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Air Japan (AJX) B767

Old 13th May 2018, 08:05
  #2841 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by gtseraf
one is required to report for duty, no later than 2 hours after being called out on standby. (source, some obscure office policy document, issued about 13 years ago)
Yes, another one of those obscure "rules" that we are supposed to know and abide by. It's amazing how many of those keep popping up in the last two years.

Standby's per month vary. Some months you will not have any. Other months, like this one for me, you will have 6 of them. Nights in NRT vary also. You can count on being there 2 nights every 7 days since you have to have the 1 day off. There just really is no set amount of standby or nights in NRT.
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Old 14th May 2018, 07:45
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Quick question regarding the ATPL licence....I am currently an F/O on the A320, and in my country (EASA member state) I am unable to attain a full ATPL until I do my P1 Cpt on the type I am rated on.

As such, I would like to know if it is possible to go through the whole AJX selection process with provision of attaining a full ATPL (at my own expense) before the start date if I am successful. Has anyone been in the same position as me?
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Old 14th May 2018, 09:43
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@Varig

Can you not unfreeze it with your next lpc/opc? I just had to do a raw data ils. It should be a tick in the box.

I guess you need to have it before starting the application?
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Old 14th May 2018, 11:42
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Originally Posted by VarigMD11
Quick question regarding the ATPL licence....I am currently an F/O on the A320, and in my country (EASA member state) I am unable to attain a full ATPL until I do my P1 Cpt on the type I am rated on.

As such, I would like to know if it is possible to go through the whole AJX selection process with provision of attaining a full ATPL (at my own expense) before the start date if I am successful. Has anyone been in the same position as me?
I'd say the Japanese are very strict about their requirements, so they probably won't accept your application without a full ATPL.
But I'd recommend sending a message to CAE Parc or CrEW, they should be able to confirm that for you.
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Old 15th May 2018, 09:06
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By the way, are those with native English and “All Nippon” call sign actually Air Japan pilots? Or does ANA recruit expat pilots as well?
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Old 15th May 2018, 11:52
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Yes.

No.

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Old 16th May 2018, 05:20
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Not correct!

You're not paid by Air Japan, you're paid by the contracting agency. You are paid gross and it is up to you to sort out your tax. The number of days we stay in Japan does not affect AJX one iota because they have nothing whatsoever to do with our salary or our tax apart from giving the agencies the money to pay us.

We have Japanese with JCAB ATPLs flying for AJX i.e. NOT Mainline ANA. They are hired by the same contracting agencies as non-Japanese. They are also paid gross and expected to take care of their own tax affairs.

What you're saying may apply to other contracts where the company pays the pilots directly. This is NOT the case with AJX, so what you've said is incorrect for this situation.
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Old 16th May 2018, 18:51
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Been following for awhile, and I have read the entire thing so please forgive me if the answers are embedded somewhere in the history.
  • Can your spouse/family also live in Japan? If not "sponsored" by Air Japan are there other options, such as self sponsor, sponsored by spouse, by "fake company" or only through employment?
  • Do they extend medical and travel benefits to your spouse/family?
  • How long are present times to upgrade? Know it can vary, but maybe someone can provide some historical data, or has some foresight into the future?
Thanks
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Old 17th May 2018, 08:20
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I'm finding it difficult to think of any AJX families living in Japan where at least one of the husband or wife are not Japanese. That's not to say there aren't but I can't think of any off the top of my head. Some guys have had their wives/girlfriends (not at the same time) staying in Japan for a long period but I think they normally come in on a tourist visa, as opposed to any sort of residential visa. I know nothing of the sponsorship schemes since I wouldn't subject my family to living in Japan.

ZED travel is open to your spouse/close family in accordance with the 'normal' industry standard. In other words, wife, kids, parents etc bit not your uncle Bob.

Medical depends on which contract company you use. Crew have got the best medical package and it is worth prioritising them if you apply because that package is worth a lot. It includes your family and everyone I've spoken to who has cause to use it has been impressed. Not so, Parc. Their use if BUPA Global does the job most of the time but there are plenty of horror stories where guys are having to pay bills themselves and then having to chase BUPA for non-payment etc. NOT what you need when you're off sick. Parc also has an 'excess' payment of GBP200/year and you have to pay extra if you want to include family. It is a vastly inferior package to Crew.

Nothing has changed really with upgrades. They're still assessing at around the 3.5 year mark and slotting in courses shortly thereafter. It doesn't seem to worry them being overborne by captains and there's no specific strategy to split 50/50. Being able to fly captain/captain actually allows them flexibility in having more 4 stripes than 3. I think it will be at least 3 years (possibly more) in the seat before we see any FOs go from right to left on the 787. I don't think ANA Mainline yet have a 787 upgrade program so we'll really be behind the curve on that score. Not that it will concern new joiners for the time being.....maybe in 7 years or so .........maybe
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Old 18th May 2018, 11:13
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Not sure where that rumour came from Fratemate. ANA have had an upgrade programme on the 787 for many years, just like any other fleet. They also have 2 upgraded female captains on the 787 now.
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Old 19th May 2018, 13:59
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Haha, it actually came from one of our Japanese 'management' captains, so that is definitely stupidity on my part listening to him. I had also heard of the two female captains, so should have joined up the dots instead of transmitting the evident rubbish from one of our 'betters'
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Old 21st May 2018, 07:19
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Smile Long time lurker intro

Good morning all AJ pilots,

I thought I would write and introduce myself, perhaps one day in the future I will have some information I can add on here to help.

I have been interested in this contract for a number of years and with a number of friends working there it has slowly dawned on me that its almost a perfect match me and the family. I do hope I am lucky enough to be invited for an interview.

Enjoying reading through all the posts and thinking about where I can find a 767 sim to go through the profile a few times before the check, if I make it to an interview that is. It certainly sounds like a very good position, with the time off, flexibility and a great group of pilots and company to work with. I have heard all about the good and the bad, and happily still feel its a great fit.

Inspired to get back in the books and give it my very best shot.

Regards,

SFFH
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Old 21st May 2018, 16:54
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Originally Posted by Fratemate
Not correct!

You're not paid by Air Japan, you're paid by the contracting agency. You are paid gross and it is up to you to sort out your tax. The number of days we stay in Japan does not affect AJX one iota because they have nothing whatsoever to do with our salary or our tax apart from giving the agencies the money to pay us.
So in this case, you could stay in Japan during your days off, but you might have to pay up to 40% tax. Is that correct?
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Old 21st May 2018, 20:01
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Your taxes in Japan are based on you obtaining legal residency in the country, not on you spending your days off in Japan. But you must NOT overstay your shorepass days nor overstay your visa. That will open the proverbial can of worms
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Old 21st May 2018, 23:42
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Originally Posted by danny_chi_1975


So in this case, you could stay in Japan during your days off, but you might have to pay up to 40% tax. Is that correct?
No. We are not responsible for any tax in Japan. We are not employed in Japan. We are "offshore" contractors employed by agencies in other countries. That is why we only do international flights and are not allowed to do domestic flights. We enter Japan just like any other pilot would on a shorepass or on our passports. We have no residency card. (unless you have ways to get one on your own) So if you want to stay here on your days off you would just enter on your passport and stay just like any other tourist would. Has nothing at all to do with us flying these airplanes.
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Old 23rd May 2018, 12:23
  #2856 (permalink)  
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Eye surgery

Asking for a friend here what is the eye examination medical for JCAB. Friend has had eye surgery still maintains class 1 medical. He's licence is Canadian and he wants to know how rigorous is the medical especially for the eye or is there no problem as long as he maintains the required eye sight for the test. Corrected vision is 20/25.
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Old 24th May 2018, 04:44
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Originally Posted by jrmyl
No. We are not responsible for any tax in Japan. We are not employed in Japan. We are "offshore" contractors employed by agencies in other countries. That is why we only do international flights and are not allowed to do domestic flights. We enter Japan just like any other pilot would on a shorepass or on our passports. We have no residency card. (unless you have ways to get one on your own) So if you want to stay here on your days off you would just enter on your passport and stay just like any other tourist would. Has nothing at all to do with us flying these airplanes.
Japan's double tax treaties are in line with the OECD Model Treaty with respect to the tax-exempt treatment of foreign employees temporarily working in Japan. Such employees are generally tax exempt if they fulfill the following three criteria:
  • they are present in Japan for not more than 183 days in any 12-month period commencing or ending the fiscal year concerned
  • their salary is paid by a non-resident employer
  • none of the salary is borne by a permanent establishment in Japan.
This rule applies to non-resident too. Thats why I think if people stay in Japan during days off would exceed 183 days, and it makes exemption invalid.
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Old 25th May 2018, 01:57
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What is the long term outlook for Air Japan? For those of us with 30+ years until retirement what are the chances these contracts will still be around that long? Are there a large number of pilots that have made it their career company?
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Old 25th May 2018, 10:52
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Drop24,

With all my respect to your question, I’m only half way through my aviation career and am witnessing big changes across the aviation world. The pilot shortage is evident in all corners and is showing the true colors of the way the airlines are dealing with it. Some choose to lower the minimum requirements, avoiding big pay rises but flooding their pilot base with less and less experience. In the US, some of the regionals are taking on DECs and even offering work permits, this was not even heard of 10 years ago. Chinese carriers continue to up the pay to lure in experience pilots.

The truth is, nothing can be predicted. Human nature is to quickly forget (only 15-20 years ago, the US airlines were in free fall, many of them going into chapter 11 protection), no one in Europe was recruiting and Emirates & Cathay was a highly sought after job!

My advice to you is do you research before you commit to anywhere, expect that your needs will indeed change (single, married, family, kids, divorce, etc) and almost no one stays 30 years in the same airline!
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Old 25th May 2018, 12:04
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Originally Posted by drop24
What is the long term outlook for Air Japan? For those of us with 30+ years until retirement what are the chances these contracts will still be around that long? Are there a large number of pilots that have made it their career company?
Death & taxes brother...... That is the guarantee!

When I got my first "Welcome to your last job in aviation" speech back in 1989 I took to my crystal ball with a hammer.

I can't even tell you what the outlook will be for me in this company and I've been here 11 years.
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