LOT Polish Airlines hiring
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: BUD
40-50h / monthly on 737, 45-70h / on EMB. I started flying for them about one year ago, terms looked decent. After that time I would strongly reconsider going that route again. Roasters are terrible, a lot of 2-3 day stays which end up in about 8-12h total BH. There are different pay scales depending on TT (not time in company), for most guys the increase in pay equals decrease in time, so in the end you've got the same money but less flight time (doesn't mine less duty). My average DT to FT ratio is 2,5:1 and that of course doesn't count in layovers over 10h (Most of them in BUD and VNO). Skippers are fine, mostly nice guys, but office staff is terrible, they are unwilling to help anyone (of course its a different story if your're some old captains kid 
). Besides myid tickets, which are also very limited to other airlines, no additional benefits, they even deduct parking fee from your salary (you can't find parkings spots most of the time).
). Besides myid tickets, which are also very limited to other airlines, no additional benefits, they even deduct parking fee from your salary (you can't find parkings spots most of the time).
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London
Hello Colleagues,
Can anyone inform about the latest recruitment procedure of LOT for non type rated 200 hours pilots who just out of flight school ?
Paper logic test ////// HR + Technical Interview ///// Psychometric test (Which test ? any name of test ? Vienna test ? ) ///// Simulator screening ?
Or something else ?
How big is the chance for an expat pilot (non EU citizen) to get the job ?
Can anyone inform about the latest recruitment procedure of LOT for non type rated 200 hours pilots who just out of flight school ?
Paper logic test ////// HR + Technical Interview ///// Psychometric test (Which test ? any name of test ? Vienna test ? ) ///// Simulator screening ?
Or something else ?
How big is the chance for an expat pilot (non EU citizen) to get the job ?
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Palmas
Hello Colleagues,
Can anyone inform about the latest recruitment procedure of LOT for non type rated 200 hours pilots who just out of flight school ?
Paper logic test ////// HR + Technical Interview ///// Psychometric test (Which test ? any name of test ? Vienna test ? ) ///// Simulator screening ?
Or something else ?
How big is the chance for an expat pilot (non EU citizen) to get the job ?
Can anyone inform about the latest recruitment procedure of LOT for non type rated 200 hours pilots who just out of flight school ?
Paper logic test ////// HR + Technical Interview ///// Psychometric test (Which test ? any name of test ? Vienna test ? ) ///// Simulator screening ?
Or something else ?
How big is the chance for an expat pilot (non EU citizen) to get the job ?
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London
I see. Thanks for info. So what about unlimited work and residency permit ?
Also any further info about recruitment process ?
Greetings
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Palmas
You don't have an unlimited work and residency permit, you're limited to Poland and that is a limitation. They specifically ask the right to live and work in the European union. The only way to have that is EU citizenship.
Airlines in Europe hire without EU Passport in very limited cases, Ryanair did for captains (only) as late as 2018.
The recruitment process posted here is still the same, have heard rumour they will use a FBS 737.
https://www.pprune.org/terms-endearment/616183-lot-polish-airlines-hiring-3.html#post10470914
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London
I tried to respond to your DM but didn't go through.
You don't have an unlimited work and residency permit, you're limited to Poland and that is a limitation. They specifically ask the right to live and work in the European union. The only way to have that is EU citizenship.
Airlines in Europe hire without EU Passport in very limited cases, Ryanair did for captains (only) as late as 2018.
The recruitment process posted here is still the same, have heard rumour they will use a FBS 737.
You don't have an unlimited work and residency permit, you're limited to Poland and that is a limitation. They specifically ask the right to live and work in the European union. The only way to have that is EU citizenship.
Airlines in Europe hire without EU Passport in very limited cases, Ryanair did for captains (only) as late as 2018.
The recruitment process posted here is still the same, have heard rumour they will use a FBS 737.
Many thanks for kind explanation. That was the exact thing what I was digging for.
Wish you safe landings. Regards
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 91
Likes: 6
From: Kent, UK
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: South of the North pole
Well lets hope the interview process has improved. I know somebody that went a couple years back in 2018 and said it was a disaster. The feedback from lots of pilots is that at the time (not sure about now) was that they came across as very arrogant and not interested in foreigners in the slightest.
I have heard the interview is done over 1 day now including the sim instead of being called back but then again I cannot verify that information, maybe a recent attendee can. Im sure COV-19 will not help the situation now but lets see what happens.
I have heard the interview is done over 1 day now including the sim instead of being called back but then again I cannot verify that information, maybe a recent attendee can. Im sure COV-19 will not help the situation now but lets see what happens.
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London
Can anyone say that are they still recruiting? Because I always see their application offer on the most significant pilot recruitment websites almost every week.
Are they really not welcoming non-Polish pilots in their corps? Are the above arguments true? or really they only seek for Polish pilots?
Are they really not welcoming non-Polish pilots in their corps? Are the above arguments true? or really they only seek for Polish pilots?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: South of the North pole
The above mentioned is feedback from pilots to me that have attended LOT interviews. One very close friend and the others I happen to know thru other pilots. They simply gave me feedback and the common trend was a very rude arrogant approach during the interview. Maybe it is a technique to see how you handle it but nevertheless it is stupid and pointless.
That feedback has come from at least 8 - 10 separate pilots, too many to be some kind of coincidence. That is why I say hopefully the interview process has improved and they take it more seriously now. I have heard recruitment agents give the same feedback from pilots they sent along so Im pretty sure the information is accurate.
This is not a dig at the Polish people, just a mention of how the interview process has gone for quite a few I spoke to. I guess the only way to find out is go along yourself and experience it then report back. Anyway the underlying trend I have notices besides the bad feedback is that nobody I have spoken to has come back and said what a fantastic experience it has been.
That feedback has come from at least 8 - 10 separate pilots, too many to be some kind of coincidence. That is why I say hopefully the interview process has improved and they take it more seriously now. I have heard recruitment agents give the same feedback from pilots they sent along so Im pretty sure the information is accurate.
This is not a dig at the Polish people, just a mention of how the interview process has gone for quite a few I spoke to. I guess the only way to find out is go along yourself and experience it then report back. Anyway the underlying trend I have notices besides the bad feedback is that nobody I have spoken to has come back and said what a fantastic experience it has been.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denmark
Are they really not welcoming non-Polish pilots in their corps? Are the above arguments true? or really they only seek for Polish pilots?[/QUOTE]
Foreigners are needed as they are not able to attract locals. Generally people are nice and respectful. you will always come across some old grumpy guy but this happen everywhere.
If you decide to join you need to accept that this is a polish airline , as a foreigner you are a second class pilots , you will not have same opportunities as a polish for career progression.To my knowledge at the moment there are no foreign capts on emb or Boeing fleets.
Also if you are coming from a western airline standards you may find initially difficult to fit in theyr way of operating. There is no standardization among crews and training is average , crm is poor.
Having said that is true that company is trying to improve theyr training standards but things happen very slowly in here.
Foreigners are needed as they are not able to attract locals. Generally people are nice and respectful. you will always come across some old grumpy guy but this happen everywhere.
If you decide to join you need to accept that this is a polish airline , as a foreigner you are a second class pilots , you will not have same opportunities as a polish for career progression.To my knowledge at the moment there are no foreign capts on emb or Boeing fleets.
Also if you are coming from a western airline standards you may find initially difficult to fit in theyr way of operating. There is no standardization among crews and training is average , crm is poor.
Having said that is true that company is trying to improve theyr training standards but things happen very slowly in here.
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Poland
If you decide to join you need to accept that this is a polish airline , as a foreigner you are a second class pilots , you will not have same opportunities as a polish for career progression.To my knowledge at the moment there are no foreign capts on emb or Boeing fleets.
Also if you are coming from a western airline standards you may find initially difficult to fit in their way of operating. There is no standardization among crews and training is average , crm is poor.
Having said that is true that company is trying to improve theyr training standards but things happen very slowly in here.[/QUOTE]
I am LOT Polish Airlines pilot and start to find out all these complaints a little bit irritating. So maybe it's good idea to establish some basis facts:
Fact#1: LOT Polish Airlines is one of very few national airlines which keeps foregin pilots during covid. Emirates, Qatar and so on fired foreign pilots first.
Fact#2: LOT is also one of very few national airlines which does not required from foreign pilots use of native language. As far as I know you can forget about flying in Lufthansa, Swiss or Austrian without fluent German.
Fact#3: Also as far as I know majority of foreign pilots did not meet the recruitment requirements of other airlines and where not accepted during the screening process. It is worth considering why foreign pilots decided to accept offer and take a job at LOT despite all the disadvantages? Maybe because it was their only option?
Fact#4: Foreign pilots have the same opportunities and are not second class pilots. On Emb there is no foreign captains because non of the foreign pilots have meet the requirements for promotion.The all work in company to short and don't have required flight experience. To my knowledge there is a group of foreign pilots who expected being promoted to group of First Officers on EMB authorised to fly LCY skipping the queue of more experienced polish pilots. Is that fair?
Fact#5: We do our best to warmly welcome foreign pilots. I also would not agree about CRM. We don't have all be friend, but we all do our best to be professionals and crew cooperation is one of the most important aspects. For Polish pilots it is also a new situation - LOT never before hired foreign pilots. We also have to learn how to cooperate with foreign colleges and how to work in multinational crews - so maybe sometimes there may be some confusing situation, but as I've mentioned we do our best.
Fact#6: LOT Polish Airlines like all fast growing airlines have some operational problems. But you have to accept it or you can leave - it's always personal decision.
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: DUS
...
From what I’ve heard they really didn’t fire a single pilot during the pandemic. Nobody was even forced into unpaid leave. There was a major base salary cut, but they try to keep everybody current(doesn’t matter if local or expat) and the people get extra simulators just to practice. So maybe 2 years ago it wasn’t the best choice as far as the T&C’s but my guess is that at least they treat their pilots much better than EK and similar ones... But I’ve also heard, that there can be quite a mess in constantly changing SOP’s during the last year.