FLYSCOOT AIR

[WannabeAirbusFlyer]

Wow !! That's a lot mate.....

So, just for information's sake, how does a foreigner go about getting a banker's guarantee in Singapore ? I mean, doesn't one have to build financial credibility and/or a good credit rating in a country for over a few years, before one can apply for such a banker's guarantee ?

[etops777]

Wannabe airbus

The bank guaranteed does not need you to
have a good credit..it's simply you putting your
money into the bank that will be issuing the guarantee.

Your money will be lock in for the period required by the company

[WannabeAirbusFlyer]

@etops777...

A 100 percent margin then.

That's quite an ask I must say.... to assume that every pilot coming to work for an airline shall have SGD 66,000 (57K for the BG, and 9K upfront) available to pay them, considering the fact that they shall have to spend at least SGD 10-15,000 for a decent apartment (rent+deposit) before seeing a salary. Additionally, one has to have enough liquidity to survive in Singapore for a month or two till there is a regular income as a result of service rendered. Also, in the event one has to pay for their own Class 1 medical; Air Law, HPL and Performance A exams, thats another SGD 1,500 spent. It would be interesting to see how things pan out.

Anyways gents, I thank each one of you for taking the time out to respond to my queries, and Happy Landings to all.....

[millerscourt]

WAF

That is why I said you need to be stupid to want to join Scoot on those terms. As already said by others you also need to be rich to join which was ever thus.

I joined SQ Mainline as a DEC in the late 90's when the expat package made it worthwhile to deposit the bank guarantee as one gets it back after 5 years on the line. You can if you have enough equity in your house get the bank to act as guarantee but I think from memory it has to have a branch in Singapore.

One always had to pay for the initial medical and hotel costs when coming for an interview but in those days SQ provided free hotel for I think 10 days and gave an interest free loan of S$6000 on joining. All the other expat allowances like Rental Allowance, School Fees , Good Profit Share have I gather all gone by the board now.

PS I should add that the bank in Singapore that does the bank guarantee charges about S$2000 for the paperwork although you do get some interest if you deposit the money with them over 5 years rather than using equity in your home property as guarantee.

[WannabeAirbusFlyer]

@millerscourt......

Thanks much for that informative response. I guess BG or no BG, and everything else is merely conjecture just yet, and one shall have to wait and see how things pan out over at Scoot. Also, I think it's best not to form an opinion till we see what's in black and white. If at that time, the T&C's are unacceptable to the individual in question, then the option to say no shall always remain available.

Thanks once again.... Happy Landings

[CDRW]

Any truth in the rumour that SQ mainline management captains are being used to keep the services running, due to a rather large exodus of Scoot captains??

[hoover1]

So people are passing the home interview? Myself and four others took the home interview and all of us did not pass. All with extensive experience on Boeing all for the Captain position. Thought it strange that all of us should not pass.

[WannabeAirbusFlyer]

@hoover1.....

Sorry to hear about that. I am sure you'll get a better offer elsewhere. If you don't mind me asking, did you get an email from them saying that you were unsuccessful ?

[CDRW]

hoover1 = maybe they did the 4 of you a service - I know it is easy to say from the comfort of having a job - and if you unemployed anything is better than nothing ( been there)- but the initial costs of setting up in Singapore are mind blowingly huge. The pay is shockingly small and living in a HDB may be something you not quite used to. And if you have kids to educate .....

[patty-777]

Hover1,
Sorry to hear that. Are you a type rated b777? I think if you pass the home exam you will get email from HR in 2-3 days. They appointed me on 14 Feb for interview in Sin. Still not sure it's a good to move there as now i'm in a blowing sandpit.

Cheers,

[sage1]

I have just been through the process with these 's. This is how it went for me.

1. Read about job on scoot website (pay 50% of type rating....OK)
2. apply
3. Do on line exams including "flying down tunnel thing" and ridiculous video interview. easy so far.
4. Get invited for interview in Sing.
5. Refuse to go until I am told at least what the pay etc is.
6. Told 9000 + 400 per month for 50% of rating and "approx" 20000 per month in. ok so far.
7. Pay own way to Sing. Airfares, hotels etc etc.
8. First day sit through video with clowns in yellow T-shirts jumping around with "scootatude". A slide show including the finance side of things. At this point hear ( for the first time) about $57000 "training bond". That's how I and another 2 guy's I went through the sim with heard it anyway. Should have walked at this point! Didn't...So onto group crm thingy. no fistycuffs in our group so onto individual interview. All easy and painless. emailed that night all ok onto sim
9. Sim. If only they where all so easy. Normal take off ILS, go round, visual circuit, land EFATO back for ILS and land. Checkie and company F/O both good guy's. emailed that night all ok go to medical
10. Medical next day. standard. Another $420 thank you very much plus taxis
11. So next day invited to office and a contract with start date was given to me happy days. All good till page 3. For the first time hear about bank bond for $57000.
and by the way "when the 787's come you will have another bond on top but we don't know what that is yet". "Sign here please".
12. Dare to question. Job offer withdrawn.

In summary if you have deep pockets (My rough calculation is you need at least $80000 before seeing one cent) and no self respect then this is the job for you.
I understand when your out of work you take what you can get. The contract however is written in such a way that, worse case, they fire you first day for anything they want and you owe them 57000+33000=90000

[portquartercv67]

SAGE1

Sage1,

I am sure many prospective candidates for Scoot will be very grateful for your informative and detailed account of the hiring process. I'm not too sure though about the last item "down side" you mention about being out S$90,000 if they let you go for whatever reason.

I did a 5 year contract with SIAC; bank guarantee up front which I deposited in a local bank and signed a $140,000 training bond. The terms of the training bond/contract were such that if they let me go, I was not liable for any of the remaining bond (as the bond liability decreases in a monthly prorated amount) and I would get my guarantee (cash) back.

The S$9,000; is that paid directly to Scoot or is that held in a Singapore bank as a guarantee?

And I assume from the numbers you posted that the contract is 5 years?

If they terminated your contract, sounds like you would be at worst out the $400/month that was deducted from your pay for however many months you served but I'm pretty sure you would get your $9,000 back and be forgiven for the bond. After all, the whole reason for the guarantee/up front and bond is that one doesn't take off after getting the type and the minimum PIC time that would allow one to move on to greener (drier) pastures.

BTW, does the contract have an "end of contract bonus" in it? Mine did, S$10,000 for every year I served, assuming one completed the entire contract.

Any moving expenses? Moving there and end of contract?

Airline ticket to start contract and at end of contract to return to home base for you/spouse?

Any staff travel with SIA or Scoot?

Any medical coverage? The medical coverage I had with SIAC was excellent. They basically paid for everything I had done except for nominal co-pays (S$15) any time I saw a specialist.

Does the contract have 10 days paid at the Roxy hotel at start of contract?

Please forgive me if I'm way off base as obviously I have not read the Scoot contract, only had experience with the basic SIA HR culture.

[sage1]

Scrote

You pay 9000 to scoot you pay 57000 as a capt 47000 as an fo into a Singapore bank bond. 66000 so far. You pay all tickets and accommodation for interview + start finish etc of contract. Contract is five years. You need to be in Singapore about 2 weeks before start of type rating to complete sing license req air law human factors. You pay for everything. Assuming you get paid 4 weeks after starting training that's 6 weeks you've supported yourself in Singapore. License conversion was 395 l think on top off medical 420. You get travel from scoot only not sia or anyone else. There is no end of contract bonus. The scoot pilots l came across in the interview/sim process where good guys. The hr were not so much. Not sure if I've answered all your questions but note this is the first time I've ever felt the need to post on prune. At the very least people can turn up in Singapore with the truth and not scoot lies.

[Iver]

Yikes!!! Sounds completely emasculating!!!! Scoot = Crap Shoot

Plenty of ME carriers hiring if you qualify and if you don't mind wearing copious amounts of suntan lotion...

[hoover1]

Thats too rich for my blood. And to have to re-bond for the 787 in a yr is a little absurd. Too bad as there is a real draw there if they adjust their T&Cs.

[ManaAdaSystem]

Apart from all the misc expenses (hotel, medical, license, etc), what are we talking about here?
For a captain, 57000 SGD bond for 5 years? I've been bonded before, so if you don't jump ship, this money will be yours at the end of those 5 years, right? Is this bond reduced monthly?
9000 SGD up front and 400 SGD month for 5 years = 33000 SGD total. This is what you need to pay for the conversion? Non refundable. Can you pay 33000 SGD up front and be done with it?
For a captain the pay is about 20000 SGD/month (including everything) minus 5 % tax for the first 5 years (subject to approval), then 15 % tax?
Absolutely no extras (housing, school, bonus, etc) on top of the 20000 SGD, except staff travel on Scoot only?
What about medical coverage for yourself and your family?

Are my numbers just about right?

[CDRW]

Well at last some numbers are being presented. It is just unbelievable how much financing one needs to start in Scoot - and what Sage and others have not mentioned is that there are a whole lot more costs in setting up in Singers!

Say you find an apartment for hmmm.... 5k a month - you need a months payment down, the current month and a month in advance. Boom another 15K needed.

Say you need to find a school - ( not local). Same rules apply - take a terms fee and multiply by 3.

Now sure you will get alot of this back - when you leave, but we are talking setting up here! You need to be well off to join them unless you type rated and even then the delinquent management want a 9K security deposit!

And do remember that the parent company is SIA, who last year dismissed around 70 employees ( they invoked the three month notice period and generously gave 5 months notice and that is all they gave ).

Scoot does suit some individuals- wealthy, set up, no mortgage and the kids left school, like living in Singapore and flying is now a hobby.

[ManaAdaSystem]

What 9000 SGD security deposit are you talking about?

[etops777]

Mana

The 9000 sgd is not a security deposit but a initial cost of the self funded type rating. Pilot pay 9000 sgd then 400 per month from your salary for the coat of the conversion.

[CDRW]

Sorry - I think etops is correct ref the 9k. If one is type rated, they ( the delinquent management) want 18k upfront as a "bond"- I think its two years but maybe one. This bond is to encourage you not to leave in the first few years!

So come on Scooter pilots tell us - how many have packed their bags and gone off to some else place in the last few months?