DHL
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: uk
I can back up what PP says.
DHL is a good employer, but it is a lifestyle that you love or hate.
I quite enjoyed it, but did only last about 20 months before I moved back to charter flying. However, I hate that even more, so am now doing scheduled long haul for a certain UK airline.
I didn't find it tiring at DHL, but some guys did who struggled to sleep.
Think carefully if you like nights, they do age you rapidly.
DHL is a good employer, but it is a lifestyle that you love or hate.
I quite enjoyed it, but did only last about 20 months before I moved back to charter flying. However, I hate that even more, so am now doing scheduled long haul for a certain UK airline.
I didn't find it tiring at DHL, but some guys did who struggled to sleep.
Think carefully if you like nights, they do age you rapidly.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: AMS
Hello all,
do DHL do part time? If so, immediately or after a year?
Can I pay tax in the country of residence or does it have to be where my base is?
The salaries mentioned on PPJN show an SFO rate. - Is that for during the training or also a while after?
Time / hours to upgrade?
I know, many questions, but maybe someone can enlighten? cheers, IP
do DHL do part time? If so, immediately or after a year?
Can I pay tax in the country of residence or does it have to be where my base is?
The salaries mentioned on PPJN show an SFO rate. - Is that for during the training or also a while after?
Time / hours to upgrade?
I know, many questions, but maybe someone can enlighten? cheers, IP
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: n/a
Part time yes, at the moment I'm not aware of any FO's doing it and only a couple of captains, you would need someone to jobshare with.
Your personal tax affairs are your own so as long as you don't break any laws pay tax where you like, non UK residents get some less benefits.
FO becomes SFO after er, ATPL and min 1 year in company I think, makes no difference to money.
Non typed pilots have about 5K less pay in year 1 than typed, after that its the same. Cadet entry have different pay scales for first 4 years.
For you last question - if you join now - how much do you like sauerkraut?
Your personal tax affairs are your own so as long as you don't break any laws pay tax where you like, non UK residents get some less benefits.
FO becomes SFO after er, ATPL and min 1 year in company I think, makes no difference to money.
Non typed pilots have about 5K less pay in year 1 than typed, after that its the same. Cadet entry have different pay scales for first 4 years.
For you last question - if you join now - how much do you like sauerkraut?
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: UK
Pilot Pete,
Those dingy crew rooms (ie the portacabins) have long gone.
It all depends on what you want. I go to work 3 to 4 times a month. That means low mileage. I travel to work at night and come home at night. That means I dont have to trawl around motorways at rush hour. I'm away from home for no longer than 5 days. That gives me and the missus breathing space. Money is ok, some argue that it should be better. Good hotels with transport sorted. Good blokes to fly with. I'm getting good time off. Some will argue that. You can live where you like( at the moment live abroad and pay little tax/no tax/claim it back etc.
But for the glamour boys----theres no cabin crew, no passengers to announce "this is your captain" (c'mon how very cheesy) and very little strutting about in daylight fully striped up.
There are quite a few people looking to get out of DHL at the moment--Why you ask? Its all down to the attitude of the MD.
But it can only get better.
Good luck.
Those dingy crew rooms (ie the portacabins) have long gone.
It all depends on what you want. I go to work 3 to 4 times a month. That means low mileage. I travel to work at night and come home at night. That means I dont have to trawl around motorways at rush hour. I'm away from home for no longer than 5 days. That gives me and the missus breathing space. Money is ok, some argue that it should be better. Good hotels with transport sorted. Good blokes to fly with. I'm getting good time off. Some will argue that. You can live where you like( at the moment live abroad and pay little tax/no tax/claim it back etc.
But for the glamour boys----theres no cabin crew, no passengers to announce "this is your captain" (c'mon how very cheesy) and very little strutting about in daylight fully striped up.
There are quite a few people looking to get out of DHL at the moment--Why you ask? Its all down to the attitude of the MD.
But it can only get better.
Good luck.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
Well Put Honest Frank,
It's a shame that Pilot Pete didnt stay much longer than a couple of months at DHL, maybe then he would of seen the change to those "dingy crew rooms!"
On the other hand i suppose he is enjoying the quality of flying "shell suits" to the sun at a very low cost these days! erm... one feels that the "Britannia Royal service" has now gone...not quite same standard as it once was!
Oh well....happy days,
It's a shame that Pilot Pete didnt stay much longer than a couple of months at DHL, maybe then he would of seen the change to those "dingy crew rooms!"
On the other hand i suppose he is enjoying the quality of flying "shell suits" to the sun at a very low cost these days! erm... one feels that the "Britannia Royal service" has now gone...not quite same standard as it once was!
Oh well....happy days,
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 1
From: Egcc
Guys
It has nothing to do with glamour, or 'stripes in the terminal during daylight', or cabin crew, or shell suits in low cost, it just comes down to lifestyle choice for the individual; you enjoy flying away from home for 6 days at a time and not seeing your family. You enjoy only flying when it is dark. You enjoy not getting fed or watered when at work. You enjoy living out of a suitcase for those 6 days away. You enjoy having the equivalent of jet lag to start your days off. I didn't. So the crew rooms are not portacabins any more, great! That wouldn't swing it for me. The 'Britannia Service' is gone; so what? I didn't join the airline for the service to it's passengers, I joined it for the lifestyle option. When I joined it was 15 years to command, but flying out and back getting home each day suited. I was converted immediately on entry to the 767 and flew that for less than 12 months before I got the CHOICE of longhaul (if you don't want it you don't have to do it). I chose to do it and thoroughly enjoyed it; much more enjoyable spending 5 days in Barbados on the beach than 5 days around the EU changing hotels every morning.
I took a (basic salary) pay cut to move from DHL, but earnt £19k more than the DHL F/O salary in my first year at Brits. 18 months in they started the low cost arm and were short of captains. After 2 years with them I had a command on a 737. I was years away from having the hours for a command with DHL at circa 300 per year.....
We have block window protection on our roster, at plus or minus 2 hrs, Flexible working at £530 per day for a captain, a salary scale with over 20 increments, a final salary pension scheme (which I am in), duty pay and sector pay, loss of licence insurance, death in service insurance, PPP for me and the family, the list goes on. I get home most nights or days, with very little deep night flying (which I hate), I fly about 700hrs per year for about £90k as a year 2 captain (including Flexi Work), have flown 3 flights in the last 28 days and have fitted out my ensuite bathroom (and done all the work to make it into a wet room) AND had excess time available for my sideline business and the kids.
So obe one and honest Frank, it does indeed
I HATED deep night flying, out of a suitcase, being away from home ALL the time with you and A N Other, who might just be a Tw@t who tied fishing flies in his room for 5 days (know him?) and I made my choice. The Britannia service may have gone (your opinion), but it doesn't make it a crap company to be employed by.
And let's face it, I am an employee, not a passenger (shell suit or not).
Don't degrade other people's opinions just because you don't agree with them. You like night freight, then fine. I don't and I just told those who want to know the other viewpoint, having been there and done it for 6 mohths.
Enjoy, as will I.
PP
Canada Goose
Yes you could indeed, if you liked sleeping on bunk beds with paper sheets. The older you get the more fussy you get and also the harder it is to do this. I personally used to stay awake as I really felt like sh1t after 2hrs having to wake up and go back out in the freezing cold to operate another sector.....if you were in a deep sleep when you woke you would be in the cockpit half set up before you were fully awake....and that wasn't good.
It has nothing to do with glamour, or 'stripes in the terminal during daylight', or cabin crew, or shell suits in low cost, it just comes down to lifestyle choice for the individual; you enjoy flying away from home for 6 days at a time and not seeing your family. You enjoy only flying when it is dark. You enjoy not getting fed or watered when at work. You enjoy living out of a suitcase for those 6 days away. You enjoy having the equivalent of jet lag to start your days off. I didn't. So the crew rooms are not portacabins any more, great! That wouldn't swing it for me. The 'Britannia Service' is gone; so what? I didn't join the airline for the service to it's passengers, I joined it for the lifestyle option. When I joined it was 15 years to command, but flying out and back getting home each day suited. I was converted immediately on entry to the 767 and flew that for less than 12 months before I got the CHOICE of longhaul (if you don't want it you don't have to do it). I chose to do it and thoroughly enjoyed it; much more enjoyable spending 5 days in Barbados on the beach than 5 days around the EU changing hotels every morning.
I took a (basic salary) pay cut to move from DHL, but earnt £19k more than the DHL F/O salary in my first year at Brits. 18 months in they started the low cost arm and were short of captains. After 2 years with them I had a command on a 737. I was years away from having the hours for a command with DHL at circa 300 per year.....
We have block window protection on our roster, at plus or minus 2 hrs, Flexible working at £530 per day for a captain, a salary scale with over 20 increments, a final salary pension scheme (which I am in), duty pay and sector pay, loss of licence insurance, death in service insurance, PPP for me and the family, the list goes on. I get home most nights or days, with very little deep night flying (which I hate), I fly about 700hrs per year for about £90k as a year 2 captain (including Flexi Work), have flown 3 flights in the last 28 days and have fitted out my ensuite bathroom (and done all the work to make it into a wet room) AND had excess time available for my sideline business and the kids.
So obe one and honest Frank, it does indeed
depends on what you want.
And let's face it, I am an employee, not a passenger (shell suit or not).Don't degrade other people's opinions just because you don't agree with them. You like night freight, then fine. I don't and I just told those who want to know the other viewpoint, having been there and done it for 6 mohths.
Enjoy, as will I.
PP
Canada Goose
Yes you could indeed, if you liked sleeping on bunk beds with paper sheets. The older you get the more fussy you get and also the harder it is to do this. I personally used to stay awake as I really felt like sh1t after 2hrs having to wake up and go back out in the freezing cold to operate another sector.....if you were in a deep sleep when you woke you would be in the cockpit half set up before you were fully awake....and that wasn't good.
Last edited by Pilot Pete; 3rd December 2006 at 00:59. Reason: To answer Canada Goose
Moon Walker
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: the Moon
Like Pilot Pete (hello) there have been more people who have tried it but didnt like the life style ,if you dont try you dont know!
He moved on to a place he enjoys so good for him.
More people will make the move ,some because they want a lifestyle change some because (like honest frank mentioned before) problems with the MD.
Everybody joining good luck with the training ,everybody leaving the same!!
Neil
He moved on to a place he enjoys so good for him.
More people will make the move ,some because they want a lifestyle change some because (like honest frank mentioned before) problems with the MD.
Everybody joining good luck with the training ,everybody leaving the same!!
Neil
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 1
From: Egcc
They were the ONLY UK company employing pilots with 757 ratings and experience when I was being made redundant. They are a good employer, don't confuse my dislike for the lifestyle and package........PP
