Where are DHL getting their pilots from?
 

Not been much news on this topic recently.

Bearing in mind they are supposed to be getting 25 UK-based 757s over the next two years where are they getting the crews from?

Have they failed to attract enough UK 757 rated pilots because of the derisory package that they can now go to the DoT and get the OK to employ Eastern Europeans or whoever to fly their planes?

Are there really that many retirees from BA that can cover the required numbers for the forseeable future?

Anybody know anything?

Go to the DoT and plead no pilots surely not! This reminds me of Excalibur a long gone UK charter outfit that employed a couple of Bulgarian Captains for a Summer Season. The results were to say the least interesting for those of us that flew with them.
Reagards Bigpants

Hope that they don't get the pilots they want.I worked for them for 3 years,no food,tea ,coffee,dreadful maintenance, ups,tnt,fedex yes...drop it hide it lose it, I'd rather sign on.

Icelandair has furloughed 6 757 qualified pilots maby there?

Things might be looking up for DHL if the rumour is true that Chris Hall (Airtours) has been appointed chief pilot.

If they are getting 757 it couldn´t be so bad, maintainance wise that is. They are ex-BA so they have propably gotten good maintainance. And does anyone know what they are offering.

Au contraire, Regardez-le-gap mon ami!
In actual fact the delivery of the first aircraft which had been modified by Boeing was almost six months late because of the poor state of repair of the ex-BA aircraft!
Its a common misconception that because BA is a big 'quality' airline the maintenance is also top quality.
Ask any current or former BA engineer.

According to the latest (Balpa) Airwaves, they only managed to secure about 12 rated guys so interviews are continuing for the non type rated.

Does anybody know anybody that is going to them?

My feeling is that they are looking for an excuse to recruit abroad despite the large number of low experience guys and gals in the UK trying to get their first job as well as the more experienced people who have the hours but not the type rating.

WP

I turned them down recently. I,m type rated, experienced but could not accept the terms and conditions. Eg, Can only take leave in either 7 or 14 day chunks. No days off will be rostered at either end of the leave, but will be rostered into the leave. This means that you take 7 days 'leave;, yet your roster shows 4 days leave/3 days off but you lose 7 days off your leave entitlement. That is taking the pi**.

Either you offer a sensible package or you recruit outside the UK. It all depends on what sort of reputation you want DHL to have, good quality, caring and profitable or cowboy.

I hope BALPA keep a close eye on this one and fight vigorously any attempt to employ foreign (none EU) pilots simply because they can't 'tempt' British pilots with what appears to be a less than atractive package!

sad spaniel, here, here!

Do the IPA also know what's going on here?

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Is the overall package bad ?.
When looking into a new position why take just the salary as the bottom line there are more things to be taken into consideration, you should look at all the benefits, pension, loss of licence etc.

With the people mentioned to be running the company (Info from Pprune) I think that they are the ones who will crew the aircraft when they arrive from within the EEC pilots.
This company has the potential to be a major force in European aviation, and at least it will hold a G- registration and not a flag of lowest cost.

I support our UK pilot force, from the just qualified through to the 30 year plus veterans, everyone should have the chance to work in his / her own country.
But I am sick of listening to the bleating of a few sheep who see all new start up operations as a way of bringing in lower cost pilots from other countries.

From the original advert in Flight the offer was open to ALL European pilots type rated or not, so it appears aplications would be treated the same even if you were not rated on the B.757 / B.767.

Good luck to the 12 in their new jobs, and for those who are not rated on type, remember there are many aircraft to be crewed, and that means you have an egual chance of getting a position, unless you have not applied and believe the Rumours here.

Yes the salary is bad and the terms and conditions are merely adequate. DHL have lost a lot of credibility with the applicants who applied, probably because we were led to believe the salary would be competitive. During my interview it was made crystal clear the numbers would be made up with foreign pilots. The new chief pilot is a good man and I know of many who would be very happy to work with him. I am sad the salary is so poor because I would dearly like to work there!

Who is the new chief pilot?

I haven´t seen anything about their salaries and roostering could someone please give info.
Thanks

Why is the salary considered poor at 60K for a B.757 rated Captain this compares favourably with the BALPA / IPA published pay scales for base level.
(Or do people expect to enter above their collegues on the pay scale. Join a new company as a new hire captain or first officer pay is usually basic pay unless you are a qualified / current training pilot.)

Many companies only recruit to the right seat, here we have a company who offer both positions, and rapid advancement to the right people.

From what I understand flying this type of operation usually leads to about 450 block hours per year against 750 in the charter market, you fly 40% less for the same money, I know what I would rather be doing.

Also is this new operation not seperate from the DHL / EAT based in Brussels, and subsequently nobody can as yet comment on its operation as its not started yet !! or am i missing something ?.

You are a day dreamer aren't you!

Apparently the engineers get £28 per hour with approx 50 hrs a week plus accomodation.

Pengineer,
That's good to hear, the engineers deserve a good rate but I think daydreamer is out of touch with reality - to suggest £60.K is a good salary for a transport jet aircraft captain is ridiculous. Even AIH (bottom of the scale) pay considerably more than that.