Me109

I can identify with your experience of LoCo airline based out of Luton as well.

Made one error right at the beginning - accelerated at 1500' instead of 3000' (doing what I normally do every day of the week) but everything else was to a very above average standard. I speak as someone who is extremely self-critical!

A friend of mine went through on the same day and made several small mistakes (with a different assessor) but was still accepted. He is now a Captain with them.

I pointed out my error on the self assessment form we filled in (self-aware) but still got rejected. Wrote to said company asking to see what had been written about me but was told they couldn't do that. I reminded them that it is the law that someone should have access to something that has been written about them. They relented and told me that the report said that apart from the initial error the rest of the assessment was to a good standard!

My only contact with a certain south-coast based training organisation but it wasn't a good one. They are costing EZY (oops) a lot of perfectly competent individuals but EZY (oops) are too thick skinned to realise it.

All history to me now and their rejection has actually worked in my favour.

Pilot shortage
 

Cuillin ,

I have met a lot of people lately with the same story . It really is amazing .
A very good friend of mine had his sim very recently , he called me afterwards and sais that it was a mess . He over shot the dme on the outbound leg , and missed his altitude by 200 feet . He recieved a phone call 2 days later offering him either aircraft type , he wasnt fussy about basing .
I am sincerely delighted for him . From all the accounts I hear of this selection , there are so many inconsistancies . Anyway , it has worked out better for me as I have been put foreward for a command , providing my next LPC is up to scratch.
The CAA will provide info on how many ATPL and CPL holders there are , and also how many candidates are up for their GFT's .
There are not that many , so I believe that this certain Lo Co will have problems as early as next summer in getting qualified people . Indeed , all airlines will have similar problems .
My present company , who will remain nameless , are already having problems in recruiting for next summer .:D

Who wants to join the pilots of today?

I hear Flybe have just dropped their starting salary for new dash f/o's down to £23 000.00. They have increased the pay by 4% per year for the next 3 years for current staff and brought dash trainers onto jet pay to try to retain those they have.

Just scraped through the Balpa ballot :ouch:

Hapzim

I got my first airline job as a turboprop (F27) first officer 17 years ago and started on £17.5K. Things have improved in all that time to £23K!

Says it all really.

Me109

The CTC guy who assessed me at EZY was also ex 757/767 but I don't know from which operator. This was about 3 years ago. Had never failed even an item on any OPC/LPC. Had never flown a 737 up until then either.

Water under the bridge and I am far better off now than if I had gone to EZY.

Get your command with present company and get some command hours up. If you still have itchy feet then don't give up your command. I did and regretted it. I can maybe think of one or two operators it is worth giving your command up for.

All the best

Looking worldwide
 

Hello,

Does anyone know if there is a major airline that hires pilots that have not flown jet?
I'm looking for a F/O position flying jets. I'm currently flying a Dash 8 as Captain. I hold 6,000 hrs TT, which 900 are as PIC on type.
I'd appreciate any information in the matter. Thanks a lot!!!

Try the Flybe/BACON Fiasco thread.

But put your kevlar on!;)

BR.

I wonder how do contractor renewals fit into the "need" numbers?

Official figure for this year was/is 426 pilots....

Pilot shortage in Europe?
 

I've been hearing rumors from all kinds of places, mostly TRTO's who are trying to sell me TR's that there is a really big shortage of pilots in Europe right now?
Are these rumors true or just a way of trying to sell products?
If there is a shortage, where and on what type of aircraft?

Hei Founder..

I'm afraid that's rumours, because as far as I can see, most airlines have now completed there recruitment for this summer.. If there's a shortage I think it will be for captains, and experienced F/O for fast track command..

There's a shortage of instructors, and pilots who are willing to fly aerial photography, sightseeing etc.. At least that's the case i Denmark at the moment...
However I've heard that Sterling is still recruiting through there SSTR scheme, but that's an expensive option if you ask me..

Good luck.
BAP

there are lots of jobs arround but there is only a lack of experianced pilots at the moment!
The problem is that the airlines are still not willing to pay for experience!

Neil

That's what everybody says, but Jim McAuslan the General Secretary of BALPA said last month that pilots are in short supply and claimed unless airlines are flexibile they'll struggle to recruit. He was talking about low experience/low hours FOs.

You can email him c/o [email protected]
I don't know if you have to be a member to get leads/inside info, but nothing to lose by asking.

There's a shortage of trainers and sim slots for TRs.

SWISS is cancelling flights nearly every day due to flight crew shortage. Lease in of Helvetic F100s and occasionally Edelweiss A320s and Belair B757 to cope with lack of flight crews on the ARJ fleet...

According to Loganair management there's a shortage of inexperienced F/Os in Scotland/UK...we have had to hire hoards of Swedes who just happen to be type rated on the Saab

I know this is not the same continent, but one regional airlines in US has lowered the minimums to 250tt to hire pilots. So will other US regional airlines do too very soon. There is a big big big BIG Flight Instructor shortage in US right now. Schools are crying for FI and mean time student from china, India and some European students are on hold due to lack of instructors. The demand for pilots is not being met by the supply. It will look good for few years!!!

Good Luck :ok:

No Shortage Yet!!
 

You will know when there is a pilot shortage when it is routine to offer type ratings for new-hires.

That is most definitely not the current situation.

Having said that, the situation does appear (to me) to be improving. A few have moved on from my company after a long, more or less static, period. And have been replaced with low timers who pay their own TR.

klm
 

Even an airline like klm is has canceled several flights in the last few weeks.
On the 330 ,pilots are flying on their days off and leave period.
those were flights I can monitor ,because I was scheduled to position on them; so how many more in the whole network?

If it is true that The almighty KLM are cancelling flights, justice may being served.
May be now they will reflect on how they have mistreated many of the crews from AIR UK. The VNV and KLM policy to rid the company of this group of very professional pilot and cabin crew because of there nationalities is an absolute disgrace.
Lets hope they get there just deserve.

the grass is always greener...
 

somewhere else...

Most wannabees would fly for next to nothing just to get the wheel started. I observed plenty of them lately, some having had to wait up to 5 years (at great expense) before landing their first job.
As a young F/O, the next step is the full ATPL. Buiding hours and experience you then start looking elsewhere, realizing that your airline pays peanuts (the very reason they employed you in the first place!). Moving to a better place, bigger/better craft and racking hours, soon in a position to move LHS. You will then either upgrade in the present company with some bond scheme or still earning peanuts, or move some place else.
Once positionned on the cosy port seat, you again start collecting hours, thereby conforting your position.
Then, and only then, will you have the luxury to relax and watch the grass grow and go for the most attractive one ;)

I don't really observe any "pilot shortage" in the good (well paying, looking after their flight crew, future oriented, etc) airlines, but a "pilot demand" in the smaller and less attractive outfits.

Thing is also, that in the recession a lot of elderly pilots have had to take their hat into retirement, leaving a void that has not be filled yet. Associated to market expansion, it has created in the last 2 years a demand wave that is now slowly diminishing.

Well, all in all, just a contant evolution of the market :cool: