Royal Brunei
 

Hello,

Sorry guys if that topic has been covered before, but would anyone one knows the terms and conditions of employment of Royal Brunei Airlines?????

As you may be aware they are looking for drivers, this time it is NOT through Richworth.....

Thank you for your replies....:ok:

Terms and Conditions gently sliding downhill

Flight Ops standards in general a shadow of the RBA under Capt Fox.

Engineering Standards still good

Morale low and will remain so as long as employees are kept in line through fear and free speech "discouraged"

Having said all that, latest rumours suggest CEO is having something done about organising a genuine crew rest compartment for the Frankfurt trips and is also actively backing a move to have the training bonds removed for long standing employees.

These are both positive items and would be welcomed by crews. Hopefully there is some truth to them, not only for the improvements themselves, but also the sign that someone in authority sees us as more than numbers.

:eek: What about sheepskin seat covers-
Ohhhhh-feeling horny already! ! !

74World,
I wonder what happened with the long standing Rishworth connection?:confused:
Any ideas?
:ok:

COWPAT I have to agree with you except one point. I do not think that our local management are "out of their depth" I think that the term "lack experiance" would be more suited. They are working hard and have respect for us, and are always willing to chat. They have the same problem with the JC brick wall as we do, its amazing how many times the word "no" can be used in one sentence.

Conditons are not good at RBA.

No pay rises in 15 Years.
Wage freeze for past 2 years until company makes a profit.
(they cannot make a profit when it is used as an employment scheme)
To compensate for these unproductive staff, wage freeze, loss of allowances.
Days off now given downroute. 8 hour timezone changes, return in 5-7 days, Expect 1-2 days off in Bwn then off again. all for much less pay.

This is not a long term job anymore. Get some time then leave.

Things will pick up soon now that SARS, and the War is over.
Ok for short term stop if you cant get anywhere more secure, or better paid.

Be careful COWPAT, too close & too obvious.

Could someone please post the details. What is the pay for captains and first officers on the A320? Also will an expat FO be upgraded when suitable for command?

The short answer to promotion for expats is ''no''
The company is looking away from the expats and promoting locals. Only when you have 10K plus hours would you be considered for promotion, but then you wouldn't still be there then anyway. Conditions slipping and eroding away, CV's being sent daily. MF + DT come back, all is forgiven.

Slingsby


Your handle says it all, (From Outer Space), really what planet ARE you from??

‘The short answer to promotion for expats is ''no''
The Company is looking away from the expats and promoting locals.’

The six guys currently on command courses, all expats. Out of the other six guys promoted within the past year, three were expats. I believe that that equates to 75% of the commands available over the past year (9 out of 12) going to expats.

“Only when you have 10K plus hours would you be considered for promotion”

Bull also; a number of the current command course participants have just cracked the 5,000 hr barrier.

“but then you wouldn't still be there then anyway”

By that I assume that you have already made the “right” decision, sent your CV off and are now glad you made the move. I’m sure others are too.

If you want to be controversial try a different angle & try and get the facts right first.

Touched a nerve there, No controversy intended.

1998 company directive, CS148-02 stated that promotion trend should be directive to local crews. Captaincy promotion for expats to be phased out within 8 years and SFO within 5 years (also published in a BB news article). As with all great plans in WBSB plaza, it didn't go the way they expected, not enough locals were being recruited into the cadet scheme, and those who were (Gill & MH trained) weren't up to scratch (MF words not mine). Therefore along came Rishworth with an influx of very good expat crews. Yes, recent command structures have a trend towards the expat crews, but the list for next line command courses is local bias. Speaking to one bean counter back then, the board wanted eventually to phase out expats within a specific time frame, but local talent is short in availability so reliance on expats will continue for some time.
My current time with gold taps is 9 years + so I'm still on the inside and happy.
Planet zoid but staying away from Uranus

Slingsby You say you are happy in RBA!!?? Even without a payrise for 15 years and with all the other deteriorating terms and condition. How come???

Others like Cowpat who despite his complaints over at least the last 2 years still hangs on in there, don't see things your way!

If you are waiting for RBA to make a profit before matters improve then my guess is that day will never come!!

All Airline's T &C 's for ex-pats are going downhill..

Just look at SIA, Gulf Air ,Qatar, Kuwait Airways etc etc and see how low things have gotten. All taking advantage of the turmoil in countries like Canada,Belgium where aviation seems to becoming extinct.

Slingsby,its OK Ill let you turn the window heat off,when Im up their in a couple of weeks!

Is Royal Brunei Airlines Hiring pilots at the present time? If so, where do you send a CV please?

Thanks.

Hajj Man

My own departure clearance has been received, just waiting for start up, but due to atc delays I'm waiting and listening out.:D

standby to watch most of MI's drivers jump ship - whats left of them anyway.

Whats the story about UK/JAA/NZL license only? Does that mean other ICAO license holders will not be considered!:confused:

You got it! There are no TRI's from anywhere other than UK and NZ certified to do recurrent training hence the requirement.

Excuse my ignorance FatEric but who is MI?

sexkitten118

MI are Silk Air.

Ttree Ttrimmer

Not exactly correct. The Brunei DCA will only accept & validate UK/JAA or NZ licence holders, hence the fact that there is no requirement for RBA to have other than NZ & UK/JAA authorised examiners.

Re the latest advertised vacancies for 319/320 drivers;

- I seem to recall that RB's order last year for the type was for 2x airframes. So are they recruiting for just 2, or are there now more frames on the way?

- The initial ad was for type rating only, now they are asking for 500 on type, any comments on this as to why the change??

Cheers in advance

Fat Eric I would not be so sure that any MI will go to RBA. I have the feeling that there is an unwritten agreement between SIA and RBA not to take each other's Pilots.

Brunei has vast sums of money in Singapore and that probably explains why no RBA pilot has ever joined SIA to my knowledge.

No SIA Pilot in his right mind would want to join RBA even now

If my memory serves me correct Capt. NF joined SIA from RBA to fly the B777

AW also left RBA a while ago to fly the 777 with SQ

In that case I stand corrected. Were they actually still in RBA and went straight to SIA or had they already left???

They were both working for BI whilst going throught the SQ selection process.

Expert Oh well I guess the Sultan must have withdrawn his funds from Singapore to support his losses in RBA and that of his brother thus negating the need of Singapore worrying about upsetting him by poaching his Pilots!!.

I am just wondering why no RBA Pilots have joined SIA until recently??

we haven`t really gotten the answer to the pay questions yet?
THe pay may be lower - but if there is no tax, and if they give You an apartment and more...? Or maybe they dont?
What about living in Brunei? Do You pendle from somewhere else or what? Is it possible to work like 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off? What about bringing Your wife and kids to Brunei - bad idea?
Could someone please give some concrete answers to a scandinavian, considering to flee the scandinavian tax madness??

samf Don't make the mistake of thinking that Airlines in countries where there is no tax necessarily make you better off financially at the end of the day as they all know how much they have to pay to get Pilots and where there is no tax the salary is reduced accordingly!!

You will merely be swapping one madness for another one.

RBA's medical allowance is pitiful or now non-existent. Anyone considering a move there would be wise to take out medical insurance.
You may pay a lot of tax in Scandinavia but I imagine your health service, for example, is free at point-of-use. Millerscourt makes a good point.

Yeah, Your points are taken...but I don`t think many of You realize, that the tax here is as high as it is! As a captain in one of the largest airlines up here, You get a salary around, say, 10.000 £ (plus pension and insurance), but after tax all thats left is around 3500 £. Yes, a roughly 65% is kept by the government before You even see Your money.
And then You have to pay all Your expenses for living, iwhich also is higher than most other places in the world (VAT on everything is 25%, cars are to be paid 2-3 times due to government fees etc.)
Therefore it could be interesting to make the comparison with the jobs in Brunei, Qatar, Dubai and other places, where it seems the optimism - and expansion lust - is coming back.
I also consider it to be an experience for the family to remember - (its not ALL about money).
In addition to my earlier questions - which haven`t really been answered yet: What about Islamic orders in Brunei - is it okay for the family, or is it quite restricting for the women for example?

Brgds Sam

samf asked a fairly simple question. Why is everyone avoiding giving an answer.

But here goes, regarding working 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. This does not seem to be possible even though it would be nice. From what I have seen, you get your 8 or so days off a month in Brunei and thats about it, other than the few other days you get in Dubai while working. They get good value for money out of you.

Accommadation is provided, most seen to be fairly reasonable.
As for moving your family to Brunei. Not a bad place at all, but it all depends on how old your kids are. It is reasonably safe.

Well thats about all I can help you with.

Perhaps Borneo wild man could shed some light on the remuneration package.

Best of luck.

SAMF,

You ask fair questions and rather than subject you to my opinions on top of everyone elses, please send me some form of contact email address for you and I will try to tell you everything that you have asked for without compromising the new "confidentiality" clause that has been inserted into all new contracts.

But keep looking elsewhere would be my advice. There is no future for an expat here at RBA.

Thanks - on its way.
Sam

samf
 

It might help you to know that the rate with the Pound (thats what I think you used) is about 2.95. I am told that the Brunei $ has slid about 25% in the last few years. We have had various cuts in our pay, and we await more. I can confirm that as far as I know there has never been a pay increase in the Airline. What you join on is what you will stay on, except if you move seats. It is only a few months ago that they terminated 6 guys contracts, including a Capt. So we now expect the unexpected as well as more cuts. Sorry to sound so down, but we are worked to the bone here at the moment.

I thought the majority of Pilots at Brunie are still expats?

Surley you still have a chance SAMF?

Or is the local onion turning it into a Local Crew only requirement. Thats what its like where I am in Jamaica. You can only get upgraded if your a local. So they employ Expat Captains only....

Cowpat confifentiality clauses aside, and being this an anomnymis forum ( spelling). Are there still people coming online or is all recruitiung stopped?


Regards
Sheep

Slots would appear to be available for DE Expat Captains for 2 reasons.

1. No locals to satisfy both experience and training criteria to promote.

2. Shortage of "volunteers" to go A319 until we know what the new long haul airplane will be. Difference in monthly allowances between 2 fleets will be about $1500 on average. Hence, DE Captain vacancies on A319.

But beware, as soon as the locals are fit to promote and you are coming to the end of your contract..........!

Cowpat
 

When the locals are ready for command, we should go, and just about all of us know and agree with that. I would agree that they were wrong to terminate so many pilots out of the blue with no valid reason given. But those are the risks of being here.

The two A340-500 have been finally signed for, delivery dates unknown but April04 is being sounded. Presently, the crewing rumour in the lead is for the guys on the other side of WBSB to crew initially, followed by locals currently on the A319 course. I hope thats wrong, it'll create very bad feelings. Source reliable.