Air Japan (AJX) B767

[schabur]

Screening for AJX

hello guys

Wow...122 pages of mostly excellent gen.

What i do want to ask, and please pardon me if i missed this being dealt with, is the following:

1. For the screening/interview. Would a jacket and tie be acceptable, or is a full suit recommended? I did my interview for my current position with jacket/blazer and I do not actually own a suit. I have no qualms in getting one tho.

2. I am in my early 40's and I have been wearing a beard for a very long time now. Would that be something to consider getting rid of? I am a bit scared of what I will look like , but again...i have no qualms in doing so if that is something that the Japanese culture requires.

I assume that this handle cannot do PM's yet (I see my old one from 2005 has been terminated) so any info on these seemingly silly questions would be appreciated.

best

-scab-

[Fratemate]

1. For the screening/interview. Would a jacket and tie be acceptable, or is a full suit recommended? I did my interview for my current position with jacket/blazer and I do not actually own a suit. I have no qualms in getting one tho.

There will undoubtedly be examples quoted of various standards of dress exhibited by different attendees of the selection procedure and there is no hard and fast rule (unlike the white shirts that we know TD loves......we know you miss Greg ) . However, the people on the other side of the desk wear suits just about every day of their lives (in various fetching tones of black) and I believe you'd be safest with a suit. If you're anywhere near Hong Kong, Bangkok etc then get one made up. Much cheaper than most shops and you end up with a personally tailored bit of clothing that can then be used for the next funeral you attend.....maybe that's why they go for black!

2. I am in my early 40's and I have been wearing a beard for a very long time now. Would that be something to consider getting rid of? I am a bit scared of what I will look like , but again...i have no qualms in doing so if that is something that the Japanese culture requires.

I think the Japanese are a little suspicious of face fungus but they don't seem to mind it on our pilots who sport the things. So long as it's neat and trimmed and not trying to give ZZ Top a run for their money then I think you can keep your face warm by retaining your hairy chin. I'm pretty certain there's no Japanese culture that requires them to have a smooth face, just an inability of most of them to grow one.

[condor1]

Hey Scab, I had the screening in LAS not long ago, I took a suit with me that I didn't use. The examiners are very relaxed. I am not saying wear jeans but, I didn't even use a tie and I was the best dressed there. I think business casual is the best option.

For Tokyo I will definitely wear a suit.

I have a question for the guys currently flying for AJX...

In case I get the job, I am planning to rent an apartment so my wife can stay in Tokyo on my days ON.
About how much is the rent of a nice one bedroom place in Narita?
I've checked airB&B but, probably for a long-term rent, the number would be lower.
I'm just going through the numbers here to see how much money I'd actually be taking home every month.

Thank you!

Condor1

[nj314]

thanks for all the info

currently flying a320 in vietnam, looking for a 767 sim to pratice before going to the screening but the nearest sim i found is panam in florida (there is 1 panam 767 sim in tokyo but not available for individual). What about flying some hours in a 737 sim instead, do you think it will help?

btw, if you know where i can find a 767 sim around asia, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[jrmyl]

Renting an apartment in Narita will run you around 70,000 yen. Some places are less but some are more.

Not sure of the official definition of x-country time, but if you take off from one airport and land at a different one, that is x-country. Distance does not matter. I have some flights from my previous company that were only about 10 miles between airports. Still x-country.

As far as the person asking about whether to wear a suit or not, do you seriously want the job? If yes, then dress for success. Wear a suit and trim the beard neatly or shave it off for the interview. It will always grow back.

[condor1]

Thanks for the info on the rent!

[vitorps87]

Commuting

Is it possible to stay in Japan during the 10 days off in a row?

My finacee is japanese and I was expecting to actually commute every 2 or 3 months.

Thanks

[The Dominican]

@vitorps87....., On the last duty day just enter Japan with your passport (90 day visa) instead of the shore pass......,that's it.

Have you actually read this thread? This has been beaten down to a very fine pulp over the years...., take some time and read through it, start from about 3 or 4 years worth and go forward, there is a lot of information about this gig.

[vitorps87]

Thank you Dominican.
I looked only for couple of months ago, I will look further.

Originally Posted by The Dominican

@vitorps87....., On the last duty day just enter Japan with your passport (90 day visa) instead of the shore pass......,that's it.

Have you actually read this thread? This has been beaten down to a very fine pulp over the years...., take some time and read through it, start from about 3 or 4 years worth and go forward, there is a lot of information about this gig.

[NeilC]

Hi Gents

Just finished reading the entire thread, thanks to all who made informative posts.
I can't send a PM yet so I would just like to ask a couple of questions.
During the visual approach you say "Clear Left/Right Side" before every turn.
What do you say when in IMC during the VOR and ILS approach?

One of the technical questions in the interview is describe the touchdown zone with JCAB rated pilots to give the JCAB definition.
Does any one have the JCAB definition for Touch Down Zone?

I read on one of the posts that when you eventually get upgraded you sign a new five year contract starting on Captain pay scales. I can not seem to find information on when you finish that five year contact and you sign another five year contact does your pay stay at the five year Captain scale or does the new five year contact keep on going up every year like the first five year contract.
I hope it makes sense what I am asking.
If anyone has a file on pay scales could they please PM or email it to me.

Interviewing on the 5th July, super excited.

Regards

Neil
[email protected]

[Fratemate]

During the visual approach you say "Clear Left/Right Side" before every turn.

Yes, or something similar. The Japanese will say "left/right side clear" but it's just important (to them) that you look and say something. The fact that they often just say it without looking is not supposed to be noticed, so please do as they say and not as they do

What do you say when in IMC during the VOR and ILS approach?

Please don't laugh too much because it's true, but they'll (we'll) say "left/right side in cloud". Stupid beyond comprehension but just smile and do, smile and do.

One of the technical questions in the interview is describe the touchdown zone with JCAB rated pilots to give the JCAB definition.
Does any one have the JCAB definition for Touch Down Zone?

For some reason they get a big hard-on about knowing the distances to the different white lines on the runway, so it's a good idea if you can learn them. They'll be mostly interested in where the touchdown zone marks start, how they're spaced and (obviously) where they finish. They'll probably be even more interested in where the aiming point marks start and how long they are. This way they can question you about seeing the very end of the aiming point marks while you're in the flare, or not and how this will place you for touching down in the correct place or landing long etc. They've got an ideal for the 767 of 1250' ft touchdown but I can't reproduce the drawing of the eye height, distance between pilots and gear etc, so you'll just have to believe me (or not if you've got any brains). It's not specifically a JCAB thing because the runway markings are standard but it's an Asian thing for learning numbers that you'll never use again and firmly grasping the irrelevant. We all know the importance of landing in the right place but they want you to be able to back that up with your mastery of learning numbers by rote and being able to show how landing long or short is a bad thing. Seeing the end of the aiming marks disappearing under the nose as you touch down is a good thing and will mean you've achieved Nirvana at 1250'. The fact that you dragged the approach in from 50 miles, used five times the fuel by avoiding any cloud in the sky and are late because you insisted on slowing down for every slight bump in the air is totally ignored. Autobrake 4 will also help for the limiting runways like Narita.

I read on one of the posts that when you eventually get upgraded you sign a new five year contract starting on Captain pay scales. I can not seem to find information on when you finish that five year contact and you sign another five year contact does your pay stay at the five year Captain scale or does the new five year contact keep on going up every year like the first five year contract.

When you start a new contract you'll continue going up the pay increments (that will buy you an extra Asahi per year). So you'll go onto waypoint 6 having completed the first 5 year contract. I'd love to tell you more about pay increases etc but all the agencies are dickless wonders and won't ask AJX for more money lest they upset their lords and masters. Meanwhile, if the pay doesn't look good to you, don't join, because it won't be going up with the current personnel involved in the contract agencies.

[The Dominican]

I'd love to tell you more about pay increases etc but all the agencies are dickless wonders and won't ask AJX for more money lest they upset their lords and masters. Meanwhile, if the pay doesn't look good to you, don't join, because it won't be going up with the current personnel involved in the contract agencies.

Don't forget the brown nosing koolaid drinkers that every time someone mentions "pay" they react as if you just mentioned their mother...!

[NeilC]

Thanks Fratemate.

Clear right side/Right side in cloud it is.

Thanks for the answer on the salary, I have a colleague at work that told me once you finish your five year contact your salary then stays at that amount, I just wanted to make sure as is does not make sense for your salary to stay at the same amount for the next 10 years.

[Dox]

hi everybody!

I am applying for Fo position. What's the six months trainign about? is it just atpl both theory and practical or also 767 type rating? is salary given for this period?

thank You all!

[Fratemate]

How about reading the thread and, funny old thing, find that all your questions are answered

[Dox]

ehy, funny guy, there are 123 pages, what's so wrong in asking a question? if you really don't have time to waste answering me just don't do it and stop increasing numbers of posts to this discussion

[alldaysushi]

How old / too old

Hello All,

Mainly looking to the wisdom of current 76 drivers at AJX,...

Is 58 too old to apply, not concerned about left seat, just looking for a place to finish a contract career. 747 744 ACMI, much experience in the China / Pac Rim
regions, FAA / CAAC China ATPL.

Thanks in advance for any guidance to the Dominican if he fields this query.

Safe journeys,

Sushi

[The Dominican]

Dox
ehy, funny guy, there are 123 pages, what's so wrong in asking a question? if you really don't have time to waste answering me just don't do it and stop increasing numbers

If you have taken the time to read this thread...., you would know that he is one of the people that have taken the time to answer everyone's questions, not only here but on PM's as well....! If you see 123 pages as a waist of your time and just want the easy way out..., you are not the kind of person that they want working here.

[The Dominican]

@alldaysushi......, I don't think so...., you can fly here until 65 although the medicals get a bit tougher though. But provided you pass the medicals, you can still do 7 years worth of flying at AJX.

[Fratemate]

Thanks for your words, TD. It is amazing just how lazy some people can be and just want spoon-feeding with everything.

alldaysushi,

What TD says is true but have you considered NCA as well? It may not suit you because our commuting deal is better than theirs but you could continue flying the 747 and not have to go back in time onto the 767. There are advantages to both companies over the other but have a look at NCA as well, if you haven't already done so.