RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIICHHHHHHHHHHHHH:E

Sorry it took this long man, my partner and I where in checkride mode for the past few days and today we took our type ride.
I figure that any of those companies would be better than HACS for a US citizen because HACS being an American company will go at you with W-2's and the likes.

Don't have a lot of experience with IAC but PARC have been pretty good to me so far. It seems that IAC is a pretty small outfit when compared to PARC though!.

The paperwork will be large in any contractor you go to because it is ANA paperwork we are talking about here, not the contractor.:ugh:

So have you decided on taking the plunge L70?

Dom you didn't say how the type ride went?

The paperwork is like any flying job now days, there is a lot of it. I leave in 2 days and just received even more paperwork. Taxes I just pay them and whine about it...

Still thinking about it... Have wife and kids, difficult to drag them all over and I don't like 2 of the specifics of the contract, mainly that your days off include commuting (other places I've seen give you commuting days on top of the block of days off) and secondly that they don't give you business class positive space when they move you around, it's all in coach (yuck).

Zed fares on another carrier business class back and forth stateside are pricey, too.

It's a great gig if you are at a regional or about to retire state-side, but with me being on 2nd year AirTran getting ready to upgrade into a $120k a year CA seat in 2 years here, it's a harder decision, even though I'd love to be immersed in the culture. Gotta make a decision not just for me, but for the whole family.

Ajx/ajv
 

Hi Lear.
Ive been in the AJX/AJV deal for a while now. Feel compelled to say something.
I would assume you're looking at coming across as an F/O. Having spoken to the Japanese management guys and listened to the rumour mill (sometimes very accurate), I get the impression that things will be slow for upgrades here, historically it's taken anywhere between 3.5 to 5 years for an upgrade , expect more of the same maybe longer.
If command is important, and it should be, your present gig should see you move left a lot earlier.
Commuting is a major problem here for most guys and the management seems unable/unwilling to do what has to be done to make it work. Better allowance, business class seats, travel on company time. Other employers are starting to offer this, so competition is increasing.
AJX/AJV do NOT have the facility to get business class ZED fares with ANY company. All zeds are economy ONLY, NO UPGRADE POSSIBLE. This includes flights with the parent ANA.
Don't be misled by this, also ANA seemsunwilling to mke any concessions here, so things will not change in the near future, if at all!!!!
If you live Stateside the value of the US$ may not be an issue. But for anyone living elsewhere the continuing slide of the US$ is a major problem. Once again, there appears to be no attempt to sort this out.
Sounds all doom and gloom. Nt necessarily so, this could be a good gig, IF the company started to be a bit proactive and made an effort to be more competitive. There are only so many good pilots out there and, if they are snapped up by other operators, it could affect the company's future, even threaten it.
Hopet this has been some help in making the decision.
ishi

how about the benefit of travel for the dependants
 

Does any one know they offer ZED tixs to spose and kids when they travel?

Hi Ishi, and thanks for the information.

To answer your question, no, I would only be interested in a command position. I have just shy of 10,000 hours total time, 5 type ratings, 4,500 PIC Turbine, previous B727 command as well.

On a different note, I don't know how they would preclude you purchasing business class ZED on OTHER carriers. I used to work for a ZED carrier, and my carrier had absolutely ZERO ability to limit my purchases of ZED passes on a DIFFERENT carrier in whatever class I desired to travel in. I simply went online, booked it over the internet site, and it was payroll deducted.

How does it work there? Do you have to request the passes through some type of pass bureau? Sounds like another detractor... :(

I'll probably stay put, but it was tempting for a bit. In my current position I'll probably never see widebody international, and the Japanese/Asian culture in general is fascinating to me, has been since childhood... If I wasn't married I might go for it anyway, but I'd need to get back stateside regularly.

Maybe in 20 years when I'm burnt out here they'll have changed enough there to make it worth a jump in my last 5 years before retirement. ;)

ishi59
Just wanted to compliment you on a fair and balanced post, might assist some who are looking at making the move.
Cerainly on the whole not a bad contract but with a little assistance from management could almost be the best (certainly in the top 3) contracts in the region but management don't want to go down that road for whatever reason(s).
Good post! :ok:

AX/AJV
 

Lear 70

To answer the zed question for you. The issuing authority appears to be ANA. ALL applications are submitted to the AJX office, who forward them to, I guess, ANA. They are then processed in some obscure office in Haneda (or Tokyo). The AJX office staff are very helpful but the time expected for ZED ticket issue (international travel) is 14 days. Sometimes it takes less but never less than 7 days.

As I said, IF the company had the WILL to do something about it, it would be done. The contract pilots are marginalised, expect it to remain the same.

Good ruck

That's unfortunate, and will probably be the kicker that keeps me from proceeding further in the process, even though some friends of mine like The Dominican and JoBear are either over there or headed that way.

I really detest traveling by air more than 3 hours and not being in business class, and don't mind paying the extra several hundred dollars per ticket on a ZED business class fare. The main idea of taking this job would have been to travel on my off days with the family to the far corners of that part of the world and really immerse ourselves in the cultures.

I'm not going to do that in a cattle car for 5-7-10 hour flights. :ugh:

Thanks for the info, guess I'd better stay stateside... :)

Good luck to all!

Lear
Brave call but, I think, a good one.

Extra costs for business class out of Japan would be in the thousands, not hundreds, too costly.:=

Hopefully you'll let the company know why you have decided not to proceed further. They need a light nudge and feedback like that will certainly help. Who knows, they might even improve things sufficiently for you to reconsider??

Of course all other pilots will win too;)

We had lunch with a PARC rep. today and he said that they are having trouble getting folks just for the commute issue. The company is under pressure because they want to expand the Air Japan operation so this might work in our benefit. Who knows?

My partner and I are type rated 67 drivers dude:D Although I'm getting very friendly with Mr. Alka Seltser and Mr. Advil,:ouch: Man that Sake goes down good but it kicks you behind in the morning

Nice post Ishi
 

Ishi is right on the money! :D For F/O's you'll find it's fast turning to a long haul as F/O...for the skippers, you'll fly with skippers, halving your logable command time as there are very few F/O's. Many F/O's looking at moving on. Reasons; much longer time to command, ZED travel is very limiting, No business upgrade, airlines have reduced flights (more difficult to get a seat, no longer to travel on codeshare flights), USD to some currencies is very weak (better off in home country), many more options back in home countries & offshore than ever before :ok:
Sad but true, not the contract it once was :sad: Of course people will leave before things change. :ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

Captains
 

Anyone know how many Captains AJV/JP Express is looking to hire? I thought they were a little top heavy? I have a Capt. interview in August. One more question- Can any current AJV "American" crew comment on the % of taxes they take out of their own checks for the tax man....are most pulling out 22 or 25%? Also...any "new" info on ANC or ORD rostering in the future...like next year maybe?......Any info would be appreciated......

Vive la Dominican!

Congratulations, buddy! Job well-done! :D

Glad to hear things are going well for you. I'm still 2 years from upgrade here at AAI but, when I do, I re-did the math and it'll be right at $140k a year plus per diem and I'll be an hour from my house,,, I just can't give that up, as much as I would absolutely LOVE to be in their culture...

I envy you, man! Maybe when the kids are grown and out of the house and the wife WANTS me out of the house for weeks at a time, instead of just days... ;)

Don't be a stranger!

Ran into a wild eyed group in the lobby last night ;-). Now why can't I sleep more than 3.5 hours, lost in translation?

Anyone from Europe?
 

Hi Guys,
I am new to this Japan scene.
I notice there is a lot of North American contact here and thus opinions may be biased and geared to an American standpoint (Commuting, taxes, lifestyle etc)
Are there any Europeans working on the 767 with Hawaii or Parc?
I would like to hear how life works out for people with a centre of life in Central Europe. Anyone doing it? Would love to have some feedback from anyone involved in this. PM me, anyone,please.
:cool::cool:
Many thanks and good luck to you all.

Dominican!
 

:):):ok:Yo Bro!
Congats on your Type!
Cheers,
Bonzai!

Reply to Chinos,
I've been in AJX/AJV over 5 years now. I know of only one guy commuting from the UK, everybody else is from Oz or NZ and now from the US. So can't help you much there.
It seems with the decline of the US $ that applications have dried up from everywhere except the US. The money is just not worth leaving a job downunder for.
Cheers.

US $
 

I have to agree with absolutely.

With the US $ losing value ao rapidly AND expectations that this will get worse and stay that way for a looooong time, there is very little reason to leave a decent job anywhere but possibly USA for this. :yuk:

Congrats to the 6 guys who have just passed 767 rides!

Regarding Europeans, there are 5 Danish guys here, and more interviewing.. They would be able to offer some insite..

Cheers..

BC

PS: With ANY luck, the dollar will begin to recover on November 7th 2008!! (Election Day)