Vietnam Flying. VNA, Jetstar or Vietjet?
 

I am an experienced A320 captain and TRI. I love South East Asia and I am looking at the different options in Vietnam. Would those in the know would care to share the benefits and drawbacks of each option, likely bases, rosters, quality of life and pay?

Three of them are similar. VJ a bit better pay for some extra job. VN a bit better commuting for some less salary. Pacific is an Australian run gig so sometimes they thend to bring their own people from Oz, hiring freezes for a while in that case.

More than the airline focus on the country and local culture, that is what makes people leave or stay.

I feel at home, some others don't last six months.

More info PM me.

Iggy may I send you a PM?

Iggy may I send you a PM?

Jetstar Vietnam
 

Hello Calypso

Did you derive any intelligence you were searching for Airlines in Vietnam?Any feed about Jetstar Vietnam?

Cheers

Time to get some beers out of the fridge. This will be a good one !

Vietnam Airlines - Full service so conditions better BUT look at other threads relating to getting rid of expats. Widebody flying a possibility if you are willing to pay for the rating and work for reduced salary. Foreigners get the trips the locals don't want. Usually employ through an agency such as Parc or Rishworth.

Vietjet - Low cost so poorer conditions but expanding rapidly. Expect to work hard for the money. Travel perks won't be as good as VNA.

Jetstar Pacific - Don't know too much about them but possibly get travel with EK and QF.

VNA Probably the better job but long term prospects unclear. Better security though as TRI with new cadets needing training.

Jetstar offering NTR commands. Must be getting short.

These conditions seem to improve all the time?

Talk of bonding so people don't move on too fast with their shiny new rating, a point omitted by PARC (obviously an honest error :ok:) but mentioned in the RISHWORTH ad.

Rumour has it be prepared to grease some palms if you want to pass the medical.

Are we talking "happy money"..? Make sure it comes in a little red bag 🤦🏼*♂️

No, but on a more serious note, I just got a rundown on how things are rapidly changing in VNA when it comes to Command Responsability: you are now "legally" not allowed to hand-fly unless you are in landing configuration; that must solve a LOT of destabilization problems as local pilots loved flying manually from FL200 downward! And those automatic trim changes during the configuration must have seriously screwed up these perfect approach and landing profiles. This will DEFINETLY improve the Vietnamese ADM process, increase CRM (more time to finish that ciggy!), reduce Hard-Landings to Near zero and, hey, who needs basic hand-flying skills anyways, in the Simulator those are coded. SO realistically, and you don't really need your hand-flying-skills unless you are intending to betray VNA, the best of the best airline and employer in the world, and intend to interview for some other, higher paying, better organized airline! 🤦🏼*♂️

And then there is the Pilot-playing-mechanic-walk-around: now as PIC sign and accept responsibility of the aircraft and all of its maintenance issues, as the two-year long trained Grease-Monkey would; funny fact: the CAAV does not authorize this at home, inside Vietnam, but outside VNA can do as they please...
Personal recommendation: if you don't have a lot of experience or if you never flew in a "Pirate-Outfit", don't apply in VNA. You are risking your career, if you ever had one; but if you got more than ten thousand hours, don't really care or have opted in Black Flag Airlines before, you'll fit right into this circus 😆

Can anyone please tell me about the VNA/CAAV medical? I am 58 years old TRI/TRE and would quite enjoy a few years in Vietnam. Like just about anyone my age, I am slightly overweight, but have perfect health other than glasses. I have never had any issue passing the annual medical and do not anticipate doing so here in the UK. Are standards much stricter in Vietnam or are they sensible and reasonable? Any thoughts on the subject would be much appreciated.

CAAV medical is simply till 60 years, but height should be 165 cm or more; and now the CAAV require to maintain a BMI (body mass index) value of less than 30,
170cm- 87 kg approximately
180-98
190-109
But usually they ask you about weight and height and believe you

Nothing a bit of "Uncle Ho" can't settle.

No, they don't. And you can have the genetics of Brad Pitt, Cary Grant, Carl Lewis and Buzz Aldrin all combined in one, they will not care and still will seat you in front of all them so you explain why your pregnancy check is positive. It is all about one thing here so try to be refered by someone from the office before showing up for the medical.

First Officer position at Jetstar Vietnam with Upgrade in 6 months
 

A320 FO & SFO position with opportunities to upgrade into Captains that you may be interested. I got this info in from Brookfield Aviation in my mail anyone would please in JetStar Vietnam has any info about this will appreciate it

Sorry Mike; but if your contract does not say "upgrade in 6 Months", imho, I would not believe them a single word; upgrades to Captains are opportunities given at any company, not just JetStar.

This year 35 FO's were canned at VNA even though every single one was expecting to be upgraded, not kicked out; they were "filtered out" using ridiculous Upgrade Interview Tactics (e.g. asking absolutely non-pilot related engineering questions) so it looked like they had a fair chance.

Even 5-Star companies like Emirates and Qatar have been issuing the same promise, be it "Fast Track" or "quick upgrade"; they failed to deliver.

My recommendation: if you are close to upgrade, interview with a company that will upgrade you immediately upon entry: WizzAir is one of them.
Don't expect you will get the 4th Stripe unless your contract says you will, which it won't!

Good luck

Thank you very much Eagle25 for the advice I appreciate it