Air Berlin - Stansted Base
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 230
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From: Ireland
Air Berlin - Stansted Base
With the news that Air Berlin is to increase its presence on the UK market, it seems they will be basing aircraft and crew in Stansted permanently.
Does anyone know if that means they will be looking at recruiting pilots hailing from the British isles or whether it'll be all German crews based there?
Does anyone know if that means they will be looking at recruiting pilots hailing from the British isles or whether it'll be all German crews based there?

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,349
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From: FUBAR
"Don't mention the war Major, I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it" Seriously though,5 years ago they had a lot of contract pilots including "Tommy's" "Micks" & allsorts,so no probs on the nationality front.At that stage money wasn't too clever,so jumping ship might incur a significant financial penalty,but then again if they want pilots in the UK market they will have to pay UK rates,or use contractors,which I suspect will be their choice.Back then they worked their crews bloody hard,so no improvement there then. . .could put the cat among the pigeons though if they offered decent terms and conditions and a sensible attitude towards employee relations.

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 79
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From: Germany
Air berlin
Their Manager of flight operations was in our flying school about three months ago...Their hiring for A320 and B738, pay is around 2000 € after tax for F/o's after supervison...
Two guys from our school just started, lots of fun they say...but long hours...at the moment about 3-4 years to left seat...do not know about a stanstead base...but i will ask if i know any more i will come back....
regards
micky
Two guys from our school just started, lots of fun they say...but long hours...at the moment about 3-4 years to left seat...do not know about a stanstead base...but i will ask if i know any more i will come back....
regards
micky

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 1
From: FUBAR
Worse than that you have to cultivate(mmn maybe not the right word?)an Essex accent. . . awright mate? German was never asked of contractors, I think they use English in cockpit,but I await to be corrected if not the case.

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 79
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From: Germany
Three people have know been hired from our school, all not type rated, and only min. hours...
As i under stand the 500h stated on the website are not a must...A lot of people are coming through AB MCC programm...(Do your MCC with AB, may be offerd a job...only 6000 euros...)
Check their website for more information...
At the moment AB seems to be hiring big time here, a lot of people leaving small outfits and going to AB...
But like I said I will try to find out until tomorrow if you need German or if its english in the cockpit...I will come back with the information...
Micky
As i under stand the 500h stated on the website are not a must...A lot of people are coming through AB MCC programm...(Do your MCC with AB, may be offerd a job...only 6000 euros...)
Check their website for more information...
At the moment AB seems to be hiring big time here, a lot of people leaving small outfits and going to AB...
But like I said I will try to find out until tomorrow if you need German or if its english in the cockpit...I will come back with the information...
Micky
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Earth
if you have another choice, than AB, take that choice!
You think, FR is bad? - Than have a look at AB
Working more than any other airline pilot on earth (in the summer period up to 130h block, (normally 90-100)) and earning average 4500Euro net as CP, and 2500Euro net as F/O. Yearly pay-rise 150 Euros net. That all.
The one and only positve is, that 95% of the pilots are great!
good luck at all, who don belive me.
You think, FR is bad? - Than have a look at AB
Working more than any other airline pilot on earth (in the summer period up to 130h block, (normally 90-100)) and earning average 4500Euro net as CP, and 2500Euro net as F/O. Yearly pay-rise 150 Euros net. That all.
The one and only positve is, that 95% of the pilots are great!
good luck at all, who don belive me.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 230
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From: Ireland
Well, as someone said previously, they will have to pay UK rates if they want to attract pilots for a STN base, and as apparently they're short of captains let's just wait and see what happens.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Stuttgart/Germany
Servus,
working for AB since 3years.
Conditions are sick.Pay is about German average as stated above,but as anyone knows,pay is not everything.
The good thing: Cockpit mates are very nice(90%)
The bad thing: You are treated like a robot,late check out,early check in (1-3pm not unusual),many proceedings (1-5h)by taxi after duty depending on your base.
DO is a joke,unions not welcome but there is right now a strong force to establish.
Many Captains as well as F/O leaving right now.Conditions getting worse.
I don think that they would have any problem with applications from U.K. for Stansted but I don think that they will open a base there soon.
For young F/O I think it a good deal because you can calculate with 900h a year.
Overall,nice cockpit buddies,but management sucks
For myself, looking for greener gras also...
Greets
working for AB since 3years.
Conditions are sick.Pay is about German average as stated above,but as anyone knows,pay is not everything.
The good thing: Cockpit mates are very nice(90%)
The bad thing: You are treated like a robot,late check out,early check in (1-3pm not unusual),many proceedings (1-5h)by taxi after duty depending on your base.
DO is a joke,unions not welcome but there is right now a strong force to establish.
Many Captains as well as F/O leaving right now.Conditions getting worse.
I don think that they would have any problem with applications from U.K. for Stansted but I don think that they will open a base there soon.
For young F/O I think it a good deal because you can calculate with 900h a year.
Overall,nice cockpit buddies,but management sucks
For myself, looking for greener gras also...
Greets
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Germany
@ TakeItEasy:
Of course you´re right in having said that frankly, nevertheless: I can understand everybody out there who´s desperately seeking for his/her initial employment in commercial aviation. I would try Air Berlin again, if I was at that stage today.
Just a small hint: When phoning -3434 - 0, ask for Ms. "HEIKE GERLACH". On the one hand, she´s quite a nice person to talk with compared to the others in there...
On the other hand: She´s officially in charge reagrding prospective pilot applicants since the beginning of that year.
For all those out there willing to try: Good Luck !!
Of course you´re right in having said that frankly, nevertheless: I can understand everybody out there who´s desperately seeking for his/her initial employment in commercial aviation. I would try Air Berlin again, if I was at that stage today.
Just a small hint: When phoning -3434 - 0, ask for Ms. "HEIKE GERLACH". On the one hand, she´s quite a nice person to talk with compared to the others in there...
On the other hand: She´s officially in charge reagrding prospective pilot applicants since the beginning of that year.
For all those out there willing to try: Good Luck !!

Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 23
From: Someday I will find a place to stop
ahhh ok, very good.
But then the application form is not in English, doesn't that say something about the applicants they are looking for?!
But then the application form is not in English, doesn't that say something about the applicants they are looking for?!
Last edited by DeltaT; 18th November 2005 at 12:44.





