Life at ThomasCook?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Liverpool
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Pilot Pete - I take it that's EZY your talking about?
I thought in general at TC they were a happy bunch, and must be looking at the slow response
Less reason to check pprune if everything is going swimmingly
I thought in general at TC they were a happy bunch, and must be looking at the slow response
Less reason to check pprune if everything is going swimmingly
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 77
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From: UK
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 516
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From: uk
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
topgear
I have been with TC for 5 years or so.
It would be fair to say that things are not brilliant currently, however they could also be a lot worse.
It is NOT TRUE that we have been balloted for strike action. I will explain more momentarily.
TCUK is a profitable organisation, however we do have a large summer vs winter imbalance in what our aircraft do. In order to address this imbalance, the company are looking to make savings in various areas.
One such area is crewing our G regd' aircraft with some American Captains next summer (thereby avoiding promoting our own guys permanently) and achieving a cost saving that way. BALPA did issue us with an INDICATIVE ballot to see what the feeling was on this issue.... and to see if it came to the crunch, whether the pilots would have the resolve to PERHAPS take industrial action AS A LAST RESORT.
Overwhelmingly, we said we would.
TCX management are now aware of the strength of feeling and are discussing openly what options there are with our colleagues on our BALPA CC.
Other areas that may create savings that have been discussed:
Wet leasing a couple of U.S.A. a/c for summer only,
Temporary Summer Commands and
Temporary Summer only First Officers.
Other issues historically have been:
Time to Command
Awful rostering when things don't go right (i.e all summer)
You will likely go on the B757. It is very difficult to get a cross fleet move to Airbus now. It will be 6 or 7 years until you get senior enough for a 330 course now I guess from the Boeing fleet. It will be 10 years plus to Command. There are NO SHORTCUTS.
On a plus side, the fleet management are excellent guys, we have a new chief pilot who is well respected and things hopefully may change for the better.
In essence, if you think it will be much better than easyJet, you may be right, you may be wrong. Factor in nightflights and zero weekends off in Summer........
And I think you will be offered a temporary summer contract too..... sad, but there we go.
I have been with TC for 5 years or so.
It would be fair to say that things are not brilliant currently, however they could also be a lot worse.
It is NOT TRUE that we have been balloted for strike action. I will explain more momentarily.
TCUK is a profitable organisation, however we do have a large summer vs winter imbalance in what our aircraft do. In order to address this imbalance, the company are looking to make savings in various areas.
One such area is crewing our G regd' aircraft with some American Captains next summer (thereby avoiding promoting our own guys permanently) and achieving a cost saving that way. BALPA did issue us with an INDICATIVE ballot to see what the feeling was on this issue.... and to see if it came to the crunch, whether the pilots would have the resolve to PERHAPS take industrial action AS A LAST RESORT.
Overwhelmingly, we said we would.
TCX management are now aware of the strength of feeling and are discussing openly what options there are with our colleagues on our BALPA CC.
Other areas that may create savings that have been discussed:
Wet leasing a couple of U.S.A. a/c for summer only,
Temporary Summer Commands and
Temporary Summer only First Officers.
Other issues historically have been:
Time to Command
Awful rostering when things don't go right (i.e all summer)
You will likely go on the B757. It is very difficult to get a cross fleet move to Airbus now. It will be 6 or 7 years until you get senior enough for a 330 course now I guess from the Boeing fleet. It will be 10 years plus to Command. There are NO SHORTCUTS.
On a plus side, the fleet management are excellent guys, we have a new chief pilot who is well respected and things hopefully may change for the better.
In essence, if you think it will be much better than easyJet, you may be right, you may be wrong. Factor in nightflights and zero weekends off in Summer........
And I think you will be offered a temporary summer contract too..... sad, but there we go.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 23
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From: North
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
[B]GO TO BA. I've been in Thomas Cook, or whatever incarnation, since '95 and it's been downhill all the way recently, to the extent that I advise each and every FO I fly with to seriously consider elsewhere. Wish I could be preaching the exact opposite, sorry.
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 56
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From: Europe
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Stan
Thanks for the brief, I hope you guys can stand firm on importing US Skippers for the Summer, can you imagine a converse situation in the States?
As for the proposed temporary Summer contracts, presumably these would be filled from external typed candidates??
I'm only interested in working part year because this flying stuff is getting in the way of my leisure time!
Leviathan
Thanks for the brief, I hope you guys can stand firm on importing US Skippers for the Summer, can you imagine a converse situation in the States?
As for the proposed temporary Summer contracts, presumably these would be filled from external typed candidates??
I'm only interested in working part year because this flying stuff is getting in the way of my leisure time!
Leviathan
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 516
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From: uk
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
leviathan
I am sure the company would look favourably on qualified, experienced type rated outsiders for any job offer, seasonal or permanent.
However, I don't think many people would be willing to leave one employer for another offering seasonal only contracts. Do you?
I am sure the company would look favourably on qualified, experienced type rated outsiders for any job offer, seasonal or permanent.
However, I don't think many people would be willing to leave one employer for another offering seasonal only contracts. Do you?
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Stan
Indeed, was just thinking about meself really, work hard all Summer/Autumn, then disappear to a beach for the Winter, re-charge the batteries do a little surfing......................I know really shouldn't drink this early in the day.
Hope you guys can get it sorted, keep us up to date.
Thanks
Leviathan
Indeed, was just thinking about meself really, work hard all Summer/Autumn, then disappear to a beach for the Winter, re-charge the batteries do a little surfing......................I know really shouldn't drink this early in the day.
Hope you guys can get it sorted, keep us up to date.
Thanks
Leviathan
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2
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From: London
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Topgear,
As the guys have said it's not good at TC at the moment, but where is. I don't know about BA myself, but know that some go and love it and some hate it and return to carriers like TC.
As Stan has said, the new CP and fleet guys are all good chaps and hopefully will bring TC back to good times.
I and many others have chosen to fly the nest but mostly only to Virgin it has to be said. I think once all the notices are handed in there will be a lot of hard rosters for the summer due to lack of pilots, and if the American issue can not be resolved then who knows.
I will say one thing about TC before I go is that the guys in the pointy end are a good bunch.
Rgds
LJS
As the guys have said it's not good at TC at the moment, but where is. I don't know about BA myself, but know that some go and love it and some hate it and return to carriers like TC.
As Stan has said, the new CP and fleet guys are all good chaps and hopefully will bring TC back to good times.
I and many others have chosen to fly the nest but mostly only to Virgin it has to be said. I think once all the notices are handed in there will be a lot of hard rosters for the summer due to lack of pilots, and if the American issue can not be resolved then who knows.
I will say one thing about TC before I go is that the guys in the pointy end are a good bunch.
Rgds
LJS
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 991
Likes: 128
From: big green wheely bin
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Originally Posted by stansdead
TCUK is a profitable organisation, however we do have a large summer vs winter imbalance in what our aircraft do. In order to address this imbalance, the company are looking to make savings in various areas.
One such area is crewing our G regd' aircraft with some American Captains next summer (thereby avoiding promoting our own guys permanently) and achieving a cost saving that way.
One such area is crewing our G regd' aircraft with some American Captains next summer (thereby avoiding promoting our own guys permanently) and achieving a cost saving that way.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 312
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From: zz plural 5
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Sorry to hear of TCs woes.I can assure you that it is not much better in other Uk airlines.What is happening to the 330 fleet? There was a rumour that it was going to another UK operator.How is the 330 crewed regarding mff?My company have just decide to increase the crew numbers on it by almost 100% so we will only get to fly it about once a month!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 516
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From: uk
Re: Life at ThomasCook?
Jonty,
No it's not Donal !!
It's one of your militant BALPA colleagues trying to give a balanced view, and not air too much dirty laundry in public.
It's important we don't overstep the mark and shoot ourselves in the foot.
########
As for the 330, it is mixed fleet flying generally. We have just ordered a third aircraft. I believe we have 10 or so crews per hull.
No it's not Donal !!
It's one of your militant BALPA colleagues trying to give a balanced view, and not air too much dirty laundry in public.
It's important we don't overstep the mark and shoot ourselves in the foot.
########
As for the 330, it is mixed fleet flying generally. We have just ordered a third aircraft. I believe we have 10 or so crews per hull.
