KLM looking for pilots
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Their standards are high. We have inherited a load of guys KLM forced to retire early. I believe the company has now raised the retirement age again (but there is no way back for those who have already started drawing their unbelievably high pension).
Join Date: Aug 2010
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For any Dutch speakers lurking around out there, KLM have opened up recruitment again for people with 500 hours jet time. See; https://careers.klm.com/jobs/947/Verkeersvlieger
They’re looking to take on around 400 new pilots in 2019.
They’re looking to take on around 400 new pilots in 2019.
Join Date: Apr 2018
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No one is forced to retire early at KLM
Retirement age was 56 at 100% and 58 at 80% etc
As of 2015 its 58 at 100%
Pension is high yes, but due to fiscal changes, not so good for the new generation.
Join Date: Aug 2010
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https://careers.klm.com/jobs/1854/Verkeersvlieger
The vacancy is currently open for an extended period. If you look at the “Algemeen” section it states that a good knowledge of Dutch is required. It also says if you’re not fluent you have to take an exam at “European reference level B2” before starting the selection procedure.
The vacancy is currently open for an extended period. If you look at the “Algemeen” section it states that a good knowledge of Dutch is required. It also says if you’re not fluent you have to take an exam at “European reference level B2” before starting the selection procedure.
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Good News!
The Old Guard leaving with good pension, making room for young and not so young.
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
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The Old Guard leaving with good pension, making room for young and not so young.
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B
Join Date: Jan 2011
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-everyone who has been hired for the last five years can communicate in Dutch.
-pension is still great, don’t know any other company who pays 40%+ pension contribution based on gross earnings.
-the word on the street is we need 100-200 for 2020. But Schiphol has reached it limit. So KLM doesn’t control the grow on it own anymore.
-pension is still great, don’t know any other company who pays 40%+ pension contribution based on gross earnings.
-the word on the street is we need 100-200 for 2020. But Schiphol has reached it limit. So KLM doesn’t control the grow on it own anymore.
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Suisse
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The Old Guard leaving with good pension, making room for young and not so young.
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.
The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.
With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B

Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Germany
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Hi everyone,
I am thinking about improving my dutch and applying at KLM. Is there a real chance for foreigners to join or are they mostly looking for nationals?
Did my flighttraining with Swiss with a total of around 4000h on the A320 ans B737, so that should be fine.
Best regards 😃
I am thinking about improving my dutch and applying at KLM. Is there a real chance for foreigners to join or are they mostly looking for nationals?
Did my flighttraining with Swiss with a total of around 4000h on the A320 ans B737, so that should be fine.
Best regards 😃
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Hi everyone,
I am thinking about improving my dutch and applying at KLM. Is there a real chance for foreigners to join or are they mostly looking for nationals?
Did my flighttraining with Swiss with a total of around 4000h on the A320 ans B737, so that should be fine.
Best regards 😃
I am thinking about improving my dutch and applying at KLM. Is there a real chance for foreigners to join or are they mostly looking for nationals?
Did my flighttraining with Swiss with a total of around 4000h on the A320 ans B737, so that should be fine.
Best regards 😃
You can always try, but I know a couple of very experienced Dutch First Officers who got the PFO because they hadn’t trained at the KLM flightschool. Good luck!
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Netherlands
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There are loads of guys who recently joined KLM and dit not come from the KLM flightschool, including me. I haven't heard from anyone that they had a tough time initially. I've flown for 2 other airlines before and must say that life at KLM is pretty relaxed. Speaking Dutch is a necessity though since the common tongue at work is Dutch.
Good luck with the Dutch lessons!
Good luck with the Dutch lessons!

Join Date: Aug 2019
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Thanks for the replies guys!
I will give it a try. Are there rumors about the pilot demand in 2020 at KLM and have they already found enough candidates for 2019?
Best regards 😃
I will give it a try. Are there rumors about the pilot demand in 2020 at KLM and have they already found enough candidates for 2019?
Best regards 😃
Join Date: Jul 2010
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assessments for 2019 are still running. For 2020 mixed signals, some say only from KLM flight academy, others say that the target hiring for 2019 will not be met, and that 2020 will see a recruitment drive like in 2019
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Hi all
I am currently in an old legacy up in the north, but with the constant threat of outsourcing and downsizing I am thinking about bailing out.
What's the current situation at KLM? Will there be any more recruitment in the near future?
Just to clarify, is there a requirement to speak Dutch prior to joining KLM?
Looking through this thread some people say its absolutely mandatory while others know of people who got in without knowing Dutch but with the requirement to learn it eventually.
Thankful for any info.
PMs are appreciated also.
I am currently in an old legacy up in the north, but with the constant threat of outsourcing and downsizing I am thinking about bailing out.
What's the current situation at KLM? Will there be any more recruitment in the near future?
Just to clarify, is there a requirement to speak Dutch prior to joining KLM?
Looking through this thread some people say its absolutely mandatory while others know of people who got in without knowing Dutch but with the requirement to learn it eventually.
Thankful for any info.
PMs are appreciated also.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EU
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Hi all
I am currently in an old legacy up in the north, but with the constant threat of outsourcing and downsizing I am thinking about bailing out.
What's the current situation at KLM? Will there be any more recruitment in the near future?
Just to clarify, is there a requirement to speak Dutch prior to joining KLM?
Looking through this thread some people say its absolutely mandatory while others know of people who got in without knowing Dutch but with the requirement to learn it eventually.
Thankful for any info.
PMs are appreciated also.
I am currently in an old legacy up in the north, but with the constant threat of outsourcing and downsizing I am thinking about bailing out.
What's the current situation at KLM? Will there be any more recruitment in the near future?
Just to clarify, is there a requirement to speak Dutch prior to joining KLM?
Looking through this thread some people say its absolutely mandatory while others know of people who got in without knowing Dutch but with the requirement to learn it eventually.
Thankful for any info.
PMs are appreciated also.
-number for 2020 was around 150-200. Around 60 would be from own flightschool.
-at the moment recruitment is on hold due to the virus. Since there are less flights due to the virus, all the slots are used for fleet movement.
-currently Dutch is a must!, the entire recruitment is in dutch. we do have some pilots who only speaks english, those where due to mergers in the past.
-long term recruitment depends on expansion of schiphol.
-and how much air france is growing, because we are only allowed to expand if they do.
Join Date: Jan 2023
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KLM is hiring pilots for 2023 https://careers.klm.com/KLM/job/Schi...023/762238302/
They ask for 500 hours on aircraft above 5,7 tones and 150 hours in the last 12 months.
Does anyone knows the assessment procedure?
They ask for 500 hours on aircraft above 5,7 tones and 150 hours in the last 12 months.
Does anyone knows the assessment procedure?
Join Date: Jan 2023
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-number for 2020 was around 150-200. Around 60 would be from own flightschool.
-at the moment recruitment is on hold due to the virus. Since there are less flights due to the virus, all the slots are used for fleet movement.
-currently Dutch is a must!, the entire recruitment is in dutch. we do have some pilots who only speaks english, those where due to mergers in the past.
-long term recruitment depends on expansion of schiphol.
-and how much air france is growing, because we are only allowed to expand if they do.
-at the moment recruitment is on hold due to the virus. Since there are less flights due to the virus, all the slots are used for fleet movement.
-currently Dutch is a must!, the entire recruitment is in dutch. we do have some pilots who only speaks english, those where due to mergers in the past.
-long term recruitment depends on expansion of schiphol.
-and how much air france is growing, because we are only allowed to expand if they do.
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Obviously it’ll fluctuate a bit year to year. In slow years they might not need any external recruitment, and in other years when they’re scrambling to get their crewing levels to where they should be it could be a lot more.
As for when the assessments will start I’m not sure. The vacancy is open till the beginning of March and then they’ll need to process everything so I would guess around late spring/early summer…