Skymark interview
 

I am curious if anyone has ANY information about Skymark. I am heading out for an interview and was curious of the work environment, schedules and living conditions. Also if anyone has been through the interview lately any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx in advance for any info.

Skymark interview
 

I am curious if anyone has ANY information about Skymark. I am heading out for an interview and was curious of the work environment, schedules and living conditions. Also if anyone has been through the interview lately any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx in advance for any info.

Hi skudrunner, sorry can't help you but I'd like to know what fleet are you going for, and how did you apply (i guess through an agency?).

They just ordered A380s, the outlook seems really interesting

best of luck

Hi Skymark conditions are eroding like many Airlines
and with the 2 or 3 new low cost starting soon it will be worst
They lost about 20 to 25 expats pilots since January 2011.
Skymark is operating 23 or 24 B737NG but now there is a rumor
that they may change the fleet again for A320
D ont go to Skymark thinking that you will fly the A380
Maybe they bought some but they d ont have them yet and
I was told by the Chief Pilot that only Japanese pilots will fly the A380
Before I left the flying was 6 days ON 1 day OFF (6-1-6-1-6 OFF 9 or 10 days)
depending of your agency
By the way be ready for a 6 months course without going back home
and Skymark d ont have their own checker so you have to meet the idiots from
JCAB every year for your Sim Check and Route check
Interview should not be a problem
Usualy some Japanese manager and Peter the expat chief, mostly friendly talking
and probably a 30 minutes in the B737NG Sim to check if you can basically fly

There's a reason all the expats have fled the place.

Caution.

consider very carefully before coming
 

Agree with all LindbergB767 had to say. The place is a mess! If you like staying in a motel 6 on layovers with NO place to eat,Skymark's your airline:ugh: If you want to go on course for 6 to 8 months without going home AND being treated like a school boy having to be there from 10 till six during ground school, Skymark's the place.:ugh: If you like being checked by an out of control government agency twice a year, come on down!:mad:
I could go on but won't, consider ALL other options before you sign on this dotted line. Good luck

whale2guppy
Are currently working for Skymark?

I dont know if Whale is still working for Skymark but 3 or 4 years ago about 15 guys from beautiful Hawaii came at Skymark and if I am correct only 2 are still there and about 30 expats came from Jal (B747 captains) and already half of them are gone
If you really need a job and you Think you can cope with the system then go for it
The aircraft are almost new, well maintain,and the peoples in the office are quite nice,and Japan is not a bad place to live as it is safe, and clean
The problem is JCAB, and also the owner who can reduce your contract without consulting anybody ,and d ont expect any help from your agency (any agency)
And also you fly often 2 captains together. When you are 2 expaxt it is nice but when you fly with an ex JAL B747 Captain you become a second class pilots

You mean they will try to place you for the first 10 minutes in a second class pilot status, related to that I use the same technic as the dog whisperer, you go pssst!!!!!! and snap your fingers getting them out of that state of mind into a submissive state, nobody places you in a second class pilot status, you allow it to happen.:=

Skymark
 

Why Skymark lowering the requirements for DEC?
I saw that,they don't ask for any experience on type,zero.
I gathered that a lot of captains leaving because of the status in the company, as you say.
If they still can't find crews,they will raise the age limit in order to find people.

They already hire over 60.

Hello,

I have been called too, for interview at the next session that will take place next January 2012.

You said six months training, do we have to pass a JCAB ATPL theoretical exam test, like in China?
Rgds.

Dominican , I mean this is what the Japanese pilot Think about expat, I did not mean that the expat become a second class pilot or citizen or feel like one

Wton
Yes ,you have to do a 2 weeks course on Air Law, then a writing exam,.and a 3 days course on Radio plus 2 exam (to get the Japanese radio license) and a full B737-8 course even if you already have 5000 Hrs on type ,and a JCAB Sim check with 1 hour oral questions to get ATPL , as well as a route check with JCAB and 1 hours oral after the route check
If (as an example, like it did happen to some guys) you fail your route check then you maybe an FO for between 1 to 6 months before they give you another chance (with a reduced salary) If I recall well one pilot was checked after 18 months in the Cie
And because Skymark do not have approved Cie checker then you have to face JCAB every year for SIm check (once) and route check (once)

Does one need to make there way out to the west coast on their own nickel for the interview?

What is the pay like for Expat FO's?

Had a phone call tonight from an agency who assured me that the 5mth course "could " be completed in 6 wks. . . . . Oh really ? ? :hmm:
Wasn't interested in living in Japan, but it was nice to know how smoothly & easily the formalities would pass :rolleyes:

First they d ont hire expats F/O

Agency are full of s..t
Even for Japanese ex B747 Captain it take 6 months

Not sure anything will evenuate of it, but received a mass-email after having applied, and responded to a personal email from the recruiter very shortly thereafter. With the understanding that it might not be a Career Job for a Yank expat, is it a reasonable place to hang one's hat for a few years? Anxious to hear any first-hand reports, and thanks.

PS. Should add, this is for a CA position.

Heard they are really short on both Capts and FO's...apparently they sometimes have to pair 2 Capts to cover trips. Apart from that, they are a solid and stable company growing with a young B738 fleet!!
However alot of ppl are leaving for Korean, maybe it's a better contract!

QR or Skymark? Tough call.

If it were me I would go with SkyMark but you'll, 99.999%, never upgrade to anything bigger. By contrast at QR you'll eventually move on to the A330 or B777/ 787, and it will be a career airline

Living in the M.E. sucks anywhere you slice it with DXB is probably the only palatable place. Doha is far worse. But if you can get home once a month you might be able to tolerate it. Some of my friends love living and working in Doha, others hated it and bailed the first chance they got. Same goes for those working for EK in DXB. Sure you'll be a 777 Capt at 30 yrs of age but will you have a life? Working for a US major gets me 16-20 days off a month and flying with a pretty laid-back group of guys. Plus I'm home every night most of those days. Last month I bid reserve and flew one quick-turn trip. 76 hrs pay for 1 day of work all while living in my home country. That's far more important than the equipment I fly. 90 days after you check out it's all about days off and QOL (quality of life).

At least in Japan you won't be subject to searing heat, a lazy, arrogant and boring religious society. Nor will you feel like you're being treated like a second-class citizen (though some there feel they are treated that way but that exists everywhere, including your own country). At least in Japan you can have some resemblance of a normal life outside work (even though you will be working.. a lot!).

To each his own. I worked in the M.E. before and I know it's not for me. But some have no problem with it. For me, Japan would be a better fit.

Interview at both places and go with whomever hires you first!

You'll make money at either carrier. And both will drive you crazy but living in Japan in much easier than living in Doha. Then again, you'll layover a lot in Europe with QR, not so with SkyM.