Swiss Int'l Airlines
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Swiss Int'l Airlines
Hello! 
I am curious to find out if there is anyone here who flys or has flown for SWISS? I have had my eyes on them for a long time and wanted to know about direct entry positions (coming to SWISS outside of their own training, from different airline, etc.) Thank you for your help!
Flug
I am curious to find out if there is anyone here who flys or has flown for SWISS? I have had my eyes on them for a long time and wanted to know about direct entry positions (coming to SWISS outside of their own training, from different airline, etc.) Thank you for your help!
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No problem, actually about 1/3 to 1/4 of the new entrants are from "outside", i.e. not from their own school. All of these with different levels of experience, with and w/o TR. And these days they very often origin from the place you seem to come from...
N1
N1
Last edited by N1 and ITT; 8th May 2009 at 17:13.
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N1,
If you have a TR and around 750TT, would they consider you?
Forgot to ask, are they still in need of pilots? Seems like they were always hiring people.
If you have a TR and around 750TT, would they consider you?
Forgot to ask, are they still in need of pilots? Seems like they were always hiring people.
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SWISS Direct Entry Requirements
...but maybe you might try to ask them directly?
Still in need of pilots, yes. Do not ask me how they do that - or for how long...
N1
...but maybe you might try to ask them directly?
Still in need of pilots, yes. Do not ask me how they do that - or for how long...
N1
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Ah! Should have known. Been to that same page a dozen times. 
Sorry to pick your brain more, N1, but do you happen to know about the quality of life, schedule, pay, time off, etc in regards to SWISS? Duration of training for direct entry? Thanks for your help!
Sorry to pick your brain more, N1, but do you happen to know about the quality of life, schedule, pay, time off, etc in regards to SWISS? Duration of training for direct entry? Thanks for your help!
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rosters etc....
I have not been there for years. However, it was a fun job. Great expats and locals to fly with, ok lay-overs, and good machines. When everything came to a screaching halt (swiss air issue) then we all scampered to other jobs. I really enjoyed the time though. I have heard that you work much harder now, great for a low timer like yourself. Give it a whirl. Worst thing they can say is no and then you move on. Until they have offered you a job, you really have nothing.
Good luck with your decision,
Deep Fried
PS the Ex-swiss air and crossair thing really bothered some of the guys. Just go and do a professional job and enjoy life. Politics can ruin anything good.
Good luck with your decision,
Deep Fried
PS the Ex-swiss air and crossair thing really bothered some of the guys. Just go and do a professional job and enjoy life. Politics can ruin anything good.
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The ex Swissair and ex Crossair thing is still going on.
There is a difference in terms and conditions between "Swiss Regional airline" hence ex Crossair
and
Swiss international airlines hence ex Swissair.
I do not know all the details of the terms and conditions, except that it-s not the same salary and as we speak no chance to jump ship from Swiss Regional to its big sister company.
Base is Zurich
Another thing is that you MUST be fluent in German as the selections and coursesare held in this language which again is discriminatory for the french and Italian speaking part of the country !
Good luck though because as long as you don-t try, you-ll never know. You gotta judge by yourself.
There is a difference in terms and conditions between "Swiss Regional airline" hence ex Crossair
and
Swiss international airlines hence ex Swissair.
I do not know all the details of the terms and conditions, except that it-s not the same salary and as we speak no chance to jump ship from Swiss Regional to its big sister company.
Base is Zurich
Another thing is that you MUST be fluent in German as the selections and coursesare held in this language which again is discriminatory for the french and Italian speaking part of the country !
Good luck though because as long as you don-t try, you-ll never know. You gotta judge by yourself.
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Swissluft is a bad company, lot of discrimination.
max age to apply is 38 years old(20 Jahre - 38. Geburtstag (zum Zeitpunkt der Bewerbung)) , which is again german law, but authorized by the Swiss government. Still Swissluft is a German company, so legally, in my point of view, they should not discriminate.
then they say they have a pilot shortage, they try to fill their flight school with students ready to pay a fortune.
I have met ex-crossair pilots as well, who could not get a job at swiss, reason: swiss pilots join the Swiss union, and it costs more to kick a swiss pilot out, than a European pilot.
at Swiss they don't tell you the truth and they have never make any money since years.Swiss Air is a fiasco, not better than Swissair...
"anyway, you are not a ex Swissair pilot, so you are less than a s...t !
"
(from the Swiss Air direction)
to complain write here, it s their CAA:
FOCA - Contact
foca won't do too much, they are corrupt as well! Switzerland is a corrupt country!
max age to apply is 38 years old(20 Jahre - 38. Geburtstag (zum Zeitpunkt der Bewerbung)) , which is again german law, but authorized by the Swiss government. Still Swissluft is a German company, so legally, in my point of view, they should not discriminate.
then they say they have a pilot shortage, they try to fill their flight school with students ready to pay a fortune.
I have met ex-crossair pilots as well, who could not get a job at swiss, reason: swiss pilots join the Swiss union, and it costs more to kick a swiss pilot out, than a European pilot.
at Swiss they don't tell you the truth and they have never make any money since years.Swiss Air is a fiasco, not better than Swissair...
"anyway, you are not a ex Swissair pilot, so you are less than a s...t !
"(from the Swiss Air direction)
to complain write here, it s their CAA:
FOCA - Contact
foca won't do too much, they are corrupt as well! Switzerland is a corrupt country!
Last edited by batman123; 10th May 2009 at 08:40.
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I admit this forum is a "rumors" network. But some seem to misinterpret that with "spread of untrue and bitter bullsh.t".
I very sad to see, that a few of the guys who have been laid off in 2001 (ex-SR AND ex-LX), still did not find their way to get along with it. But maybe the promises of good old Moritz and his little Dwarfs were just to blinding...
Enjoy your life wherever you are, Batboy, and stay there, please.
N1
I very sad to see, that a few of the guys who have been laid off in 2001 (ex-SR AND ex-LX), still did not find their way to get along with it. But maybe the promises of good old Moritz and his little Dwarfs were just to blinding...
Enjoy your life wherever you are, Batboy, and stay there, please.
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Correct. If you have a TR, it depends which one. If you have an Avro's, you go to SWU, get 60 000 CHF and pay your own pension fund. If you do not speak German you get only a limited contract, but you earn more.
If you have an A320 TR, you have to speak German, you get 70 000 CHF and have the long haul career.
The SWU people are easier people, while the SWR are a bit more strict. It's still the Crossair and the Swissair people. They both have basically the same contract, except the salary list.
Ask me if you need more details.
Dani
If you have an A320 TR, you have to speak German, you get 70 000 CHF and have the long haul career.
The SWU people are easier people, while the SWR are a bit more strict. It's still the Crossair and the Swissair people. They both have basically the same contract, except the salary list.
Ask me if you need more details.
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Difficulties to read, Dani? Or just a bit far and long away from all that SWISS stuff? 
For everyone else, PPJN.com and swiss.com give you more facts, such as:
And finally, finally forget that stupid and hillarious CRX vs. SWR game. This was now 8 years ago and believe me, except for some hot blooded diehards, this is a pure no factor in todays daily business. Both of the pilot bodies have more important things to think about. And the relationship between them is no less than good!
N1
For everyone else, PPJN.com and swiss.com give you more facts, such as:
- If 1000hrs MPA and higher education -> SWR
- If not -> SWU
And finally, finally forget that stupid and hillarious CRX vs. SWR game. This was now 8 years ago and believe me, except for some hot blooded diehards, this is a pure no factor in todays daily business. Both of the pilot bodies have more important things to think about. And the relationship between them is no less than good!
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Swissair and age discrimination?
So if you are 38 or above when you apply even if Airbus Type rated, German speaking with 1000s of hours and degree level education there is no chance?
If Swissair are German company do they not have to abide by EU age rules?
If Swissair are German company do they not have to abide by EU age rules?
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I can not judge whether the 38-rule is against any law. Or contradicts fairness or should even imply moral scruple... There must a reason for this rule, especially as they block some good candidates for themselves too. Maybe I had some reservations as well, if I had the same age as you obviously have.
But they decide what they want, clearly stated on their web site. If you have a problem getting a "no" AFTER you read their criteria, then you should maybe not take it too hard...
N1
PS: The company is german property, but run according Swiss law, AFAIK.
But they decide what they want, clearly stated on their web site. If you have a problem getting a "no" AFTER you read their criteria, then you should maybe not take it too hard...
N1
PS: The company is german property, but run according Swiss law, AFAIK.
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This Crossair/Swissair thing sounds a lot like the TWA/AAL thing here in the U.S. Is Crossair history or are they still around? If it was in fact 8 years ago, let it go already. Nothing we can do about it now.
Interesting that German is required since Schweiz has 4 national languanges. Why not just english since that's the Int'l aviation language to begin with? I don't mind learning German. I am in the process of learning German on my own and having fun with it.
But Swiss German.....Ehhh.....I can't understand a word of it. Does SWISS require high German or Swiss-German? 
Interesting that German is required since Schweiz has 4 national languanges. Why not just english since that's the Int'l aviation language to begin with? I don't mind learning German. I am in the process of learning German on my own and having fun with it.
But Swiss German.....Ehhh.....I can't understand a word of it.
Does SWISS require high German or Swiss-German?
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SWISS - European & International
Both branches are still looking for pilots, quite unusual in the current economic climate ! Obviously some problems so far to get enough suitably qualified (i.e. Swiss standards) pilots, especially on the AVRO-fleet. Intermediate solutions with contract pilots on the AVRO fleet. The 320series fleet sucking up quite an amount of ex-AVRO pilots jumping ship if seniority number is up, therefore aggravating the situation on the AVRO-fleet...vicious cycle...
Situation will probably get tighter on both fleets if Swiss finally decides to get rid of the wet-lease operations of Helvetic and Cirrus for economical reasons.
Moneywise not a real killer on both fleets, especially when you have already some hours on type. Rosters are quite busy and unstable for both the AVRO- and 320series-fleets, yet a great bunch of people to fly with, both cockpit and cabin. Superb training and standards. Limited future prospects in the European ops side, long-haul perspective in the International branch though 330 & 340...
Situation will probably get tighter on both fleets if Swiss finally decides to get rid of the wet-lease operations of Helvetic and Cirrus for economical reasons.
Moneywise not a real killer on both fleets, especially when you have already some hours on type. Rosters are quite busy and unstable for both the AVRO- and 320series-fleets, yet a great bunch of people to fly with, both cockpit and cabin. Superb training and standards. Limited future prospects in the European ops side, long-haul perspective in the International branch though 330 & 340...
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Ok, once again: Facts, please, facts...
SWU (SWISS European Airlines) starts at 4th year FO which is 70500CHF. (Check PPJN.com, accurate figures there)
Tax in Switzerland depends on where you life (different tax rates from village to village). Average tax rate in Switzerland is at 21%, but could be a lot higher OR lower (if you know where the rich and famous life, you're there...) Social contribution is at 6.05%, excl. pension, which depends on what you want to spend on it.
I believe - for once NO fact, just guessing - that SWU pays all the mandatory pension fund (which is the case at SWR), so you'd pay only the voluntary part of it, which is in turn tax deductible.
So: 70500 - ~26% = 4500CHF/mt after all, which equals right about the average income (before tax and socials!) in Switzerland. Depends on what outfit in your garage, lawn, bed...
N1
SWU (SWISS European Airlines) starts at 4th year FO which is 70500CHF. (Check PPJN.com, accurate figures there)
Tax in Switzerland depends on where you life (different tax rates from village to village). Average tax rate in Switzerland is at 21%, but could be a lot higher OR lower (if you know where the rich and famous life, you're there...) Social contribution is at 6.05%, excl. pension, which depends on what you want to spend on it.
I believe - for once NO fact, just guessing - that SWU pays all the mandatory pension fund (which is the case at SWR), so you'd pay only the voluntary part of it, which is in turn tax deductible.
So: 70500 - ~26% = 4500CHF/mt after all, which equals right about the average income (before tax and socials!) in Switzerland. Depends on what outfit in your garage, lawn, bed...
N1
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So if you are 38 or above when you apply even if Airbus Type rated, German speaking with 1000s of hours and degree level education there is no chance?
If Swissair are German company do they not have to abide by EU age rules?
If Swissair are German company do they not have to abide by EU age rules?
Swissair don't like anyone over 38...
have you seen the sci fi movie in 1985, when if over 40, they kill you, or send agents to track you.???
the agents are called Swiss Air...dont show your face to them if over 38...ok?
I wrote to luft and to the FOCA, but FOCA won't answer, cuz switzerland discriminate poeple and they won't recognize it...
in switzerland, no one respect the laws, banks, managers,...all do what they want. you can do pretty much all you want. No one is going to put you in trouble, except the USA....
have you seen a BLACK pilot at swissair or at Swiss, cuz I have never seen a non white pilot at Swissair or Swiss.?
Both branches are still looking for pilots
everyday, they receive CV of competent pilots, and they are all turned down.
Why are you not working for them in this case???
me too, I am looking for pilots for my company. Send me them!!!!I need 500 pilots for my new airline.
did you remember when the said in 2001:" Swiss, 90 years of experience. when it was a new airline!!!"
that show you the kind of crap people are willing to believe.
Last edited by dartagnan; 14th May 2009 at 09:27.
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Pitty guy.
Ah, and by the way:
There are actually two black guys flying for SWU/SWR... And I think even some red ones, and - you will not believe it - a bunch of green ones, too...
The colorblind N1
Ah, and by the way:
There are actually two black guys flying for SWU/SWR... And I think even some red ones, and - you will not believe it - a bunch of green ones, too...
The colorblind N1