Flybe anyone?
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Flybe anyone?
Can someone give me an idea about rosters at flybe? What does a E195 Exeter roster look like for the month. I would be interested in talking to any guys from Flybe? PM me if you like. What are the chances of getting in at present. I have 5000TT with wide body and narrow body. Not typed on either the q400 or the E jet.
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.
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Wrong forum Hostile, this is a wannabe's forum, you need Terms & Endearment, you will get a better response there.
Also I am sure this has been covered before, the search facility is your best friend
Also I am sure this has been covered before, the search facility is your best friend
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Hello hostile,
direct entrant Cpts start on the Q400 only, pay (yr 1) is £52,000 plus FDP at £1.75 or £1.79/ph (can't recall which, currently taxed at 100% but under review with HMRC).
There is a shortage of Q400 Cpts, so hours are high; roster stability is improving though. Current T&Cs have improved over a three year deal; 24 months to run until the next negotiations.
There are some disallusioned pilots at Flybe (a lot from the ex BACON - brain fade included); many of us, including me, like the company and intend to stay there - I like flying from smaller regional airports where the crews know each other and get on well.
Thats my perspective............
good luck.
direct entrant Cpts start on the Q400 only, pay (yr 1) is £52,000 plus FDP at £1.75 or £1.79/ph (can't recall which, currently taxed at 100% but under review with HMRC).
There is a shortage of Q400 Cpts, so hours are high; roster stability is improving though. Current T&Cs have improved over a three year deal; 24 months to run until the next negotiations.
There are some disallusioned pilots at Flybe (a lot from the ex BACON - brain fade included); many of us, including me, like the company and intend to stay there - I like flying from smaller regional airports where the crews know each other and get on well.
Thats my perspective............
good luck.
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Don't do it!
Try reading this forum: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...271260&page=19
And remember this is becoming a predominantly turboprop company so you will not get a look in on a jet for years and years.
Try reading this forum: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...271260&page=19
And remember this is becoming a predominantly turboprop company so you will not get a look in on a jet for years and years.
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So 5 on 2 off? Does this vary at all? Are they 5 sector days or can you get some days that are just an out and back with the afternoon off? What is the request system like? What is the jumpseat policy(wives etc). What routes does the Q400 do? How long to get back to a jet? Early starts and late finishe, what are the worst trips? Any 3AM reports?
Thanks again guys.
Thanks again guys.
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hostile23 - greetings!
It seems as though you have limited experience of UK based short haul turbo - prop operators? Certainly your post reflects a well turned naivete. (sorry, no accents today, not much hyperbole either!)
Here then is one perspective for you to mull over.
If you work from one base and one base only, (not dual base - watch that little trap) then it is a considerable upside to operate within a small community. It is really very nice to all pull together when the weather is wintry - or whatever.
In general, roster patterns are inherently unstable but these truths are probably self evident...
Your days off will always start from a late and finish with an early.
Weekends are never guarenteed.
5 days on and 2 off is a suggestion, it is not a legal equirement.
Rostering and Crewing usually cannot cope with too many requests and roster changes are a fact of life and normally never to your advantage.
In addition to this basic guideline, some companies will...
Refuse to count travel time to an away base duty as FDP.
Only ever give you the minimum legal days off, to the extent where one's roster has shown six Captains and six F/Os all on standby with all flights cancelled over Christmas and New Year, but no one actually rostered off.
Expect you to call a standby day on which you do not fly, a day off.
Expect you to position at short notice to other bases, requiring 2.00 am drive starts.
Expect you to hang around the crew room indefinitely after an early finish or cancelled flight,just in case something comes up.
After an early finish, F/Os report to office to sort Notams, update Jeppesens and so on.
Jump seat? Only for VIPs, drunk or sober, at company decision, all others prohibited.
Hmm.You want a jet when? Got to pay with a change of base perhaps?
So you see, old bean, it's perhaps a bit of a nightmare. Having flown for several short haul operators no doubt anyone would wish to fly long haul. One suspects that this pathway has its own downsides too, you know, frisky hostesses and far away places.
But, at the end of the day, retirement is the optimum and the ability to do it early enough the goal in the sky for which to reach.
Best of luck to you with Flybe, they seem fairly inoffensive and used to have a darling girl working in crewing, whose name is Alzheimered, for whom one would do just about anything.
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The Dash fleet is working mostly 5 on 2 off at present from EXT. There should be a 3 day off period rostered each month. Most days are 4 sectors.
Earlies start c0600-0700 local and finish c1400 local (ie EXT-MAN-EXT-DUB-EXT); lates start c1400 and finish c 21.00-22.00 local, also usually 4 sectors. Occassional 2 sector days - ie EXT-EDI-EXT, some 5 sector days, ie EXT-GURN-JER-EXT-DUB-EXT.
A long wait for the E195, based on seniority - in real terms years.
There are ex BA/Cathay pilots on the Q400, they like the flying but would often like to be part-time, ie 75%, which would then be 5 on 5 off.
If PT suits ask for it at interview.
As I said before, I like Flybe. I enjoy regional flying, but its not for everyone.
Good luck.
Earlies start c0600-0700 local and finish c1400 local (ie EXT-MAN-EXT-DUB-EXT); lates start c1400 and finish c 21.00-22.00 local, also usually 4 sectors. Occassional 2 sector days - ie EXT-EDI-EXT, some 5 sector days, ie EXT-GURN-JER-EXT-DUB-EXT.
A long wait for the E195, based on seniority - in real terms years.
There are ex BA/Cathay pilots on the Q400, they like the flying but would often like to be part-time, ie 75%, which would then be 5 on 5 off.
If PT suits ask for it at interview.
As I said before, I like Flybe. I enjoy regional flying, but its not for everyone.
Good luck.
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Hostile,
I've tried to paint a fair picture of Flybe, there are good and bad parts. You'll no doubt notice that the anti comments above are posted by those that haven't worked for Flybe or who resigned pre-merger.
Be your own judge!
I've tried to paint a fair picture of Flybe, there are good and bad parts. You'll no doubt notice that the anti comments above are posted by those that haven't worked for Flybe or who resigned pre-merger.
Be your own judge!
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So 5 on 2 off?
Yep, 5 on 2 off and then after 2 or 3 of those they throw in a 6 on 2 off (or if you're lucky 3), to try and rotate the days off.
Does this vary at all?
Sometimes you only work 4 but any variation from 5 or 6 is usually because of requested days off. Things vary a bit depending on what base you're at and there's a bit of variation during the winter. However, at my base the last winter was pretty much like last summer, ie, we were all working out tit$ off.
Are they 5 sector days or can you get some days that are just an out and back with the afternoon off?
Usually 4 sector days, 5 is usually associated with going around the Ch Is. 6 sectors are still about, mainly from Belfast I believe. Occasionally you'll get a 2 sector day followed by a couple of hours on Apt Stby.
Mostly we start on early's (0530 earliest [6 am after a day off{!!}]) which rolls over to finish on late's (last landing about 2200 ish). Since the new scheduling agreement came in I've heard of a few people starting later than that and finishing a lot earlier before their days off, but I'm not sure how common that is or if they've just lucked in.
Most early's land back finally between 1230 and 1400 and late reports tend to be 1300 onwards with latest report for a 2 sector being about 1630.
What is the request system like?
Well you can request days off but that's about it!
What is the jumpseat policy(wives etc).
Wives, forget it. The only people allowed reflect the DoT policy since 11 Sep 2001 which limits people on the JS to staff who need to be there or for positioning when there's no space available, etc. Friends, relatives and other Airline guys in need of a ride, no chance.
What routes does the Q400 do?
Look on the Flybe web site. Basically everything bar Spain. There are lots of routes from BHX and MAN which are the old BA Connect routes which are still being served by the Emb 145, but basically the Q400 does UK, France, Ireland, AMS and a few destinations in Germany.
How long to get back to a jet?
As a FO, maybe a year to 18 months. Then you go back to the Q400 for a command. No DEC on the E195.
Progression from the Q400 to the E195 is in strict order of seniority. There won't be many 195's around until mid to late next year by which time everyone will be bidding for them with the same chance of success. So for q400 DEC's expect to wait a very long time esp as the list goes down to nearly 700.
Early starts and late finishes, what are the worst trips?
Can't really say. All of them if you hate early's!!
Any 3AM reports?
No. Earliest for a flight is 0530. You might find yourself in the sim at that hour however, but the earliest report for that is usually 0530 to go in at 0700.
It's still too early to tell how the revised scheduling agreement is working out. However, the generaly feeling so far is that stability has improved. However, it's still early May - lets wait and see what it's like in July and August.
Hope that helps. I'm sure there are other angles on this from people at different bases.
Yep, 5 on 2 off and then after 2 or 3 of those they throw in a 6 on 2 off (or if you're lucky 3), to try and rotate the days off.
Does this vary at all?
Sometimes you only work 4 but any variation from 5 or 6 is usually because of requested days off. Things vary a bit depending on what base you're at and there's a bit of variation during the winter. However, at my base the last winter was pretty much like last summer, ie, we were all working out tit$ off.
Are they 5 sector days or can you get some days that are just an out and back with the afternoon off?
Usually 4 sector days, 5 is usually associated with going around the Ch Is. 6 sectors are still about, mainly from Belfast I believe. Occasionally you'll get a 2 sector day followed by a couple of hours on Apt Stby.
Mostly we start on early's (0530 earliest [6 am after a day off{!!}]) which rolls over to finish on late's (last landing about 2200 ish). Since the new scheduling agreement came in I've heard of a few people starting later than that and finishing a lot earlier before their days off, but I'm not sure how common that is or if they've just lucked in.
Most early's land back finally between 1230 and 1400 and late reports tend to be 1300 onwards with latest report for a 2 sector being about 1630.
What is the request system like?
Well you can request days off but that's about it!
What is the jumpseat policy(wives etc).
Wives, forget it. The only people allowed reflect the DoT policy since 11 Sep 2001 which limits people on the JS to staff who need to be there or for positioning when there's no space available, etc. Friends, relatives and other Airline guys in need of a ride, no chance.
What routes does the Q400 do?
Look on the Flybe web site. Basically everything bar Spain. There are lots of routes from BHX and MAN which are the old BA Connect routes which are still being served by the Emb 145, but basically the Q400 does UK, France, Ireland, AMS and a few destinations in Germany.
How long to get back to a jet?
As a FO, maybe a year to 18 months. Then you go back to the Q400 for a command. No DEC on the E195.
Progression from the Q400 to the E195 is in strict order of seniority. There won't be many 195's around until mid to late next year by which time everyone will be bidding for them with the same chance of success. So for q400 DEC's expect to wait a very long time esp as the list goes down to nearly 700.
Early starts and late finishes, what are the worst trips?
Can't really say. All of them if you hate early's!!
Any 3AM reports?
No. Earliest for a flight is 0530. You might find yourself in the sim at that hour however, but the earliest report for that is usually 0530 to go in at 0700.
It's still too early to tell how the revised scheduling agreement is working out. However, the generaly feeling so far is that stability has improved. However, it's still early May - lets wait and see what it's like in July and August.
Hope that helps. I'm sure there are other angles on this from people at different bases.
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Thanks guys for all this great info. Just one more Q. Do you think there would be some room for some negotiating at interview to work a say 80% roster to just get a few more days off? My wife will be working too so money should be quite comfortable.
Está servira para distraerle.
Should have thought that the company would invite you to work off your bond before engaging in time share negotiations. Unless, of course, you come to them already type rated or contribute towards the cost perhaps?
Sounds as though you are a happily married man who values nights at home. It might just be an idea to make very sure that the little lady understands the potential, I say again potential, damage that the 'wrong' kind of a rosterer or crewer can inflict upon one's family and social life. Of course this has already been done, no?
One warrants that, with a short haul operator, if you work only 80% of the time, it will not be long before crewing decide that the other 20% of the time is actually standby. Perhaps unexpected callout requests might follow from that presumption?