Their standards are high. We have inherited a load of guys KLM forced to retire early. I believe the company has now raised the retirement age again (but there is no way back for those who have already started drawing their unbelievably high pension).

Thank you ;)

No one is forced to retire early at KLM
Retirement age was 56 at 100% and 58 at 80% etc
As of 2015 its 58 at 100%
Pension is high yes, but due to fiscal changes, not so good for the new generation.

Dutch Really a requirement?
 

Dont see anything on their Site

Good News!
 

The Old Guard leaving with good pension, making room for young and not so young.
That is the principle the Union Deal is all about.
The past is the past. Get over it.

The fact is that there is finally great movement into pension in most Flag Carrier, or real Airlines with proper deals.
Not like the old days, but better then most LOCOs.

With regards to Dutch being required I personally know more then 10 Norwegians that started in KLM with no dutch language skill.
They were better pilots then the Dutch, mind You, and hence were hired.
I have also done a few dozen MCC courses with Dutch F16 and heli crew some time ago, good crew. And brilliant at pilot incapasitation , with Emergency Return.
You all send in an application and quit moaning!
You will all make the left side soon , as the majority of the Captains have retired in 7 to 10 years. ( Math Boys, must study it!)
Pass the test , then You have a choice.
Good Luck to all.
Regards
Cpt B

There are loads of guys who recently joined KLM and dit not come from the KLM flightschool, including me. I haven't heard from anyone that they had a tough time initially. I've flown for 2 other airlines before and must say that life at KLM is pretty relaxed. Speaking Dutch is a necessity though since the common tongue at work is Dutch.

Good luck with the Dutch lessons!

Hi all

I am currently in an old legacy up in the north, but with the constant threat of outsourcing and downsizing I am thinking about bailing out.

What's the current situation at KLM? Will there be any more recruitment in the near future?
Just to clarify, is there a requirement to speak Dutch prior to joining KLM?
Looking through this thread some people say its absolutely mandatory while others know of people who got in without knowing Dutch but with the requirement to learn it eventually.

Thankful for any info.
PMs are appreciated also.

-number for 2020 was around 150-200. Around 60 would be from own flightschool.
-at the moment recruitment is on hold due to the virus. Since there are less flights due to the virus, all the slots are used for fleet movement.
-currently Dutch is a must!, the entire recruitment is in dutch. we do have some pilots who only speaks english, those where due to mergers in the past.
-long term recruitment depends on expansion of schiphol.
-and how much air france is growing, because we are only allowed to expand if they do.

KLM is hiring pilots for 2023 https://careers.klm.com/KLM/job/Schi...023/762238302/
They ask for 500 hours on aircraft above 5,7 tones and 150 hours in the last 12 months.
Does anyone knows the assessment procedure?

Do you have any numbers for 2023 recruitment or when the assessments will start?

For the coming years KLM expects the need to recruit around 80-100 new pilots a year to cover retirements. The flight school produces around 60 a year which means that roughly 20-40 external hires will be needed annually.

Obviously it’ll fluctuate a bit year to year. In slow years they might not need any external recruitment, and in other years when they’re scrambling to get their crewing levels to where they should be it could be a lot more.

As for when the assessments will start I’m not sure. The vacancy is open till the beginning of March and then they’ll need to process everything so I would guess around late spring/early summer…