CityJet
Join Date: Apr 2016
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There's not much typical about the roster unfortunately. Expect at random 4-7 days on, 2-4 days off. There's talk of a fixed 6-3-5-3 for those with more than 1 year in their current role. T&Cs vary widely among the 3 bases, Dublin are generally the worst off.
Last edited by RightHandMan; 4th Apr 2016 at 21:14.
Join Date: May 2008
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Further info
Hi evrybody! Is there any insider willing to share some extra info? Like.. How many overnights and off days are planned a month? how much is net take home salary for a cpt dublin or lcy bases? What is about the new ams base?
How many pilots do they need? Is it because many are leaving, or normal turn over or big expanding projects behind?
thanks in advance!!
(...I'm just wondering if I could improve my current conditions...)
All the best to everybody!
How many pilots do they need? Is it because many are leaving, or normal turn over or big expanding projects behind?
thanks in advance!!
(...I'm just wondering if I could improve my current conditions...)
All the best to everybody!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I can just tell one thing about them - I applied at the same(!) day to RYR and as well to Cityjet(have experience on a type they fly or plan to fly).
Well - RYR invited me the same(!) afternoon for an interview, from Cityjet I just got one of this "we are really busy looking into all this super experienced pilot applications we receive at the moment" emails(I am "super" experienced by myself ^^).
In the meantime I did my RYR interview, passed it, got a contract, resigned from my previous employer. Setting up for a move to my new base.
At the stage of setting up my move I got one(!) short email from Cityjet that they are interested and shortlisted me and the interview team will contact me very shortly. This was last week.
Enough said. Or the last one gets bitten by the sharks....
Well - RYR invited me the same(!) afternoon for an interview, from Cityjet I just got one of this "we are really busy looking into all this super experienced pilot applications we receive at the moment" emails(I am "super" experienced by myself ^^).
In the meantime I did my RYR interview, passed it, got a contract, resigned from my previous employer. Setting up for a move to my new base.
At the stage of setting up my move I got one(!) short email from Cityjet that they are interested and shortlisted me and the interview team will contact me very shortly. This was last week.
Enough said. Or the last one gets bitten by the sharks....
Join Date: Apr 2016
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There has only been +2% since a ~10% cut in 2009, but the plan I believe is to resume pay increases. At some point. Though this has been in discussion for several years now.
I've heard that the plan is to move away from fixed salary scales. I think the plan is to give 0.5-2.5% increase per year, depending on quite a lot of stuff that you won't have much control over.
Starting salary LHS is likely to be in the region of €71kish + allowances which are usually appx €2400pm, which you will be taxed on. Though how much depends on where you are based. Pension is 5% matched, rising to 10% after 5 yrs & 12.5% after 8 years.
You will pay for a TR which is about €22k I think.
As with most airlines at the moment WX is suffering from a shortage of experienced crew. As to the reasons, that would depend on who you ask. Arguably any small regional will always lose out to BA, EasyJet or Jet2. On the other hand, a good many have gone to lower paid jobs to get a semblance of a life. There is growth, but that's not the primary driver for the shortage. Yet.
Consequently the rosters have been rather late and very busy. A/L for the LHS has been as rare as hens teeth. However, in more normal times you can expect a modicum of roster stability, and your requested leave at a useful time of year granted every 2 years or so. I'm not sure why RightHandMan thinks that DUB is worst off; LCY crews have quantifiably worked more days every year and have seen a far greater roster variation.
In any case, you will work (very) hard, though you'll do about 600h/yr. There is no rostering agreement, and seem to be quite a bit variation in how issues are dealt with. There is a lot of pressure to accept changes. In fairness, there are also significant incentives to do so, esp to work your day off.
The AMS base is only slightly beyond the rumour stage at the moment. If anyone has any more details perhaps you can tell us!
In terms of nightstops, you may find yourself doing 5 nights away back to back. On the other hand you might not. You'll have to adapt your life - and your expenditure - to accommodate either. Commuting is possible but not recommended. Overnight pay is generous so is generally sought after.
The flying is some of the best you will do anywhere and what remains of the crew are a good bunch. Unfortunately the RJ's are falling apart, quite literally.
Hopefully I've been fair and balanced. It's not totally terrible; the pay is OK, though pegged to reduce in real terms. But the fact remains that there are other options out there that a significant fraction of crew have decided offer them a better deal.
I've heard that the plan is to move away from fixed salary scales. I think the plan is to give 0.5-2.5% increase per year, depending on quite a lot of stuff that you won't have much control over.
Starting salary LHS is likely to be in the region of €71kish + allowances which are usually appx €2400pm, which you will be taxed on. Though how much depends on where you are based. Pension is 5% matched, rising to 10% after 5 yrs & 12.5% after 8 years.
You will pay for a TR which is about €22k I think.
As with most airlines at the moment WX is suffering from a shortage of experienced crew. As to the reasons, that would depend on who you ask. Arguably any small regional will always lose out to BA, EasyJet or Jet2. On the other hand, a good many have gone to lower paid jobs to get a semblance of a life. There is growth, but that's not the primary driver for the shortage. Yet.
Consequently the rosters have been rather late and very busy. A/L for the LHS has been as rare as hens teeth. However, in more normal times you can expect a modicum of roster stability, and your requested leave at a useful time of year granted every 2 years or so. I'm not sure why RightHandMan thinks that DUB is worst off; LCY crews have quantifiably worked more days every year and have seen a far greater roster variation.
In any case, you will work (very) hard, though you'll do about 600h/yr. There is no rostering agreement, and seem to be quite a bit variation in how issues are dealt with. There is a lot of pressure to accept changes. In fairness, there are also significant incentives to do so, esp to work your day off.
The AMS base is only slightly beyond the rumour stage at the moment. If anyone has any more details perhaps you can tell us!
In terms of nightstops, you may find yourself doing 5 nights away back to back. On the other hand you might not. You'll have to adapt your life - and your expenditure - to accommodate either. Commuting is possible but not recommended. Overnight pay is generous so is generally sought after.
The flying is some of the best you will do anywhere and what remains of the crew are a good bunch. Unfortunately the RJ's are falling apart, quite literally.
Hopefully I've been fair and balanced. It's not totally terrible; the pay is OK, though pegged to reduce in real terms. But the fact remains that there are other options out there that a significant fraction of crew have decided offer them a better deal.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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@throwaway85
Good info. And quiet scary as well. 5 nights back to back? Had that already in so many airlines and now finally, in Ryanair, I got rid of this bloody nightstops.
Pay for a capt. sounds bad.
As for the crews - that's probably the only thing that is good in ANY airline. Never really met too many assholes in one company and usually the crews are the only nice thing that remains in most outfits. For instance - my last job was really bad paid, you had full responsibility for aircraft and crew for 17 days(1 rotation), did as well daily maintenance checks and 72 hrs checks(we got the training), did FMS updates and QAR downloads. Plus helped to clean the aircraft(as it was written down in the OM! Not to mention all the other, zillion small little anoying things you had to do whenever they thought it might be good to bother you at any time of the day - or night).
BUT - the crews have been a very nice bunch of people(got my draft ;-) ? ).
Good info. And quiet scary as well. 5 nights back to back? Had that already in so many airlines and now finally, in Ryanair, I got rid of this bloody nightstops.
Pay for a capt. sounds bad.
As for the crews - that's probably the only thing that is good in ANY airline. Never really met too many assholes in one company and usually the crews are the only nice thing that remains in most outfits. For instance - my last job was really bad paid, you had full responsibility for aircraft and crew for 17 days(1 rotation), did as well daily maintenance checks and 72 hrs checks(we got the training), did FMS updates and QAR downloads. Plus helped to clean the aircraft(as it was written down in the OM! Not to mention all the other, zillion small little anoying things you had to do whenever they thought it might be good to bother you at any time of the day - or night).
BUT - the crews have been a very nice bunch of people(got my draft ;-) ? ).
Join Date: Feb 2014
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i'm currently an FO here, and throwaway85's post is pretty much bang on bar a few minor points. Direct entry captains onto the RJ are not paying for their type's as really they would be mad to! However they are now recruiting for direct entry captains for the Superjet and it does say in the advertisement that there will be a 3 year bond for that. Current RJ pilots will not be bonded for the type rating on the Superjet.
The RJ's are really starting to show their age now as its not uncommon for at least one aircraft a day to go tech. There are rumours of us getting upto 7 Swiss RJ100's in a one in, one out kind of set up as they take in their C series. The Swiss RJ's were some of the last to be built which you would hope would lead to them being more reliable, along with the 3/2 configuration with the same amount of seats leading to better passenger comfort.
As for the nightstops it depends on the base you are in with LCY, at least for the minute anyway having the majority of night stops. You can be rostered for a 5 night overnight in AMS from the LCY base but of course with the new AMS base on the cards these will significantly reduce which has pissed a lot of people off who commute to the LCY base and who depend on the overnight allowance for mortgages etc. Personally out of Dublin we do far less, on average 8-9 per month with the longest trip that you can be rostered for being a 3 night overnight back to back. The Paris base again has even less overnights.
We are very short of captains at the minute which has lead to Jota operating a lot of our LCY-ORK routes but this is due to finish up in the coming weeks with the opening of the new ORK base and contract captains coming from Cobham in Australia which should give them a small bit of breathing space to start releasing captains for the 6 week type rating on the Superjet in Venice.
All in all I am very happy here but of course the overnights and the unstable roster is not for everybody and has lead to a lot of captains leaving for companies with a more stable roster. Hope this helps.
The RJ's are really starting to show their age now as its not uncommon for at least one aircraft a day to go tech. There are rumours of us getting upto 7 Swiss RJ100's in a one in, one out kind of set up as they take in their C series. The Swiss RJ's were some of the last to be built which you would hope would lead to them being more reliable, along with the 3/2 configuration with the same amount of seats leading to better passenger comfort.
As for the nightstops it depends on the base you are in with LCY, at least for the minute anyway having the majority of night stops. You can be rostered for a 5 night overnight in AMS from the LCY base but of course with the new AMS base on the cards these will significantly reduce which has pissed a lot of people off who commute to the LCY base and who depend on the overnight allowance for mortgages etc. Personally out of Dublin we do far less, on average 8-9 per month with the longest trip that you can be rostered for being a 3 night overnight back to back. The Paris base again has even less overnights.
We are very short of captains at the minute which has lead to Jota operating a lot of our LCY-ORK routes but this is due to finish up in the coming weeks with the opening of the new ORK base and contract captains coming from Cobham in Australia which should give them a small bit of breathing space to start releasing captains for the 6 week type rating on the Superjet in Venice.
All in all I am very happy here but of course the overnights and the unstable roster is not for everybody and has lead to a lot of captains leaving for companies with a more stable roster. Hope this helps.
Join Date: May 2008
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Many thanks guys for your replies!!
At the moment I have 18-20 overnights a months, shifts 6-7 days long away from home base, no daily flight out of home base and basically I have to commute.. Ah, I fly atr(it feels the age btw...).. So comparing to what you write, I have good chances to improve my life(private and professional).. So, I sent the cv, now waiting for an answer.
Once again thanks!
At the moment I have 18-20 overnights a months, shifts 6-7 days long away from home base, no daily flight out of home base and basically I have to commute.. Ah, I fly atr(it feels the age btw...).. So comparing to what you write, I have good chances to improve my life(private and professional).. So, I sent the cv, now waiting for an answer.
Once again thanks!
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Some good stuff here for those searching for first hand information. I'm not one of them, but one thing caught my attention:
Who the #%$€¥ buys a house based on getting overnight allowance to cover a mortgage?! Crazy world.
Good luck.
You can be rostered for a 5 night overnight in AMS from the LCY base but of course with the new AMS base on the cards these will significantly reduce which has pissed a lot of people off who commute to the LCY base and who depend on the overnight allowance for mortgages etc.
Good luck.
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If needed they can do so. But you have to show them your allowances over a longer period, e.g. last 18 months. Lots of jobs have variable income and everybody needs a roof over their head.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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TR bonded for experienced crews
CityJet have moved away from SSTR for experienced crews.
Doubt they'll find many pilots have Suhkoi SJ TR in any case.
Suhkoi (as with other manufacturers) supply TRs as part of agreement with airlines.
Doubt they'll find many pilots have Suhkoi SJ TR in any case.
Suhkoi (as with other manufacturers) supply TRs as part of agreement with airlines.
Join Date: Apr 2016
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New joiners are paying for their own RJ TR (€22k), though there are mixed reports about DEC getting them paid or bonded. Existing crew will be bonded €10k for the SSJ.
Bonding existing crews for a new TR is unusual, given that it is common practice for airframers to train crews when they sell new aircraft.
The point about the sector pay is a good one; so much of SO/FO's income is allowance based that without it they really can only scrape by.
My point about the rosters being variable was that, if the pattern that is decided for a season doesn't have many overnights, your allowances, and therefore net pay will be significantly affected. Basically my point is that although you can earn a lot in sector allowances, you will also have periods where you will earn little more than your basic. You need a lifestyle that can stretch and contract to accommodate.
Bonding existing crews for a new TR is unusual, given that it is common practice for airframers to train crews when they sell new aircraft.
The point about the sector pay is a good one; so much of SO/FO's income is allowance based that without it they really can only scrape by.
My point about the rosters being variable was that, if the pattern that is decided for a season doesn't have many overnights, your allowances, and therefore net pay will be significantly affected. Basically my point is that although you can earn a lot in sector allowances, you will also have periods where you will earn little more than your basic. You need a lifestyle that can stretch and contract to accommodate.
Last edited by throwaway85; 23rd May 2016 at 15:57.
