Transmile Rip-Off Scheme! Caution

[Eddiedemarco]

Dear Fellow Pilots.

Be aware of Transmile practices.They hore you as a pilot and upon your arrival in Kuala Lumpur they come with a RM 26000 bill for you to [ay as a training bound for already typed rated pilots.It doesnt matter if you have the rating they will charge you for line training. See the emails sent by HR Manager to my attention when I was already doing the type rating differences training from the 300 to the B 737 -200 to work there as a co-pilot
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Dear Eddie
Please be informed that we have received clearance from DCA for your security vetting.Therefore, I would like to know whether you are still keen to join our Airline as we have opening in the month of May 2005. Please reply my mail latest by 25th February 2005 to indicate your interest before we proceed further. I have also attached the process flow for your further action.

Please resubmit your documents as mentioned in the flow chart and resume. From now onwards, I will be the liaison person for your application.

Regards
Karen Yew-Human Resource Manager
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Dear Karen Yew
I have just arrived in the United States (Chicago) as of today for the B-737 Reccurency Training according to your last employment offer (letter issued by you) I have scheduled the training to begin within the next few days. Doing so under the employment proposal, I have already made payments for the course with the intention to join TAIR. Considering the opening for May , I was wondering if a sooner opening could take place, due the fact that I have been informed by Cheryl that a late March or early April employment would tale place upon completing the training. So here I am already in the USA, taking the appropriate measures to exclusively to join TAIR. Regarding your requesting, Yes I do accept your offer , please to send me the wages details.

Regards
Eddie De Marco
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Dear Eddie

I trust that you are now undergoing the 737-200 type rating course and once you have completed please forward to me the certificate. We are targeting five B737-200 co-pilots to start employment with Transmile by May 2005. Please make your own travel arrangement to arrive at our office on 2nd May 2005.

Please be informed that you will receive the following package:

a) Basic : RM2400
b) Type : RM1600
c) Car allowance : RM300
d) Flight Allowance: RM40 per hour (min 40 hours) * during line training the amount will be RM15 per hour
e) Annual Leave : 32 days
f) Sick Leave : 14 days
g) Perdiem : varies from location

h) Meal Allowance : Eligible

You are also be insured for Loss Of License & Hosptialisation & Surgical insurance

In view of your low flying hours and the rating is only sim hours with no actual flying on 737-200, you will have to undergo line endorsement and line training with our Company. The calculated cost is RM26,900 therefore, you have to put up RM10,760 as security fee with our Company. The said amount will be refunded to you upon expiry of your bond of two years.

With the above terms, I would like to know whether it is acceptable to you? As I am giving you the first priority in our recruitment list therefore, I request for your commitment.

Regards
Karen Yew
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Dear Eddie
I have heard your grievance and I emphasized your situation. Having said that, I cannot bend the policy for you alone and upset the whole batch of candidates coming in.The best I can do is to reduce your security fee to RM8,400 since you have higher flying hours (initial was RM10,760) and we are hoping your line training will be shorter. The Company is still taking the risk as we won’t know your performance until we fly with you. You have to find all means to come out with this amount.
The training bond of 2 years will still remain.This shall be our final offer. Think over it and let me know. Again I apologize for putting you in such situation.
Regards
Karen Yew
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In case of any firthey questions email -me...I will be more than glad to tell you the details

United States . March 2, 2005



To: Captain Krishna

Subject: Edison LR De Marco

C/c: Human Resources – Miss Karen





As an ethical and professional individual, I would like to inform Transmile Air Services that I have no longer intentions or meanings to agree with the practices and hiring policies exercised by this company toward myself.




I have invested about US$10.000, 00 in other to meet the requirements and Transmile’s policies. Unfortunately such practice shows that Transmile is not a serious company or an Airline that deserves such credit by professionals like me. How can the Operations and Human Resources Managers of a * so called airline of excellence,* practice such dishonest and disrespectful policies to people that are willing to work and make their living honestly with honor and pride.



Miss Cheryl Song and Captain Krishna are people of unworthy words and credibility, How can someone, not only tell, but issue an employment letter to a family man under the promise of employment conditioned to the B-737-200 Type Rating only, and even worse, during the entire process I have keep this company and themselves informed of steps and the costs and expenses of such. I also have made clear that I would quit my employment in order to join Transmile. Making things worse, promising false wages and issuing a senseless Local Training Bound, expecting me to pay for additional training in Malaysia in order to serve as an employee. What king of policy is that? The International Airline Pilot Hiring Rip-Off Scheme? Recruiting worldwide, disrupting families’, explore hard working people that need to work to support their loved ones, by surprising them upon arrival in Malaysia.



Your apologies won’t pay or bring it back what I have given up and the investment made see below.



Airline Tickets US$ 2500,00 ( Non-refundable)
B 737-200 Type Rating US$ 7250.00 ( Non –refundable – Obsolete aircraft)
Hotel Expenses US$900.00 ( Non-refundable)
Meals Expenses US$450.00 ( Non-refundable)
Transport Fees US$250.00 ( Non –refundable)

Be sure that I will make it public within the International Aviation Media and Aviation related websites.



Best regards,



Edison LR De Marco



Karen Yew Pooi Sze <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Eddie



I have heard your grievance and I emphasized your situation. Having said that, I cannot bend the policy for you alone and upset the whole batch of candidates coming in.



The best I can do is to reduce your security fee to RM8,400 since you have higher flying hours (initial was RM10,760) and we are hoping your line training will be shorter. The Company is still taking the risk as we won’t know your performance until we fly with you. You have to find all means to come out with this amount.

The training bond of 2 years will still remain.



This shall be our final offer. Think over it and let me know.



Again I apologize for putting you in such situation.



Regards
Karen Yew

[medflyer]

Sorry to hear of your expenses and time wasted. A rough time for anyone, especially with a family.

However...

You choose to buy your own type rating, you take your chances. It becomes a business arrangement at that point, and, like starting a small business, there are risks.

Deal with companies that don't require this nonsense. With a 732 rating you should be okay to get on somewhere else before too long.

Good luck.

[Kaptin M]

You do realise, Eddie, that the salary they are offering is only just a smidgeon over USD1,000
Why is the flying allowance only RM15/hour during line training? You will be operating revenue flights....are the pax charged less for their tickets, for the flights YOU are operating?? Not blby likely!!!
Are those pre, or post tax?

When I was working in Malaysia (living in K.L.), I was paying RM2,000 per month for a 3 bedroom apartment - that price did not include the utilitiies. Sure, you CAN get cheaper, but they won't have the security, or the facilities you and your family need as foreigners, living in a foreign country.

I "loved these conflicting statements, "In view of your low flying hours.." and later, "since you have higher flying hours"
and the "used car salesman speel, "As I am giving you the first priority in our recruitment list" (Translation=You are the ONLY one who has taken the bait!).............."the whole batch of candidates coming in" (Translation=I've got other interested buyers, so hurry up and give us your money!).....................This shall be our final offer. Think over it and let me know. (Translation=If you offered us less, we'll probably accept it!)

Eddie, are you worth only USD1,000 per month?

As medflyer states, your 732 rating should get you employment with a DECENT airline - and a 737 -3/4/500 rating is only a differences course of a couple of days. Oops sorry, I see you are ALREADY rated on those.

Tell TRANSMILE to stick their job until they pay a proper salary!

[CAPTAIN WOOBLAH]

Eddie,

Sorry to hear about your financial loss and yes to some extent it is a case of buyer beware as stated in medflyers post.

But, you are real lucky you didn't join transmile. They are everything you have stated and more. Maintenance is awful and the planes are seriously sick. Mates have told me about pieces of engines being left behind on runways in Macau. They are forever being questioned by ATC about nav & transponder issues. The airfarts there are really useless and couldn't train a monkey to eat a bananna, rather the monkey could probably train them to fly.

Eddie, GO AN APPLY FOR MAS They are so short and are advertising for DHC6/F-50/ B734 Captains & Fo's.

transmile is not an airline it is an accident waiting to happen.

Regards,

Wooblah.

[PK-KAR]

U can literally fly in Indonesia for that money (with cheap safe housing, full transport arrangements...)

a) Basic : USD500 - 1200, T-Mile RM2400 (US600?)
b) Type : Incl. in above, T-Mile RM1600 (US$400)
c) Car allowance : Transport arranged, T-Mile RM300
d) Flight Allowance: Same as here... RM40 per hour (min 40 hours) * during line training the amount will be RM15 per hour
e) Annual Leave : 32 days
f) Sick Leave : 14 days
g) Perdiem : varies from location

h) Meal Allowance : US$3 - 5 for flights. T-Mile: Eligible
i) RON allowance: US$5 - 15 depends on location.

Bond: US$1000 - US$2000 for a period of 2 - 3 years (negotiable if U have type rating).

No wonder a lot of the locals here prefer not to go to T-Mile... Even by local standards they seem to be a rip off...

PK-KAR

[chimbu warrior]

Eddie I sympathise with you..................these leeches are simply trying to screw you. Putting you on a bond is possibly reasonable, but paying for line training most certainly is not. As K M says, you are operating revenue flights, so should not get any reduced compensation.

Asking for money up front, plus a bond, plus reduced income whilst training, sounds like they want three enormous bites of the cherry.

Good on you for taking a stand, and also for telling others of this situation.

Just for the information of your readers, can you say how much experience you have on the 737? Plus how much turbine and multi-crew? Not trying to embarass you, just get an idea of whether Transmile's assertions about experience have any shred of credibility.

Hope you find something else soon.

[Eddiedemarco]

Hello...All

Wanna thank you all for your words and opinion , it is very important to spread the word in order to save others.

My experience is 5900 hrs total and 2800 hrs on 737-300/400 as F/O in addition to that College degree in Aerospace Science.

Once again thank you all

Eddie

[WLM]

Gday Eddie
Sorry to hear about all the trouble with Trans man. But as Cpt Wooblah said above, MAS and AirAsia are recruiting heavily. You should not have any problem getting onboard with your hours. A lot of Indonesian pilots are coming along with F/O hours only, some already promoted as Cpts in Air Asia, with 6000 hours<, so keep your chin up mate

[chimbu warrior]

Hi Eddie..............wow............no shortage of experience there.

You will hopefully find something much better very soon.

Good luck.

[Chrome]

Send your applications out man. With your experience, you shouldn't have much problems getting a call-up. Even though they have a surplus now, try AirAsia. Busses are coming in soon.

[coef.of.Lift]

funny...thing...

a guy with your type of exprience going for such a low paid company???

thats way odd....

com'on....thats really odd....

this web site has become more about b***thing place

hahhahahaa..

i'm so glad i'm still flying piston a/c...............

happy flying

[JJflyer]

Hey coef.of.Lift whats your problem??? Not everyone is lucky enough to get the perrrrrfect job with a major reputable airline. There's the dark side of the sky as well.

There are many excellent pilots out there working their as.ses off trying make a living working for scumbag operators. Many end up with "The dark side" not by choise but as a result of circumstances. Labour action, 911, companies going out of business etc.

So a little understanding please. Besides laughing at a guy who got f.ucked is just not nice.

JJ

[Chocks Away]

Thanks for airing this one Eddie.

I nearly took the bait early last year but things just didn't add up, so I didn't take things any further.

"I thought the grass was greener on the otherside but found it was only green spray paint!"

[tomcat21]

TAIR

Hey Eddie, I got an offer from these freaks awhile back. I used to live in Malaysia and that is DIRT money. My bills are US based and I couldnt cover anything with that amount. Try MIami Air in Florida. I used to work there and they have been hiring. Could you have gone on as a Capt there as when I spoke to them they said all they needed for capt. was 4000 hours total. Where did u get your 73 time?

[triplegem]

Eddie,

It is unfortunate that u didn't get the full picture before going through the hassle and spend a fortune.

All airlines in Malaysia pay about the same for FOs (RM 5-7000 inclusive perdiem) and they are never short of low time candidates who are hungry for jet time. In your case, the only advantage I foresee is a short route to Command as both Air Asia and Transmile are expanding their fleets and short of potential commanders. If u care to find out, some expat FOs were made commanders, something which rarely happens in MAS or when an asian joining an Airline out of this region.

Speak to Air Asia, I don't see why u can't get a job with them unless u have a colourful record which they can't stomach.But then again, I believe they need a gurrantor for the bond instead of cash upfront. Job in MAS is contractual and short term and u might not enjoy the perks given to the regular staff.

Have u try China? Various airlines are looking for rated 737NG
crew. Hainan and Shenzen Airlines are among them.

In short, Eddie, it is either bite the bullet and mark time for command in Malaysia or go some where else for better money as a type rated FO. Good luck!

[MJPilot]

-

[Kaptin M]

On the other hand, 5000-7000R is a lot of money for Malaysia.

Not true at all, MJPilot. It might be "a lot" for an unskilled labourer working in parts of Malaysia, but by local pilot standards, it's very, very, very average.
And don't forget, Malays receive a lot of "extra" benefits, eg, EPF, special discounts on property deals - and can speak the local "lingo" - that make each Ringgit stretch that little bit further than a non-bumi can.

I loved Malaysia (and MAS), and would return there in the blink of an eye (if they'd have me), IF they realised that to be part of the progressive world, they NEED to pay progressive world salaries.
Otherwise, they will have taken 3 steps forward, but 2 back.

"Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten."
[I don't know WHO coined that phrase, but it is sooooooooooo true!!]

[Lorry_Driver]

Yo, Kaptin-M, . . . . that's nothing yet, try flying an MD-11 as an F/O with RM5,450.00 basic !!! and Captain with RM15,500.00 when those EVA guys are getting USD9,000/= basic and USD120/= per hour productivity pay!!!

Oh ya, don't forget the JAMES BOND! and ask eddie demarco on the downpayment too !!!

Yeah, we locals can stretch the RM??? that's why the Gov. is printing new RM on plastic i guess, . . . so it won't tear when you stretch it, . . . haa haa hah

[Eddiedemarco]

We all pretty much have the same conception and opinions about what's going on in the Airline Industry.

I have made a big deal out of this Transmile issue,yes I have! But not for the amount that was asked. I made a decision based on their conduct towards a class of people , us, Aviators.

It takes a lot hard work,discipline and passion in the process of becoming an aviator, and us Pilots should not lower our heads and agree to such policies applied by administrators and airline managers that have no clue about , what it takes for us to become pilots,some of us went thru hard times in order to achieve a dream of a career in the sky, some of us starved in order to save money to build flight experience , not all of us had acess to smooth and great aviation education.

So If I had agreed to their policy I would be mistaken , not only on my behalf but on behalf of an International Community. Yes I was envisioning Transmile for my Captain's Transition , however I could not be a or betrade a class.

Airlines are doing this because in some point *We Pilots* have lost our ethics and union* So its time for us to rebuild what was lost , otherwise our profession is heading to a dead end and becoming a commerce.

Once again thank you all for your support.

Regards

Eddie Demarco

[kwaiyai]

Kaptin M,
I suggest you get your facts a bit more correct old bean.
Incidentally you can get a nice condo in KL for about 1 to 1500 which will be perfectly good for expats. I know cos I'm renting one. You do not have to pay over 2 grand unless you like the Golden triangle. Secondly the pay rates is not far off actually. Y do you think there is an exodus I hear from MAS to better shores.

As For Captain Wooblah's rather deranged ranting and slagging off well Any respect I had for him went down the Tandas with the last load of You are correct matey about the unfortunate piece at Macao however having been in Engineering myself I can tell you that was a S.H.I. incident. The ATC infringements go ahead and enlighten us please. Nobody is perfect including you.

As for Eddie well I cant comment about his being asked to pay for his line training but Eddie you knew did you not what the pay rates were here in Malaysia. I offered you some advice I believe.
Frankly with your experience why did you elect to come here any how?.