B772...thanks for letting me know. My mistake.

JIM

Slingsby is almost right. More like 6 at the interview stage with EK, about 4 more closing in on VB Australia with several more talking about it as they think they'll miss the boat if they don't go now. A few interviewed recently by Dragon and Cathay. SQ Freight hiring again, Britannia hiring, China Airlines phoning captains offering them jobs. Worst of all, Singapore dollar way down, so for expats, effectively a 20-30% pay cut in the last twelve months. Attempt to recruit direct entry 767 Captains came to nought when the offer was unveiled. Monthly hours, combined with no leave being given means pilots are closing on the annual maximum and will have to be taken off roster for a while. Flight Ops management frozen in deep thought. No apparent interest in addressing any of it.

Do I get the impression that quite soon certain Airlines will be parking aircraft because they do not have the Pilots to fly them??

Or am I being wildly optimistic in that conclusion??

Certain Airlines seem to think there is an abundance of Pilots prepared to drop everything and travel half way across the world to some poxy country in the middle of nowhere all for a pittance!

The whole point of being an expat is to better oneself financially and to be paid a premium for risking the uncertainties of being on employment terms which can be terminated at any time by just being given 3 months notice.

The world is not enough to get me to go to Brunei even though MF and Lady P are no longer there.

Sorry guys, but the SLINGSBY has just bought a one way ticket. Good luck to all of you.

The worm turns
 

Its seems that MOST airlines, especially outside the US, are recruiting like mad. Certainly in the Asia Pacific region. If RBA can't get the pilots at the current rate, then the only option is to push the aircraft up against the fence?

One would have thought though, it would make far better sen$e to pay crews extra to fly the a/craft rather than let them accummulate non-revenue hours on the hard stand. Are noses being cut off to spite the face?

With the amount of chaps looking to leave RBA at the rate mentioned certainly doesn't promote it as the happiest of abodes. Is it the money, the hours, the living conditions; it would be interesting to know?

Those of you in the abode, what's the story? Are you getting the short end of the stick? Why leave Gods Blessed Country?

Reasons? All of the above mentioned and quite a few more as well. No pay rise since the 1980s, cr@p exchange rate with no protection system, jobs available elsewhere now and total surprise from RBA that it is finding it very difficult to attract suitable pilots and that those that are in Brunei are no longer just looking to leave.......they are leaving.

More importantly for RBA, those pilots that are continuing to fly the line are doing it without an once of goodwill and are starting to feel very resentful. That will cost RBA.

Time for a backdated pay rise Mr Foster.

It's not God's Blessed Country, but it is peaceful enough. Cynical? Been to Iraq then, have we?

The country's pro's and con's aside, there is a deterioration in the affairs of the airline that are not being addressed.

Should they be addressed on PPRuNe?

I don't know really, but the frustration of almost every pilot is palpable, though not great enough for anyone to crow about specifics on PPRuNe. Perhaps it should stay that way. No-one really thinks this discussion solves anything, do they?

What does, is representation, at every opportunity. It is required by those of conscience who have to deal with the crap. It is required by those who have a spine. And it is welcomed, though not entirely encouraged, by more folks than you may imagine.

If you feel you have a gripe, and there are many, go in and state your beef. Be a man about it, not a mouse. No use berating me for writing this. I'm no company man. Just get off your butt and go make your point. The DFO may not listen of course. But at least you'll be acting in a way that you can, in a small way, be pleased with.

This PPRuNe business of complaining to like-minded individuals is thoroughly ineffective, if you want to look at it realistically.

Don't go sick 'cause you've flown too much; don't complain about the awesome lack of planning on the one and only challenging route we do without saying something meaningful to the one person who wrote that drivel (couldn't help myself); don't derail the DFM's efforts - at least he's trying; don't moan about how the COM's FDP section is badly written, read AKL and discretion... at least not until you've actually exercised your interpretation and done what is right!

This is not Stalag Singapore. You won't get hung for standing up for what you think is right. Nor is it Cathay Pacific, circa 1980. It isn't the best paid job, nor is it the worst.

The list of issues is long and challenging. But it doesn't get any shorter from the supposed help of moles on PPRuNe.

Meantime, make life work for you.

Take the jobs that're out there, now, paying better money, offering block days off, a REAL, workable plan, not to mention the type of responses from management that actually motivate the troops, not just reward them with better pay.

This is not a post about idealism. It's a realistic way to approach the crap being dished out. Don't just complain about it; do something constructive.

And if the company won't listen, at least you tried before leaving them to rot in their own faeces.

Several people have tried to do something constructive about the situation recently and not only have they got nowhere but the lack of reaction from rba to their representation has been sufficient to persuade others that they should be accepting job offers as well.

Some surprising resignations to come early in the new year so I believe.

Edited for spelling

Quite right TA.

I was one such person; had my recent rep. thrown back at me.

That's certainly a good enough reason to avoid the difficulty of going back for more. They say a measure of insanity is repeating the same actions time and again, even though the result is the same, but each time, anticipating a new outcome.

I mean, why should anyone get up when they've been knocked over time and time again?

Far easier to lie down and never get up, or even write glowingly, right here on the Genesis of change - PPRuNe, about how crap-****e things are and how, "We'd do better if only we were being asked what we thought."

Even more helpful, why not just brag about how you'll pack your bags and leave? That'll fix things.

Far better to turn your back when better (or should that be lesser?) men have failed where you are too frightened to try.

I say to hell with that.

Go in there, say your piece, while applying to other operators.

Don't take ****e lying down.

That way, if ever change for the better does come, you can be pleased it may have been a consequence of your own actions, not just a by-product of circumstance.

For one of my last as one on the inside banana boat.

It looks like the yang has finally shelved the A340 and any future plans for LHR/FRA direct services for the foreseeable future. SYD, TYO are not going ahead as planned. No mention as to why but current staffing/crewing levels were mentioned.

Just for you SN

Hey Slingsby, Who will turn off the window heats for me at LHR when you are gone?

Not me, I've got my own to turn off now!! :D

Thanks CM

Memories
 

Life as a journey, well said. There are many who have tried to bring your crewing system out of the stone age. No doubt Captain Kalwat will review the situation when he gets back from leave, and he will say "thats the way we have always done it and thats the way it will stay" Is there any other airline in the world where you cannot swop a roster line? Think not.

After reading this lot I conclude RBA makes "all" the mistakes that Gulf Air previously made 1975 onwards.
Even down to long haul 340 with reduced payloads.
Gf wasted mega bucks trying Bah /New York emptyish and did not much better when forced BAH/Cyprus refuel/NewYorkish.
Talk about history repeating itself, pass the back hander.

The word from the abode is that the A340 has been "deferred indefinitely" on direct instruction from HM!

Also the extra A319/320 order is rumoured to have been cancelled.

Can anyone in the abode confirm that Trolley is back in town.

Yes Trolley was supposed to be back sometime this week for a flying visit (excuse the pun)

Also A320 canx rumour quashed as rather evident in this picture.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/459660/L/

Is there any chance of persuading Trolley to pick up the RBA baton once again. There is an FOM position vacant at least until the present incumbent returns in a year or so.

Spies in the abode say that everything is stretched to the limit in Flight Ops and Engineering. With another senior expat engineer imminent to jump ship, several Captains also set to go to pastures new and a new high crew/eng workload schedule been introduced is there enough capacity to cope?

400+ applications in response to the recent ad in Flight and hardly a nibble once terms and conditions were declared seems to say it all.

Is it really that bad?

I hear CAA are taking a close look at your FRA and AKL schedule as well.

Hi. Just wanted to know what you guys think about the chances of RBA sending an orang putih to Cabair (or wherever they do their ATPL training these days) who's been a long term resident of BSB. Pretty slim or non-existent? From what I've read on this thread it seems as though RBA are going to be pretty desperate for pilots as more and more keep leaving.

Lifelong RBA fan!

Well there has ceretainly never been a better time to apply. I cant answer all of your question but if you dont apply you will never know. Have a go why dont you.

Cowpat you need no spies to know what is going on. From what I hear it is worse than when we all left for Dubai few years ago. Never looked back since, and we all have commands now. The only way to bring change is walk out the door, and no need to turn out the light, one bill nobody paid.

Well another piece of history occured today, the slingsby is no longer part of RBA. It is with great sadness that I take my final SID/STAR with RBA, i now have to work for real....!!!

To a few colleagues I give the followng messages

AB - keepfloating don't bounce
MB - cruncher
HB - don't disconnect at 100ft again and mind the race track at BKI
MA - chill babes
DW - keep it zipped
SK - keep up the excess baggage
RP - love it
AH/JW - thanks for the heads up
DL - keep going cos pompey won't

To the many others that have kept the clean end of the flights cosy and superb, I thank you again and wish you clear horizons.

yours forever (next time 123.45)

slingsby

JIM.M

you see the different between the british and their colony and the american policy, their mind about underestimated different race are still strong, look at Cathay or Gulf Air they only look at to CAA license, no bright mind lhaa, that's why they protect themself with funny reason which is, the license fly the aircraft and thet think CAA license the only can fly:ouch:

alcohol is a wonderful drug eh!!!!!
more beer for the unwashed masses I say.

Gday all,

I'm looking to get in contact with "Mr Phones".

If you see this post mate,PM me. I'm looking at heading your way in the new year. Hope your well mate.

If anyone has a contact for C.R (aka Mr Phones ) could you please PM me.

Cheers,

I'm gone!

Due to the poor exchange rate I hear that the chaps who have just transferred from the one year Rishworth contract to the full RBA contract are actually worse off as they are now paid in Brunei $ rather than NZ $.

And with no increments, no pay rise and no prospect of an improvement to the exchange rate for quite a while, just what is the attraction of an RBA contract?

Perhaps to gain experience for greener pastures further down the track.

Cant argue with that.

Its amazing that RBA can't see that as well. Or perhaps they can and just dont care. Either way its no place to stay anymore. Just a stepping stone to greener pastures or somewhere to grit your teeth and hold on for those last couple of years to retirement.

Have you seen the latest management gem trying to "persuade" locals to volunteer for A319.

Well, I think thats my last post on the subject as I am voting with my feet in Jan.

Good luck to those that remain.

Good luck TA. I hope you are able to find a more rewarding future in your new job.

Well done TA. I knew it was coming but wasn't sure when. So thats another experienced captain gone, to be replaced by a local newbie who will no doubt be leaned on to forget about the discretion report etc.

Are you going to share the secret and tell us all where you are going. Good luck anyway, you deserve it more than most.

Another One Bites The Dust
 

Arrived back to the Abode to find the BN$ has hit 1.34 to the Oz $. Sadly YET ANOTHER senior Captain has had to chuck it in and vote with his feet. Good luck mate, you hung on for long enough hoping that management would notice. And you told them, seems the more we shout the more wool they put in their ears.

Hypothetical Question(?)
 

So, 14u, the value of the Brunei $ has dropped by approximately 40% in the last few years. Here's the question.

Would a merit related pay rise of UP TO 3% on BASIC salary be enough to stop pilots leaving or would it be an insult?

Purely hypothetical of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited for spellin

How many who were wavering over their EK offers will now be resigning in February to take up their offer?

4 more have accepted offers from other airlines and will be giving notice over the next few months. These are in addition to however many opt for EK.

And so another one goes. Good luck in Emirates Paul.

Cowpat How come you are still in RBA when all around you Pilots are leaving for pastures new????

When you apply to join another airline, one of the forms you are often required to complete is a medical check, that has to be filled in by your aviation examiner of airmen. Speaking to one such examiner recently, I was advised that he is now very familiar with these forms.

To recruit and retain, requires respect for the person by the company. That respect in turn engenders in the employee respect and loyalty to the company. It's a two way street.

Respect includes but is not limited to, remuneration.

How do you know if you respect someone if you don't listen to them. If they don't listen to you, are they in turn worthy of your respect ?

If a company respects you, they will listen to your comments and suggestions and act upon them. If the company does not respect you, they will have someone visit the Flight Deck, or sit in an office and listen to you, then forget everything you have said the minute you part (paying lip service), or just churn out notice after notice telling you what are doing wrong, that you are all naughty boys and must do better.

A bit of respect would go a long way in the current climate here.

Oh, and before the scathing comments come flying in, how about we restrict the feedback to people who are actually employed by RBA at this point in time ?

Cheers

Hello MC,

Some of us hung around because there are aspects of life in Brunei that almost made the steady degradation to terms and conditions bearable, education allowance being a major factor. Now even that is no longer true and it is time to go.

The answer to your question is that I am going, and soon.

Cowpat,

I went on RBA website but theres no application form or anything relating to job offers..just local cadet scheme.
Are they looking for pilots or not?how to apply?
I have JAA ATPL,2680TT,mostly turboprop.

Cheers,

M.85