Thank you!
I tried now with Rishworth and Parc. I think Euro Pacific is one more agency, I didn't apply there yet. I was a bit scared VAC wouldn't like to have the same application letter three times to look through. I wouldn't be amused to have the same papers of people several times on my desktop, a lot of unneccessary work.
But maybe you are absolutely right. Thanks for advice!!

So you think I should have heard about it in meantime??

I wouldn't worry about it. Just apply to all 3 and make sure you are up to date with all 3. VNA probably doesn't see any names until you are actually hired by the contractor and VNA just rubber stamp the names.

You could also contact each contractor to see what is going on. They all want your business because they will makes lots of money off you for the duration of your contract.

If it has only been 2 or 3 months it may be normal. Things don't happen overnight.

I don't work there anymore, but I believe that is the way it is still done.

Thank you very much!!!
So I will be more patient...

This is very true! and then suddenly everything happens at once.

BTW. I was, at the same day, told by Rishworth that I didn't have enough hours and by PARC that I was welcome to screening.

Oh, that's interesting! Hopefully you first got the mail by Parc, then the "disappointment" was bearable.
But this means the airline give preference to some agencies, in this case Parc??
What is the average total/airbus time they are looking for? I know what minimum requirements they want - but what is ist in reality? I am so "proud" to finally reach at least 3000 hrs but I know it is not the jackpot!! :O

And please, don't be annoyed by my questions...
How much time is there after the positive reply and screening/interview and then start training/working? How much training/screening is there each month?
Do they give priority to some special nationalities? Or is it just a question of the number of applicants (for example there are ten times more applicants from US than EU or from other Asian countries because it is quite close)?

Thanks for your replies!
Tamie

many of the nationalities here are from countries that VN fly to
so they wont spend a nickle in tickets to get home when off or holiday
i c u'r from the states so , go figure the numbers to move
To & from the east or west coast of US to saigon or hanoi
but then again there are many many that do pay to get home
'cause here VN will just drop U in CDG or FRA (europe, theres also moscow!)
or if U live in the west coast maybe china airlines is your escape route from
taipei, they have very cheap fares to SEA & LAX even to JFK

c U

I don't have 3000 hours even today!

In my case I asked for 2 weeks and got it.

?

Don't think so.

?

"Demisse et lente"

Oh, thanks so far! :)
I live in reasonable distance to a destination airport... very good.
But I need more patience, I see... ;) Can't await a positive reply...
So, all of you have a nice time there in Saigon, I hope desperately I can follow soon! Would be a pleasure!

Ciao, Tamie

I applied to Europacific and Parc at the same time in Sept 2003 for a 767 FO position that both were advertising.

Europacfic emailed me a few times with little teases asking when I would be available for screening. First in Seoul, then in Taipei.

Then nothing for 3 weeks.

In Oct 2003 Parc emailed me and asked what is the earliest I could get to Taipei for screening.

About 1 week later I was in Taipei. The "screening" is actually done in the first 5 minutes in the simulator. The next 3:55 is your initial training followed the next day by another 4 hours.

Then it is off the HCMC for groundschool.

Hey LiS, are you planning on going back to Saigon?

I might one day, but not until I get a 777 rating or they get some some 767's again.

I still want to see your pictures from Saigon someday!!!!

I'm currently a B737NG captain and interested in VNA for a variety of reasons. What position would I be able to apply for? If I did a 777 differences course would that suffice? Or do you require the rating plus some time on type?

Regards,

Moe.

Moe, suggest you contact the contract agencies for the latest, in the past they only have hired current and qualified, recently there have been rumors about a program being developed for non-rated pilots, in this program you pay for the type rating. Also you may want to look into Jetstar Pacific or Vietjet with your 737 experience.

I noticed they took the pilot positions off the employment section of their website, and the financial report for the first 6 mos. of the year contains a lot of (unfortunately) familiar verbiage about fuel costs and "rationalization" and such.

Are VA still desperate for flight crew?

Yes, I realized the same as you from employee position. The agencies tell me they are still looking for crews. Don't know...:confused:

edit:
But maybe they did like this because they have hundreds of applications in stock and also enough offers/options with the agencies. I think just in a bad case it would be more easy to get rid of expats than local crews with permanent contracts.

Sorry for double posting...
I am curious: Are there any Indonesian pilots (or maybe cabin crew as well) working for Vietnam Airlines?
Would be very nice. :)

Tamie mate , are you for real?

priority is given to the viets now and the south east asians.. if ur white.. just wait a while my friend... the yellow skinned needs a job too ...

Medical
 

Can anyone tell me what the medical is like at VAC? What does it entail? Has anyone failed the medical after being hired at VAC? How long does it take for the CAA to issue your license after you start Training? Thanks in advance for the answers if you have any....

First of all, one must pass the medical examination prior to operating on the line, has there been a problem with pilots passing the initial screening? Not too much, occasionally a pilot will have to take care of some particular issue that may create a small delay.

There have been a few instances of pilots failing the medical after being hired, very few.

As far as how the exam is administered, please read the thread, someone has already posted a good description.

Sorry mate, no CAA here I'm afraid.

Thanks for the info

Interview
 

Is anyone going so Singapore in August for an interview with VAC? I would like to get paired with someone. Understand if you go alone and you're paired with someone that you don't know too well, it's tough> Let me know. Thanks,

What are you talking about? Vietnamese Nationals? Vietnamese Nationals are hired "In House" by Vietnam Airlines. They are either ex-Vietnamese Airforce, or Cadets from the Vietnam Airlines Cadet Program.

The problem is there are not enough Vietnamese Nationals to satisfy the growing need for pilots at Vietnam Airlines. That is why they hire pilots through contractors like Parc, Europacific, and Rishworth.

The Contractors don't care about the colour of your skin, and Vietnam Airlines doesn't either. They just want a body in the seat for the length of the contract.

When is the interview in August???

Well bjlurzjet, you might be surprised, but in case they really hire you, there is a big chance that you have to work together with Vietnamese pilots. So better get comfortable with it right away.

Nice response, I think if bjlurzjet was concerned about flying with Vietnamese crews, I don't think he'd applying with the airline. The fact is, there is a very high failure rate at present time and applicants are only echoing the rumor that is on the streets, the real issue here is why does it take the Vietnamese TRE's two full simulator sessions to evaluate a pilot..!!? :hmm:

How experienced are the applicants? Are they being fair or is it more like a Korean Air thing?

I am heading over for an interview there on the 18th. I was just wondering if anyone might want to pair up since I've heard that it would just make things a little less stressful for the ride. I'm not afraid of flying with a "local" but why not try and reduce an already stressful event, that's all. Anyways, PM me if you want to try and get paired.

Because they give you the first one - at their expence - as a refresher training SIM / SOP review. Then they actually do the evaluation in the following SIM session after you've been introduced to their procedures, etc.

Do you think you would find that level of fairness at Etihad, Emirates, etc?

Fairness, I think counting the evaluation as a six month check has a lot to do with it.

Do they allow walk in's for the interview in Singapore? Where is it being held?

Good point NVPilot. :)

Call it what you like. The bottom line is this; if you show up with a good attitude and flying skills commensurate with the level of skill they request, the SIM check pretty much a no-stress event.

Regarding working with the Vietnamese (I see someone referred to them as the "VC" - tacky); if you would enjoy working with a bunch of friendly folks who don't have any hidden agendas or bad attitudes, then VNA is the place to be.

I mistyped the "VC" and when I re-read it, I see what you were saying about "tacky". With Rishworth, they've been abbreviating Vietnam Airlines as VAC and that's what I meant. Sorry if it offended anyone. In answer to the question if they take walk-ins, I believe you have to go through one of the contractors as someone posted earlier since they have to get your visa, and background checks started. I have an interview date on the 18th-19th of August. Also, if anyone has info to gouges or any advice, it would be appreciated.

There is no interview. Just a back of the clock LPC, so in laymans terms it's a screening that if you pass will constitute your LPC. Therefore you arrive, touch on ground school, line training which is short and sharp, and you're off and running.

For what it's worth, VAC sim checks are old school. Lots of raw data, direct law and multiple failures. Not your new world AQP happy clappy or loft type scenarios so best get your books out and have a look at Emerg elec, triple adr and double hyd stuff. Unreliable speed also and imultiple ir issues. Circling one engine overweight. All with maximum cross wind. Double elevator fault after take off was on last months session.

Don't be put off. Just follow ECAM, know your stuff and it's fine. If you have never opened a book and think it'll be a breeze, then you may get a rude awakening.

Thanks for info.
What about procedure call outs? Do they give you a bit of time to review the kind of call outs they want to hear before screening? I have had three different procedure call outs in the last three years...
Is it screening with just 1 F/O and a checker Cpt on the left seat (for F/O screening)? Or they share a 4 hrs mission in sim with two F/O - each 2 hrs?

Hey guys, still trying to make up my mind about vietnam. Can you shed some light about the rostering, turnaround times and days off that you currently have on the line? (Yes, I've read the threat but everything gets a bit confusing after so many different versions).
How long are the sectors your fly everyday? Do you have 30 min or 1 h turnarounds? Do you always fly 4 sectors or get longer 2 sectors days too? Do you get 1 or 2 days off?
And also if you have any more info that can be helpfull like recent house prices or lifestyle issues this would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance and I hope you can spare the time to answer my questions.
Safe flying.

Maybe they're too busy flying to answer..! :bored:

Hi!

The airport is in northwest of the city. I think most of the expat pilots live in the surrounding of Saigon in some nice houses (which are quite cheap to rent) or in some appartments in the districts close to the airport. There are some who are living in city center district 1 or 3 which is a distance to the airport but manageable.

Housing costs are quite high in comparison to the costs of living there. You will find something reasonable.

I guess all the expats will go to work by taxi or taxi-moped.

The city is very busy and noisy. As all big asian cities. But I am sure you will get your sleep when you need it!! ;) Have you ever been to an asian city before?? Don't worry about the noise.