Thanks for the responses fellas, but what would you say to someone who is keen on breaking into long haul but there are zero opportunities to do so here in oz. Also a direct route to the sand pit is basically impossible, I need the wide body time. Still undecided.

You just answered your own question...! What jobs/contracts are out there where you can jump into wide body flying without previous experience? There are the jobs at the sandpit, there is KAL (impossible to upgrade), I think everything in China is DEC right now and also impossible or at least very improbable to upgrade, EVA, Air Asia, Jetstar...., Air Fiji (not sure if they have an upgrade program....!) And a couple more that I'm sure to be missing.

Out of all of these options the ones that have a better combination of days off, pay, upgrade opportunity, and job stability (as stable as these jobs get anyways) in wide body flying are the jobs at the sandpit and AJX...!

Having said that......, we have no idea where this ship is headed and the utilization that ANA will give to AJX going forward is a mystery at this point, so the upgrades might be affected by it, we just don't know! Coming here you might get to the left seat on a wide body but it is a big gamble to say the least!
If wide body command at the shortest time is what you want, go to Qatar or the unmentionable one out on the sandpit, if you want the possibility of eventual left seat wide body flying but also want stability of days off & commuting conditions then try for AJX and hope that your lottery ticket gets the price, and it IS a lottery!

All I can say is apply, go to interviews at the sandpit and here, get the job offer, then you have a decision to make because without a job offer it is all academic.

Thanks Dominican, I have applied for AJX, just awaiting a response and in the mean time having a think about my options. Leaning towards staying in my current role, the lifestyle is very good here just very limited career progression.

Atlas,

Check your PMs

Hi guys I might go for my interview in Dec. I remember someone saying that there is still a lot of Captain/Captain flying going on. I was told by Parc that lots of upgrades took place and AJX needs F/O's now. I wonder if that's the truth or is AJX just looking for F/O's because there's an imbalance between Cpts and F/Os anyways??? Can someone can please help me out here?! :)
Also, can one really count of getting 14 days OFF (12days+2days leave) a month?? Again Parc said it isn't a problem at all.......but we all know the difference between what you've been told and what to expect in reality ;)

Fly safe!

There is certainly a lot less capt/capt flying going on now because they did change their way of doing things and most recently employed pilots are FOs. To be accepted as a direct entry captain you now have to hold a JCAB ATPL and, preferably, be type-rated. The type-rating isn't an absolute but the JCAB licence is. Obviously this means there is now more 'normal' flying going on and the capt/capt stuff is a lot rarer.

For the time being they are employing more FOs but bar talk suggests they are getting close to their target number of pilots, so I would expect the intake to slow down in the fairly near future.

Also, in the past FOs could expect to start the upgrade process around the 3.5 year mark but this is already changing and I foresee it getting pushed back to the beginning of the second contract i.e. after 5 years. This is based on nothing more than a feeling in my bones that they are captain heavy (although a lot less than before), they have few sim slots, SOME of the FO experience is lower than in the past and the completion of the first contract is a natural break for both parties to part company if it is warranted.

If you choose to use your vacation days each month then, yes, it is really no problem getting 14 days off per month. Some pilots do it that way, some save all their vacation days and use them in bigger blocks, some pilots back-to-back one months days off to the next month (but then have to pay back by being in Japan for 5 weeks or so); there are a lot of combinations but PARC are telling you the truth. The secret to us being able to keep this great option is by us being a bit flexible now and then. It might be that AJX has a load of pilots on certain days and not many on others, so they might ask you if you can move your days off to help them adjust pilot numbers. Normally this is just a matter of two or three days either way and, when they're able, most pilots will help out and do so. This way the Company gets to cover their work and we get to keep a good days off policy. It's always under threat because it would be far easier for AJX to allocate days off blocks for us to 'bid' for but all the while we are prepared to be flexible with our days off then the Company will let us keep going the way we are.....and long may it remain :ok:

Also, to clarify/add to what Fratemate has said, the upgrades at this point are coming just prior to the 5 year point. So plan on completing the first contract as an FO.

Hey Fratemate,

I'm quite interested in applying to AJX as an FO, but I first need to slap my A320 rating onto my EASA license (thus reactivating it), which is something I have an appointment for in early December; the reason I need to do this is because the license that I currently operate with is a P2 rating only. My question is simply: do you think they'll still be hiring in another month, or will I miss my window of opportunity?

To be absolutely honest, I don't know but you may be okay. Rumour Control suggests they want around 240 pilots but nobody seems to be able to confirm that. At the moment we have about 216, including the class in the groundschool. There are two, possibly three, guys leaving so I would surmise they need at least three classes next year and possibly four. Now, the important thing is I have absolutely no idea how many pilots are in the holding pool and waiting for those classes, neither do I have any idea of the 'strength' of those applicants. Come to that, I have no idea if they consider the 'strength' of the applicant over when they did the selection.....it's all a recruiting mystery that only the Japanese will know about.

If you're keen to do the job then my advice would be to get the ball rolling. Lodge your application and explain to whichever contract agency you're using about the A320 rating and the expected date of completion. They are obviously not going to send you to Japan for selection until you're qualified but they can pencil you in for one of the dates from December onwards and assume you will be by then.

I don't think this contract is suddenly going to dry up completely. IF the 240 pilots rumour is true then they are still going to need to recruit now and then to account for normal attrition but many fewer classes would be required and the gaps between classes much larger than they are now. I imagine they would also be able to be far more choosy if they had many applicants for few slots.

Finally, please remember this is all based on rumour. If we change aircraft type then that may affect numbers. If there's another huge earthquake that might do something for recruiting. Only the Japanese really know what's going on and we are not privy to those thoughts :hmm:

According to rumors from a management pilot (must be true:*) ANA needs AJX to have 280 pilots by the end of next fiscal year (March 2016). We now have 240 (including trainees) and figuring in that 15 to 20 will retire, leave or be fired by then, we need to hire another 60 pilots in next 18 months. 6 to 8 per class every other month.
Of course this can change tomorrow but for the past 6 or 7 years the hiring has never stopped and I do not expect it to stop soon.
Captain upgrades are now at about 5 year mark, but that might come back to 4 next year when we hit the group of slow hiring from 3-4 years ago. We had a 6-8 month period when class size was small so it will accelerate things a little if they keep upgrading 12 per year as previously. This fiscal year we have only 8 upgrades.

Fratemate and 767 Autopilot,

Thanks very much for your responses. Maybe I'll see ya in Narita next year. :ok:

Any Canadian AJX pilots living in YVR that can give me any info on life at AJX?. PM only please.

cheers,
six

Thanks Fratemate!

Speaking of aircraft change, what's the latest bar talk? :ooh:

More Cargo routes
 

Looks like the cargo is expanding. News article is 2 months old but not reported here before.
ANA to Fly Cargo to India Amid Freighter-Fleet Expansion - Businessweek


I also took a cargo airplane last week from NRT that had just come in from WIII - Jakarta, flown by management pilots, so that route might start soon too.
And I thought that the rumors were that cargo is dead and done soon:E

Rumor has it that you will be changing between the B763 freighter, to the BCF, to the freighter with winglets, to one passenger plane every other month:rolleyes:

I've said it before and I'll say it again..., come here if you are looking for roster stability, being able to choose your days off and business class commute...., if the opportunity to fly something besides the 76 is what you are looking for, go to a place where they are operating them currently....!

I have been considdering AJX for quite a while now and have 2 more questions. Would appreciate an answer from somebody who currently works there.
1: As for tax: I understand that you will be liable for your own tax. Does the Agency or air Japan ask you to for a proof that you pay tax somewhere?, or do they just pay you the salary and it's up to you? Do you need to provide any details about your tax situation?
2: What are current drop out rates during the training for recent courses. I believe that the 9 month training pose a quite high risk, in case you drop out it might be very hard to find another job as you wont be current anymore.
Thanks for your help!

Hi Ronand,

I don't work for AJX, but I will go for my screening in Jan. I was told by Parc that a proof of your residency is what they need, no matter where that is.
Regarding your second question, at the time you join you must have your licence valid for 6 month. Guess you will be doing your check after 5-6 month of joining, therefore you should be safe either way....

But hey......I'm a rookey myself.....anyone a better explanation :8

Fly safe :ok:

1. No, you are not required to prove to your agency nor AJX that you have paid tax. As I understand it, CREW deducts some sort of tax for for the American pilots (glad to be corrected on this) but, basically, you are paid gross and it's up to you to pay tax in your own country.

2. I don't have the drop out rates but they are very low (this isn't Korean with 'instructors' that hate foreign pilots). Put in the work and you'll be fine. I can't recall the last time an FO failed and it has been only a few captains that haven't been able to master the trivia they want. There's less pressure on FOs since they obviously don't know anything and can't be expected to get things right (they think all FOs are cadets from ANA) whereas the captains are expected to know everything. After all, don't ALL captains know everything......apparently they think they do :eek:

Perhaps it's already been asked but I couldn't find it. What amount of sim time is allowed towards the 3000 hours.
Did anyone currently flying airbus go for the interview recently with sim assesment on the boeing? How was it, if you would be so kind to share.

Many Thanks!

Actually! Anyone staying at the excel hotel tonight?!