PrivatAir selection
 

Hi all,

Would anybody know a thing or two about the situation in PrivatAir at the moment? Are they recruiting pilots, and if yes, what does the selection process containing?

Could there be a jockey from PrivatAir who would care to share a little about the everyday? Salary, roster, routes etc.

Anyway - just wondering ;)

Hi

They asked me to go for an iterview, see part of their email below;

To invite you for the selection is is vital, that you fulfill the following conditions:

- Available to start with PrivatAir latest the 15th of February 2011
- Available for Selections the 7th, 10th or 20th of January (Psychological Assessment and Interview)
- Available for SIM Assessments in January (a choice of dates will be given later)
- Valid B-737 Rating
- You are not over 40 years old

The selection will take place in Zurich, close to the Airport. We do not provide any Airline Tickets or HOTAC. The terms and conditions will be discussed at the Interview.

I couldn't/can't make the dates in January, and more importantly even if successful and I wanted to leave, I have to give 3 months notice with my current employer and starting on Feb 15th would be impossible. I did write and email explaining this etc, but never heard back.

Doesn't answer all your questions, but some. I got this reply towards end of December.

VJW

Disappointed no HOTAC or ticket refunds. Didn't expect that from a company like Privatair.

d105- that didn't sit well with me either. I know i'm not a superpilot whiz with a million hours, but you want young FO with time on type, current type, and you don't arrange flights and accom- humm

Thanks a bunch!

If anybody knows a little about the selection that would be most appreciated.

VJW I think that was a mistake working for who you work for. A prolonged illness would have taken care of your notice period. I think that was short sighted, had I been in your shoes I would have gone for the interview at the very least.

That's easy to say, but aside from who I work for you know nothing of me.

We have one month off a year, and my wife is studying in the US right now (where she is from). I've planned on going to see her for a month since I was told which month it was. While it was nice to asked for an invite, I did email back for some more info, but never heard back. Mix that in with the fact I wanted to see my wife for the first time in months, and while the company I'm with isn't the best in the world, I don't/won't burn bridges with any employer when leaving to join someone else....

If the company is so great they'd have something in place for transport and accommodation too!

Perhaps you can judge me better now.

I'll side with VJW on this one. It's stupid to make enemies in our sector at a very young age. In fact, it's stupid all-round. It's not up to us to tell VJW what he should have done since we don't know the whole story.

That last bit is something quite a few people on this forum should have in the back of their minds more often.

And also, another good point is that if we start saying no to this conditions, such as spending 1000 euros for an interview, or get half pay the first 2 months, or such or such, the airline industry can only improve from it.

Bare it in mind

PTI is nothing more than a low-cost operation, cleverly disguised by a premium product earning it's respectability from it's once glorious past as a VVIP operator for one of Europe's richest families...

Doug the head, do you mind to develop a bit more your statement. Thank you very much.

He actually said all it needed to be said, cant agree more.

Look, new flying for PrivatAir---Geneva and Milan
 

Click here: Gulf Air returns to Geneva and Milan market from S11 with Boeing 737 « AIRLINE ROUTE



From Airline Routes Blog:


Gulf Air returns to Geneva and Milan market from S11 with Boeing 737
20110105 by jimyvr Leave a Comment

Gulf Air from 28MAR11 will be expanding service to Europe after it scaled back its operation for 24-36 months. From 28MAR11, it’ll be launching 3 weekly Bahrain – Geneva and 4 weekly Bahrain – Milan Malpensa on board 2-class 94-seater Boeing 737 aircraft.

The Boeing 737 aircraft is configured in J16Y78, leased from PrivatAir.

Schedules and configuration as follows:

Bahrain – Geneva
GF023 BAH0215 – 0750GVA 737 246
GF022 GVA1150 – 1850BAH 737 246

Bahrain – Milan Malpensa
GF021 BAH0215 – 0735MXP 737 x246
GF020 MXP1200 – 1850BAH 737 x246

Boeing 737 configuration
Business Class 16 Seats
Layout AC – DF
Rows 1 – 4

Economy Class 78 Seats
Layout ABC – DEF
Rows 8 – 21 (No Row 13)

Going out of business
 

Hi guys, I just heard the rumour in ZRH that Privatair is going out off business. Does anybody know more or is just a hoax?

they just hired 20 people, 10 days ago and selectiing another bunch how can it be?

Because that is how it always goes. Management acts like everything is fine on Sunday evening and files for bankruptcy on Monday morning...

@Damianik

I was thinking the same thing..why hire people if they are going out of business??
they just secured a contract with Gulf Air for the Bahrain flights..
Plus the 5 year contract with Lufthansa.

Again just rumours or does anyone have some insider information?

I cant agree that PTI is a low cost operation, whats so low cost about flying 58 pax in an all C configured cabin...
:ugh:

I know it's difficult, being from America and all that, (;)) but please try to read carefully:The way they treat crews is a lot like any low cost operation. Just read the stories in this thread about phone calls not returned, verbal agreements not being honored, people having to pay for HOTAC to selection etc. Their upscale product cleverly camouflages this, but don't be so easily deceived by the blingbling! I know they call it a BBJ, but in the end it's just a bloody 737 and you're nothing more than the (limo)driver! :8

Over the years I've met quite a few ex-PTI pilots and initially I never quite understood why anyone would ever leave such a prestigious company...until I hear all the stories: flying 4-5 times per month across the Atlantic in a noisy cramped 737, positioning in your spare time paying for your own ticket, very limited job/base security etc etc. The real VVIP flights (where the real money, prestige and lifestyle is!) is only for a very selected few.

My advice: stay away from PTI! Don't give up a steady, secure job in return for a blingbling ACMI company that is totally dependent on contracts and that treats it's crews like a bunch contractors!

Hmm I understood the disguised part...everyone knows it's just a 737, BBJ or no BBJ and it's also understood that they are dependent on the Contracts but I also know a few people working for this company and from what I am told they are quite happy and don't feel like contractors.

Was just shocked by the out of business rumour...

Its true that the guys on the private charter side are better off , really hard to get in there.

By the way just food for thought..

But Ek was making people pay for tickets to DXB not so long ago...
Plus they don't honour their contacts that much..

There is no perfect employer, at all:

Alitalia- crazy roster, bases everywhere in italy, internal bullism

Turkish - lots of money, base in turkey, 1 year plus 3 years contract, lots of hours, no time for private life.

Ryanair- bad contracts with lots of variations during year, lots of earlies, lots of bulling around, no benefits

Malaysian - see turkish, but far away

BA- cannot comment yet

Privatair - nice roster/lifestyle, not so hard job, money is low due to income tax

Netjets- lifestyle excellent, money is ok, future uncertain for junior guys

Emirates- Dubai, extralonghaul, 1000 hours a year

What else? these are just my views,

It never ceases to amaze me. Why should an airline that know little about you past what is written on paper, fork out cash for you? Why do you feel that they owe you anything? What if you go and fail the assesment (heaven forbid you should mess up something and not get employed by them). All they have done effectively, is waste money.

Yes i said it and you know its true but you don't like it.

Now enjoy doing your research on my "pprune posts" and formulating your knee-jerk opinion and telling me i'm some naive kid who is a fool for not growing a hump about not being given platinum treatment and red carpet everywhere i go. Or worse that i am the reason your glorious industry's t's & c's are "deteriorating"

It does reflect upon a company. Decades ago, as a candidate for CX and resident in the UK, I passed the initial interview in London. I was given a claim form for all travel expenses. I was phoned up a few weeks later and asked to go to HK for the Stage 2 selection. My wife & I were given economy tickets but upgraded to club on check in. Hotac was arranged and pre-paid in HK. On arrival, I was met and taken to an airport bank & given three days 'Candidate allowance'. At the end, there was a cocktail party for all candidates on that visit (I am told that it was, in fact, part of the selection & wives/girl friends were scrutinised too). I failed. But, I did think that this was THE Company to get into & stay with forever.

Years later, as a fully qualified TRE/IRE on B757. I applied for SIA 747. Travel to Singapore was subload economy (but they did pay). Hotac & travel expenses were on my own account. Medical fees were on my own account. I was asked to pay a Training deposit (returnable after five years) but also, a Training BOND which the Company has been fierce in pursuing. I passed but decided not to take up the offer.

Again, guys, it is simple economics of supply/demand. Right now we are two to a penny & airline bean counters see no need to give us the red carpet. Low cost operators will act very tight at the selection stages. Top draw carriers can afford to put on a good show for you at Selection (Emirates used to be really good, almost as good as CX).

I was on the Selection Board of one terrific Operator. We. paid for everything.Ops Director at the time told us "make this the company they all want to come to". Well, lots of us about chasing too few slots now & if it is a job I really want, I expect to do the chasing now. Sad but true.

Good hunting & safe flying.

Just for the records:

Privatair is closing down MUC base in autumn 2011.
Privatair lost the KLM deal; no more AMS-IAH as of Nov 2011.
Privatair will discontinue it's Swiss route to EWR by March31st 2012.

I recently read their new slogan: "From VIP to refugee".

Apparently, Privatair will be assisting an African Operator to set up it's own business/AOC.

Wannabe VIP Operator
 

Saint Exupery had a good laugh at the new Privatair motto!
Sad but true ...PrivatAir is still living on its glorious past.Fact is the company now belongs to the old(mis) management who are playing it
Like the big boys but are not as capable on getting the job done.More focused on filling their pockets and staying exclusive in Switzerland while the rest is doing the dirty work...Cost cutting procedures are already under way!!
All the above mentioned bases are really closing down and the deal with Lufthansa is also limited to 2013 , Gulf Air contract will run another year but is not extendable.
The only thing that is left is the starting up of a shady airline for Equatorial Congo with operations to Brazzaville ,the only reason being to overcome getting black listed in Europe and Privatair sacrificing their crew to make the big bucks...

Word on the street is that they are in financial trouble and are going to do a big dismissal on the Swiss side , they are pretending to the Swiss government to be in financial problem to be able to dismiss these crews and are internally telling their employees they will be hired on new German contracts obviously with deteriorating conditions as Swiss crews pay less tax.

Company tries to assure the employees that they are doing well and will be able avoid dismissing crews...
Best advice is to stay away from this company , don't think it will be long before they are out of business..!

ITV
 

Any tips or info for the interview?

I agree with Doug the Head:

I also have some good friends working there and they all looking around for a new job. all i hear that it is not the same privatair as it used to be since Latzis the Greek pulled out himself, the company is in continuous nose dive and trying to survive.

Every career step is connected with worst salary, working and tax conditions. The salary steps, benefits and the pilot grading system is far behind being transparent and fair. They lost all Swiss and Dutch leasing contracts. They still fly for Lufthansa on second class and undesired routes but the big question is for how long?

Some pilots flying in Brazavile for Ec Air reporting health wise risky environment (very high Malaria, Cholera and Hepatitis risk) and substandard accommodations.

IMO it's wiser to start and invest energy in another company.
Try sunexpress or some other B737 operators which are more stable, promising, transparent and fair towards the employees.

if you still like to try your luck with Privatair make sure to ask the salary steps and don't believe any verbal given promises. Find out the German tax amount in case they would force you to fly the German tailed aircraft which qualifies you to German tax.