Two years ago Thomson received in excess of 900 applicants when it advertised for pilots, I imagine because it was seen as an excellent career airline.

Last year that number fell to just 40. Yes you read that right. Read into that what you will!

PAPI
Yep that's the regs but tell me what the major changes are at Thomson e.g. EASA has no limits on nights but how many will you be operating under EASA - Or is there no change???

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What happened??? Thomson used to be a decent company! RIP the industry as a career I fear!

Only 40!!!!!! Maybe if they consider non rated experienced people they may get a stronger response. At least half of my outfit would move up to TOM if the opportunity was offered and it was a reasonable contract.

I think the reason for the low number may have been due to two reasons,
1- it was very short notice indeed, not very well advertised and the company relied heavily on personal recommendations (which they never seemed to use?)
2- if you were unsuccessful the last time you were unable to reapply for 12 months..... This meant a lot of the past applicants couldn't then reapply!

or

3.people have worked out that 81,3% of pay scales for 5 years plus the £7k and 8% pension it would not be financially viable to move from where they are.

4. in the previous recruitment round to the last would many of the new PPY50 pilots were made full time within a year through a deal struck by the union so expectation by applicants in the last rounds would be too, this didn't happen and likely won't again. So perhaps all the RYR pilots who joined are maybe not so keen to recommend as the previous bunch had been.

or any combination of the above.

As for recruiting non rated pilots, if they do that then the cost is £7k per annum for the first 3 years or £2400 per month for the first 8 months.

then there is the cadet scheme which is the above pay figures reduced to 81.3% oh and they deduct £2400 per month for the duration of the contract, pretty much one of the worse paid cadet schemes there is our there at the moment, there has been no external cadet recruitment for a few years.

but, until there is a shortage of applicants don't expect the terms to improve, supply and demand etc ....... so I guess the path through aviation will be something like RYR>TOM>BA/VS/elsewhere as confirmed by the number of recent joiners who have just left us having not been here long for the likes of full time BA (and that was leaving a 15% pension, never mind a 7% one).

*yes above figures increased by a couple percent in last pay round, I have never made £1300 a month on DR and FDA though !? Perhaps it depends where you are based (756/787 definitely takes home more FDA and DR due to trips).

Tom pay.
 

Lead and you think so.

For the avoidance of doubt, I think the figure of 1300.00 per month
FDA and rig ,
is easily achievable ,on a busy summer month without leave and is a gross figure and accurate when netted back after tax.

For info.

757 Shorthaul only last Summer, average FDA and DR 1300.
767 Winter Longhaul, average FDA & DR 2000.

Many recent 73 joiners worked full time in Winter as they went to Canada and several others (18 months service) have already bid onto 757/767.

So if those who went to Canada worked all winter will they now be made full time ? And those pilots senior to them who are ppy50 but didn't go to Canada ?

No. Canada was voluntary, but you can of course bid to go back next winter to get the full time pay.

When if any is this rumoured recruitment to be commenced?

Assessment days are planned for 27 September to the 2nd October. So who knows when the applications need to be in.

Going on previous years, I would hazard a guess the application will open in August and close before the end of the month.

Recruitment opening up this August for circa 60 new FO's including non type-rated.

Sunwing
 

How does the detachment to Sunwing in the winter work? Does the company provide accommodation? Do you get to come back to the UK during the detachment? Is there much interest/uptake?

Just to confirm busybee's post, this is a quote from an email from Stuart Gruber our DFO...

" We are planning for up to 60 pilots to join Thomson Airways this winter to be ready and on line for summer 2016. This will include external type rated and non-type rated pilots and six internal cadets. Our external recruitment campaigns will be launched in the coming weeks."

Good news that non-type rated pilots are included this time. Note the cadets will, as on previous occasions, be recruited from licence holders within Thomson.
With regard to the Canada detachment, yes accommodation is provided, (and a car I think). It is crewed from volunteers who bid for the detachment. Opportunities to return home are limited I believe, but some take family with them.

Canada
 

Uptake among LHS'ers is low on the canada detachment, presumably due to generally having more family commitments in the UK. There are also some grumbles from them that the package is not attractive enough to make them go. Uptake among the RHS'ers is quite healthy, especially among the PPY part time guys. Going to Canada makes them full time and thus tops up the P60 quite nicely. Not to mention all the lay overs in the caribbean with some of the fantastic CC at Sunwing ;)

Sounds great! What experience do they usually require as NTR?

I am considering applying back to TOM next month having been surplus back in 2010. Since TOM I've gained 738 command experience which I'm hesitant to give up completely. If Thomson are short of Captain volunteers for Canada would anyone know whether they might consider offering an FO with experience in the left seat a temporary winter command to fill the Canada requirement? I'm guessing the answer is no, but if you don't ask......

Hi Worldoffe. As it is a new departure for recruitment to include NTR I'm afraid there is nothing to pass on with regard to requirements. All will be revealed on the TUI job advert. www.tuijobsuk.co.uk

LOCO...you are right, temporary winter Canada commands are not going to happen. On a more general note, in excess of 20 permanent full time commands have just been announced for next summer, and the retirement profile accelerates over the next few years, ( including me!), leading to a reduction in time to command in TOM.