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Dragonair Airbus Rosters

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Old 11th Feb 2007, 13:26
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Question Dragonair Airbus Rosters

Hi fellow PPRuNers!

I´m looking for some examples of KA Airbus 320/330 rosters and I also have some questions:

1) How much Airbus flying is long haul/A330, how much short haul/A320?

2) How many (if any) nightstops per month?

3) Days off per month?

4) How many sectors per day?

5) Fatigue levels? (I know this is very personal, but I would appreciate any inputs regarding this)

Many thanks in advance!

iBus
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Old 11th Feb 2007, 14:20
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No long haul flying...

A320 5-7 nights away, A330 more.... Up to 12

Days off, anything over 8 per month is a bonus (and the rosterer who did it will get a salary cut I would imagine ;-))

Not tired unless I wanna start whinging; do anything between 1 and 3 sectors a day...

What was the other one again...... Anyway, good job, good pay but could also be a lot better!!! But again, I am free to leave like all of us and not many do..... Start leaving!!!!!!

Cheersss
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Old 12th Feb 2007, 10:24
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Thumbs up

Hi Dragon501!

Thanks for your reply!

So no long haul flying with the A330, per month 5-12 nighstops in Asian cities. Does everybody start off on the 320, or is it mixed fleet flying from day one.

I´ve looked for info on this site, but all topics/theads seem to be dominated by CX.

Any more info is always welcome, things relating to pilot vs managment relations, fatigue (I now work for a European Low Cost and I can´t stand the fatigue anymore) block hours/sectors per month, seniority, time to command and any feelings about the acquisition of KA by CX.

I don´t want to start a nasty debate, I merely want to get some info about what I might (still need to pass assessments) be getting into.

Many thanks!

iBus
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Old 12th Feb 2007, 15:23
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Don't bother mate . It's a sh1t hole administered by an ex Raf whitehall numpty who tries to apply military ideas to a civilian operation and the operational side is largely , with one or two clear exceptions , aussies who enforce FCOM 1 with an anal precision and then brick themselves on the line if viz goes below 4000m.


If I could press the rewind button I'd rather have my fingernails plucked and the stumps dipped in acid.

money and housing OK just OK

V
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Old 13th Feb 2007, 01:24
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"It's a sh1t hole administered by an ex Raf whitehall numpty who tries to apply military ideas to a civilian operation"

I dont agree that its a ****hole - it could be worse. BUT the comments wrt the ex RAF numpty are spot on. KA is run by people with no management experience or training who have no idea about how progressive airlines operate in the real world. Its rather embarrassing sometimes how backward the whole thing is.
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Old 13th Feb 2007, 08:55
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And you would be rathetr flying with????
Yea I thought so.
Back on the subject, can anyone share some more info on whats involved in the interview/sim.
Kindly and many tailwinds,
AA
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Old 13th Feb 2007, 09:22
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"And you would be rathetr flying with????
Yea I thought so.
Back on the subject, can anyone share some more info on whats involved in the interview/sim.
Kindly and many tailwinds,"

Its not about who we would rather be flying with. What a pointless comment. I am employed by KA and until something comes along that is worth the paperwork/licencing/visa/rent/crapola involved in changing jobs, I will put up with it. ibus kicks off by asking questions about the rostering - if you dont like the answers, dont read.

Rostering - crap. Pathetic. 8-9 days off and anything outside of these, dont make plans. Rosters will change, stby callouts the norm, more sectors when finnishing a 3 day pattern. High sick leave as a result that makes it all worse and it becomes self perpetuating.

Pay - as good as it gets and the only reason people stay.

Aircraft - some old some new. Maintained by basically no one except for a deferral by add.

HKG - ok. sort of. polluted. bueracratic to the max. humid but not as bad as the ME.

Staff - other drivers are all pretty good to work with and in my case one of the highlights. a good bunch of guys.

Training - basically old school garbage. Bring a bag of airbus time and you can pretty much ignore the crap told by the instructor.

interview - if you can answer important questions like "when does the fmc msg input destination data come up" then you will be fine.

sim ride - raw data, manual thrust handflown in an airbus - cos thats how we really fly an airbus, isnt it.
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Old 13th Feb 2007, 12:05
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CX rosterers and crew control are looking at the whole KA thing anyway.
Will it change with new masters? A bit I guess.
What is a pity is that it could be so good, but with Contract Compliance from the pilot side and sheer bloody mindedness from the management side then it is just a war of attrition.
Just come and enjoy it because there is plenty to enjoy and experiences to be had; then leave when the negatives outweigh the positives.
Good Luck.
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Old 13th Feb 2007, 23:31
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''Its not about who we would rather be flying with. What a pointless comment.''
Just tongue and cheek, and nothing personal,my appology.

''interview - if you can answer important questions like "when does the fmc msg input destination data come up" then you will be fine.''-
I better read up the stuff that never comes up,I have never seen it.Lots of Airbus questions or generic?Panel interview?How many days do they use?

''Training - basically old school garbage. Bring a bag of airbus time and you can pretty much ignore the crap told by the instructor.''
Unfortunatelly all I have is Boeing,is that OK?Meaning transition wise?

''sim ride - raw data, manual thrust handflown in an airbus - cos thats how we really fly an airbus, isnt it.''
Is it standard stuff, T/O,ILS,steep turns etc?

Can I ask about housing/educational allowances,how much?
Do you joing on A320/321 then move on to A330?
Would you rather stay in Europe in Lo Co?

Thanks again for the very informative posts.
AA
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Old 14th Feb 2007, 23:10
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The whingers are at it again...

Old school RAF Training??? MWAAAAHAHAHAH What a load of b@llocks.

It is indeed a good airline which could be a lot better but hey... Aren't they all???

The people who usually complain the most are the ones who haven't been around to appreciate how SH1T some other companies are...And what a busy roster loooks like.... (ever done 6 sector days in a 737?? No?? Thought so...)

Rosters can be messy but aren't all that bad... And again, if you don't like it here.... PLEASE LEAVE ....... Be good for all of us....

As far as negotiations with the 'union' and company are concerned... the union can't do very much which is a shame but hey... Atleast they're trying...

All the best. Ta ta
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Old 14th Feb 2007, 23:58
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Dragon 501,

“Old school RAF Training??? MWAAAAHAHAHAH What a load of b@llocks.”

I will concede, the training in KA is second to none. The stellar figures for command upgrade pass rates are proof enough, aren’t they.

“The people who usually complain the most are the ones who haven't been around to appreciate how SH1T some other companies are”

This is effectively my fifth airline and as I said before, I don’t agree that it’s a s’hole, as someone else referred to it.

“And what a busy roster loooks like.... (ever done 6 sector days in a 737?? No?? Thought so...)”

Yep, been there, done that, got the tee shirt. Would much prefer the efficiency of a “busy roster” with the resultant free time than the hotel intensive crap dished out by the “rostering staff” at KA.

“if you don't like it here.... PLEASE LEAVE ....... Be good for all of us....”

Sick leave about 25%, contract compliance. General indifference of most crews. I would suggest that many pilots in KA are unhappy. Do you want them all to leave?

I don’t like getting involved with airline bashing which is all the fashion. KA pays well, the guys are good to fly with and HKG is better than the middle east in my opinion. BUT don’t let the people who are responsible for the on going problems in KA (or any airline) think that mediocre is acceptable. Aim for the stars but settle for . . . . .
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Old 15th Feb 2007, 01:36
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[I]The people who usually complain the most are the ones who haven't been around to appreciate how SH1T some other companies are...And what a busy roster loooks like.... (ever done 6 sector days in a 737?? No?? Thought so...)[/I]

Dragon501 I bow to your obvious expertise and experience. I defer to your explanation of how great the rosters are.

It's sort of like beating your dog up every day with a big stick. And then only using a small stick the next day. The dog thinks it is great (all the while still being beaten!) The rosters suck, and are written by people with a hatred for pilots. That is fact, and I would wager that I know that a damn sight more than you about the rostering practices in KA my learned colleague.

We have all been there and done that re the 6 sector days. So yours isn't bigger than mine ok?

What is wrong with computerised preferential bidding 501? I bet you would want it if it was offered. Why can't we have it ?(it is the 21st century after all). Because it would show that we don't need half the rostering personnel.

You sound as if you have been brainwashed by management 501.

Gliderboy
ps By the way if the MACR is reading this, yes John I am having a ball and don't need an interview to assess that!

Last edited by gliderboy; 15th Feb 2007 at 01:40. Reason: speeling and syntax
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Old 16th Feb 2007, 06:53
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As usual it ends up in a mud throwing exercise....

All in all, not all that bad but could also be a lot better....


Cheers

And gliderboy... Ah well, nevermind eh...
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Old 16th Feb 2007, 13:18
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As usual
a succinct, balanced and well thought out reply 501. Especially the bit where you apologise for accusing most guys of not knowing what a 6 sector day is like.
But you forgot to stick up for management!
Oh well next time eh
Gliderboy
.

Last edited by gliderboy; 16th Feb 2007 at 13:31.
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Old 18th Feb 2007, 03:59
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Average Airbus sick leave per annum has eclipsed 30 days according to company rumours.

This would be part due to rostering. Part due to poor air conditioning and nutrition on China overnights. Very low morale wouldn't help either.

As Dragon501 says, don't like it leave.

Or become a pilot manager, enjoy a 9 to 5 lifestyle, no nightstops, very little flying and the traditional Hong Kong 2 hour lunch breaks at the office.

Last edited by And Then; 18th Feb 2007 at 06:13.
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Old 18th Feb 2007, 09:42
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Oops, I didn´t want to start a fierce debate here but, judging by what I read here, it´s not much better than my current outfit.

Thanks so far for all your replies! Keep ´em coming!
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