West Air
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: china
Age: 61
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I know a bit about West Air. Just a bit. All one day trips (good). Mostly 4 legs (not so good). Where they sit in China they are 1-2 hours from every major airport in China.
They have just "hired" their first couple of foreign pilots. This might not be the best place to go for a China first timer. They are figuring it out as they go.
I was contacted by them by company email a couple of months ago. Now they want me to use their "friend" as a contract agent if I work for them.
I might end up working for them for the same reasons other people are applying. Money and time off. I would caution newbies in China - they are new to this and they will many make mistakes at your expense. This will be very painfull. Only those of us that work here fully understand this.
If this is your first contract in China I would recommend a more established carrier and a real contract agent. I misspoke. I would HIGHLY recommend BOTH.
They have just "hired" their first couple of foreign pilots. This might not be the best place to go for a China first timer. They are figuring it out as they go.
I was contacted by them by company email a couple of months ago. Now they want me to use their "friend" as a contract agent if I work for them.
I might end up working for them for the same reasons other people are applying. Money and time off. I would caution newbies in China - they are new to this and they will many make mistakes at your expense. This will be very painfull. Only those of us that work here fully understand this.
If this is your first contract in China I would recommend a more established carrier and a real contract agent. I misspoke. I would HIGHLY recommend BOTH.
Join Date: May 2012
Location: East
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@ Jaz and the Fat Man:
sorry to hear you got screwed by your agent and thanks for the good advice.
I've been on contract 4+ years and in Asia as well.
I think I have a good read on where agencies are coming from. obviously all they have on their minds is their own $$$. pilots are just the means of getting to it.
I requested a contract draft from GPS, which they actually send me. however it had Tianjin Airlines written all over it. I pointed that out and they corrected that part, however there are discrepancies all over.
I basically dissected the contract and pointed them all out, asking for confirmation/clarification and I also told them that some conditions were unacceptable and have to be rewritten/amended, if they want me to sign it at some point.
Only one example: all payments are stated after tax in China, however the contract states that
"The Contractor undertakes and accepts responsibility to discharge promptly all Income Tax, National and Social Security and all other tax regulations arising in China and any other jurisdiction in connection with his earnings hereunder and shall keep GPS fully indemnified in this respect."
another thing is the fact that the agency is physically located in Taipei, but for all business purposes they claim their legal address to be in HKG, which means the contract is bound to the laws of HKG and this is actually a mailbox company.
once you sign you might be on your own, you won't have a chance to get a hold of them and regarding the tax issue it might be possible that the HKG contract is not even recognized in mainland China as a legal and binding document, neither for WA, nor GPS. that could leave you alone at the table explaining Chinese IRS agents, why your due tax payments never made it to the proper destination .. not nice, to say the least !
we'll see how they react ...
lots of stuff to think about and consider .. thank you for your generous offer to meet on Skype !!
I'll wait for their answer and if I decide to go through with it I'll sure talk to you.
good luck to you as well !
sorry to hear you got screwed by your agent and thanks for the good advice.
I've been on contract 4+ years and in Asia as well.
I think I have a good read on where agencies are coming from. obviously all they have on their minds is their own $$$. pilots are just the means of getting to it.
I requested a contract draft from GPS, which they actually send me. however it had Tianjin Airlines written all over it. I pointed that out and they corrected that part, however there are discrepancies all over.
I basically dissected the contract and pointed them all out, asking for confirmation/clarification and I also told them that some conditions were unacceptable and have to be rewritten/amended, if they want me to sign it at some point.
Only one example: all payments are stated after tax in China, however the contract states that
"The Contractor undertakes and accepts responsibility to discharge promptly all Income Tax, National and Social Security and all other tax regulations arising in China and any other jurisdiction in connection with his earnings hereunder and shall keep GPS fully indemnified in this respect."
another thing is the fact that the agency is physically located in Taipei, but for all business purposes they claim their legal address to be in HKG, which means the contract is bound to the laws of HKG and this is actually a mailbox company.
once you sign you might be on your own, you won't have a chance to get a hold of them and regarding the tax issue it might be possible that the HKG contract is not even recognized in mainland China as a legal and binding document, neither for WA, nor GPS. that could leave you alone at the table explaining Chinese IRS agents, why your due tax payments never made it to the proper destination .. not nice, to say the least !
we'll see how they react ...
lots of stuff to think about and consider .. thank you for your generous offer to meet on Skype !!
I'll wait for their answer and if I decide to go through with it I'll sure talk to you.
good luck to you as well !
Join Date: May 2012
Location: East
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@ USMCProbe
thanks for the information and good advice. much appreciated !
for the benefit of the thread and in order not to repeat information, please have a look at my answer to Jaz and the Fat Man, which basically also answers to your post and might be of general interest.
I will continue to share information as I go and as far as I go .. we'll see
good luck to all of us !
thanks for the information and good advice. much appreciated !
for the benefit of the thread and in order not to repeat information, please have a look at my answer to Jaz and the Fat Man, which basically also answers to your post and might be of general interest.
I will continue to share information as I go and as far as I go .. we'll see
good luck to all of us !
Join Date: May 2012
Location: East
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I'm out
hey guys, decided a few days ago not to continue with the screening process for West Air. I don't like the agency and the way they operate and there's just too many question marks around the airline itself. 
Hi guys - looking at West Air or Tianjin Airlines. From doing a little research those two offer the best commuting contracts in China. It looks to me that Tianjin is the better option out of the two, even if West air seems to be paying more.
Anybody out there who works for either of them and is willing to share there experience ?
Anybody out there who works for either of them and is willing to share there experience ?
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Age: 53
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Sorry to ressurect this thread, but West Air will conduct screenings in May-June and I would like to know from people how is working for WA and living in Chongqing. Thanks.
