How ironic that the place that demands the most in terms of paperwork and red tape dishes out the least when you want to escape. That's what a mate of mine at CSA told me so good luck with getting the escape blurb!

Moving out from China and going back to Europe? Which possible documents would you need from the riceeaters?

China is a CLEAR no go area if you are making a concious decission considering basic western freedoms. For example - recently another recruitment company tried to get hold of me, I think run by some spanish pilots for various chinese "airlines", after I made clear some basic WESTERN ground rules the young guy(that is now returning to Europe because he filled his money bucket and most likely as well the other one) told me that China is CLEARLY not for me. I fully agree(he approached me via Linkedin, not the other way around).

IF your are a bitch there is acutally an easier way to make money(sorry about my blunt language), WHY would you need to go for that to China. For all of the other guys here there is no real discussion to go there in the first place. Weird place, weird companies(all of them after all), weird authority(and yes, that says someone from EASA land). There is just no way a western pilot could easily blend into that weird bunch. Of course you could fake it(haven't we done that all ;-) - if not wait till you get a bit older^^ ), but this is just not honest.

I am not judging by any means please, but I was actually thinking about China for a very long time. However, not like most of my collegues, I took the time to read THAT book, investigated further, asked questions(which some of them did not like) to companies AND agencies. And the end this is all just a big "bubble". It MIGHT work out, but there are no warranties. For a pilot this is an unacceptable risk(and least for many of us "old style guys" which have been the airline preference for many decades because it ment we where reliable). It might be different for the NG but that is not my beer anymore.

But again - any western company normally is happy with a reference or a record of employment for the last five(5) years. That's it. No other china crap required. Except - maybe - do not go there. Money is not everything in life. Try to get a hold of that weird perspective :E

What I'm saying is, you could now get potentially get up to 14 day trips out of your RSP, come home and have 3 days off then go back for another 7, home for 2, etc all in the same month. At the moment we have 10/11 day trips starting to appear.

A lot of the guys RSP rosters are now down towards the minimum contractual obligation of 8 days off at home, which essentially works out less than the commuting roster, without the advantage of taking it all in one block.

Are the rumours true punishments getting outrageous there now?
Ive heard through the grapevine a Foreign Captain on a cargo flight went outside for a toilet break with an upset stomach. Returns 11 mins later and responds to ATC call he hears on return over speakers.
Apparently FO missed all ATC calls while Captain was on the toilet.
Result Captain demoted sent to office 20 days and requires 200hrs seat time training!!!??

Flip me sounds like they love their punishments at China Southern. I hope there isn't some kind of unwritten policy to cause trouble for the foreign pilots. There will always be a few trainers in any airline with hidden agendas, seems to be the way of it from my experience.

The punishments are not exclusive from China Southern, rather it seemed to be the culture here with the major airlines in China. This is such as they have to also deal with CAAC that is very punitive in nature.

BTW, punishments are now greatly increased in all Mainland China; it is easy to get a grounding of at least one year; one simulator failure is 6 months as FO. At the beginning of September one crew from Shandong Airlines has landed on the wrong runway coming from a VOR / DMEapproach (!8L instead of 18R): three (3) years grounded.
Greetings.
JF

Has the trade war added any additional pressure from management or CAAC on expat crew?

Guys, any information which countries as passport and/or licences are denied by CAAC?

The MAX remaining grounded won't help things.

looks like the RSP deal is coming to the end..

Unfortunately is very true, at least on 777/330...no more base transfers expected.