There's over 100 people retiring per year with 30+ years at my airline so I'm not sure what you mean by that. It's pretty common at many legacy carriers worldwide. Or did you mean only expat contract pilots?
What is the history of Air Japan's foreign contractors? Has it been working this way since they started 17 years ago? When JAL kicked all the foreigners out what was the reasoning and could something similar happen at this company? ie They have enough locals to staff all positions.

AJX has been running along pretty much the same since the beginning. Just went from one company to two and then back to one. Of course something like JAL could happen here. All it takes is a downturn in the economy for a while and ANA starts losing money and shrinking. Who will be the first to go? We will.

As the others were alluding to. There is no guarantee in Aviation. No matter where you are employed. Just ask the Eastern or PanAm pilots. I bet they felt pretty secure at one point.

For example if one wanted to fly to Hokkaido for a week, etc. between trips instead of "commuting home" would immigration allow the pilot to enter on Passport (US/ 90 day visa exempt), instead of a shorepass?

Any chance of hiring FOs on the 787 in a few years? (I should have the type)

Yes, you can use your passport to enter Japan after your last trip before your days off and then use the length of the tourist visa to visit places. Many people who use ZED tickets will use their passport after their last trip because they may not get on with the standby ticket and then it's a real pain getting a new shore pass sorted out. Only snag with passport is the Japanese putting a sticker in your book and taking up half the page, so make sure you've got lots of spare pages.

Well, eventually they will because they'll get rid of all the 767s but this is going to take quite some time. The latest information we had from the Company was there would be no direct entry onto the 787 for the foreseeable future. Your guess is as good as any as to how long that would be. Being type rated would almost certainly go in your favour for the interview but it won't make much difference to the course. Assuming you're lucky enough to have another type rated pilot to pair up with in the sim, then you'd be exempt one of the checks and a bit of ground school but that's about it.

Thanks for the info. I have the JTT card already, no more stamps at NRT/NGO/HND/KIX. Recently had an unscheduled overnight. After pfaffing about for 3 hours with MX immigration held us for about half an hour while they searched for the original shore passes.

ANA
 

Maybe ok to review last 142 pages........nothing much has changed. other than biz class seat commute- couple more days off, some sort-of sched guidelines that they obey here-and there.

I think you'll find it quite hard to get an idea on what it's actually like to work there from just reading this thread. The most there seems to be is along the lines of 'it varies from month to month' type posts.

Maybe because it varies from month to month...!

I don't think you will find another thread that has more honest and straigh forward details than this one.

Honestly, if You expect US style trip trade, drops and stay at home when You don't feel like working, please do not come her! If like most of us here You realize that the two weeks at home every month comes at a price, then put Your hat in the ring and we would love to see You here.

Best regards
Heavydane

Hi Everyone

I have just attended an unsuccessful attempt at the AJX screening. The screening was very professional. The conduct & presentation is second to none that I have seen anywhere yet. The interview is very relaxed with actually a very different approach I found. From the moment the first question is asked there is a real feeling that they are wanting to hear from you how exactly the commuting type of business will suite you or not. They also really want you to pass the assessment.

The questions were very orientated around how will your family deal with the long duration of the type rating training etc. A few techno questions too. I had 3 Captains & a lady from HR.

Before the interview there is a very thorough Briefing on the 3 SIM profiles(did I mention thorough). I would suggest you knowing the Pitch & thrust settings for each phase (segment of flight ) without thinking. He quized me on a few during the briefing to gather my study preparation etc. I must admit the SIM would be IMPOSSIBLE to fly the way they want you to without knowing these. Yes you could get away by doing it your way but then again you would then be sliming your chances.

My ultimate undoing was not knowing intimately these pitch & power settings. I knew them but not in my sleep so to speak, & when the workload got high, it is these especially thrust settings that can save your bacon. Because you could then set the thrust & concentrate the hell out on your scan & pitch etc. Everytime you change thrust there is a pitching change & everytime you take flap there is pitch change. These are basics but your workload is high if you don't know what ballpark thrust to set to unload some RAM to scan, adjust & hold.

I am disappointed I did not make the cut but ultimately I leave the above post to aspiring aviators for the same role. It might just help you by reading this.
Awesome Gig to have not got unfortunately...

Safe skies!

Best of luck!

​​​​

If you want to fly for a Japanese company still, I've heard Nippon Cargo is gong to be interviewing again in late summer early fall. Check with Parc or HACS to see if you qualify. I must worn you though, I heard the place is falling apart by the week and some how with half the fleet parked they still need more pilots. That might tell you something...

Thank you for the heads up Palm tree Pilot. I still have a pretty decent job at the moment on a good machine. This attempt at AJX would have just made me have more time with my family though.

Didn't know that things were not in good shape at NCA...

Safe skies!!

Afternoon All,
A great Thread chaps and after having spent the past couple of days reading all of it I think it covers pretty much everything.There is only one question I have which relates to my family. The wife is from South America which I understand is commutable (notwithstanding a post I read about four hours ago relating to a South American who had his application turned down) however the length of the commute I think will prove too much. My question is this. Has anyone had any experience of moving their family (wife and two kids in my case) to a country closer to Japan, namely Vietnam, Thailand or Indonesia? We are all on UK passports (not that that may make any difference) and currently living in the M.E. so the prospect of them moving to the far east is attractive to them, and of course to me with them being closer to Japan. She doesn't want to go to the UK. Something about the weather.
Of course it will no doubt be prudent to get professional advice if or when the time comes however at this stage all I can ascertain from the aforementioned countries is that they offer work permits, which I would consider to be more restrictive than just permission to live, without the opportunity to work. The attraction for them being receiving foreign income into their country by way of house rental and schools fee's etc.If anyone has had any experience of obtaining temporary residence permits or equivalent, for their families in other countries I would be very grateful for a heads up.
If only I was single and didn't have to worry about schools everywhere I went......

Gracias Chico's

Would anyone be willing to post some of their monthly schedules from the last year so we might get an idea of what to expect?

@remains positive Thailand is rather tough regarding working permits unless wifey happens to be what whichever company in Thailand is looking for at that moment. If she is a qualified teacher she will get an offer on the spot. I have quite a lot of experience in Thailand myself and I would not advice anyone to move here before securing a job, specially when there are kids involved. RP's only come after 5 years of paying taxes locally through a work permit, and the list of professions banned for foreigners is quite long.

Viet Nam, on the other hand, is much more simple. Visas are easy to buy and you can set up your own company, which will open the door to an RP for you and your bunch. After that is just a matter of network and time before she finds something she will really like, instead of having to accept any job to avoid getting in trouble with immigration. No limits for foreigners, I have seen white guys selling beverages on the beach!

Quite a large South American community in both countries so she won't feel alone, I'm Spanish myself.

Indonesia, I've got no idea about.

Mucha suerte y escribeme si necesitas algo mas.

Remains positive - I have lived in Malaysia for several years on their MM2H visa program. Its valid for 10 years and renewable for another 10 thereafter. There are several websites dedicated to MM2H.
Our children attended GIS,Garden International School which was fantastic.We bought a huge 2 story apartment in Mont Kiara in 1999 and have had a super lifestyle. Malaysia is very easy to live in and we have explored all of SE Asia,China,Australia+NZ. Highly recommended !!

Wisecaptain and Iggy.

Many thanks for your replies. That is certainly encouraging. It now seems that my work is cut out sorting the wife and kids out in one of the aforementioned countries, before of course that small task of applying, being accepted and getting through all the training at AJX.

Cheers chaps

TAX For Australians
 

Hi Guys.

Can an Australian Pilot explain to me how the Tax works. Its my understanding you dont pay Tax in Japan. But so we pay the full wack back in Australia? Or is there a way to get around paying the full wack?

Thanks in advance