Why only few pilots join Vietnam now?
 

Hi to everyone.

As far as I know, Vietnam Airlines needs pilots so badly recently, for 777/A330...etc. If you join as FO, you get 8000 something in the first year, and then 9000 something after first year's service. The salary is quite good in fact,and the living cost is Vietnam is really nothing, though no other financial benefit is available. Also, Vietnam people is really friendly to foreign pilots, this is important.

So...I really cant understand, why not many pilots(PIC or FO) want to join VA now:confused: I heard that VA will delay the 3 new A330 to join, cause there are just not enough pilots for A330....:ugh:

If you know any info about VA now, please advice. Because I'm considering to apply, seriously! Thanks :ok:

I'm watching, but the commute home to the western hemisphere plus the cost is a bitch!

I m 777 driver and waiting for parc aviation screening...no news ...

Why they dont take NTR pilot?
 

If they take Non Type Rated PIC, like KAL, I will consider seriously to apply.

a320sho

I have friends joined 777 via parc....but its the end of last year. And after that, no more 777 pilots join VA via prac....

Contract length.. I would love to join them and have a over 1000 hrs on the A330 but am unwilling to sign a 5 year contract to do it.. Too many other good deals out there.

I'm sorry Grace.Lee, but I'm a bit confused. Your appearance is that you're in Taiwan and are pilot thinking that you'd like to join Vietnam Airlines.

However, your only three postings seem directed at finding out why VN Air cannot seem to recruit qualified wide-body pilots (A330/777).

Pardon me, but these questions do seem like they may be coming from a person inside VN Air, or one of the agencies, and are intended to find some answers while remaining anonymous.

For example, if you were just "...considering to apply..." why not simply read the several thousand other postings about VN Air already existing on this site?

Some others.....

"...VNA delaying delivery of 3 A330's..."? The company has never publicly said this, and has not indicated this to any current pilots. Shall we assume that you know something that those of us here don't know?

"...Vietnam people is really friendly to foreign pilots, this is important..." Although this was once true, it is becoming further from the truth each day and all the expat pilots at VN Air know it.

"...and the living cost is Vietnam is really nothing..." The only people who still believe this are the Vietnamese. Actually, the cost of living in Vietnam has exceeded that of both Hong Kong and Singapore! Both HCMC and Hanoi are internationally documented as two of the worlds most expensive cities to live in.


I respectfully suggest, that if you (VN air) are really interested in finding out why pilots are not interested in joining VN Air, you should begin by asking the pilots currently on contract, before they too leave.

It's true life is quite expensive in hcmc or hanoi if you want to rent a nice flat or a house for you and your family..school , medical insurance,saving for a decent retirement pension is also to consider...
there s no secret if the pay is good and not lowered if the contract agencies are fair and vna people kind there will be a lot of people i m sure!
:ok:

Does anybody know how long the A320 FO's position will be available? I've done my ATPL and after two months of the check the ****** spanish DGAC didn't issue my license :(

A320 positions seem to be available almost continuously with brief periods where recruitment is on hold.:)

Many thanks! It seems that Parc pulled from the A320 FO hiring although they still looking for A320 captains, and 777 and 330 crews. It seems that the only decent option left is DPI

VAC is now hiring, and doin SIM assessments. I believe not so many chaps make it. The mortality rate to my knowledge would be around 50%:ouch::sad:. So, I believe that's one reason why not so many chaps are joining VAC.

To counter what electrojet said, on a couple of points.

Vietnam is nowhere near as expensive as Hong Kong or Singapore. An "expat" apartment can be had (1-2 bedroom) for 550-1300 dollars. A 3 bedroom house very close to work, in a nice neighborhood goes for about 800. Singapore and Hong Kong the same apartment would be 2500-3500 USD.

Food? If your maid cooks for you every day you can eat like a king for 200 a month per person. If you eat out at "expat" places, like I did, it costs about half what you would pay in a US city, and a quarter of what you would pay in London, Paris, or Singapore. Hong Kong food prices are similar to the US. Singapore are higher than London or Paris.

Expat schools are expensive, I think over 1000 per month per kid. I think the same just about everywhere in Asia.

Overall a fairly cheap place to live. Housing has gone up, but is now coming down.

Really want to live on the cheap? A local girlfriend can get you a real deal on an apartment or house, and local prices on everything.

Locals? The fairer sex is very friendly. The others not. I spent 6 months going to mostly Vietnamese places. I finally got tired of being treated poorly. Not to worry, there are lots of expat restaurants and bar with awesome food and service. I think expat asians get treated better than westerners overall.

Vietnam Airlines treatment? Show up on time, do your job without causing problems and you get treated very well. Far better than most US airlines, including the one I used to work for. I would definitely consider going back to VAC if my next gig doesn't pan out.

Prozac;
Wow, great idea, but it was already tried, and failed. Several guys came to VAC from Air India as 777 FO's. They falsified their credentials. They were "cruise pilots", and never sat in "the seat" during TO or Landing. Or actually TO or Landed. The Capts they flew with recognized that they had no idea what they were doing. Most, or all, have been fired.

I think every section of PPRUNE has a section for WANNABEES. You might want to read up on it. You sound like a wannabee.

Thanks for all these info:ok:

I'm not a "SPY" from Vietnam Airlines....
I work for a small airlines in asia now...I'm new to the contract world, and I'm not really familiar with the "deals" provided by each airlines. For me, 8000 something USD per month for a 777/330 FO is unbelievable! That's why I wonder how come VA seems like never has enough pilots. For KAL, there're lots of updated info on PPR, so its easy to understand why expats dont go to KAL. But for VA, most of the info is actually pretty old, and not many pilots talking about VA now....which worries me if I should try VA or not....

i refused to attend the selection process on A330 because...

if you take out 2000usd for an average pension plan from 8800usd (8800 is the average monthly pay for the 3 year contract proposed by parc or rishworth) then you subtract 1000 (cheap) for a 1 bed appartment you get 5800usd /4300€ per month...the same as any many other long haul airlines...so why moving if you already have a permanet contract in europe/usa?

DPI conditions
 

I found out the conditions offered by DPI for A320 FO, including the "housing allowance" is 6.490 USD that is substantially lower than Parc 7.155 USD. This is a 665 USD difference per month!
If we do not apply with these new conditions they may do something about it, so I'm going to hold and if Parc gets in the game again or there is a substantial improvement I'll apply, I really hope so... It would benefit us If the ones who can afford to wait would do the same.

After all that has being said about Rishworth I don't consider them as an option.

I got selected for Vietnam and Wataniya.....still in a big confusion as to where to go....Does Vietnam have an upgrade policy for A320 F/O's. I have heard conflicting stories on that. Anyone have updates and advice on this matter please do reply. Thanks guys.

sky

PROBUSMC:

I emailed an expat Capt at AI about your claim of the AI FO's because a few years ago I met most of them. He says you're facts are WRONG. He said (as he understands it) that one was let go but others are there at VAC, respected and doing well.

Is this true, or are you just a conceited WANABEE hero racing this industry to the bottom, ie your level? Or, are you a kiss ass trying to cementing a place at VAC like others are who have?

You come across therefore as a lying fool spreading gossip and B.S. Yep, this is a rumour forum, but NOT a place to slander your fellow pilots[/B]. This is a world wide forum. There are another 5 or 6 AI former FO's at Qatar doing very well. They rised above the misery they were in due to their experience and integrity it seems. Now ar$eholes like you seek to slander them.

There are enough ignorant fools in the world who can't wait to slander others to make themselves feel more important. Looks like we've found another.

After all, I wonder what your FO's (or Capts) would say about you? You're a coward. A fool and whats more a liar. You hide behind anonymity on a worldwide forum to spread lies. Have you a spine at all?

Those AI FO's at VAC deserve your support just for being there as a colleague. You prefer to rely on lies and bring them down despite never meeting them, flying with them (if you are a Capt?) or checking your FACTS first. What a great guy you must be to fly with!

So, back to the thread:
Why only a few pilots are joining VAC now? It appears because there are expats like YOU at VAC that would deter any pilot from wanting to share a cockpit let alone could trust over a beer after landing.