info on BlueDart aviation
 

Hello everyone,

i just wanted to know if anyone has any info regarding bluedart aviation, based in Chennai India.

I've never heard about them coming out with ads for freshers, except once in the recent past.

also just curious to know how this airline is doing compared to the other airlines in India, and the pay, work environment etc.

regarding salary .. is it true that cargo pilots are paid much less than commercial airline pilots, since there is less responsibility in the job ??

also, I heard that DHL express is the parent company, as it had bought over Bluedart .. is that true ?

as i said .. just out of curiosity since no one seems to be talking about this one airline in India.

Thanks !
:)

Airline is owned almost by DHL, a very good and stable company to work for.

All flight ops happens at night and we fly throughout.

That being said, they treat you as an employee, put you in 5 star hotels

Salary is very high, beats all first officer salary in india.

One Airline where you do not pay for your rating, and its done at British Airways Flight Training Center, London Heathrow.

Our 5th aircraft is coming 757-200 which will be in DHL colours.

Yes, interview for that is on 11 April and all applications are close.

pree56,

I would like to address your assumption that there is less responsibility in freight flying. Please do not take this wrong I am just trying to correct an assumption that the public and some pilots have about freight airlines and pilots. I have been both a jet passenger airline pilot and a wide body freight pilot. The job and responsibilities are the same. While the pax pilot may have to deal with passenger and F/A issues he will probably never deal with large quantities of hazmat or loads like livestock. While the jobs differ the responsibility is the same. Once in the air the job is identical especially after 9/11 and the advent of armoured and locked cockpit doors. If the pax crew or the freight crew put a large jet into a neighborhood the result is the same.

As a side note the highest paid pilots by far in the United States nowadays fly for FedEx and UPS, both all freight airlines.

Jet

I was gonna start a separate thread but after seeing this one ill just post it here. Welcome to Blue Dart Aviation Ltd., Look at the very last link. That makes me LOL.

Do they hire Indian Nationals only or also expats?

pree56 and others,

from my limited info on bluedart :

1. Yes, based in Chennai (Madras) India.

2. They operate a fleet of 4 B757's and 2 B737-200s. A 5th 757 is expected to join fleet by late May or early June this year. A couple of B767s are expected to be inducted in late 2013.

3. Not much info regarding hiring, but I do know that they take in non-rated pilots with the bare minimum 250 hours on pistons. They also have a few expats working.

4. I had a good laugh when I read your point regarding freighter airlines/pilots and "less responsibility" ! Perhaps when you mature some day in aviation and get to know the real picture, you'll realize all the drivel you posted in professional pilot forums.

5. And yeah, some of the wealthiest pilots in the industry are .. (guess who!) .. freighter pilots ! :ok:

Sigh ! 20 years in this industry and Im still waiting for the day I can become a full fledged "commercial airline pilot".

on the other hand, why bother ? .. the good ol' boxes and parcels have never given me much trouble ! :E

@Pulkdahulk,
when did the applications come out?

@tu144
what is so funny about it?

i used to fly cargo and now pax.

my salary was higher when i was in cargo and more piece of mind to boot. :ok::ok::ok:

The fact that they have a link to airliners.net on it

Then why did you switch? Or you had no choice?

It was out of compulsion TU.

Will they be inducting more aircrafts in near future? Also heard they need atleast 500 hours.

Any chance of vacancies in near future?

Why is that cargo pilots are handed a salary better than their pax counterparts..? is this because of odd work hours? or less breaks?

You ve answered it yourself just one more point to add. Pathetic Life Style. You might never see day time for a few continuous days.

Ouch.. can you give me an idea of what kinda difference we see in the pay? say, you would get a 10% more? just want to know where its worth it. ;) and what are the other major differences between pax and cargo pilots.. pros and cons?

Various cargo outfits have different types of operations. Some global cargo giants such as Fedex or UPS perhaps pay the best salary in aviation but you probably are working on something like a 20 day round the world flight and you ve got 10 days break after that. Where as operators like Bluedart predominantly do individual nights like a MAA-BLR-BOM-DEL the night and the return on the next night (ps. the route might not be accurate). Advantages of flying freight is the PAY and not having to deal with pax issues. Also if you feel bored you could do a barrel roll just before your top of descent :8 .. While the disadvantages include the time of operations (day landings become precious) and cargo pilots I ve seen lack a good social life.On a lighter note the single most discussed topic on board a cargo plane at cruise would be: BABES ;) because when they are up, we are sleeping & when they are partying, we are working .. girls, I am now Ex Cargo ;)

GE90-115B. Thank you!! You've given the best outline possible. Now i do pity those cargo pilots. I guess you are more than happy with your decision of moving outa it. :)

If you work for a world wide freight operator you will fly both nights and days. Chances are if you are on the other side of the world from your home city and flying a night trip it is really a day trip for you!;) Really, all flying is what you make of it. I have been a regional airline pilot, a major US airline pilot, a contract pilot in India and now a wide body cargo pilot. I am actually enjoying freight flying more than anything else I have ever done. With the lack of jobs for new pilots in the world today I don't see how you can be picky anyway.