Vietnam 320 position
 

Does any one know the new contract company that has been awarded the A320 contract for VAC?

I hear they are Vietnam based any offering slightly better conditions than the irish or new zealanders. Does anyone have the contact email or web site address?

All agencies have a contract to provide A320 crews for HVN. So you have the choice. There is no single provider for this contract as all agencies are struggeling to provide the required crews.

I will have a look for the contact details of the "local" agency. But be aware that this agency is brand new. They put a letter in each Airbus pilot's mailbox in April when the Airbus contract was up for renewal. This letter was not very nice and was proof that they don't know the market.

I will post the details when I get hold of them.

Miles hi;
 

Do you have any details on the Engineers' contract? Like money?

Wrenchbender
 

I'm afraid not. This was last April if I remember. I'll try and find out, but my mole isn't a mech.

Any captain seat up for grabs with A320 TR and no hours on type, but with a massive experience ?

Miles Hi;

Thanks.

Hvn Driver

"This letter was not very nice and was proof that they don't know the market."


Do you still have a copy of the letter or what did it say that was not very nice ?

Does anyone know?
 

Thanks for the rpely . Cn anyone give me any information on the lifestyle and conditions in Vietnam

The letter of the local contract agency that was placed in the Airbus pilot's boxes includes some interesting statements. One of this was that they have heabs of pilots in their database that are willing to return to Vietnam as they had been their when the A320's were introduced by Air France. Further this agency advised the pilots to register within a week if not they wouldn't have a job if they would get the contract.

According to my information the said agency pulled out of the bit as they couldn't provide even one pilot's details (Vietnam Airlines requires copies of logbooks, licence, medical etc.).

The point was and is all agencies are struggeling to provide the required number of pilots. The market for A320 drivers is very good presently.

Regarding the contract agencies.
All agencies have been invited by Vietnam Airlines to offer pilots. This is due the fact that the previous sole provider for Airbus pilots, which was the company from NZ, wasn't able to provide the requested number of pilots. This led initially to a split of the FO contract. So the Australien compnay that provides the biggest part of the B767 pilots got one part of the splitted Airbus FO contract.
Even with two agencies working to provide pilots the requested and required numbers couldn't be provided. So finaly Vietnam Airlines accepts proposals of "all" agencies as they are really short of pilots on the Airbus fleet.
Finaly the Irish company joined the race and so the rated improved not very much but they did, which let to an salary increase for the "old" pilots.
As far as I know the rates are the same for all agencies and only the insurance differs, not very much.

The reason why most of the old pilots are not happy with the NZ company is, that there have been three payscales for the captains and some other issues are also not like they should be.

A further problem was the requirement to pay for the costs of the Seychelles air law exam. Until a month ago this exam had to be passed before going for the simulator check. The exam was held in the Seychelles and the costs were high.
Recently this requirement was changed and the airline accepts pilots without the airlaw exam. This evolved an other problem. Presently there are two groups of Airbus pilots. Those who have a Seychelles licence and those who don't. The later are only allowed to operate the A321's as these are Vietnam registered. So imagine what happens if there is an aircraft change from A321 to A320. Yep rostering is getting even more difficult, now they even don't have enough pilots the rostering people have also to cope with two different groups within one fleet.
An other problem is the reimbursement of the costs for the Seychelles medical. The airline wont reimburse it and the NZ agency never did. But you are required to have a Seychelles license according to the present contract.

If you have a look at the Far East forum you will find some information about living in Saigon and what you have to expect here.

Flying for Vietnam Airlines is in a lot of points very different if you are used to a "normal" western airline. For sure even in Europe, or North America you will find different operations and different companies. But keep this in mind and also keep in mind that this is Asia and that this is the SR Viet Nam!