Working at Excel Airways?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Denmark
Working at Excel Airways?
Can someone spread some light on the working conditions in Excel Airways please? What are the pros and cons? Would a young pilot find it more attractive than places like ryanair or easy jet you think?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Last edited by president; 18th August 2006 at 14:31.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
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From: UK
Good points - New aircraft; expanding fleet; varied routes; some of the nicest people you could hope to fly with.
Bad points - Rostering can be chaotic; 737 is very cramped for a 6 hour sector; no seniority list so promotion can be hit and miss; too much use of contract pilots.
Overall - I am happy there and can think of an awful lot worse places to be. They lost a lot of people to Ryan - God knows why!
KT
Bad points - Rostering can be chaotic; 737 is very cramped for a 6 hour sector; no seniority list so promotion can be hit and miss; too much use of contract pilots.
Overall - I am happy there and can think of an awful lot worse places to be. They lost a lot of people to Ryan - God knows why!
KT
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: hhhmmm
Originally Posted by Knee Trembler
Good points - New aircraft; expanding fleet...
Bad points - Rostering can be chaotic; 737 is very cramped for a 6 hour....
KT
Bad points - Rostering can be chaotic; 737 is very cramped for a 6 hour....
KT
Oh yeah cause excel only fly 73s! Never mind the other half of the company... 75/76 and leased 74s
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12
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From: hhhmmm
Excel Pilots make up the bulk of the crew on the 74. Topped up in the summer with Air Atlanta Icelandic crew. The Aircraft are wet least from AAI. They are run on an Icelandic AOC. But as you can tell from some people’s posts, in some people’s minds, Excel is still just a 73 fleet.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Denmark
can anyone be more specific about unstable roster? If so many pilots are leaving for ryan they must have a motive. Is the salary not competitive in excel or what? Would it be better if working on an air atlanta contract in the company?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 48
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From: uk
There is no AAE contract any more the AOC have been merged. Rosters tend to change frequently over the summer but your days off remain the same, unless you want to sell them to the company that is. I would be very surprised if the grass is greener at RYR, I suppose it is horses for courses but the money is ok and getting better with this years pay deal agreed by BALPA, for most people that is.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
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From: UK
No complaints whatsoever, great bunch of people, challenging flying into interesting destinations, nice new -800s (and soon, -900s), and all round very enjoyable days at work.
I am just out of training and hand flying a shiny new 737 into some greek island and being paid to do it - I couldn't have asked for more!
I am just out of training and hand flying a shiny new 737 into some greek island and being paid to do it - I couldn't have asked for more!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 49
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From: europe
Is it true that Excel is only " hiring" contract pilots just to fullfil their summer requirements, and that they are not interested in hiring permanent flight crews, and by that i mean experienced flight crews?
thanks
thanks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 22
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From: North of the Equator
According to reliable sources within XL management there will be an ad in Flight International for recruitment in August. Recruitment is supposed to be for permanent positions on most fleets within XL. Most of those on current Storm contracts are to be offered permanent contracts with XL. Official announcement to come next week to employees about this.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 360
Likes: 2
From: in the hills
As all the replies seem to be from 73 pilots, I'll stick my oar in from the 75/76 point of view.
Rostering is totally chaotic and relies on panic management, imaginative manipulation of CAP 371 and minimum 8 days off in 28 (even in winter, when crews are on standby for non-existent flights). Contract pilots were brought in for the summer and due to issues with airside ID's hardly ever flew. Rest days are looked at as indefinite standbys. Expect crewing to call you in the middle of the night if you leave your phone on.
Salary is distictly average.The flying is OK and the majority of the crews easy to get on with. A number of F/O's have been promoted in the last year. Training is OK but expect to do your ground subjects twice as they'll lose all the paperwork the first time.
In summary, if you want hours, a reasonable chance of promotion and a mix of long and short haul, and don't mind your life taking second place, it's great.
Rostering is totally chaotic and relies on panic management, imaginative manipulation of CAP 371 and minimum 8 days off in 28 (even in winter, when crews are on standby for non-existent flights). Contract pilots were brought in for the summer and due to issues with airside ID's hardly ever flew. Rest days are looked at as indefinite standbys. Expect crewing to call you in the middle of the night if you leave your phone on.
Salary is distictly average.The flying is OK and the majority of the crews easy to get on with. A number of F/O's have been promoted in the last year. Training is OK but expect to do your ground subjects twice as they'll lose all the paperwork the first time.
In summary, if you want hours, a reasonable chance of promotion and a mix of long and short haul, and don't mind your life taking second place, it's great.