. Which is good for expats needing a start. Very good if you can get a 737 rating and walk in to a job with 200 hrs like some...

If I was leasing ATR's to Indo I would add quite a few stipulations about experienced expats sitting in the front.

I would also be cautious about thinking that you are going to change the culture of Merpati and change the world.

Meds I haven't seen your PM's but I think classing them as positive and negative may be unhelpful. The point of this site is to get info from people who have been there and can give some pointers or a heads up. Few here would have flown for Merpati, but have seen them out and about and from that (and accident reports) have been able to glean quite a lot about how they operate.

Does anyone have first hand accounts that justify the reputation? As passengers, pilots, or observers?

Do your research and go in with your eyes open. I would think twice, and thrice before boarding one of their flights as a passenger... let alone as a line FO.

Some of the stories I have heard would make you break out in a cold sweat... I am sure it is all different now :ok:.

I for one would like to genuinely wish you the best of luck and would like to hear back - the full story - when you have been there for six months.

I can't believe what i am seeing! All of the reply's so far on SEVEN pages has ONE mention (Other than my previous one) of their safety record.

Google this airline and you will find an amazing amount of accidents and incidents involving Merpati aircraft.

Flyinkiwi10 is thwe only person to make comment on this issue which i find just amazing :sad:

It worries me that of so many people on here only two so far have thought about their safety culture! :ugh:

edit: :eek:

it was a genuine question considering the topic btw - just curious that you may have been Indonesian.

As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent


I really wish you good luck!!

awww cb, do you lack the testicular or instestinal fortitude to leave what you first wrote up?

j3

Too true Krankin, although I did mention theirs and other operators safety or lack thereof and allude to their Twotter wrecks earlier. The peliminary report for the fatal CFIT crash they had this year has been released on the Indonesian NTSC web site here.

Oh and the abandoned CN235 I mentioned, seems they are playing musical parts at the moment as the previously serviceable one has cancelled its schedule and is parked next to it as bits and pieces come off.

Flyinkiwi10 is speaking a lot of truth. Despite the GFC Indonesia has good growth and the airlines are all continuing to expand with a vengence. The primary motive for the hiring expats is most certainly not safety. Lion Air are after all taking 200 hr guys from Europe who are freshly 737NG endorsed (at their own expense naturally).

But back to Merpati, their President Director (CEO) Bambang Bhakti is somewhat of an embarrassment it seems. The MA60 deal was signed without the proper approvals and has caused the Government major headaches since. They had to return some 737's as they couldn't afford to fly them. This new term for SBY could conceivably see the Merpati issue dealt with.

To top it all off there was another CFIT accident yesterday in Papua - a Police PZL Skytruck, flying a route that I have done a countless number of times. Its horrificly sad but so incredibly frustrating that the same thing keeps on happening.

oh now i wanna know what he wrote:(

Krankin
Don't look backwards all the time. Thats not how you fly an aircraft, by looking in the rear view mirror. My post was about being an agent for improvement in safety in the Future. That said, in the past, I have learnt much from reading the investigations into the misfortunes of others, and the advice at the end of the post was still to be wary and apply what we in the Antipodes call 'Common Sense'. Some management will always be bad management, just keep that sort of management out of a cockpit..

I dont look backwareds when flying, theres a big tail there that stops me from doing it.

With regard to working for an operator that has a record THAT BAD, my word i look backwards man!!

Don't look backward?
 

Hi Frigate,

Exactly how much say do you expect FO's to have in a Merpati cockpit environment? If the Garuda (Merpati's bigger brother) Jogyakarta 2007 overrun report is anything to go by... very little. Sometimes (and I suspect frequently in this case) common practice contravenes common sense and you aren't the one making the call... so the only course of action may be to pucker those cheeks :ooh:.

Are they offering a time-line for future upgrades to LHS?

Commands on ATR or alike they want 4000TT. So at 900 hours a year for most, not very long.

I don't think this mob is recruiting from aus to increase safety rather it's just a matter of convenience it would seem they have a pilot shortage and aus has an over supply atm, it's not the first time we've seen airlines recruit low timers, skippers picked up that bloke from fast track with a bare cpl and mecir, then there was qlink trainees with 250hrs and 100PIC, it's probably the indos are a bit behind on the recruitment cycle....