Astraeus Recruitment
 

Latest Flight Int. has an AEU ad.

Any current AEU jockeys want to give an assessment of what to expect from joining as an experienced 75 f/o ?

I cant speak for the F/O's on the 75 but as an AEU F/O on the 73 at Man we are getting around 50 hrs of flying at the moment with the summer season yet to really start, but we have a large variety in flights like MAN-SID-FAO-MAN and lots of flights down to Egypt.

The company now seams to have direction with more 75's coming on line 76's are also due and later in the year more 737-700's.

The 73 crews are also working in sweeden for Sterling which is owned by the banking `group who now own AEU and the 75's are going to be doing work out in Iceland when Astraeus Iceland is set up or possible FlyStar Iceland with our new branding.

I know the 75 drivers have a lot of variety in destinations they visit, its an interesting company to work for pleanty of early starts but very few night flights and unless the flights are long ones down to Africa you will get back to your home base.

Well worth a look:)

Do they take none rated pilots?

Non-rated DECs with small bond. I think FOs may need a rating or have to buy it, but not absolutely sure.

Just as a matter of interest.

What is the pay for new starters at AEU. I have 160 hours on 737-800.

Thanks.

The basic is 37,500 and then duty pay of 2.20 per hr obviously some is taxable and some non taxable look to bring home out of duty pay somewhere between 250-350 per month on top of basic.
I know new FO;s have been going to work on the Sterling contracts employed to Astraeus through a recruitment agency, money is slightly different on the duty pay I think its about 50.00 per day more but your only out there for four days at a time, company arranges all transport and accomodation in GOT.
Hope this helps.:)

astraeus pension
 

anybody able to shed some light on astraeus's pension scheme? value of company/individual contributions? name of company scheme with etc..

Up to 6% basic, matched contributions. I think it's with Mercers.

Anyone had any response from the online application yet?

(I hate it when you press the Send button and it disappears into the ether - shame there is not an auto email response to say it has actually arrived.)

You may find the system grinds rather slowly- an awful lot going on at the moment for a small airline. It just may take longer than you expect.

I'm not an 'experienced' FO (400 hours), nor have I worked for any other airline than AEU so have a limited frame of reference.
However I enjoy it very much at AEU. 'family' atmosphere, I've been there about 5-6 months and already know many / most of the people there.
Flying is fantastically varied. My shortest sector, 20 mins, longest, 7 hours. Raw data non-precision and visual approaches in deepest darkest africa to full international bells and whistles in europe. From the arctic circle to the equator.
You get to visit, and stay, in some countries you will never, ever go to normally, for some that's a good thing, for others bad. Freetown for example is what you make of it. I don't mind it there.
Rosters are fairly stable. Ad-Hoc charters come up quite a bit, so roster changes can happen, but some of those charters are pretty interesting.
All in all I think its a good place to be, I certainly have no intention of going anywhere else.
Admin however can be a bit hit and miss, so don't think you've been ignored if you don't get a reply for a while! Chasing up can work well.

Thanks for the insight AlexL, can you give me an idea of rosters, whats a typical month look like??
Cheers JJB

Gree with AlexL. 737LGW a bit light on work at the moment, but MAN base very busy. Very varied structure, good destinations, changing through year. Happy atmosphere, very nice people- pleasant change after Big Airline flying. One year down and happy, staying,

Hi,
An average month is very varied,you can expect:
1/a five day trip to one of the africas
2/possibly a three day job to africa
3/lots of out and backs
4/some standby.
5/ eight days off (occasionally 10 if doing extended duties)

In the winter the weekends are dominated by out and backs to ski destinations.
Flying 50-60hrs a month at present so not overloaded.

Hope that helps

Astraeus reqruitment
 

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone attended the Astraeus B737 F/O intrview in London , any information regarding the interview would be great...

Thanks in advance

Adding more Airbus aircraft?
 

Noticed Astraeus has introduced an A320 to the fleet. Is this an opportunistic buy/lease or will Astraeus be adding more Airbus aircraft going forward?

Are current interviewees being interviewed for the 737-300/500 fleet or also Airbus? What about for the growing 757 fleet?

They've had the A320 for ages! maybe a year + .... initially introduced as part of an Aer Lingus project, has seen action based on Prague for Travelservis, Adhoc for Easyjet, BA and whoever else needs the extra capacity..... now if you were to google Astraeus A330 G-VINE that would make a far more interesting post........

Digging around the internet, one does indeed come across on the planemart.com website that Astraeus are marketing A330 msn no 1231 for lease for an 18 month period. Anyone able to comment further?

Astraeus at EDI
 

Any ideas of what aircraft will be operating for the summer 2011 contract at
edinburgh from 1st april - 31st october 2011, or indeed the routes they will be flying.

I see thay have an advert on aviationjobsearch

EDI................
Flights to Boston and New York via Keflavik. B757.........aparantly. Check out the Iceland Express website.

Is there a different basic pay for ATPL holders or 1000 on type?

Any idea where the new starters are likely to be based?

How much time away from the wife can I expect?

Thanks:ok:

I have been invited for the interview, but they offer 6670€ plus 600€ fixed allowance for a CPT......thats a joke:}

Think I read somewhere last week, that the A 330 is one of the Virgin first batch that they ordered-2 went to China and AEU are having one-will look lovely in the AEU livery!

EDI Recruitment & Fleet Questions
 

I have a few questions about Astraeus, which hopefully someone on this forum will have the answers too.
Just came across this job advert online
advert removed
Does anyone know

1. If the crew being recruited to operate for a certain carrier/company?
2. Are Astraeus basing a aircraft at EDI?.
3. What routes are planned??

737-500

Does anyone know if G-PJPJ will be staying in the fleet for the S11 season or will it be WFU?.

G-STRW

This ex Zoom 757 was added to the fleet back in July 2009. This aircraft has retained it's blue Zoom livery, minus title, since it's arrival.

• Does Astraeus plan to add there logo to this aircraft ?
• Is there any reason that this aircraft was not been repainted when it first arrived?

Iceland Express

The current Iceland Express fleet consists of 2 73W's. Looking at the S11 timetable it would appear 2 x 757's are to join the 73W's.

• Does anyone know which aircraft these will be?

BMI Lease

This lease is meant to be ending in April. Does anyone know if this will be extended?.

A333

I see that Astraeus have leased 1 of VS's new A333's reg G-VINE. Astraeus are advertising the aircraft as being available for lease between June 2011 and December 2012

Advert removed

1. Does anyone know if the aircraft is in basic VS Livery?
2. Is it fitted with IFE system?
3. Has the aircraft been leased since this advert was placed?

Fleet Expansion

Astraeus are planning to add more aircraft to there fleet this year. According to the Astraeus website

ADVERT REMOVED

1. Will these aircraft be used to replace the 737-300's or older 757's ?
2. How many additional aircraft are planned?
3. Will the aircraft be single aisle aircraft?

Thank you in advance for any replies in answer to my questions.

Ok,
BAladdy , a lot of what you ask is commercially sensitive hence you will get no clear reply from within AEU. The reason we do not repaint aircraft is that we are now in the ACMI market hence there is no point putting AEU colours on them, when the customer may want a variation.

As for the A330 I have no information at all.As for the A320 it is operated primarily as 'ad hoc' charter , hence it can go any place at any time for anyone. I imagine there is alot of 'standby' on that fleet.

A330 is not for AEU, they are gonna be the middle man and lease this plane out for virgin I suspect.. So dont hold your breath for aeu to operate this plane as part of the fleet.

:ok:

Which TRTO is AEU using for B757 initial training?

Can an applicant expect to have to pay for TR and if so then how much?

How did you guys apply? I haven't heard anything using the recruitment email on their website!:ugh:

me neither, used the same mail adress aswell, even got a confirmation of receipt right after, but answer and the two weeks have gone by

A320 rating without hours...

All hiring goes through PAS Aviation, Switzerland

March Info
 

(Taken from official Astraeus webpage)

Latest Astraeus News

Mario's Blog, March 2011

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy for us here. At the start of February the Iron Maiden aircraft was converted from its normal 218 passenger configuration into its unique combi fit and is now making its way around the world with the band. This year’s tour is the longest we have done for the group and will see us operating to various new destinations such as Singapore, South Korea and new airports in South America. This year’s tour is operating through 17 different countries over 66 days. The combi configuration of this aircraft means the band, stage crew and all their equipment and instruments can travel with them in one go. Making it the most cost effective method to rock around the world.

The recent crisis across Egypt and Libya has seen us operating several flights at very short notice on behalf of BP and the British Government to repatriate British citizens and nationals to the UK from Cairo, Tripoli and Malta.

So let me give you an update of what’s currently going on here. Our new contract with Tonlé Sap Airlines in Cambodia is working very well. We continue to operate for our regular customer’s bmi, British Airways, Trawel Fly and Iceland Express.

The summer is taking shape now with our sister company Iceland Express potentially having up to 6 aircraft and introducing new US routes to Boston, Orlando and Chicago while maintaining their New York services and a return to Winnipeg, Canada. In fact, Iceland Express is introducing another UK route for the summer, Edinburgh to Keflavik twice a week. This will work nicely with the US connections.

We are very pleased to announce that we are in final negotiations with a major UK tour operator for a B757 starting from May for the summer season operating some of their short to mid haul routes.

The summer still has some more planning to undertake, but all is developing nicely and I hope that in my April Blog I will be able to tell you a lot more. We are currently undergoing a large recruitment drive in preparation for this.

We are now nearing spring and the start of the summer season is just around the corner.

Mario Fulgoni
CEO President

Interview Help
 

Hi there, I have an interview coming up with Astraeus next week, Can anyone please give me any heads up with the sort of questions asked at the interview or what to expect. Atpl/MCC styled questions?:ugh:

Could someone tell me about the lifestyle for A320 captains Astraeus?

I understand that it would be quite variable considering the ad-hoc nature of work, but anything like the annual hours, where they've been sent to, etc would be most helpful.

Any news? :ugh:

I haven't heard anything, except a quick update from the HR department to say that they were still "looking at opportunities".

The lustre has worn off.

Astraeus interview questions
 

Are you an Iron Maiden fan?

Will you worship, pledge devotion and drink the kool-aid from our guiding Directors/Bhagwans?

(I believe the same dynamic duo were also at Go Fly some years ago)

.
 

ouch....your very sour mate...go on spill the beans

I can only say how life style is on A320. Out of summer season just irregular ACMI work. This winter was standby for Easy and BA in LGW. Not much flying.

Summer will be quite different. Last summer base Brno, Czech Republic, and Praha. ACMI for Travelservice. Greek Islands, Antalya, CDG, FCO, BCN. Lots of flying, but not more than 75-80 hrs/month.

There might be a second Airbus leased in this year.

Anyone going for the A320 received the call?

Any information about Astraeus recruitment?

It's been a while since the interviews for the A320... is there any hope?

Astraeus; latest update from HR
 

"Earlier this year you contacted Iceland Express regarding pilot opportunities and your CV was passed to Astraeus Airlines, who employ their flight crew workforce. We have now concluded our recruitment and, unfortunately, you were not selected for interview at this time. I will continue to retain your details and should this situation change I will obviously contact you again at that time.My apologies that it has taken so long to respond to you. We have been overwhelmed by the number of candidates over the last 3-4 months and obviously it has taken a little time to work through these applications.
Thank you for your interest in these opportunities and best wishes for the future.

Regards

Human Resources Department

Astraeus Airlines"