Thomsonfly
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: UK
Calling won't do any harm, but it's a fine line between being interested and being a pain!
As we're still in the process of merging with FCA, crew numbers seem to be 'unknown'. i.e there has been talk of redundancies, unpaid leave and part-time working. At present nothing appears to have been finalised.
To give an idea of current workload, many FOs at some of the smaller bases have had only a handful of flights rostered each month since before Christmas (or even no rostered flights in some months!). We'll probably be 'about-right-to-overcrewed' for the summer.
IMHO the wildcards are the arrival of the 787, which will take alot of crews out of the system if/when it turmns up; senior FOs leaving for commands elsewhere now that it is 5+years to a command (8-10 for a new join?); re-retirement of the over 60s who may have had enough. Management talk of a 'resignation bulge' that may sort out the numbers.
As we're still in the process of merging with FCA, crew numbers seem to be 'unknown'. i.e there has been talk of redundancies, unpaid leave and part-time working. At present nothing appears to have been finalised.
To give an idea of current workload, many FOs at some of the smaller bases have had only a handful of flights rostered each month since before Christmas (or even no rostered flights in some months!). We'll probably be 'about-right-to-overcrewed' for the summer.
IMHO the wildcards are the arrival of the 787, which will take alot of crews out of the system if/when it turmns up; senior FOs leaving for commands elsewhere now that it is 5+years to a command (8-10 for a new join?); re-retirement of the over 60s who may have had enough. Management talk of a 'resignation bulge' that may sort out the numbers.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: uk
Its not dead just yet!!!
Hey all,
I do agree with AVCP, but I also think that we should not give up hope just yet. There have been IMO too many rumours and quick to react choices that have been made by a lot of people.
I had seen that the unpaid leave was cancelled as the Management suddenly realised that the numbers would be about right for the fleet size.
With the rate of people leaving or finding new pastures and retiring that there would be more positions coming up than we realise. Dont get to excited tho as it may not be for some time.
Keep trying and just see if you can get an update as to what may be happening, that would do you more good than saying "what is going on".
Good luck
259
I do agree with AVCP, but I also think that we should not give up hope just yet. There have been IMO too many rumours and quick to react choices that have been made by a lot of people.
I had seen that the unpaid leave was cancelled as the Management suddenly realised that the numbers would be about right for the fleet size.
With the rate of people leaving or finding new pastures and retiring that there would be more positions coming up than we realise. Dont get to excited tho as it may not be for some time.
Keep trying and just see if you can get an update as to what may be happening, that would do you more good than saying "what is going on".
Good luck
259
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: North
Sorry for my ignorance, but why should anyone in the pool forget about it and move on? It sounds like DN has stated that when the company starts recruiting again then they will start taking people from the pool - and why wouldn't they? The hold pool consists of people who have passed their very thorough selection process and therefore people who they deem to be suitable to join the company.
I think it's quite simple - Tfly have not recruited for about a year now, so nobody from the pool has been taken. When they do start recruiting again then they will start taking people from the pool. One of the main reasons they haven't been recruiting for a while is because they have gone through a huge merger.
I think it's quite simple - Tfly have not recruited for about a year now, so nobody from the pool has been taken. When they do start recruiting again then they will start taking people from the pool. One of the main reasons they haven't been recruiting for a while is because they have gone through a huge merger.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
From: In a nice house
Sorry guys but I agree with the earlier post-ers. The new TUI Fly are gonna be overcrewed on the Boeing, its only the Airbus fleet that has lean crew, and only because the Airbuses are (almost definitely) going so they don't wanna pay for type conversions. The low-cost part of Thomsonfly, well, I think its days are probably numbered. In which case there will be a huge surplus of qualified, type rated pilots for Thomsonfly to choose from, and the rest may well be made redundant.
The unpaid leave last winter was cancelled due to the constraints of merging the two operators by the 1st May 2008. There were a lot of training courses and so on required by the CAA and these had to be completed in the "quiet" winter period. It was for that reason that unpaid leave was not offered - although to be honest it could have been offered, as the rosters have been very quiet. It was really just for logistics - if people are on leave they cannot do their courses, if they cannot do their courses then the CAA won't give the new paperwork for the new company AOC.
The unpaid leave last winter was cancelled due to the constraints of merging the two operators by the 1st May 2008. There were a lot of training courses and so on required by the CAA and these had to be completed in the "quiet" winter period. It was for that reason that unpaid leave was not offered - although to be honest it could have been offered, as the rosters have been very quiet. It was really just for logistics - if people are on leave they cannot do their courses, if they cannot do their courses then the CAA won't give the new paperwork for the new company AOC.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: UK
The low-cost part of Thomsonfly, well, I think its days are probably numbered. In which case there will be a huge surplus of qualified, type rated pilots for Thomsonfly to choose from, and the rest may well be made redundant.
The point I'm trying to make though is that should the low cost flights cease altogether, and management decide to reduce pilot numbers, its going to affect everyone employed by Tui Travel (from 1st of May) and not just the "low cost" pilots, as such a group do not exist.
Sorry for the thread creep. Regarding recruitment, I can't see any for the next year at least, but after summer 09, who knows.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 4
From: UK
I hope you have a lot of endurance for treading water in the holding pool.
Apparently we have the correct number of pilots this year, we're waiting to hear about next year.
If you're waiting for your first job and you get offered something else, take it.
Apparently we have the correct number of pilots this year, we're waiting to hear about next year.
If you're waiting for your first job and you get offered something else, take it.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 387
Likes: 10
From: United Kingdom
Since there has been no decision about fleet numbers yet, nobody here actually knows how many pilots are needed.
Email them or call them, it won't do you any harm but I expect the answer will be "We don't know at the moment"
Email them or call them, it won't do you any harm but I expect the answer will be "We don't know at the moment"
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: land of sand
So nobody will take voluntary redundancy then? There was me thinking the company had said pilot numbers were about right for this summer. I'd love to know where these rumours come from, galley fm perhaps???????
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: UK
Unfortunately Thomsonfly is no longer the 'career' airline that might have been the case with Britannia. Quite a few experienced, but low seniority FOs are leaving. My base has 2 Capts and 2 FOs on notice to leave.
If someone else can offer either a DEC or quick command then people may well take it. Recent moves have been to Emirates, Ryanair, GSM[?] and Corporate.
If someone else can offer either a DEC or quick command then people may well take it. Recent moves have been to Emirates, Ryanair, GSM[?] and Corporate.