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Old 2nd Sep 2009, 13:20
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Batavia are supposed to be getting A330's which they were talking about running on routes like JKT-MES and JKT-SUB in addition to Jeddah flights.
Confirmed, taxied past a BATAVIA A330 at JKT this evening.
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Old 5th Sep 2009, 06:02
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Fly Dubai, Oman Air

please think ahead than go ahead, what are the chance you get accepted by FlyDubai?? now day's remember about supply and demand, even with Oman Air the chance to get accepted is narrow at the moment, it was very easy 2-3 years before Oman Air will accept anything can fly no matter what your experience, but now they just can fail you during interview no matter how good your skill are, and they likes to fail pilot as a matter a proudness, and Fly Dubai the chance also not too good but they can fail you after many reason they are more professional base in their airline experience (emirates)
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Old 6th Sep 2009, 08:34
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Considering FlyDubai?

Hi All

Before you start getting your calculators out to figure how much much you might make at Flydubai, you need to pass the Emirates Airlines assessment, which has no directive and obviously when you fail, they don't tell you in what area you messed up.

Also, Flydubai may be good if you don't mind 50C temperature "every-single-day"!!

Have fun
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Old 23rd Sep 2009, 05:11
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So what are the captain minimums?
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Old 23rd Sep 2009, 20:12
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This one has me really scratching my head. $4,000mo for a Captain? Are things really that bad? I realize there are Indonesian regulations to deal with, but things like that can change based on need.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 03:44
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Dealing with insulting low pay offers!

I suggest that everyone that is interested in this job send in a CV with a statement that when the airline is offering a pay package equal to the experience required, that you will then submit the additional documents. If everyone that needed a job did this, then the operator would get the message. I set my Captain minimum pay at $8500.
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Old 28th Sep 2009, 19:35
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Skymark

Boomerang

Skymark in Japan is hiring Captains and the pay meet your needs. Send your application and let us know how it went.

Cheers
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Old 29th Sep 2009, 08:05
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Batavia B737 FO

Hi all,

i have also an offer as B737 FO. Anyone on that fleet?
Also someone has done the screening? How many expat are flying there?
Any info i appreciate.....
Thank you.
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Old 3rd Oct 2009, 02:37
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Going to Jakarta

iaatuuuu . I am heading out to Jakarta on Oct 12th for the interview and sim check as Captain. Have you accepted the FO position?

Cheers
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Old 3rd Oct 2009, 12:41
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batavia

Hi guys..

I've got contact with 1 of the pilot who get an offering.
He got semi furnished apartment and $4000. That's it..

Be careful with the contracts.
I've many friends there who talk about how bad their maintenance are...

specially boeing..
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Old 4th Oct 2009, 13:53
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Batavia

Hey Manflex, is this the same contact who gave you the great & accurate information that you posted before?

"Hi guys...

As I know...Indonesian Gov not accept pilots who doesn't have Instructor qualification . That's only for bridging type of aircraft."

I can personally attest that this is not the case. The pay amount is accurate, but the apartments are actually fully furnished. If anyone wants to know the real scoop, just PM me for any information.

Hogger
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Old 5th Oct 2009, 14:37
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Instructor

Hi all...

I'm working with local airline in Indonesia.
My airline has 3 foreign pilots from abroad, their jobs are to help our local instructors.

I've a friend from Indonesian DGCA, and he told me, that for protect the local pilots , only pilots who has "instructor qualification" can works in Indonesia.

But I've a friend too who told me, that batavia is going to US, to find pilots for their aircraft.( with some pilots job fair)
The facts are, Indonesia right now need pilots very bad, but........we can only pays very low. ( Air Asia Indonesia rise their pilot salary up to $7000/month, but you 've to fly 90 hours). that's take home pay.

If Indonesian DGCA change their policy, it's good for us the local pilots, cause can drag the salary up to regional bases .( hope for that).

Best regards from Indonesia..

Manflex69
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Old 8th Oct 2009, 01:44
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Wages

The basic actually for the local even around 3000 and the flying hours around 7 dollars/hour!!!

The DMI "some list" each aircraft and with repetitive extension.

6 landing acceptable by the company.

Hoping help

Good luck dude

m_t
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Old 8th Oct 2009, 05:40
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correct

You're absolutely correct
Please..please read your contract carefully guys...
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Old 10th Oct 2009, 04:18
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Be careful !!

A friend of mine was there for a very short time and left due to bad living conditions, a rediculous work schedule, and unsafe airplanes. The pay for a Capt is $4,000, FO is $2,000 to fly a min of 100 hours per month!! He said the apartment had several pilots living in it, was very run down and dirty, and was located in a very bad part of Jakarta. Also Air Batavia was listed a year or two ago as one of the top six most unsafe airlines in the region, but they may be trying to change that. They have had several instances in the last couple of months of maintenance problems. They give the passengers a cup of water and bread on the flight... better than a little bag of peanuts I guess.

If you have the option to go somewhere else... you may want to consider it. From what I was told, they are very bad at the moment. You will make more instructing or flying as a copilot in a regional.

a section of wing comes off in flight ???
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-23109,00.html

a plane gets lost and strays over 300 km?
Safety Board to investigate Batavia Air's strayed plane | The Jakarta Post

Grinding sounds coming out of the engine, but they launch anyway?
Batavia Air jet fails takeoff | The Jakarta Post

Just an engine failure..
145 Batavia Air Passengers Safe After In-Flight Engine Failure - The Jakarta Globe

I like this one..
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1127620.php

Last edited by Cruiseclimb; 15th Oct 2009 at 12:13.
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Old 11th Oct 2009, 05:28
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Another Point of View

I would like to present a more accurate, first-hand view of what I have seen at Batavia. I can't speak for what Climbcruise's and manflex69's contacts may have gone through in the past, but the situation may have changed, and I would like to tell you what I have seen.

First (and foremost on most everyone's mind) - Yes the pay is very low, there are no two ways about it. And if you are an FO, you can probably make the same or slightly more money flying the right seat of a regional carrier elsewhere (although 2000usd net is more than you will make at say Colgan). I wish it were higher, but with the pilot job market the way it is right now (and it is the worst I have ever seen in 25+ years in the industry), this job is better than sitting at home watching the bills pile up, wondering if you will have to end up driving a delivery van rather than an airplane to keep from finding yourself on the street. This is a temporary gig for the expats (a year at a time contract), so if you want a career at a regional, or more experience instructing, please stay where you are.

Second - This is an LCC. Think Ryan air, Value Jet (er, Air Tran), Air Asia or Spirit Air. You get what you pay for (and one of the big reasons that the pay for pilots is so low). Single class of service, you will not be served anything more than a snack and beverage service, but when was the last time you rode economy in the US, where you got more than a soft drink and a bag of peanuts without paying for it? I know from experience that this is the rule, not the exceptinon in the US right now. But this is really a moot point anyway for those of us sitting in the pointy end of the jet. The people in the back know it is bare bones and when they are paying $38 usd for a one-way 1 hr flight to Yogjakarta, they don't complain about not being fed.

Third - The apartments are in a very safe area with tons of security, small, but clean and each pilot has his OWN apartment. The flight attendants share apartments in the same complex, but the building is only about three or four years old, and while it is a 30min-1hr (depending upon the traffic in Jakarta, which is horrific) cab ride from downtown, it is only about 15 mins from the airport. There are stores and small restaurants all within walking distance. They may not be the same kind of apartment you might be provided with as an expat in the UAE or other places in the Middle East, but they are above average for this part of the world. Are there some things that I would like to have here, like a good Internet connection? Yes, of course, but having lived in the 3rd world for a number of years, take my word for it when I say that this is more than adequate.

Fourth - The pilots are flying close to the max of 110 hrs each month, mostly due to the fact they are short of pilots, which is the reason the company got permission from the Indonesian government to bring in expat pilots in the first place on a large scale for something other than simply being instructors. Yes you will be flying almost every day, but if you like to fly, want to fly, then you will not be sitting around here. The workload will drop as more pilots come online, but like many of the LCC's in the US, you will be flying close to your max allowable time each month.

Finally - The MX issue. I haven't experienced any problems with mx, firsthand yet, and I am not saying there are none, but every carrier I have ever worked for has had issues of some kind with mx (Eastern Airlines comes to mind). But engine failures happen all over, I will cite a few examples to illustrate:

SQ A380 last week,
AA 767 Spring 2009
US A320 Spring 2009
AA MD80 Aug 2009
US Dash 8 Aug 2008

These are just a few examples with some quick research. Does this mean the mx at these airlines is shoddy? Maybe, but AA & Singapore for sure have the reputation, at least, of having very good mx. Batavia has had problems in the past (the unsafe report was early in 2007), and may still have problems, but they have greatly improved that side of the house. If I find any concerted effort to try and put an unsafe aircraft under my seat, I just will not take it. And if I see a regular problem I will not continue working there, and will let everyone know this.

I do not post this as a put-down to any other poster, I simply want to try and keep the postings as accurate as possible with what the CURRENT situation is here, so that if you are considering taking the job, you can do it being as informed as possible. Flying at Batavia will definately not be for everyone. Living in Indonesia can be a big culture shock to anyone who hasn't lived outside of the US or EU, but the people are friendly, the cost of living is extremely low, and you will be flying jets...a lot. This may be too much for some people, but just what others are looking for.

As always, I will do my best to answer individual questions anyone might have, so just ping me and be patient as I will try and get back to everyone.

Check Six,

Hogger

Last edited by Hogger60; 11th Oct 2009 at 05:30. Reason: Grammar - Can't type today
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Old 11th Oct 2009, 20:06
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change

Hi hogger60,

I'm glad if Batavia is change. Many complaint from my friends who work there.Especially about their maintenance.

If Batavia improve their maintenance, that's a good news.
I don't know what type of aircraft are you flying there, I just call my friend yesterday who work there ( he fly boeing 737 - 200 ), many 737-200 batavia's are with not good conditions. If they're refuse to fly it, they're dealing with the owner. I don't know this is right or wrong, cause I'm not worked there.
Perhaps you can clarify this to us, so our friends who wants to work there clearly now what happened INSIDE Batavia.

Thanks in advanced..

Regards..Manflex69
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Old 12th Oct 2009, 11:01
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My friend who left also said he was threatened with his job if he didn't fly an aircraft that had an MEL item that was not fixed. The aircraft was cleared for VFR flight.. so he was told take it or leave. He is still waiting to get paid for a month of work.. Also, he said he was promised his own apartment, but never received it.. I am curious about Batavia as well, but don't want to quit a good job to go to Jakarta and be with a unsafe and bad run company...
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Old 12th Oct 2009, 13:11
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Cruiseclimb

Maybe better if your friend post things here, other than second, third party hearsay.
I think as Hogger points out, what you saying is not entirely correct. Hogger is the man on the inside now and able to reflect on the current situation there.

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Old 13th Oct 2009, 10:01
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Storpikk..

Not intended to offend anyone here.... but Storpikk, if you have something to add to the forum regarding the airline itself... please do so. Newspaper articles about parts of wings falling off, planes getting lost, engines failing in flight, and angry passengers storming onto another plane aren't what I'd call.... second and third party hearsay.....

Klcdenver asked if anyone knew anything about this company... He didn't say just tell me everything nice about the company.
I passed what I had heard first hand, backed it up with some research, then had some conversations with Billi in HR at the company when they offered me a job.

The smart person will know how to weed through the typical negetivity that sometimes runs through lots of the posts here. I'm glad to hear some good things about the company from Hoggar. There are obviously some positive things about the company, and he hit the reasons for going there right on the head... but if you read between the lines (and the newspaper articles), you won't walk into things like a blind cow. If you know the score in the beginning, you won't be disappointed later.

Batavia looks like a great place to move a career to if you know what you are getting into. I've been to Indonesia many times in the past and can highly recommend it. I've worked for some bad run companies, and the signs of poor management show up in things like, maintenance problems and unhappy aircrew that leave when they aren't paid or are pressured to fly equipement that isn't 100% (how do you think Batavia ended up on the top six most unsafe hit list in 2007). Read the articles I posted and make up your own mind ... The truth always lies somewhere in the middle

Thanks Mate!!

Last edited by Cruiseclimb; 15th Oct 2009 at 12:23.
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