Hello

just wan to know the typical conditions for f/o on a330 (not the tropical...) and the recruitement process for an expat at all

thank s and take care:ok:

737ng FOs
 

Hi all,

Are there any 737ng FOs out at KAL who can answer the following:

Typical hours / take home pay.
Whats it like flying with local captains / dealing with operations etc.
Roster type - do they do 13 hour days like I do at my low cost airline.
Any stop overs?
Type of room the put you in at the hyatt.
Cost of a typical meal in the hotel.
Do you get meals onboard etc.

Regards

Damianik what happened to Netjets?

From what I have looked at if you join as an FO then as an FO you shall stay. Bit of a dead end in terms of future job prospects no? :sad:

Some questions for 747 crews:

1. What are the 747-400 trip-patterns like?

2. How long a layover do you get in destinations like London, Frankfurt, New York and LAX?

3. Is there any form of trip bidding system?

4. How far in advance do you receive your roster?

5. Can trips be swapped?

Many thanks in advance.

A330 DEC with no experience on type....
 

I read that to be hired by KAL as DEC in A330's they need only the A330 PIC type rating with no experience on type. :rolleyes:
Is it true?
Thanks for any reply.

Info is available on CCL - Korean Air Recruitment Details

It says, 2000hr PIC in airline operations
Operated type as PIC within last 2 years.
It therefore suggests that you must have PIC experience on type but doesn't actually spell out how much.
Easiest solution is to email them, I have found them very helpful. :ok:

Hi captplaystation, am a newbie so pls excuse the question; what is the actual website of ccl ? Thanks for the help. Cheers !

Click on the link on my post above, it works for me :ok:

If not, it is CCL - Korean Air Recruitment Details

hi, does anybody know something about the KAL interview and screening program. What about the medical screening - any specific bodymass index requirements?
Thanks;)

Just to add my little input - a friend of ours is now working for Korean on the 777 and said the training was excruciating. He said that he was marked down for not having the WX radar bright enough. He may be exaggerating, but I could tell that he found it pretty tough. I'd expect the medical to be JUST as stringent (I know our friend had his fingers burnt due to high cholesterol - but unfortunately I have no precise details on the medical itself). I'm joining the industry at the moment and considered following him, but quickly decided that I couldn't stand the training and the months away from sunny Blighty!

Having said that, someone asked earlier on in the thread if the safety has improved at KAL, and I would say that it is now, from what our friend's been saying, totally paramount and up there with the big European operators. And both the 777 and the 330 are pretty good machines to operate - particularly coming off the 757!

It also strikes me as a very exciting job - so many months in Korea and then back home for a little break. Thorough training, fabulous aircraft, interesting base and super destinations. And for a CAPT like he is, pretty good pay. If i wasn't so far away, I'd probably go for it myself.

All the best to potential KAL candidates

Many thanks to all the thread contributors, very interesting reading!

I would like some advice from all you guys with a few more grey hairs than myself.

I am currently 24 years old with ~1700 hrs logged, of which ~1350 73NG. I believe you can all guess which European LoCo company i am working for right now, given my high ratio of NG time...

I've applied via one of the contracting agencies, and am hoping for an interview in Sept for the B737NG F/O position. Heres the million dollar question: would KAL be a wise move? My current company could provide an opportunity for command at about 3000 hrs total, but I am trying to get out asap, dure to tax implications and "management-by-fear" culture. Plus, as you all know, there are no benefits whatsoever (own food, only hot water provided for coffee, pay for uniform, sim, hotels, license, medical etc.etc.)

I am simply looking to get into a proper organisation, to see more of the world and learn a different way of operating the machinery. Of course the rumours(?) about no upgrade to command within the 5 years or type swapping sounds like really bad news, the plus side is my country has a tax agreement with Korea meaning I keep all my money. Right now I am more or less a tax fugitive.

I've got some additional questions to those already answered in this great thread:

1) Crew meals when on duty? On layovers? If yes - quality?

2) Home travel for off days - economy or business for F/Os?

3) I've also heard you can get booked for home travel on the cargo fleet for destinations not covered by pax network - true?

4) Hows life when on layovers, off days in ICN? Any interaction with cabin crew, rumour has it this is culturally impossible?

5) Spare time activities? Golf, beach etc?

6) What do you believe is higher regarded by other major airlines; a lot of F/O time in different companys and parts of the world, or Command at minimum time with one LoCo operator in Europe? Whats the best career strategy?

7) The thread has been quiet for a while, can any expat B737 F/O advice what the flight deck athmosphere is like? Flying only with local cpts?

Thanks in advance to all contributors!

Hi cumulustratus,

My simple advice: bite the bullet and stay where you are. Get your command and move as a captain when you can. You could get yourself trapped as FO for a long time if you moved now, or not, but there will be a lot more uncertainty.

KAL is a Good operation to work for. However, regardless of the propaganda, F/Os will never upgrade, unless by an act of god. Stay where you are, get your command, accumulate at least 1,000 hours of PIC, and then go to KAL as a DEC. You will be much better off.

Cumulustratus,
My two cents, stay where you are. Get your command first, then hunt for a new job. Good luck

UK ex-pats tax
 

Hi,

Are there any UK pilots working for Korean on the 744 that can answer?

Q1. Could you briefly explain the double taxation legalities coming home to the UK on your days off?

Q2. Whats percentage of your US$ dollars are paid in UK tax each month? / Take home pay?(744)

Thanks Chaps. :sad:

Another question I have is how are Western pilots treated by their Korean counterparts whilst on a trip or during a flight? Is there much conversation or is it quiet and "awkward"? Do the Western pilots get shunned and shut out of any crew interaction or are accepted as part of the group on a trip? I realise there are big cultural differences and that showing respect for the Korean pilots is very important, etc. I also realise that certain pilots will be different from others (some more interactive than others).

What can a Westerner "typically" expect? Can anyone provide insight? Are you pretty much on your own during layovers and during long cruises at altitude?

How about the Incheon Hyatt? Is that a nice place?

Hi guys!

A short one, does one of you know if it's possible to be based in ICN ? with house/appart. renting, family and so on... ?

Sorry.
 

It is not possible to get a home base Inchon. Look to Asiana if you like that deal. They provide company Apartment.

Second, do you REALLY want to live here? I think you would reconsider if you were here.

... good thread
 

... since this is a good thread I would like to keep it alive!

So since it seams lots of pilots are heading there, anybody has any latest news on the KAL REAL minimum requirements for DEC NTR 777, because the minimum requirements posted in all the agencies web-sites are really low!

Bumba wants to know

Negative... don't waste your time unless you actually have at least 4,000 PIC time on large jet aircraft with at least 1500 hours on the 757, 767 or 747-400. Preferrential treatment will be given to TREs/TRIs

There is not much talk about Korean Air these days. What is the latest? I'm thinking about interviewing in May. US, 747 1000 + PIC on the 744.

Yes, same but for the 777... don't have the command type hours for DEC sadly, so is as F/o.
I see terms have improved slightly too?
Can they be depended on or does it change once the ink has dried, like India/China?
Is "the culture" still the same or has it shifted somewhat after the SFO accident of there cousins?

Annex:
Further to my last, Ive just found out that I can not apply to Korean as I do not have a university Degree!
Turkish also have this requirement (for upgrade).
Has it ever occurred to them, that if I had a Degree I would be earning much better Terms & Conditions in another industry outside Aviation? I think not and hence their endless and ever increasing shortage of qualified crew, on all fleets now!
Obviously some airlines prefer to park their aircraft against the fence instead of getting qualified and experienced crew onside to get them moving and earning $$$ for them.
It doesn't seem to be an isolated problem either but prevalent in many corners of the globe, sadly.

FYI,

The university degree is the legal minimal requirement in which the government imposes for expat recruitment; not just in KAL, but across all sectors of expat employment in South Korea :ok:

Thanks Stoneage, as I suspected.
I was just frustrated and on my soapbox.

Did my 5 years with them as 777 DEC. Survived. But NEVER miss it.

Korean Airlines hiring
 

Anyone have any info on if there is reverse rostering is the LAX and SFO bases?

No reverse rostering from what I've heard

KAL has a home base program.

B744 offers LAX

B777 offers LAX and SFO

Korean Airlines hiring
 

The rumor on the street is that if the base has enough pilots, the reverse rostering is allowed? Anyone with first hand knowledge on this?

You would be correct. There needs to be enough weekly frequency (three days a week I believe) for a base to be offered.

KAL B777 contract
 

Hello guys.
Anyone currently flying 777 Left seat for KAL?
I'm looking to make a move from the sandpit to the Far East.
Maybe you could answer some of my questions:

How's Sim and line training really like?

If you live where you're based at , do you get to fly there during your roster pattern or only starting and ending your days off?

Any other important info before I hit Enter?

Thank you.

What about the NUT test ?:eek:

Any other bases for the 744? What about freighter rosters? Heard that those rosters are not too bad and more to be introduced?

Anybody any info on KAL 330 F/O contracts?

I think they're 5 year contracts and FOs get a bonus on completion, I think around $36,000 but I stand to be corrected. I have heard that they're changing things so that FOs can be upgraded but you'd need to ask someone who really knows like Rishworth, DPI, CCL etc.

Korean Airlines Information
 

Hey guys, i am interested in KAL 737 commuting contract but i am not sure if they are keeping their promises ?

1) the most important one - do they give you 12 consecutive off blocks and they say you can use your annual leave which is 30 days to your off blocks which is lets say approximately 2 days. Do you have 14 days of at total each month ? that seems really crazy and really hard to believe.

2)Is it easy to commute ? do they give fixed seats on the way back home even for first officers ?

3) Aprroximately when you are able to be promoted to Captain if you have the experience ? Is it possible at KAL

4) if you look at couple of years ago KAL is known as a company who has the worst in CRM as an national airline ? is it true or is it just rumours ? how are the things right now over there as a expat first officer

if anybody can help me out with some information i would be very happy !

thanx

Hello folks,

im also looking into a 737 FO contract,
since most of the stuff in this topic is ancient, anyone with some recent experience?

Rosters, (working)culture, everything they (rishworth) offer in the contract comes true in real life etc.

PM or reply all the same.
Thanks very much!

Be careful with signing or completion bonus, I have several friends who did´t receive anything, even being TRE in the company... Just a way to attract people. One friend is living there with his family, other is commuting, both long haul. Don´t know who is happier :confused: Company treats you well, strict training but once released ok. But very asian culture :oh:, steep hierarchy as in many asian airlines. Commuting roster about 15 days working, a week at home. Risworth is helping a lot to settle down and getting you up to speed.
Good luck! :ok:

Signing bonus
 

I received my $3000 bonus after I completed training. I'm with CCL.