SIA CARGO

[Round D. Globe]

SF/Readufive

Welcome back. Sounds like things went well. Any idea long the wait
until you hear the results?

RDG

[readufive]

Round d globe.....It may take 2-3 weeks. There is alot of government/CAAS clearance involved.....If they say "OK", then its good!
IF they say "NAY"....well then its not ok I guess.

[aceairman]

Aceairman

Merlinrabbi / Lubberline:
Very many thanks for that extremely useful info on my Q's, especially the classic car one! (Mine's a 40 year old Merc 220 SEb convertible-know that one??)

I was getting a wee bit concerned as I got very negative indications from the people I asked, inc. an SIA mainline capt. and the interviewing panel themselves!! I guess its just 'coz they're not aware of the special exceptions available for classic car owners! There's so much useful info at that transport website! Relief.....!! You guys also classic car enthusiasts by any chance??
1) Anyhow, my other concerns are to do with the opportunities of command upgrades for F/Os who opt to switch to local terms...any takers on the exact scenario, i.e, can the five years we're told extend to, say eight 'coz the local boys get first preference??
2) Also, how about importing other personal effects, e.g classic hi fi, keyboard, laptop, etc.?
I quite concur with the recent passed interviewee vis a vis the people at SIAC, my impression exactly....great people, and very straight forward, no tricks, no mind games, fully up front!!
I guess I'm...sort of....quite looking forward to joining the team!!?

[lubber line]

Originally Posted by aceairman

Merlinrabbi / Lubberline:
Very many thanks for that extremely useful info on my Q's, especially the classic car one! (Mine's a 40 year old Merc 220 SEb convertible-know that one??)

I was getting a wee bit concerned as I got very negative indications from the people I asked, inc. an SIA mainline capt. and the interviewing panel themselves!! I guess its just 'coz they're not aware of the special exceptions available for classic car owners! There's so much useful info at that transport website! Relief.....!! You guys also classic car enthusiasts by any chance??
1) Anyhow, my other concerns are to do with the opportunities of command upgrades for F/Os who opt to switch to local terms...any takers on the exact scenario, i.e, can the five years we're told extend to, say eight 'coz the local boys get first preference??
2) Also, how about importing other personal effects, e.g classic hi fi, keyboard, laptop, etc.?
I quite concur with the recent passed interviewee vis a vis the people at SIAC, my impression exactly....great people, and very straight forward, no tricks, no mind games, fully up front!!
I guess I'm...sort of....quite looking forward to joining the team!!?

You're welcome. Yes, that ride is a very stately set of wheels.

Well, er, don't get your hopes up too high regarding the car. The first requirement is that it MUST be RHD. Absolutely, no ifs or buts. Unless you are able to get a diplomatic corp license plate.

Although the website you checked out does spell out the process for importing / registering a classic car, the secret sauce is missing - the tax man does not make public his valuation book, so it's a mystery as to how he will value your car, and therefore what taxes you will pay, will be a big question mark. It's a risk, say if he values it at $10,000 the taxes will come to about $28,000 (just a guess), if he values it at $11,000 the taxes will come to $30,800. So you see, it's not long before the whole situation just spirals out of control. All for the sake of driving it 28 days a year.

Maybe a better idea would be to stagger your imports, with the car being the last to come, if ever. That way you can have time to do some local research and see if you really want to bring it here. You can also network your way into the Malaysia and Singapore Vintage Car Register (google it). The worst thing that can happen if you bring it here on a gamble is that the car sits in a container in a bonded yard, you pay storage charges, documentation charges etc etc, you tear your hair out over the whole to-ing and fro-ing and then you ship it back after 2 months because you find the registration charges too silly. Cost of this exercise - at least S$5000 just for sending it here and back.

For the rest of your stuff, no problems at all, although you might find Singapore a cheap place to buy stuff instead of cart it all the way here from there.

Regarding the "five year promise" - it is quite a dreamy mirage at best, even for the locals. SINCargo is just about coming to 5 years of age, so ask them point blank, which of their FOs have they promoted?

By all means join for the rating and experience and a good time in the mystic east, but whilst there always always check out the market for faster routes to command, even if it means going to a smaller aircraft. Don't ever join with the hopes of getting command. It might happen eventually, eventually being a nice word for never.

All the best, I can sense your excitement, but come with your eyes open wide, and ask thorny questions.

[serious flyer]

Round The Globe,
They said for me that it would take from 4 to 6 weeks to hear from them.
Any contact before that would mean something got wrong (with my papers or my medical), and I would have to fix it.
A friend of mine that got the contract said that SIA Cargo contacted him 6 weeks after his interview (wich was on February) and now he has a B744 initial course date for September, 28th.
Rgds.,
SF

[sky_is_the_limit]

Does anyone joined SIA CARGO as FO with a B744 rating? And do you still have to sign a bond and/or give a bank deposit?
What about the pay? They say "you can expect a higher salary" is this true and if so anyone willing to share this info or please PM me.
Thanks
Sky

[Merlinrabbi]

Originally Posted by aceairman

Merlinrabbi / Lubberline:

I was getting a wee bit concerned as I got very negative indications from the people I asked, inc. an SIA mainline capt. and the interviewing panel themselves!! I guess its just 'coz they're not aware of the special exceptions available for classic car owners! There's so much useful info at that transport website! Relief.....!! You guys also classic car enthusiasts by any chance??
1) Anyhow, my other concerns are to do with the opportunities of command upgrades for F/Os who opt to switch to local terms...any takers on the exact scenario, i.e, can the five years we're told extend to, say eight 'coz the local boys get first preference??
2) Also, how about importing other personal effects, e.g classic hi fi, keyboard, laptop, etc.?
I quite concur with the recent passed interviewee vis a vis the people at SIAC, my impression exactly....great people, and very straight forward, no tricks, no mind games, fully up front!!
I guess I'm...sort of....quite looking forward to joining the team!!?

No worries. I'm no classic car enthusiast. I'm not a wet blanket but wrt to your Q1, unless they can give you a "black and white" on the command after 5 years, take it with a pinch of salt. I know of many mainline FOs who were promised 5 years command who had to wait till 7-8. But to be fair, I've also seen 5 years FO getting command too.

WRT Q2, I agree with lubberline, thats heaps of cheap stuff in Singapore, I think it would be cheaper to buy than to import.

Cheers ...

[aceairman]

Aceairman

Lubberline/Merlinrabbi

Hey many thanks again for all your help, info and valued advice guys-it sure helps to plan well and make good decisions! What would we do without helpful comrades like you??!

I suppose I could get all the info and cost/tax/duty assessments from the relevant transport/customs depts. before moving my car anywhere?? And if I then find it all unmanagable (costwise, etc.) I'd let it be, or perhaps try the (Vintage) & Classic Car Club (of Singapore/ Malaysia??) route, and see whether those chaps can't help with a few cost waivers, etc. Will do the Google search and ask them!

As for my other stuff, well its only my old classic Grundig Jet speakers (the round ones) that I would want to cart there (inc. myself), nothing much else! No wife, no kids.

I wonder if they'd agree to include the five year command upgrade clause in the contract-anyone tried that one yet??
I presume you guys are captains with SIAC??

Cheers for now!

[CARGOJOCK]

FINALLY GETTING THERE

it appears some CARGO management boys are reading this thread and heeded the requirements if they are to recruit and sustain pilots.

starting with immediate effect the two operations- cargo & pax will be seperated to a great extent in that the cargo lads will fly their service intead of the mainline rats stealing the best of both.

the discrepency of flying was so great that shockwaves had echoed thru the management.
they realised that the cargo lads were been utilised well well below productivity hence the change.

a new circular has been issued informing crew of this change.

this would reflect with the reduction in the cargo lads building frequent flyer miles pax around the world as previously and now starting to fly the mega arks(B744) !!!!!!!!.

[billkill]

The walls are hearing...
the gods are watching...
well.....hopefully things turn out for the better

[Left Coaster]

Actually, not for repair...regular scheduled maintenance...Let's me get some great leave this summer! Good thoughts by the way regarding numbers, but if the talk about crewing levels was true (given at a spring meeting) and even though courses are running through September...it is interesting to note that Cargo is still staffed at below required numbers. That's for "pure" Cargo crews, and explains this is why mainline guys are still populating the roster. Having said that, it looks like a big effort is underway to keep the new hires coming, and that's huge work! Been there done that and it's a major PITA!!! And SIA has it's own probs with extremely busy sims...so planning is a big excersize. As stated above in this thread, some changes are already in the plans, and a separation of mainline and Cargo pilots is coming this summer. It's a paper action, as the separation is only from the mainline CA and it's rest regs, but it opens up a few more flights for the Cargo boys. Now if the staff travel rules could be matched with mainline...

[Merlinrabbi]

Just heard from the grapevine that mainline guys are getting 3.03 months as bonus .. any news on cargo?

[speedtwoten]

for SinCargo???? a bonus????? hehehe

[Phil Squares]

Try 3.1 months for all in July 7, then another approx month in Dec 7 and then 13th month Jan 7

[CargoBoy]

Phil,

I believe the 3.1 month payout is all on July 7th. They used to divide the payment between July and December but now they are paying it all out in July. Doubt we will get anything in Dec.

Cargoboy

[Phil Squares]

Originally Posted by CargoBoy

Phil,
I believe the 3.1 month payout is all on July 7th. They used to divide the payment between July and December but now they are paying it all out in July. Doubt we will get anything in Dec.
Cargoboy

Was trying to find the details on the ALPAS forums. However, it appears you are correct. My mistake...

[readufive]

Hello guys....I am sitting on needles! I was at the interview about 3 weeks ago.....still havenīt heard anything. Any ideas on how long it takes before you get a "go".......???

Congrats on the bonus..........

[millerscourt]

congrats on the bonus. All the bonus does is together with the 13 month salary in January pay the tax bill. The problem arises when the bonus is not paid!! SQ hate this bonus scheme and LKY in particular so do not be surprised when yet again they try and move the goalposts.

rudufive there is no time limit for a go or no go. When they have a go ahead to fill a course then they go down their list. Often they leave it to the last minute and take those who can get away quickly from their employer rather than waiting for those who have to give 3 month's notice.

Those in SQ Cargo will find just 3 month's Bonus will more than cover their tax as they are only flying 50 hrs/month and not being paid to position. Those in Mainline get a different deal despite what Phil would have you all believe!

[readufive]

millerscourt...thanks for that. I will just have to wait it out . What is wrong with "only" flying 50 hours/month?? I fly 80-100/month...and I sure donīt think its that funny............anymore

The dudes at the interview were very straightforward regarding the paxing and pay/no-pay.......no surprises.

[millerscourt]

readufive the only thing wrong with 50 hrs/month is the fact that SQ salary is based on a low Basic + Productivity for each hr/month. Less flying also means less downroute allowances as well so it all adds up. If you only do 600hrs pa as against say 900 then you get no overtime and all this could cost you say $20,000/25,000 SGD less pa than Mainline B744 Pilots. The SGD exchange rate now against Euro /£Stg and Oz$ makes the pay not look as good as it once was. Flying 900 hrs pa is not particularly onerous on long haul as a lot of it is " bunk time" One is also depending on a regular annual Bonus of at least 3 month's basic to pay the tax. With the A380 coming then even the B744 Mainline flying is up for a major change and not probably for the better.
From my experience in expats airlines with several types it is always better to be flying the premier aircraft in the fleet if at all possible as witnessed in GF with the Tristar/B767 where being on the wrong aircraft at the wrong time made for a horrible lifestyle towards the end. In SQ the A310/B747-300 and A340-300 fleets as they came to the end were reduced to just 30/50 hrs per month reducing the salary considerably with mostly turnarounds.


If you can afford a semi retirement job then SQ Cargo will suit some people fine. Positioning though at the rate that they do it can be painful and not something I would want to do long term especially when you are not being paid for it!

PS Even the 13th month salary and service increments are at the discretion of SQ. Read the small print. You only need another SARS or something similar for SQ to jump at the opportunity of not paying it!