Does anybody know much about the latest recruitment drive, I'm assuming they are recruiting more 787 pilots considering the recent closure of EDI (and a surplus of 737 pilots)? Or am I way off the mark considering the expansion of the 737 fleet?

I have had a look at the salary tables and is simply not true that RYR or J2 earn more. As far as the hotels go I am told they are quite nice actually

Are you able to share?

Awful and cursed Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick is the worst hotel I ever visited, still have nightmares about the stay...

I wonder how many reports have been written about that hotel and still nothing...

Hi guys,

A couple of questions regarding the contract - I've been umming and arring about applying recently having totally lost all confidence in my current employers management and structure, however I flew with a captain the other day who was ex Norwegian LH from LGW who brought me back down to earth slightly. My questions are as follows:

1) Is there a pension scheme?
2) Are W patterns still a theme at LGW? (I've read in this post that they no longer are, but is that 100% correct or is there still the occasional one?)
3) Is there a salary scale with increases per year/s of service?
4) What is the likelihood of getting your preferred base if successful in interview? (For me, LGW)

Thanks

Hi,
I can answer you 3 and 4.
After three years in lgw you'll be switching to osm where you will get additional block hour pay above 65hr. Don't have the exact numbers in my head but it's quite a lot.
And getting lgw is no problem. Every new pilot starts there. I got two of my preferred bases already straight away.

For the time being, there won't be any more upgrade for new joiners in probably a long time now. As it looks like, Short Haul is trying to force themselves into Long Haul, claiming the master seniority list. They also try to change the PIC requirements, so basically a 737 captain can directly go onto the 787, even without any kind of experience on the 787 or for that matter any wide body long haul aircraft (or any aircraft in NAT/ETOPS ops) at all.

Stay away until things go back to normal here.

So basically it works the same way as in many other airlines such as BA, LH, AA and so and so forth. The bitterness and supremacist expressions by certain Long Haul pilots the last few days has been quite tragic to see and hear.

Ummmm, not quite. BA, LH, AA and so forth pilots are all employed directly by their employers with completely guaranteed career paths and single AOCs. Norwegian LH (and SH) pilots are employed by various agencies and according to various terms and conditions on various AOCs (the Brits getting the worst deal and the French the best). Experienced FOs have come here for a relatively quick command, a feat only possible by product of distinct AOCs and employment terms where LH and SH are deemed two separate entities. Why else would they be attracted to the lowest paying LH FO position in the world? Some of them now may not even see a Cruise Relief Captain position let alone a command for 5 years. It's not the airline they signed up to.

Please climb down from your tree. No where did I say EVERY FO should get a command after 5 years. I'm talking about an opportunity/a shot/a crack at a command. The issue at hand is that the opportunity may no longer be there due to the company changing direction and favoring a group that was never part of the original equation. And it's not about status, it's about the bank balance. No one wants to be a LH pilot averaging a take home of £3,500 per month. Norwegian LH has mostly hired experienced FOs not 200 hours cadets!

That's my doing actually FlipFlapFlop, he's innocent (I changed it). I wanted to make it sound more generic than a personal thing about me!

Maybe I'm missing something, and please tell me If I have, but isn't this actually desirable? Shouldn't all pilots working with the Norwegian banner on the side of their ships have the same conditions and have mixable career paths? How is this detrimental to the pilot body at large? I understand that it can set back commands for right seat pilots, and that wasn't what they planned for when joining, but long term it would probably be healthier for everyone in aviation if this horrible mix of contracts and T&C's disappeared.

Edit: and also this thing about the UK branch having the worst conditions in an airline spread over Europe seems to be a recurring thing. Any of you UK guys ever stop to think about why that is, given you having among the highest costs of living?

My 2 cents would have something to do with Mrs. Thatcher...

I wholeheartedly agree, however many SFOs with 10+ years in the biz will be feeling pretty p***** off if they have to sacrifice themselves NOW for the horrible mix of contracts and T&Cs to disappear. Regarding your other question. We stop and think about it all the time.