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Air Japan (AJX) B767

Old 22nd Nov 2018, 21:46
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Good day all, I'm a 75/76 captain in the Caribbean with just around 600 PIC on type (2100 total on type), in addition to 737NG time. Thanks to jrmyl, Fratemate, The Dominican, HD, FK, galdian, Armani, and all the others who have posted over the years, given some good info and been patient with repetitive questions and people who seem to not get it. It's been good reading.

I was approached by Parc for the FO position, but then after getting my revised resume, the rep thought I should look into other opportunities because I was "way over" the FO minimums, but not near enough to the 4500 PIC requirement for DEC. What's the opposite of a sweet spot? After reviewing what has been said, I recognize that Japan T's&C's, environment, etc seem somewhat better than the Chinese jobs I've been looking at, but I'm more interested in moving with the wife, so unless something changes this may not be the contract for me as I understand it. If anyone thinks of any other jobs that I could look into, that maybe I'm not seeing, let me know.

Just wanted to say thanks again for all the info. Great bunch of guys. Safe skies!
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Old 23rd Nov 2018, 00:11
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Stallone. A rather subjective answer to your question.

Looking ONLY at hours flown may not reflect the true wear and tear experienced. There was a time when the pax and freighter ops were split, AJX and AJV. I opted to stay on the pax operation. During this time we flew more hours than the AJV pilots, yet, it appeared we were less fatigued than the freighter plots. After the merger, I found my fatigue levels went up a lot, despite my monthly hours dropping by about 20%. The multi sector night flights and constant changing from day to night ops wore me out, despite the fact I was logging around 45hrs per month.

Overtime is paid out when one exceeds 70hrs per month, there appears to be a very active plan by scheduling to adjust rosters to keep people below that level.

To answer your question, simply, in the 17 years I have been here, I have averaged about 600 to 650 hours per year.
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Old 23rd Nov 2018, 00:14
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Luibar

These questions have been asked and answered many times.

yes one can

C class will be allocated with ANA as priority but it is available on other operations, if the requirements set by the company are met, I do not believe the contractor is in a position to select.

I suggest you have a good read at the thread, especially the most recent few pages, it may answer a lot of questions you may not have considered yet. This job is not for everyone and it is very important to do your homework thoroughly before jumping in.
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Old 23rd Nov 2018, 01:28
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Originally Posted by drop24
If you're going to need to use public transport perhaps it's better to live in Tokyo than a house in rural Chiba. How often are you doing min rest layovers in Narita? If you lived 90 minutes away by train in Tokyo would the 3 hours you lose to commuting be a factor in missing out on sleep?
Not sure what you mean by "Rural Chiba" If you want to move by a bamboo forest, that is up to you but most of us have apartments 5 to 20 minutes walk from Narita station and from there is a 12 minutes train ride to the airport.
The majority of folks have apartments in Narita, a few stay at the hotel here in Narita and a few others live in different parts of Tokyo. All have their pros & cons, living at an apartment in Narita seems to be the best overall option, the cost is fair (for Japan) close to the station and the airport, supermarkets, restaurants..., but it is a little boring since it is a small town. You do get a taxi to pick you up for the late night flights but outside of that you need to get to the airport, not that far nor difficult.

Living in Tokyo is definitely a lot more fun with many options as to what to do and where to eat but it comes at a price, everything from rent, electricity, gas, is more expensive in the city and it will take you from one to two hours to get to work depending on where you live, and the cheapest option will run you ¥3000 round trip. Also be mindful that your base is Narita, guys are having the taxis not picking them up at their apartments in Tokyo for late night flights and that means that you will have to leave your apartment early to head to the airport.

If you do a day trip with a 9am show that finish at 8 PM for example, you need to add at least 3 hours round trip to that for commute, but on a blank day, you are in Tokyo !
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Old 23rd Nov 2018, 09:10
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Originally Posted by gtseraf
Stallone. A rather subjective answer to your question.

Looking ONLY at hours flown may not reflect the true wear and tear experienced. There was a time when the pax and freighter ops were split, AJX and AJV. I opted to stay on the pax operation. During this time we flew more hours than the AJV pilots, yet, it appeared we were less fatigued than the freighter plots. After the merger, I found my fatigue levels went up a lot, despite my monthly hours dropping by about 20%. The multi sector night flights and constant changing from day to night ops wore me out, despite the fact I was logging around 45hrs per month.

Overtime is paid out when one exceeds 70hrs per month, there appears to be a very active plan by scheduling to adjust rosters to keep people below that level.

To answer your question, simply, in the 17 years I have been here, I have averaged about 600 to 650 hours per year.
thanks for the clarification

I can totally understand your point of the roster pattern being the more crucial factor to fatigue than the actual flying hours.
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Old 23rd Nov 2018, 12:20
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Well my dream has always been to live on an acreage or farm in rural Japan. That's too bad they don't offer employee parking. My wife's from Tokyo and would like to be back there. Narita would satisfy neither of us. I've spent a lot of time there on layovers and it didn't appeal to me much. I also sensed bit of an undercurrent of dislike of foreigners there that I imagine stems from all the aircrews and travelers coming and going. More so than in general Japan. Though they are usually too polite to let it show. I wonder if I lived in the sticks and drove into Narita if there is cheap parking available near the station so I could take the train from there?
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Old 24th Nov 2018, 06:47
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Originally Posted by drop24
Well my dream has always been to live on an acreage or farm in rural Japan. That's too bad they don't offer employee parking. My wife's from Tokyo and would like to be back there. Narita would satisfy neither of us. I've spent a lot of time there on layovers and it didn't appeal to me much. I also sensed bit of an undercurrent of dislike of foreigners there that I imagine stems from all the aircrews and travelers coming and going. More so than in general Japan. Though they are usually too polite to let it show. I wonder if I lived in the sticks and drove into Narita if there is cheap parking available near the station so I could take the train from there?
From what I just learned a couple of days ago, there is parking available at the airport for a monthly fee of 11,000 yen. Don't know anything else about it. There are a couple of parking garages near the station in Narita that has a big sign on the outside saying 500 yen/day.

I really don't get the undercurrent of hatred here that you mentioned. Not sure what it was that you were sensing but I don't see it.
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Old 24th Nov 2018, 08:44
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Originally Posted by drop24
Well my dream has always been to live on an acreage or farm in rural Japan. That's too bad they don't offer employee parking. My wife's from Tokyo and would like to be back there. Narita would satisfy neither of us. I've spent a lot of time there on layovers and it didn't appeal to me much. I also sensed bit of an undercurrent of dislike of foreigners there that I imagine stems from all the aircrews and travelers coming and going. More so than in general Japan. Though they are usually too polite to let it show. I wonder if I lived in the sticks and drove into Narita if there is cheap parking available near the station so I could take the train from there?
I've lived in NRT for more than 15years. I have never been treated by the locals with anything but politeness and respect. Remember, their economy now relies on foreigners and I would say all have got on board with that.

Living out in the sticks is not an issue. We have at least one guy who lives down by the beach for surfing and drives to work. As jrmyl says above he parks somewhere for 500yen per day near the airport and they shuttle him into the airport. Easy.
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Old 24th Nov 2018, 13:16
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That's great that there is such reasonable parking available. I guess that's thanks to all the land they have near the airport. Thanks all for your kind replies. I didn't mean that Narita citizens treat visitors badly. It was just an underlying feeling that the locals sometimes just tolerate you. A feeling you would have anywhere were a large amount of tourists. I've lived in Japan before and have accepted you will always be an outsider regardless of where and how long you live there. That's just something you have to be okay with or it will drive you mad like it does to so many ex-pats.
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Old 25th Nov 2018, 12:49
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Hello everyone. Probably the best forum for pilots. Sorry if this has been answered. Do we get work permit from Japanese government to work for Air Japan? How do we enter Japan. Some says shore pass. Can we get more info please. Thanks in advance.
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Old 25th Nov 2018, 12:56
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gtseraf,

Thanks a lot for your reply. Commuting from Europe would be a long journey for me indeed...
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Old 25th Nov 2018, 22:38
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Sarbjeet,

During initial training (until line training) you will get an Alien Registration Card. This allows you to remain in Japan for longer than a passport visa. Once the training is finished you will hand back your card and enter/leave Japan on either a Shore Pass or, if you want to fill your passport up with stickers, you can use your passport. Most people will use a Shore Pass during their time at work and maybe use their passport on their last trip, before going home, to add some flexibility to their travel arrangements......especially if they are using ZED tickets.

Regarding your PM. I cannot reply by PM as you are too new and don't have a mailbox. BUT, my reply would be to sit down with several cups of coffee/tea and read this thread. All your questions have been asked and answered several times.
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Old 26th Nov 2018, 01:43
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@Fratemate, thanks for the information. What I am still concerned is as I am a from a country which required visa to enter Japan, will I be allowed to work just with shore pass or need to take tourist visa all the time? Thanks
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Old 27th Nov 2018, 01:28
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Originally Posted by Sarbjeet
@Fratemate, thanks for the information. What I am still concerned is as I am a from a country which required visa to enter Japan, will I be allowed to work just with shore pass or need to take tourist visa all the time? Thanks
That would be a question best answered by the contract agencies.
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Old 4th Dec 2018, 20:53
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Joining AJX

F/O type rated on A330 with 10k+ total hrs/ 9k heavy jet/ mostly long haul. Any latest info regarding the recruitment process/ upgrade opportunities is very much appreciated.
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Old 5th Dec 2018, 01:38
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Originally Posted by srilion
F/O type rated on A330 with 10k+ total hrs/ 9k heavy jet/ mostly long haul. Any latest info regarding the recruitment process/ upgrade opportunities is very much appreciated.
Everything is the same as previously reported in this thread. Nothing EVER changes here. Just read this and you will have all your answers.
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Old 5th Dec 2018, 20:24
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Originally Posted by jrmyl
Everything is the same as previously reported in this thread. Nothing EVER changes here. Just read this and you will have all your answers.
Thanks jrmyl !

Pardon me if this has been already answered, maybe I missed a post.
So is anyone here who got upgraded recently? How long before you’re offered a chance at assessment?
How long before the airline transitions to all 787s?

Thanks & rgds.
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Old 5th Dec 2018, 22:57
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787 conversions are on hold at the moment due to the engine problems. They are examining the possibility of re-starting in April/May but that is only the latest best guess. I think the previous plan was to have got rid of passenger 767s in 2020 but that will now be later (2021?) The freighters will remain for some time after that but I haven't seen a date for them disappearing and it may well depend on whether ANA get the 787 freighter or switch to the 777 freighter. Long and short of it; assume you're going to fly the 767 for quite some time yet.

Your other questions have been answered many times before, so have a good read of the thread because it's all there and you would need to miss more than one post to have your questions unanswered.
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Old 6th Dec 2018, 04:41
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Will the 787s replace the 767s one for one or is the fleet size expected to shrink a bit when they start retiring them?
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Old 6th Dec 2018, 04:56
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Originally Posted by drop24
Will the 787s replace the 767s one for one or is the fleet size expected to shrink a bit when they start retiring them?
We don't have our own fleet so that type of replacement thinking really doesn't apply here. They take orders for 787's and put the Air Japan name on them. We have certain flights that we operate the 787 on and routes we operate the 767 on. As the 787 takes over routes that the 767 used to fly those planes that used to do that route transition to doing domestic routes. So there really is no replacement for airframes here. Just routes.
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