13 years as F/O !! I´ve had enough.
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I can't make this anymore clear.
Hong Kong Airlines has no, and never has had an approved program to upgrade FO's.
IF they tell you they are getting one, they are lying.
I make more part time @ Dragon than a Full Time skipper @ HKA by almost 50%.
No Upgrade, No money and living in one of the most expensive & polluted city's in the world. Only a fool would work there.
I was a fool once.. but left.
Hong Kong Airlines has no, and never has had an approved program to upgrade FO's.
IF they tell you they are getting one, they are lying.
I make more part time @ Dragon than a Full Time skipper @ HKA by almost 50%.
No Upgrade, No money and living in one of the most expensive & polluted city's in the world. Only a fool would work there.
I was a fool once.. but left.
Apply to Jetstar Asia in Singapore and you'll probably swap seats in a couple of years. Forget India as an F/O, they can't upgrade you. Lion Air Indonesia with it's recent massive B737 order would be worth a look. China is screaming for pilots.
At the moment the opportunities are in Asia and the Middle East.
At the moment the opportunities are in Asia and the Middle East.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Germany
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Stay!!!!
Mate, don't move for a Seat!
in the heart of EUR I have after 4000+PIC hours ( 6yrs. or so) done exactly the Opposite! I moved RHS due to lack of weight&jet hours (flown ATR) into a legacy Operator and that was the best decision ever made!
But anyway being mentioned before, just my 2c.
in the heart of EUR I have after 4000+PIC hours ( 6yrs. or so) done exactly the Opposite! I moved RHS due to lack of weight&jet hours (flown ATR) into a legacy Operator and that was the best decision ever made!
But anyway being mentioned before, just my 2c.
Join Date: Feb 1998
Location: Formerly of Nam
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Just get the hell out of bloody Europe - you'll do your career
and stress level a whole lot of good not to mention your hip
pocket nerve. Plenty of smart Spanish Portugese Italian and
Greek drivers (and the odd pom) have already long done so.
Europe is stuffed - they know it - you know it - and it will just
continue to get even more stuffed while those unelected idiotic
clowns in Brussels consider debt leverage as the way to solve
its problems.
The Euro economy? I've seen sclerotic liver in better condition.
Lot of outfits in SEA if the Sandpit is not your style (who's is
it anyway?). Most blokes go to various mobs within the region
depending on their choice of country residence combined with
command prospects. No country or company is perfect but its
a whole lot better (& warmer in some cases) than where your
currently at.
And yep VAC and JSA should be on your radar. The M-Rats is
nobody's first choice anymore (they used to be) as is Saudi.
SIN has the minimum culture shock for you Eurojockeys, but
nowadays its a very bloody expensive place to live esp if you
have to fork out housing rent from your own wallet.
Yep, that they are alright - and no prizes for guessing why so
many choose not to go there.
and stress level a whole lot of good not to mention your hip
pocket nerve. Plenty of smart Spanish Portugese Italian and
Greek drivers (and the odd pom) have already long done so.
Europe is stuffed - they know it - you know it - and it will just
continue to get even more stuffed while those unelected idiotic
clowns in Brussels consider debt leverage as the way to solve
its problems.
The Euro economy? I've seen sclerotic liver in better condition.
Lot of outfits in SEA if the Sandpit is not your style (who's is
it anyway?). Most blokes go to various mobs within the region
depending on their choice of country residence combined with
command prospects. No country or company is perfect but its
a whole lot better (& warmer in some cases) than where your
currently at.
And yep VAC and JSA should be on your radar. The M-Rats is
nobody's first choice anymore (they used to be) as is Saudi.
SIN has the minimum culture shock for you Eurojockeys, but
nowadays its a very bloody expensive place to live esp if you
have to fork out housing rent from your own wallet.
China is screaming for pilots.
many choose not to go there.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Portugal
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Thank you all for your replies.
To Slasher:
What airline ( or country) do you mean with VAC ?
Vietnam Airlines?
JSA - Jetstar Asia ?
SIN - Singapore ?
Thank you
To Slasher:
What airline ( or country) do you mean with VAC ?
Vietnam Airlines?
JSA - Jetstar Asia ?
SIN - Singapore ?
Thank you
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
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If you really want to leave, go where the growth is - the Middle East or Asia. With A330 time, you would have a good chance of getting A330 seat at Qatar. No promises but you can turn it down if they promise it and don't deliver. You might have to wait 4-5 years for a command since you don't have PIC time. Plus, if you apply in the April/May time frame, who knows, you might get a 787 FO slot (first 787 delivery in June). You never know...
If you go with the Middle East airlines, go with your eyes WIDE open. Let us know what you decide to do.
Good luck!
If you go with the Middle East airlines, go with your eyes WIDE open. Let us know what you decide to do.
Good luck!
Join Date: Feb 2000
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It's a bad time to be at the bottom of anybody's seniority list at a new airline, which is where you'll be if you leave now. if they offer redundancy that would be a slightly different situation, but if do leave be very sure of what you're going to get when you get there. Grass generally looks greener until you get up close. I speak as one who was made redundant, and has found how hard it can be to resurrect a career from the right hand seat. Wait for the command plus 1000 hours of you possibly can!
Join Date: Apr 2005
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If I may give you one good piece of advice it is this: if you didn't grow up in the commonwealth educational system don't join an airline which is british managed (like CX, EK, EY).
Their authoritarian leadership style will threaten you for your existence on every day you go to work. No matter how many flight hours you have they will treat you as a schoolboy. It seems like they just don't want to leave the 19th century in terms of corporate governance.
I made the mistake a few years ago and it left me as a broken man, traumatized for ever.
Their authoritarian leadership style will threaten you for your existence on every day you go to work. No matter how many flight hours you have they will treat you as a schoolboy. It seems like they just don't want to leave the 19th century in terms of corporate governance.
I made the mistake a few years ago and it left me as a broken man, traumatized for ever.
Join Date: Feb 1998
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To Slasher:
What airline ( or country) do you mean with VAC ?
Vietnam Airlines?
JSA - Jetstar Asia ?
SIN - Singapore ?
What airline ( or country) do you mean with VAC ?
Vietnam Airlines?
JSA - Jetstar Asia ?
SIN - Singapore ?
There's also AA in KL but I know for a fact you work your butt
off there. FOs are paid crap but capts on reasonable money.
AA = Air Asia......KL = Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
If you go with the Middle East airlines, go with your eyes WIDE open.
Look I won't argue one way or the other with the ME - if its
Jeddah or Sharma El - well maybe. But if its anywhere else
I'd spend at least a full bloody week at the nominal city of
basing prior to accepting any offers. UAE has "Etihad" and
probably worth looking at. Give the M-Rats a wide berth as
its no longer the great mob it used to be.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: KGRB, but on the road about 1/2 the time.
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3 of my friends went to Qatar (A-320 pax), Air Hong Kong (747-400 cargo) and Eva (MD-11 cargo)....all as FOs.
On the other hand, I know a guy who is a long-time captain at US Airways, and he just applied to be an FO at Atlas Air (747s/767s).
I have been a Capt and an FO. I am an FO now, and this is BY FAR the best job I've ever had, and I also am making the most money now as FO.
cliff
HHN
On the other hand, I know a guy who is a long-time captain at US Airways, and he just applied to be an FO at Atlas Air (747s/767s).
I have been a Capt and an FO. I am an FO now, and this is BY FAR the best job I've ever had, and I also am making the most money now as FO.
cliff
HHN
Join Date: Mar 2011
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WIZZ
If you want a quick Command, try Wizz Air.
It is still Europe and you can build some time whilst assessing all options.
They have a good history of upgrading guys quickly.
It is still Europe and you can build some time whilst assessing all options.
They have a good history of upgrading guys quickly.
Join Date: Sep 2005
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WIZZ
...and they have a lousy pay.
and it is NOT Europe it is FAR EAST Europe. Has nothing to do with good, old EUROPE. No Lifestyle, no nothing etc pp.
Just a place for desesperados.
and it is NOT Europe it is FAR EAST Europe. Has nothing to do with good, old EUROPE. No Lifestyle, no nothing etc pp.
Just a place for desesperados.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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12 years as f/o
I know how it feels..
I spent 6 years in my first company and then it went bust.
So I moved to a UK company and I have to agree with Brix here, not fun at all to work for a UK management!
When I finally got the chance for an upgrade it was at a base far from my family. So I turned it down and moved company is back in the bottom of an seniority list as f/o, same place I was 12 years ago, same base...
My point is, if you move you cannot be sure you will ever get the social life quality you properly have now.
Also you might have to spend a few years flying with commanders with half your experience (can be a bit annoying) and then not get an attractive upgrade.
I would wait for the financial crisses to pass before a move, maybe I do it as well then.
I spent 6 years in my first company and then it went bust.
So I moved to a UK company and I have to agree with Brix here, not fun at all to work for a UK management!
When I finally got the chance for an upgrade it was at a base far from my family. So I turned it down and moved company is back in the bottom of an seniority list as f/o, same place I was 12 years ago, same base...
My point is, if you move you cannot be sure you will ever get the social life quality you properly have now.
Also you might have to spend a few years flying with commanders with half your experience (can be a bit annoying) and then not get an attractive upgrade.
I would wait for the financial crisses to pass before a move, maybe I do it as well then.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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I turned down command a year ago because of lifestyle. Many people say I am crazy but lifestyle for me is way more important than putting on the fourth stripe. My friends who upgraded now wish they would've done the same.