I know quite a few dugong S/O's who say they are going to hang out for a 330 F/O spot, some apparently to avoid the airbus to boeing conversion...New join to 330 F/O would be in excess of 10 years atm, so the bus might be the new classic by then:E

I don't know if I wanted to hear that. I had all but decided that it was time to move on and a QLink application would be on the way by the end of the week. This only brings up the old chestnut about the chances of moving from QLink to mainline again, which no one really knows anymore, (when was the last time it happened?).

I hardly think it wise to put you're life on hold on the basis of a pprune post (though I'm sure some do!),which is why I'll almost certainly be applying to QLink anyway, but it does makes you pause and think for a second.

Ah that old chestnut... There is no mainline progression, and never has been. Anyone who has previously gone has gone through the application process like everyone else. Will there be mainline progression? Well I wouldn't hold your breath:hmm:

Sorry to rain on the parade but I don't think there will be a snow balls chance in you know where for any recruitment this year.
As 380 flying returns to normal levels, the remaining fleets continue with an oversupply, capts and fo's on the 400 and 767s.
And so's on the 400 with numbers being moved to the 330 or 380.
It is just fortunate that the redundancy provisions in the award coupled with the assigment of annual and long service leave, has saved pilots from being made redundant at qantas.
The leave bank is reducing all the time and the threat of redundancies remain, particularly when the company argues it's lousy position wrt to the current EA negotiations.
I wish and hope this would change dramatically for those still interested in a career with qantas, but unfortunately, without a change in corporate direction the negative view remains. And that includes any recruitment and 10+ years for an A330 fo spot.

Thanks Maverick, I was thinking more along the lines of what view mainline would have on taking QLink pilots when they're still hiring solidly. Possibly a chance for FO's but not captains, as before? As I said above it's been so long it's anyones guess really.

A bit of maths that few seem to understand.

Assuming QF remains the same size (and that is anyone's guess), and you don't have more changes to retirement age, the average time spent in each seat (SO, FO, Capt) will be equal to the percentage of the QF pilot population in each rank.

So, from a quick perusal of the list, it looks like there are about 25% SO, 40% FO, and 35% Captains. So, join now, at 25, and retire at 65 (yuk), you'd be looking at 10 years as a SO, then 16 years an FO, and 14 as a Captain.

The fast promotions that have occurred in the past were associated with growth spurts. In the late 80s the fleet dramatically increased in size when the 767 was purchased. More recently some promotions have been associated with basings that were, for whatever reason, unpopular. So, if you want a quick promotion now, I'd suggest mass contracts on the four stripers.

Very few retirements last few years, apparently 80+ to hit 65 over next 2 years.:eek:

Isn't that when they have to go? (Unless the law has changed again!)

No. They can then bid back from the A380/ 744 to the 767 or 737 fleet. That said, whilst a number did it when the retirement age was 60 so they could keep flying for another 3-7 years, I can't see many 65 year olds electing to do the 767 type course to keep going another year or two. Many younglings are hoping that's correct anyway! :eek: :ok:

So let me get this maths straight - if I join at 45, 20 year career, 5yrs SO, 8 as F/O topped off by 7 as a Capt. Excellent! Join older and enjoy a rapid promotion. ;)