RBA Tonga contract
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RBA Tonga contract
Any RBA crews considering volunteering for this contract, be advised that Flight Ops management is offering much lower expense money than our normal rates. It will work out to about two thirds of existing allowances.
This will be on a volunteer only basis and they cannot roster anyone to go without breaching the existing contract.
Perhaps this is a sign of times to come if anyone accepts these terms as they'll be bound to try the same thing elsewhere. Think carefully before signing on for this.
This will be on a volunteer only basis and they cannot roster anyone to go without breaching the existing contract.
Perhaps this is a sign of times to come if anyone accepts these terms as they'll be bound to try the same thing elsewhere. Think carefully before signing on for this.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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any one know what the routes will be?...where crews will be based...? will it be like RBAs burma deal where they never got paid for the use of their 757....sounds like a frieght only deal but i thought rbas 757s were pax only.....and not ETOPS last time i checked,,,,,,,
I would imagine you'll be based at Fua'amotu Intl on the main island of Tongatapu. The capital is Nuku'alofa. Not very sophisticated, but pleasant enough - and the fish is very good!!!
Don't know what your routes might be, but Japan is a big market for the Pacific fish industry, as is Australia and New Zealand
Don't know what your routes might be, but Japan is a big market for the Pacific fish industry, as is Australia and New Zealand
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I'll believe it when Im sitting in the loaded hog(thats in AKL by the way)sucking back a cold one........till then ? ? ?
If it happens maybe I could use your boat Big K.Happy hunting that giant trout!
If it happens maybe I could use your boat Big K.Happy hunting that giant trout!
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maybe, for those who volunteer to work for less allowances, their contract should be amended to accept less allowances for the remainder of their time with rba, thus not ruining it for everyone. 
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But surely the allowances paid in Brunei are to compensate for the disadvantages of being in Borneo? Why should those living in Auckland receive the same allowances as those living in Bandar Seri Begawan and facing a greater cost of living and tougher social and living conditions?
The whole point of being an expat is that you are financially compensated for living and working in an inconvenient environment.
If I were privileged to live and work in Auckland I wouldn't expect to receive any extra allowances at all - especially if I was a Kiwi or an Aussie!
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Through difficulties to the cinema
The whole point of being an expat is that you are financially compensated for living and working in an inconvenient environment.
If I were privileged to live and work in Auckland I wouldn't expect to receive any extra allowances at all - especially if I was a Kiwi or an Aussie!
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Blacksheep,
A question.
Even though it is probably hypothetical, as it sounds more and more like Tonga is not going to happen.
Why would an Aussie who is based in Auckland, not qualify for allowances.The guy is still living out of a Hotel,even if the countries are similar.He still has to eat.
I really don't understand your logic at all.
Just because you get sent to work in a place similar to where you are form,you don't get allowances.
I think not!
A question.
Even though it is probably hypothetical, as it sounds more and more like Tonga is not going to happen.
Why would an Aussie who is based in Auckland, not qualify for allowances.The guy is still living out of a Hotel,even if the countries are similar.He still has to eat.
I really don't understand your logic at all.
Just because you get sent to work in a place similar to where you are form,you don't get allowances.
I think not!
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We're talking about a proposed five year wet lease. For a five year wet lease, why live in a hotel? That looks more like two back to back contracts to me. In a country with a western lifestyle, food, drink and all the normal comforts of home. For our guys roughing it up in Kathmandu with Maoist guerillas knocking at the door, handsome allowances seem reasonable, but not for a five year tour of duty in a paragon of civilisation.
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Through difficulties to the cinema
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Through difficulties to the cinema
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Blacksheep,
RBA is still making money (hopefully) and would have factored accommo and exes into their quote. Well, they should factor these items into the quote...
I'm living in a fully serviced, two bed flat with a well stocked fridge. There is an excellent gym and pool within the complex. Far preferable to a hotel and cheaper by $10/night.
RBA is still making money (hopefully) and would have factored accommo and exes into their quote. Well, they should factor these items into the quote...
I'm living in a fully serviced, two bed flat with a well stocked fridge. There is an excellent gym and pool within the complex. Far preferable to a hotel and cheaper by $10/night.
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blacksheep,
i do not understand your thinking, the slip patterns would be 1-2 months, by your argument that "kiwis and aussies" shouldnt get allowances, because its a western country, then i suppose nor should pilots from the uk, especially when they nitestop in the uk (or anywhere within 1500nm)
the allowance you refer to is the expat allowance, the flying allowance is to cover costs incurred while away from base at the companies bequest (eg food, drink (not alcohol), laundry, etc, etc.
and maybe can be considered compesation for sitting in hotels away from family etc, so the actual crew (pilots and flt attendants) actually doing the work get compesated.
[no offence to engineers, whose contract would have there own allowance structure, or salary compensation]
perhaps they should enginners on each flight too, you can spend 2 months living out of a suitcase with no allowances. glad to see youve volunteered yourself and all your fellow engineers.
the allowances shouldnt be lowered at all (even if the contract was underquoted), they didnt in the past (eg vietnam, burma, mauritius), maybe the management pilots instigating this do not intend to do a stint.
i do not understand your thinking, the slip patterns would be 1-2 months, by your argument that "kiwis and aussies" shouldnt get allowances, because its a western country, then i suppose nor should pilots from the uk, especially when they nitestop in the uk (or anywhere within 1500nm)
the allowance you refer to is the expat allowance, the flying allowance is to cover costs incurred while away from base at the companies bequest (eg food, drink (not alcohol), laundry, etc, etc.
and maybe can be considered compesation for sitting in hotels away from family etc, so the actual crew (pilots and flt attendants) actually doing the work get compesated.
[no offence to engineers, whose contract would have there own allowance structure, or salary compensation]
perhaps they should enginners on each flight too, you can spend 2 months living out of a suitcase with no allowances. glad to see youve volunteered yourself and all your fellow engineers.
the allowances shouldnt be lowered at all (even if the contract was underquoted), they didnt in the past (eg vietnam, burma, mauritius), maybe the management pilots instigating this do not intend to do a stint.
Last edited by b777900; 1st Oct 2002 at 09:41.
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Spent months in the firing line. Army machine gunners bowling over the rioters outside the Yak & Yeti while we lived on peas and potatos three times a day inside. More rioters tried to set fire to the company car with me and the driver still in it, we had to fight our way out and seek refuge in a police post resembling the Alamo. Typhoid, cholera and bilharzia a routine daily risk. 14 hour shifts flying through from Kathmandu to Bombay overnight and back with two flight crew changes; they stay in the Hyatt Regency of course, we had four hours free at Delhi on the return, but no hotel - stretch out on the cabin floor until the hosties turn up and kick you in the ribs. Allowances came to two grand a month or twenty quid a day. Rioters are no problem, the guys up there now are at risk from Maoist guerrillas who think nothing of knocking off the army forty or fifty at a time. They may not be in the valley yet, but its just a matter of time.
War stories or not, wake up and smell the roses fellows, Auckland will be easy money...
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Through difficulties to the cinema
War stories or not, wake up and smell the roses fellows, Auckland will be easy money...
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Through difficulties to the cinema
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Blacksheep, once again you have been unlucky in the coincidence of your facts with the truth. Your story is clearly a wind up and doesn't even approximate the conditions prevailing in Nepal. Twenty pounds in Kathmandu would buy a banquet so your choice to live off peas and potatoes had nothing to do with allowances.
However, your half serious notion that pilots "wake up and smell the roses" suggests that you think we should accept a paycut without discussion. I have no wish to sound as if I'm a little frank, but how long do you think it would be before they started on your conditions?
B777, you are being wound up. It stems from resentment over contracts plus the knowledge Engineering negotiated this unworkable contract with the Tongans, leaving Flight Ops to fill in the holes. However, you did hit the nail on the head. The instigators of these conditions will not be anywhere near Blacksheep's idea of a 'paragon of civilisation'
However, your half serious notion that pilots "wake up and smell the roses" suggests that you think we should accept a paycut without discussion. I have no wish to sound as if I'm a little frank, but how long do you think it would be before they started on your conditions?
B777, you are being wound up. It stems from resentment over contracts plus the knowledge Engineering negotiated this unworkable contract with the Tongans, leaving Flight Ops to fill in the holes. However, you did hit the nail on the head. The instigators of these conditions will not be anywhere near Blacksheep's idea of a 'paragon of civilisation'
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Yes MacDath, a wind up indeed, but with a purpose.
By the way, my story's true enough and kindly note that the peas and potatoes weren't by choice. With the city locked down under curfew, that's all that was left in the hotel pantry. Some former employees still suffer ill health to this day as a result of working up there. Its interesting that your viewpoint focuses on what food you can buy for twenty quid in Kathmandu. At the time my main concern was with staying alive. I still feel that twenty pounds a day wasn't fair compensation for putting my health and safety at risk. Certainly conditions have improved up there, but the Maoists are real enough and the threat is manifest. Where would you rather be - Auckland or Kathmandu?
The whole issue here isn't just about pilots' reduced allowances on a particular contract, its about allowances generally. Where people are detached away from base for extended periods it is fair to consider the local conditions in setting the amount to be paid. There doesn't seem to be any consistency in setting rates and some staff are treated differently to others. Don't you agree?
Lets get on to the bigger issue and discuss things like why allowances are reduced by 40% after 28 days in one location? How do you find somewhere cheaper to eat just because you've been in a city for a month? And we haven't even touched upon the removal of transport allowance without discussion.
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Through difficulties to the cinema
By the way, my story's true enough and kindly note that the peas and potatoes weren't by choice. With the city locked down under curfew, that's all that was left in the hotel pantry. Some former employees still suffer ill health to this day as a result of working up there. Its interesting that your viewpoint focuses on what food you can buy for twenty quid in Kathmandu. At the time my main concern was with staying alive. I still feel that twenty pounds a day wasn't fair compensation for putting my health and safety at risk. Certainly conditions have improved up there, but the Maoists are real enough and the threat is manifest. Where would you rather be - Auckland or Kathmandu?
The whole issue here isn't just about pilots' reduced allowances on a particular contract, its about allowances generally. Where people are detached away from base for extended periods it is fair to consider the local conditions in setting the amount to be paid. There doesn't seem to be any consistency in setting rates and some staff are treated differently to others. Don't you agree?
Lets get on to the bigger issue and discuss things like why allowances are reduced by 40% after 28 days in one location? How do you find somewhere cheaper to eat just because you've been in a city for a month? And we haven't even touched upon the removal of transport allowance without discussion.
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
Last edited by Blacksheep; 2nd Oct 2002 at 13:54.