First Choice
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: uk
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Don't count on it!!! Accountants have short memories.
We should cover that probability now before it happens.
C'est la Vie!
"Life is rarely as we would like it to be rather it is exactly as it is."
We should cover that probability now before it happens.
C'est la Vie!
"Life is rarely as we would like it to be rather it is exactly as it is."
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Leafy Cheshire
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JOINING first choice? That's a new one on me... right now people are leaving in their droves. Sadly the suits in charge have decided that pilots are an expensive inconvenience and are acting to sort out that little problem by abolishing increments, threatening pensions, and refusing to grant even a modest (RPI) payrise, despite the top suit walking off with about 500 gazillion as a bonus (again). Meanwhile the terms and conditions are being constantly eroded and the union seem powerless to intervene, so I'm afraid all is not too rosey. Add to that the stated intention that the airline will contract, rather than expand, over the foreseeable future and you have a situation where, if you do join, you'll sit in the right hand seat for at least 176 years before you get a command course.
I'm not scaremongering, I'm leaving FCA after 5 years, 3 of which I've spent on the rather ridiculously named "command short list" that currently runs to about 100 names. Literally. There will be 3 promotions this year, that's a fact. You do the math! PS the average serving captain is about 42 years old so they ain't shifting too fast!
PM me if you want any more, but it's not a move I'd recommend, even to my mother-in-law. Regards, H2B
I'm not scaremongering, I'm leaving FCA after 5 years, 3 of which I've spent on the rather ridiculously named "command short list" that currently runs to about 100 names. Literally. There will be 3 promotions this year, that's a fact. You do the math! PS the average serving captain is about 42 years old so they ain't shifting too fast!
PM me if you want any more, but it's not a move I'd recommend, even to my mother-in-law. Regards, H2B
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: uk
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I am a FCA FO and whilst there are problems with the Co, you make your decisions based on your priorities.
I flew 620 hours last year! Over the winter months I averaged about 4 flights per month, one of which was longhaul. The summers are tough but you take the rough with the smooth. At least 99% of the guys I fly with are top blokes and I have pretty much flown with all of them in this base and others. The crew are great and they actually talk to you unlike some in other companies one could mention! Yeah the Co would like to screw us but name me a Co that does not! Yeah command ain't gonna come quick, so go to Squeazy, Ryan, DHL or Jet2, whatever if that what you want? It ain't any shorter in Virgin, Thompson or BA. If its better pay you want then you are in the wrong profession old chum! All said and done, FCA share price is nealry 180p and with the 787/GE Engines ordered and the new 767s arriving FCA is not going to down the tubes for want of being inventive, not before Thompson, Monarch, TC and MYT at least.
If you want to work for the flag carrier, well off you go, enjoy; my mates there envy our down route lifestyle and they fly more hours. If you wanna do permanent longhaul off you go to Virgin, personally I like to be at home once in a while (nearly every night in fact) and I like landing these things occasionally and I prefer to do it more than 1.5 times per month, thats what pilots do!
So decide what 's important to you mate and make you judgment accordingly.
I flew 620 hours last year! Over the winter months I averaged about 4 flights per month, one of which was longhaul. The summers are tough but you take the rough with the smooth. At least 99% of the guys I fly with are top blokes and I have pretty much flown with all of them in this base and others. The crew are great and they actually talk to you unlike some in other companies one could mention! Yeah the Co would like to screw us but name me a Co that does not! Yeah command ain't gonna come quick, so go to Squeazy, Ryan, DHL or Jet2, whatever if that what you want? It ain't any shorter in Virgin, Thompson or BA. If its better pay you want then you are in the wrong profession old chum! All said and done, FCA share price is nealry 180p and with the 787/GE Engines ordered and the new 767s arriving FCA is not going to down the tubes for want of being inventive, not before Thompson, Monarch, TC and MYT at least.
If you want to work for the flag carrier, well off you go, enjoy; my mates there envy our down route lifestyle and they fly more hours. If you wanna do permanent longhaul off you go to Virgin, personally I like to be at home once in a while (nearly every night in fact) and I like landing these things occasionally and I prefer to do it more than 1.5 times per month, thats what pilots do!
So decide what 's important to you mate and make you judgment accordingly.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In a nice house
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4 flights per month!!!! How come all the FOs I know are doing 80 hours flying a month over the winter, just like last winter. Its not just the summers that are tough! You get leave of 37 days, yes, and your 104 days off, but the rest of the time you are working hard. Hmm, wonder which base Cirrostratus is at or maybe I should move to the vintage fleet?
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: uk
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Glad to hear you are leaving at last!! I would like to know which fabulous high flying high paying happy company you are going to. Please advise.
On the points you have mentioned (pure gossip again from you), since when have they abolished increments and how on earth do you know the pay rise prior to any announcement??
If Peter Long keeps on making that kind of profit in troubled times I say double his salary.
On the points you have mentioned (pure gossip again from you), since when have they abolished increments and how on earth do you know the pay rise prior to any announcement??
If Peter Long keeps on making that kind of profit in troubled times I say double his salary.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Egcc
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Yeah command ain't gonna come quick, so go to Squeazy, Ryan, DHL or Jet2, whatever if that what you want? It ain't any shorter in Virgin, Thompson or BA
Time to command in Britannia Mainline is down from 15 years to about 6-7 due to age demographics and consequent retirements. Over 130 pilots have joined since I joined, so I think that is significantly quicker movement than in FCA.
Regards
PP
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Heir2Bob. I hope your are going to Emirates sounds like fun!!
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=163630
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=163630
Join Date: May 2002
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t-bag, I don't fly 80 hours a month when I'm on leave because I like my holidays! However, I can confirm that hitting the maximum duty hours targets seems to be an obsession with rostering and crewing - hitting and exceeding these targets shouldn't really be a concern in winter.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: UK
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I AM joining FCA this year and by the sounds of things it is just like working with any other airline. Well any other airline I have worked in anyway. Diver you say that there are matters which cant be discussed on an open forum. Please would any of you PM me if there is anything you think I should know before I get started.
Anyway. I look forward to meeting you all soon.
Anyway. I look forward to meeting you all soon.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: uk
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Cruse Alt.
You will enjoy FCA. We all have our problems but ours are minor compared to most. This is Monarchs current situation relating to command. Diver is renowned for being a whinger.
Current Situation:
Ad on website for experienced pilots. Entry on new C scale which has much lower T&C to current crew. MP pension less benifits, lower pay with far fewer increments both F/O and Capt with still approx 10 years to command.
Entry Requirements
Captain
Promoted from within using seniority system. Minimum of 4,000hrs & the average time from joining as a F/O to becoming captain is 10-15 years. (330 is flown on a seniority basis from the 320/321 fleet but you’ll still fly all 3 types.)
You will enjoy FCA. We all have our problems but ours are minor compared to most. This is Monarchs current situation relating to command. Diver is renowned for being a whinger.
Current Situation:
Ad on website for experienced pilots. Entry on new C scale which has much lower T&C to current crew. MP pension less benifits, lower pay with far fewer increments both F/O and Capt with still approx 10 years to command.
Entry Requirements
Captain
Promoted from within using seniority system. Minimum of 4,000hrs & the average time from joining as a F/O to becoming captain is 10-15 years. (330 is flown on a seniority basis from the 320/321 fleet but you’ll still fly all 3 types.)
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
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ott - What is the web address for the advert you mention? When I go to the FCA website I get a statement saying they are not currently recruiting.
Could you provide a link or post the requirements here? Thanks.
Could you provide a link or post the requirements here? Thanks.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Join Date: Nov 1999
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Cruse Alt.
You will enjoy FCA. We all have our problems but ours are minor compared to most. This is Monarchs current situation relating to command. Diver is renowned for being a whinger.
Current Situation:
Ad on website for experienced pilots. Entry on new C scale which has much lower T&C to current crew. MP pension less benifits, lower pay with far fewer increments both F/O and Capt with still approx 10 years to command.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time to command in Monarch is currently running at
6.5 years.
Cruse Alt.
You will enjoy FCA. We all have our problems but ours are minor compared to most. This is Monarchs current situation relating to command. Diver is renowned for being a whinger.
Current Situation:
Ad on website for experienced pilots. Entry on new C scale which has much lower T&C to current crew. MP pension less benifits, lower pay with far fewer increments both F/O and Capt with still approx 10 years to command.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time to command in Monarch is currently running at
6.5 years.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
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Ott compares Monarch's terms and conditions with FCA's present ones. It is generally thought that these terms and conditions are to be significantly reduced after the latest pay negotiations are completed. They were supposed to have been completed at the begining of January. The general feeling is that the proposals being discussed are so detrimental to our, and new pilots terms and conditions that this is why it is taking so long to get an agreement between BALPA and the company.
In short, if Monarch can introduce a new scale for pilots it would be naive to even suggest that FCA is not working very hard to introduce them too, aswell as further reduce the cost of the airline.
Time to command is longer than Monarch's!!
In short, if Monarch can introduce a new scale for pilots it would be naive to even suggest that FCA is not working very hard to introduce them too, aswell as further reduce the cost of the airline.
Time to command is longer than Monarch's!!