Air Japan (AJX) B767

[Fratemate]

Will the company put you in a flight to HND and make you travel from there to NRT (train, bus, taxi?) if the ticket prices are cheaper or will them try to keep you flying to NRT as much as possible?

No, in my experience they don't really penny-pinch like that. If the timings work out for you via CDG or DUS then you'd just ask them to route you via either of those and you'd catch your ANA flight to/from NRT. If the timings don't work out and you'd prefer to go via LHR or FRA then you'd just ask them for that and they will pay for the bus to and from HND.

All of this assumes you are using the C Class option. Clearly, if you're using a ZED ticket then you sort it all out yourself and you're responsible for the fares to/from HND.

[archer_737]

Fratemate;

Thanks again, really helpful.

[Feather44]

Sim profile

Hi guys,

First of all, thanks very much for sharing all those meaningful feedbacks & informations!!
I have been through the entire topic.. A long way, but so much to learn!

Being European, I have recently applied via PARC, and I'm glad that Air Japan has approved my candidature. Nevertheless, I have been told by this agency that from now on there is a mandatory pre-screening in London.

They proposed me a screening in 2 weeks in London, but I had to refuse:
- no way to get leave from my company in such delay.
- more importantlely, it doesn't give me not enough time to get 100% ready.

Apparently, the next one will be in 6 to 9 months.
Quiet a long waiting period for me.. I'm in the "sandpit" and wiiling to move asap

I did ask them if it was possible to send me the sim profile, so I can study it again and again. But in vain!!

Something else, today I had a glance at CREW's website and noticed that they have screenings on a monthly basis. So I'm wondering if PARC is "missguiding" me or not in order to save some money on flight tickets to Tokyo? (Seeing the <50% pass rate)

By any chance, may I ask to one of you who attended the screening recently to provide me their sim profile?

Once again, thanks to everyone for your contributions!
Hope to see you soon in Tokyo.

Domo arogatou,
Greg

[The Dominican]

Apparently, the next one will be in 6 to 9 months.

That time frame doesn't make any sense to me
I would put my application with CREW and see what they say

[archer_737]

I haven't applied yet but as far as I've been told there are interviews every month and courses every other month.
Word on the street is that a guy interviewing now would join after the summer (maybe September-October?).

I've also heared that for the guys flying regional or "small" jets they are doing now this pre-selection in the UK, not applying that to the guys already flying wide body and some of the well known narrow body (320, 737). Not sure if this is true, just been told by a colleague.

If that is your case, I'll assume that interviews in UK aren't running that often if compared with those in Japan.

Only talking rumors here, don't trust any word

[Feather44]

Yes, Dominican I agree .... It does not make sense!
I've started to file up the application with CREW. let's see!

Thanks For the feedback Archer; but I have over 3000 hrs on A320 close to 5000 total.

In fact I'm a little bit pissed off with PARC, I have submitted my application a while ago (December), send them many email about my application process.
The only answers I received was: "the person in charge is out of the office at this time, she will get back to you asap"

I finally got a skype call on 20th Feb: "can you show up in London for a pre-screening on 5th March?"
- To late to plan leave with my company.
- not enough time to study properly the sim profile.

Anyway, I hope CREW will be more efficient.
Cheers guys!!

[archer_737]

Feather44,

Sorry to hear that.

My only guess is Boeing guys get it straight to Japan while other types have the pre-selection in the UK? Or maybe the whole procedure's changed right now and everyone is to pass through this pre-selection.

Hope it works well for you at the end. Good luck!

[atlanticjet]

Rishworth also offers this contract. It's actually in cooperation with CREW so at the end of the day if you get selected you are 100% with CREW. Initially I applied with CREW and PARC. Waited for ever, so took my chances with Rishworth. Within 2 weeks I had an interview date and in 3 months was in class ! I am aware that some people have issues with Rishworth, but in my case they did a fantastic job and turned my paperwork in record time, no question about it ! This was back 2 years ago, so Im not sure about it now.

I suggest turning your paperwork with all of them, you have absolutely nothing to loose. Longreach (also in co-op with CREW) is on this contract too btw !

[hu1124]

Hi guys... First of all. I would like to thank to those who posted info about AJX... I just finished with assessment with AJX. Unfortunately I was not successful... But to me it was okay. I can go on with my life. My background is b747 FO for 8 years. Many things have said in the posts before. But I have one thing to add to those who are coming for the interview. It's simple and straight to the point... Think you are flying b767 by yourself. In my briefing I asked the PM capt to do something. He will always reply ok. But when it happens. He doesn't do a thing until you order. He maybe tired or what...but he has no CRM. Come on...even if they want you to be PIC...at least listen during briefing. Don't say ok if you are not going to do what I ask. So be prepared for that!

For the interview... Don't even bother too much.. They asked me v spds and aural warnings for the 747.., the HR asked me strong points and weak points. Oh.. And hydro planning. 3 types and when occurs. Others are the same... Intro, why join AJX, what ur family thinks..what you did to prepared...They will ask questions based on your answers...oh...couple questions I asked during orientation...like who engage autopilot during manual flight. The instructor said up to you, but during the SIM PM Capt got upset and said order him to engage. So that's something to look out. I stress again...PM capt has no CRM. Even what I told him during the briefing..he will not do.

First practice visual pattern he will call abeam runway and 35 sec... During real check he does not call anything. Once again... You are a single pilot on b767 and lucky to have someone you can order to do things. Order him do everything...I believe he didn't want to be there at 2 in the morning. Which was the time I finished. If you really want and need this job... You need to memorize the profile by heart. Also...I was too concentrate on pitch and power during every sector. It make you forget the simple stuff. its important. But as important as you current spd and altitude...so forget power and attitude. Just fly the aircraft first. Good luck to those who want to join... Please be careful of the PM capt, they will not do what you tell them to do during briefing. Only do when you order them what to do.

[Kivites]

I had the same experience as Thread. Even if you ask before starting is always "ok" and when you are flying the SIM they are upset if you do or order what was said before. I did not feel doing a bad performance but I guess they want everything as they "want". CRM is not good. The "checker" was allright but my cpt was difficult to understand even though I asked a few times, when Reading checklist I had to ask him a few times too.... and he looked really pissed. Maybe because he was 2days in a row hours seated there and I was one of the last ones....bad luck too.


I will try it again if they give me a second chance. I still work, fly and that's fine for me...

[Koa mahi]

No offense to the last couple posters, but I'm wondering if some of the CRM problems are due to them also not having English as the first language. I could barely understand what was written in the last post. Being in a SIM late at night, everyone with heavily accented English and the Japanese needing it done 'their' way, could lead to some difficulties.

Having said that, I appreciate the feedback as I have an upcoming interview and I will approach the SIM protion as single pilot with the profile memorized as exactly as possible.

Anyone else who has recently gone through this, please feel free to PM me with any other tips.

[Triple7jfo]

great thread thank you.

just wondering, if you have to get out of your contract at anytime prior to its completion how does that work. i have a young family and not sure how this kind of lifestyle may work for us! if things don't work out can you get out of the contract?

alternatively, is it possible to bring the family with and get residents visa's for them? i read a couple pages back that there are some guys who have done this by setting up a business. do you know of any pilots on this contract living in narita area with families? is it possible?

pm for anonymity if required


thank you once again

[Fratemate]

just wondering, if you have to get out of your contract at anytime prior to its completion how does that work.

There is no bond, which is nice in today's airline industry, but there is a contract completion bonus. If you decide to throw the towel in before completion of your contract then, obviously, you forfeit that bonus entirely. There is no pro rata. Also, if you leave before contract completion then you will not be able to come back. There are those who have left AJX in the past at the end of a contract and they have been able to return but this will definitely not be offered to someone who leaves early. Apart from that, you give the three months notice required of your contract and then go elsewhere.

alternatively, is it possible to bring the family with and get residents visa's for them? i read a couple pages back that there are some guys who have done this by setting up a business. do you know of any pilots on this contract living in narita area with families? is it possible?

Do not rely on rumours, hearsay and what a mate told you down the pub. This is a commuting contract and neither you, nor your family, get any sort of visa once you've completed training. During training you will have a student-type visa and this gets handed in as soon as you're checked out. You will enter and leave Japan on a shore pass, which restricts how far you can travel from your port of entry and how long you can stay in Japan (usually 7 days). I do not know of anyone in AJX who has a business in Japan, far less getting a visa as a result. The only people that I know of who have residential visas are married to Japanese girls or work for someone else, such as SkyMark.

It is possible to rent a large apartment and have your family enter Japan on a tourist visa, however, these have variable time limits (normally max of 6 months) and a mate told me down the pub that the Japanese immigration people are not likely to keep issuing consecutive tourist visas, so expect at least a 6 month gap between visas now and again. Note: a mate told me this, so I can't guarantee it but it does sound pretty typical of Japan. AND.....a tourist visa allows you to visit temples, travel around the place and eat sushi; it does not allow your kids to attend public schools etc. How a private school would view the situation I have no idea but with the big apartment you'd be renting for a family, plus private school fees AND a wife that is not allowed to work because she's on a tourist visa you'd be severely restricted in the Yen you've got left to buy squid for the kids' lunch boxes.

In summary; this is a commuting contract so, after training, you have to assume that your family will only see you when you are on your days off and if they occasionally visit you in Japan (but you'll be working most of the time when they're stuck in your apartment/the hotel). Any other hope or plan is delusional, so only make your decision to apply for AJX based on the fact that you'll have 10 days off per month, plus 2 commuting days and accrue 2 vacation days per month (that you can 'spend' when you like) and an ability to back-to-back your days off.

While I'm at the keyboard and discussing the points to be decided when applying for AJX, allow me to quell some of enthusiasm in a couple of the 'pluses' being spouted by the employment agencies. The first is command times. True, in the past it has taken as little as 3.5 years to get to the left seat but then we had fewer than 150 pilots in total, a need to attract people because the rest of the planet was doing well financially and an expanding fleet and destination database. Now we have over 250 pilots and an alleged plan to get to 400 (from a bloke who heard a rumour from a guy down the pub), people lining up to apply because the conditions elsewhere are not so good, a stable fleet number and only a mild increase in places to fly. My prediction is that command times will increase and I further predict that a command will only be offered in a second contract. It is more than likely that I'll be proved wrong, again, but please don't pay too much heed when the agencies 'guarantee' an upgrade after only 3.5 years or so or you may well end up very disappointed. The second point is aircraft types. I know the agencies have been quite vocal in their 'hints' that you'll only be on the 767 a few minutes and then it's off to the 787 and it is very convenient for them that ANA is reducing the 767 fleet and increasing the 787. I do believe we will, eventually, get the 787 but (a)it is not going to be any time soon (think 2018 timeframe) and (b)when it goes get here then none of us and I mean that most sincerely, none of us knows how they are going to decide who goes on which fleet, what's going to happen to the cargo flying, what happens to new joiners/those who are coming up for retirement etc etc etc. There are just too many variable and if the AJX management don't really know what is going to happen (and they don't) then please don't base your decision to join on the agencies promising you the snake water that guarantees a 787 in the near future.

I am more than happy to be made to eat my words on both subjects but I would advise caution if you're relying on either as a reason to join.

[BoxFly]

Just one more thing to think about. If you decide this gig isn't for you and give less than 90 days notice you will be charged a $15,000 penalty by the contracting agency. A couple of the last guys who had to go in a hurry confirmed they are being charged.

[Fratemate]

I presume that's CREW is it, BoxFly? I don't think PARC does anything like that.....although I wouldn't be surprised if they copied CREW and started

[The Dominican]

That has been CREW's standing policy for a while, I know that the F/O that went to Hawaiian a few years back had to pay the penalty...., AFAIK..., the other agencies don't have this particular policy but like Frate said, look at the fine print within the contract.

[EFC_]

Let me start by saying at this point in my career I do not believe in fairy dust and magic beans, I'm signing up for a 5 year FO slot on the 767. Anything that may happen above that would be neat, otherwise, this is what I'm coming on board for. Having recently received the call from the psychiatrist I'm hoping that I am on the final leg of this long process to get in the door.
I plan on seeing the contract thru to the end, and possibly more. Since the topic of leaving mid contract is up, are many of the AJX pilots(specifically American) actively applying to, mainline carriers eg AA United, Delta, FedEx, UPS?

[The Dominican]

Since the topic of leaving mid contract is up, are many of the AJX pilots(specifically American) actively applying to, mainline carriers eg AA United, Delta, FedEx, UPS?

Lately our attrition of guys going back to the US has pretty much stopped..., we do have some furloughed guys that will eventually be forced to go back but for what I see and hear they are pushing it as far as they can and there is a large group that for their age and stages of life they find themselves in (relationships, marriage, etc) are quite content to stay put.

Having said that..., they have hired several younger pilots that are for the time being enjoying themselves but I wouldn't be surprised if some years down the line some of these folks would start wondering "What if?" It's just a natural cycle in my view but to answer your question.., I don't really hear a lot of "App" talk out on the line.

Will see I guess.....!

[EFC_]

Originally Posted by The Dominican

Lately our attrition of guys going back to the US has pretty much stopped..., we do have some furloughed guys that will eventually be forced to go back but for what I see and hear they are pushing it as far as they can and there is a large group that for their age and stages of life they find themselves in (relationships, marriage, etc) are quite content to stay put.

Having said that..., they have hired several younger pilots that are for the time being enjoying themselves but I wouldn't be surprised if some years down the line some of these folks would start wondering "What if?" It's just a natural cycle in my view but to answer your question.., I don't really hear a lot of "App" talk out on the line.

Will see I guess.....!

That is great to hear. Thanks for the insight.

[Triple7jfo]

thanks guys that is all helpful..

is the training really 6-8mths? seems very long? any reasonably long consecutive days off during this training period for family to come and visit? say every 4-6 weeks or so during training?

thanks again