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Skymark Interview and Sim

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Old 1st Aug 2014, 09:49
  #121 (permalink)  
 
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DG1000 I can only tell you that the rumor mill is running VERY strong

Skymark Airlines Inc. (9204), Japan’s third-largest carrier, said it’s at risk of going out of business should it have to pay Airbus Group NV (AIR) a penalty after the planned purchase of six A380 superjumbos fell through.

Skymark slid 11 percent to 187 yen, the lowest since October 2009, at the close of trading in Tokyo today. The shares have declined 36 percent this week.

Be assured that Airbus will litigate to recover what losses it has sustained before Skymark is bankrupt




NEWS LINK BLOOMBERG
Skymark Airlines Weighs Halting Flights, Borrowing Cash - Bloomberg
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Old 1st Aug 2014, 12:43
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Skymark Interview and Sim

Because some have asked via pm:

Some of my positives to working at SKY:

Uniforms: company Polo shirt, ball cap, or windbreaker. Any one of those three and you are considered in uniform. Japan has poor washing machines (cold water only) and no at-home tumble dryers so it's nice not having to bleach, wash, and iron your shirts.

Per diem: you will pocket per diem every month unless you expect to drink or eat like a king. And if you do you will probably have trouble passing the under 30 BMI required by the medical anyway. It's easy to eat healthy and inexpensively in Japan. The crew meals vary widely from station to station. If you don't like rice or fish you'll have to find your own alternatives. Vegetarian meal doesn't exist. All company related travel (trains/taxis/bus) are either paid for or reimbursed.

Housing allowance: see live like a king above. I put in my pocket approx. $1,000 extra a month living in a 3 room, 52 sq.m apartment with two balconies. One is big enough to be truly useable. (garden umbrella, patio furniture, BBQ grill, etc. the other is my laundry drying space.) 10 minute walk to train station, 9 minute ride to the domestic terminal at HND.

So someone doesn't accuse me of having a Kool-Aid stain on my lips there are many trials and travails here. I will only tell you about my personal and specific experiences so far. If I encounter a bad one I'll be sure to pass it along.

DG
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Old 1st Aug 2014, 12:49
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Let's see how you feel after 2 years
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Old 1st Aug 2014, 12:55
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Blink:

How long were you at SKY? Where did you leave for?
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Old 1st Aug 2014, 18:46
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I would be more worried about finding your next job than what I did. Enjoy your 7-11 bento and your king sized Ootori apartment.
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Old 1st Aug 2014, 19:02
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What blink says
VVVVVVVVVVVV
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Old 2nd Aug 2014, 00:28
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Surprisingly both GD1000 and Blink are correct, time will grind you down BUT to date (apart from pissing people off with the el el el cheapo commute travel over the last 12-18 months or so) there are margins to be made on allowances if you wish and I've never not had amounts due to me paid.


Very occasionally oversights occur regards payments - but, to date, always rectified.


Over time largely luck (and I suppose your willingness to adopt the standards/operating techniques the JalMark mafia perceive as "professional") will determine if you have incidents/events and the degree of punishment you HAVE to go through, regardless whether the incident was "with intent" or wrong place/wrong time.
One of the quaint - but certainly less endearing - local management traditions.
A few "punishments" certainly diminishes any illusions/delusions.


Regards current $$ woes google "skymark" and find the latest CAPA update on this all, couple of intersting comments:
- there will be buyers for the A380's (I suppose there's a buyer for anything at a price);
- the A330 strategy makes sense in the long term although expensive to set up;
- there are areas where $$ simply cannot be made (Narita due JJ and Vanilla for example) and whether the loss to have the presence is worth it, maybe it is if the overall operation is making money - or maybe not.


Anyhow I found it an objective and balanced read, whether you agree or disagree with some/all/anything of what they're saying is up to you.


IMHO it's not worth Airbus getting the bad publicity by putting SKY out of business - even if SKY put themselves in the position - IF ANOTHER OPTION CAN BE FOUND.


Hypothetically:
- IF the figures being touted for cancellation (some 20-25% of the order or $600-700 million) is Airbus's bottom line then that's the game over;
- IF someone would take the order(s) and $100-200-300 million cash as "thanks" AND SKY re-focused on its core domestic operation ex Haneda AND rationalised routes/airports where required....suppose there might be some chance.


Would expect there's a lot going on amongst a whole lot of parties whether involved or opportunistic, has to be a final outcome eventually but hopefully/maybe the time that takes and the higher turnover expected during summer hols may see things remain unchanged for a few weeks.
Just my bad guess - feel free to make your own!!
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Old 3rd Aug 2014, 01:51
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Skymark Interview and Sim

Blink;

Thanks for being so helpful...
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Old 19th Aug 2014, 15:09
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AirAsia denies interest in Skymark
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Old 20th Aug 2014, 15:51
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IMHO it's all about the slots - HND that is.

Using AirAsia as the example they want to return to Japan after they clearly learnt there are NO LCC's in Japan due the existing mentality after their midaventure with ANA who had the management rights....and who's selected individuals just wanted to do what they'd done for the last 100 years.

There are NO NO NO LCC's (by true definition) yet in Japan, the JAL situation 4 years ago ensured local mentality would contaminate ALL carriers (get low, get slow, fuel doesn't cost anything in Japan, create drag early etc etc) so operationally (just a use an example) in the third largest carrier the JAL "influx" caused a 10-12% increae in fuel burn, on a $1 Billion turnover that equates to $30-50 million being blasted out the arse end of the engines....for absolutely no financial benefit.

This is the "JAL/ANA way"!

Interestingly if you do an endorsement with ex Air Asia sim instructors there's a very positive awareness of efficiency to the point of "...the Japanese just don't get it/understand...." comments being made which, sadly, are 100% correct.
You CAN fly an aircraft safely AND efficiently ....but a strange concept in Japan!!

EVERYONE and ANYONE would be assessing SKY for the network and especially the HND slots, if SKY closed down the slots would be re-allocated and I'm sure as hell ANA and JAL would fight to see the slots go to affiliates at the very least.

An article quoted the local head of AA Japan saying nominating NGO as a base was only for " JCAB paperwork", a final base TBA.

If a "weak" Skymark, with existing HND slots, wasn't worthy of consideration by any number of local/international operations I'd be really, really surprised.

Cheers!
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Old 20th Aug 2014, 17:54
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I can tell you one thing, even though I agree the aircraft can be flown more efficiently no doubt about that...us gaijin don't know where this efficiency should stop and keep coming up with brilliant ideas to make it always a little bit more efficient (fuel policy, reduced flaps landings, reduced use of brakes etc etc..) until that one time when it becomes tight instead of efficient..
I guess the process is stopped from the start in Japan..so this is the mentality behind it, as strange as it may seem to the rest of the world..
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 19:25
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330 training

Is there anybody who just started the training on 330?
I just applied for ntr 330 cpt. I am 320 rated an thinking about moving to japan. How long do they plan to train you from 320 to 330? How is living in Kobe?
thanks for info
greetz
severecavok68
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Old 20th Sep 2014, 20:57
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Is the training the same length, 1 year, for all situations? If different, what would be the training length for a current JCAB ATPL non rated Boeing pilot?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 22nd Sep 2014, 18:50
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Kobe base is only for 737 crews. And only if they offer it. Haneda is standard.

Initial training at SKY is around a year no matter what. JCAB rated or not. No special exemptions no matter what your qualifications are. If you're already with SKY the transition to another type is shorter
Be happy. Training pay is nearly at full rate.
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Old 4th Oct 2014, 04:28
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Skymark Interview and Sim

http://mobile.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-02/skymark-surges-after-report-a380-fine-limited-to-prepayments
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 01:06
  #136 (permalink)  
 
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I am looking at applying to this company or somewhere else in Japan. I am currently a sim instructor and fly very little. I can’t get my foot in the door in a lot of places because of currency. I have 7K TT and 2K PIC Jet.
What is the Japanese license like? I have read that it is mostly self-study.
Are there test?
Do they publish the questions?
Do folks fail the tests?
What happens if you do?
Is there a need to pre study?
Is there another thread about it?
I am very unconcerned about the sim training because I have gotten very good at flying sims. I can buy an Airbus study guide on the internet from AvSoft. I am mostly concerned with what that portion of the training is like.
Also if anyone knows of a company that will hire me for an Airbus of Boeing with no type please PM me.
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Old 2nd Mar 2015, 01:34
  #137 (permalink)  
 
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They've gone bust A-V-8, so I don't think you'll be needing to buy that Airbus study guide any time soon

Skymark Shares Plunge by Record in Tokyo After Bankruptcy - Bloomberg Business
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Old 3rd Mar 2015, 03:52
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I have 17 Months left on my training bond. I am not interested in interviewing until about a year from now.


I am still looking for answers to those questions.
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Old 23rd Dec 2019, 17:08
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The last post on this thread was back in March 2015. I hope this thread is still alive.

Hope to get some latest information from any insiders working for Skymark. Anything at all would be precious.

What is their roster pattern like nowadays?

Is it possible to request flight to say, start from NRT instead of HND?

I'm planning to live near Narita, is it too much, effort/time wise to commute to work at HND? Or will it eventually kill me in the long run? Do-able?

On a typical roster, how many trips that I need to make to HND or NRT in a month from my apartment? I'm trying to gauge how many "commuting" trips to the airport I need should I live near Narita.

Any latest information would be highly appreciated.

Arigatou.

Fifi
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