Merged: virgin recruitment
 

is it possible to commute from brisbane or coolangatta for a sydney base?

Anything's possible with enough time and money!:rolleyes:

just wondering if guys are doing it

Yep, plenty are - from both ports... Whether they enjoy it or not is another thing, especially when it comes to day trips or reserve etc, but to answer your question, there are a handfull of Capt's and a couple of FO's that do it.

Incidentally, BNE has a Perth commuter and I have heard MEL has a BROOME commuter!

FORGETABOWDIT!!!

would u actually get twelve days off in 28 which are not reserve days?

First roster under the new EBA/rules gave me 18 days off in 28!

An average of 14 days of in 28 is what I have been getting for the last 12 months. Two FO's I had been flying with in the last week indicated they had 16 days off.

Take the good with the bad though!

Don't forget a couple of CNS and a TSV to BN, at least 1 AD to BN, several BN to ML, a few AD to ML.

PM me if you want details about reserve, days off, and rosters in VB.

I wouldn't be expecting 18 days off on an average all. The average is 12 off every 28. Very short Fos so they will be working harder and harder over the next 18 months. Syd base has more day trips then any other base and is by easily the hardest to commute from. I do not know one person who does it that says it is easy or enjoyable. On average those commuting spend at least $10k a year in commute travel cost etc. Plus any new commands will for certainly be SYd and PER etc. BNE commands wouldn't happen for any new pilot joining now for 10 years or more at min.

SS I think thats a pretty good wrap on commuting - not a long term option for many.
The dynamics and rostering practises may change a bit over the next 12 months as the current rumour is 100 new FO's this year.
I take that to mean a good number of commands as well so all in all I would think the rosters of our current FO's this year should have significant numbers of days off to allow for the new FO's to be trained and to allow the RHS Training Captains to do their jobs for the Command upgrades.

There should be some EJet FO jobs in Brisbane come up in the not too distant future, commuting may not be required for long.

I've been commuting for over 6 years from Adel to all the VB bases...now having command in Syd...

Commuting is hard work on yourself and your family/partner...but it can be done cheaply.

personally, commuting costs me accom in syd ($360/month) and airfares ($312/month)...
by having share accom with other commuters, you can have the comforts of home (for as little as $90/week) and that makes the reserve days bearable...but then again, reserves are given in a monthly bang, and you're generally flying your ass off......

personally, I wouldn't commute..it's a horse's arse....just sell up and live in the base....it's much easier on you and your family....

only my 2c worth....

Virgin recruitment
 

This may be off topic but I'll give it a go as the thread name suggests..

I have an interview coming up..any ideas and tips floating around??? Would be good to hear from someone who's done in this year..thanks!!

Days off depend really on what you bid for and how you bid, so if someone says they only average the minimum days off that will be because they bid a particular way. If you're prepared to work hard you can average 13+ days off a month.

If you want to play the commuting game you would be better off applying to V Oz it is possible on short haul but hard work. You'd have a much better lifestyle if you lived where you're domiciled.

Those on hold from last year have been given start dates and they are calling people at the moment for interviews.

Vb recruiting?
 

Right so i thought i might ask the question which is directly related to the topic...anyone know if vb are actively recruiting...there were rumours but seems awfuly quiet. They looking for high exp drivers first?

logbooks are being added up again around australia....meanwhile at quietagent site
 

Happy from what I hear they take all sorts of different experience levels from piston twin skippers to jet skippers. Spreads out retirement ages I suppose.

Hell if you can't shut down the regionals with the ejet, do it by taking all their pilots. God knows they could be f...d argueing over some crap eba deal...seeya.

Interviews started about a month ago.

A lot of 73 guys, both seats, took Ejet commands in Perth so they didnt have commute from BNE, SYD, MEL, so that should paint a pretty good pic on commuting:hmm: I am not sure that exp or quals matters to the people dept, but its their trainset:confused:

Would anyone care to share any info on the latest VB interview process, Questions, sim profile etc.

PM me if you like

Cheers :ok:

What are their bases and can some explain the requirements for the different pay levels for FO, thanks

Has anybody been called, or know of anyone being called in for an interview recently without an ATPL, just CPL and ATPL subjects?

Cheers

inandout

The 737 Bases are Bne, Syd and Mel. The Ejet bases are Bne, Syd, Mel and Per.

A level 1 FO holds an Australian CPL with current passes in all academic examinations for the issue of an ATPL.

A level 2 FO holds an ATPL and 2500 hours total flying experience and 500 hours on jet transport aircraft currently operated by VB or jet transport aircraft which have a MTOW greater than 50000Kg.

A level 3 FO holds an ATPL and 4000 hours total flying experience and 2000 hours on jet transport aircraft currently operated by VB or jet transport aircraft which have a MTOW greater than 50000Kg or

A combination of more than 2000 hours on jet transport aircraft currently operated by VB or jet transport aircraft which have a MTOW greater than 50000 Kg (as well as the 4000 hours total experience).

AFD, thanks. When you say Total Flying experience I assume Co-Pilot time is taken as half for that calulation.

any takers on this .

It's total flying hours, afaik you don't halve co-pilot time. When you look at the effect on your take home pay, does it really help you decide whether you want to work for the company or not?

Dont know for sure but would agree with grrowler that I dont think it is halved.

Anyone out there interviewed Jan / Feb got a start date yet?

Someone's word on the street has it that new blood is already hard at work in the box working on endorsement training.

Hi there, I'm a helicopter driver by trade so forgive me if this sounds a little dumb.

Do the 737 driver get paid more than the E-Jet drivers? If so, what's the reasoning behind the different pay levels?

It was just a curious question that came up in the crewroom at our EMS base the other day that noone had the answer to.

Cheers..

Apparently size matters

The 777 is the biggest and they have the lowest paid crew.

So in VB logic the 737 is the shortest, but pays the best :} (the E190 is 3m longer than a 737)

Almost correct, the 190 is longer than the 700 but shorter than the 800.

endo
 

Some that were interviewed late last year have already finished the endo! Expensive little sticky label..

S

Any updates/truth on a possible recruitment drive coming up?

I've heard rumours of 100 drivers this year - not sure how many they've taken already.

At virgin do you pay for your endo or are you bonded?

And whats the trainging salary your on, and for how long approximatly?

I believe the choices are pay for it up front or salary sacrifice it over 12 or 24 months. Most pilots I’ve spoken to have taken the 24 month option.

How much would you be looking at to do it through virgin?? Same price as doing it somewhere else?

EBA currently states $30k for both types. With the E-jet you really don't have much of a choice as the only sim in the region is Virgin Blue's.

30k for the ejet is cheap - the rack rate for an endorsement offshore is around 50000 Euro..

Blue Stars?
 

Can someone explain to me how the Blue Star thing works?

Once you are DJ crew, can you "blue star" multiple people or only one at a time?

...or only one ever?

And finally, at what stage does the "Blue Star" count?

Yours in abject confusion, etc.

The 30k hasn't changed in 10 years...house prices sure have. Its not a bad deal considering you get just under half back in tax. Do your maths don't be fooled by wives tales. Waiting for incoming - but couldn't care less been here long enough.

No idea bout the blue star sorry.