Thank you much youthinkso

If the average sector length at Thomson is 3.5 hours then you are clearly not working 5 days per week. X on, Y off statements don't paint an accurate picture in the charter business as deep night as well as early morning arrivals give you the same if not significantly more time off than LCC pilots. We spend more time in the cruise getting fatigued but LCC pilots get fatigued by 4 very quick turnarounds in a day. Its a very tiring job. Full stop.

I'm only telling you what the former 5 on 4 off no deep night pilots who join Thomson are telling Thomson Pilots, there is no willy waving here, just information for consideration, roster construction has a very significant impact on fatigue and quality of life/lifestyle.....


Are night shifts killing me? - BBC News

do 5/6/7 on with sometimes day off or blank in the middle and one or two off at the end on those average secor lengths and you are looking at 100hours FT..in 28 combined with the 10 days off, that's why the overtime system is not working as designed because there is no fat to give someone a duty without taking them off another.

You think so

The guys working 5 on 4 off by chance do you know what FTL they are working to? CAP371 or EU Sub Part Q

So which scheme provides better roster construction then? CAP371 or EASA FTL (e.g. no limits on earlies, lates and nights which is what Sub Part Q offers.

Let's wait and see perhaps?

:\

yeah it's no secret that MOL was opposed to EASA FTL's (strangely aligned with BALPA) vs UK commercial airlines who were in favour. Simply because for non UK FTL schemes the new schemes introduces restrictions, hence MoL opposition. UK airlines in favour because it relaxes several CAP371 components. Lets face it EASA FTL ain't going to do anything positive for those of us operating to G Reg FTL's hence BALPAs failed attempt to try and stop it coming in, I won't hold my breathe for it improving lifestyle that's for sure !! in terms of 5&4 I'm talking about the grouped days off and being able to plan your life with some degree of certainty beyond 30 days notice.....

Shouldn't that be when you start reporting fatigued? When enough people start raising the issue, things will have to change, no? A lot of companies rely on the goodwill of the workforce to 'get the job done', but at what cost?

Thomson recruitment.
 

Historically UK charter airlines have never offered fixed patterns of days off due to the seasonal nature of the programme and it's variability e.g Tunisia comes along. Mature airlines like Thomson offers roster protections such as block window whereas "newer" airlines such as Jet 2 it's a bun fight. If anyone could offer a fixed roster it would be Thomson

Roster
 

Just to get an idea....
Could anyone flying at Thomson PM me one of his summer month roster?
I would very appreciate it.
Thanks

PFO just received. Not disappointed, but thought I'd let people know.

Would you please state your "profile"?
Thanks

My profile? As in my experience?

I can't imagine they want to know your Age / Sex / Location ;-)

Well knowing my 'profile' is useless too I'd imagine. You either write a good application or you don't and I'd assume having more or less hours makes little difference at this stage, providing you have the minimum required.

5500 TT, most of which is 737, and 2000 as PIC.

Thanks. That' s what I was looking for.
Teobull

Invited to assessment, 2000 hours B738, Anyone know anything about the assessment process?

Thanks.

Any non rated guys hearing either way? Or will they go through rated applicants first and then Non rated if inadequate numbers are reached?

All the best

VJW, same Pfo as well.
Very experienced SFO, lots of hours.
Oh well they may want monkeys.....

I'm pretty sure applicants aren't prioristised in order of their experience. To be honest if you have PIC or high hours on the 737 then there is probably a good question to be asked as to why a part time position with Thomson is of interest to you.

And yet you are applying to Norwegian ! Or were you being sarcastic in the post to that thread ?

Well I am a low timer <1500hrs. I spoke to a Norwegian pilot who has been given a 50% winter contract and they were very positive about the job there :confused:

Is Thomson a better option than Norwegian?

I don't work for either but I would say your question is similar to asking 'steak or rubber, which tastes best?' Take a bit of time to read all the posts to the several Norwegian threads. Good luck.

Speedoneeighty you are absolutely right. It would have been nice to have been 'asked'....rather then have them assume why.

Would be interesting to have completed an absolutely identical application, with the only difference being I write I have 2000 hours as P2. Wonder if they'd invite that applicant.

I was invited a year ago, but failed the case study. Applied again this year with the only change being more experienced and not invited this year. Don't really understand this. Do they only want SO?

To be fair VJW, I've been invited to assessment and I've got similar hours and experience to yourself so don't think hours (or lack thereof) are a requirement.

PFO for me as well. I received the same thing, the role wasn't for me. 6,000hrs, 1,000hrs jet time, non type rated.
Oh well, I'm not sure i could've afforded the pay cut. Good luck everyone else.

PFO as well.
Just over 50 so expected it really - still you've got to try.
Current medium jet captain, 10K+ hours - and for speedoneeighty the reason I was interested (apart from Thomson having a good rep and the chance to do some different flying) is that my current company is mainly TP with a dwindling jet fleet, threat of redundancy in the fairly recent past and a question in the back of my mind over whether the company will continue to operate any jets in the future.

I do have an invite. Non rated. It mentions a technical test. Is this aviation technical or problem solving, maths etc?

Are there huge gaps in certain bases that most likely you'll be sent if successful, or do you have some ability to at least express a preference?

I'd appreciate anybody who would be able to give an example of a summer roster on the PPY50. Thankyou.

PFO here. Well over 5000 hrs mostly command TP, no jet. Too near 50? Too many TP hours? ?(the Zimbabwean $ of flying experience; current rate 1 trillion TP / 1 jet). Maybe I they just didn't like my answers/examples on the form. Guess I'll never know, but as Resurgam says (and I think we work for the same company) you've got to try.

The timing of picking up the email as I disembarked with my family from my Thomson flight home today was awesome.

Got the invitation today, 2500 tt, no jet, FO on small to heavy purple TPs.

Earliest day i can attend is in November however and may have another Jet job offer at the end of this month but hopefully they stall long enough that i can attend this! When are type rating courses planned do people know? Also i think i seen it mentioned earlier but is the reduced salary guaranteed to go to 100% after 5 years and most importantly are you paid the 81% from day one?

Thanks in advance, was pleasantly surprised to get the invite as I assumed there would be plenty of jet guys in front. For reference i answered the application questions very simply, no BS and no long essays, don't have time for that craic on an August roster!!!

I also received an invite. <2000 hours tt with about half of that amount on jet.

cg, my understanding is 81% from day one less an amount which depends on whether you are type rated or not. Or maybe its the same amount but 1 year for typed guys/girls and 3 years for non typed.

I also understand that it is mandatory for them to offer you 100% after 5 years.

cheers for the reply ONCB, without jet time could you expect an FO position or only SO? And does an SO become an FO automatically after 500 hrs on type or is there a process involved. When you take into account the 7k deduction every 3 years, which is ridiculously overpriced, and the time to command the position becomes a lot less attractive. For comparison if one was to join Jet2 for example you could probably be a Captain on 100% in the time it would take you get a full time FO position with Thompson. Or even if i was to get a command on the dash next year I would likely make more money over the next five years..... :I

PFO for me 2300TT all jet, non typed 737. Think age might have something to do with it, even though no age discrimination, but still ask you on the application.

Invited to attend. 4000 hours, 3500 jet, all corporate (none on a BBJ / ACJ) good amount of P1 time.

Any insight on whether freelancing elsewhere in winter is permitted to alleviate the salary deficit or will that be stopped to avoid exceeding annual flying hours limits?

Can I ask a few questions of those already in Thomson regarding the package on offer.

I understand the leave is 42 days per annum. Is this pro rated to 81% of that for those on a part time contract? I understand the leave available is based on seniority and also how many leave points you've accrued in the previous season, but how much leave is it possible to take in the summer? Is there any limit or is it just subject to the above? Do you still get wrap round days round leave?

There was mention earlier in this thread that blocks of days off are penalised in carmen. Has carmen got worse over the last few years or do you just have fewer crews? Is it still possible to get some say over the roster, say a preference for earlies, for example? Do you still have roster protection on all duties?

I know previously the staff travel was something like £1500 to give 70% off a Thomson holiday, do you know if this is what is on offer to new joiners?

Have the negotiations regarding the pension been settled and if so what is the offer going to be for new joiners? 10% company contributions was mentioned, what is the required employee contribution?

Thanks

Invitation to assessment.
 

Got the email also and looks like people have booked dates already.

As above if someone could shed some light on what to expect would be really helpful, as the email doesn't give much away... My experience is NTR currently flying turboprops and instructing before that.

Good luck to all the guys/girls through to the next stage.

I have been invited, 800hrs on type.

Case study
 

The case study is an excersize where you turn up for work and you are presented with your usual paperwork. You might have a captain running late, a sick cabin crew member, a technical issue with the aircraft, issue with destination weather etc. it's simply an excersize to see how you priorities and organize yourself. Think about the whole picture I.e the pax,crew and commercial needs. Just take your time and try and pick out the major issues and don't be afraid to make a decision that is after all what we are paid to do. The exact details of this years case study I do not know but it's irrelevant anyway as it's just an excersize to see how you work under a bit of gentle pressure.

Thomson recruitment.
 

Invited to assessment NTR. 3000hrs jet and instructional experience.

To try and answer some questions

In my opinion Carmen is hit and miss, I've had the same simple standing bid since day 1 and have a different roster every month-despite what my satisfaction score says.
If anyone fully understands the leave system they are not telling anyone. Captains struggle, as an FO I have got leave in 5 of the 6 summer months this year, but not Xmas. Less families etc I guess?
Leave is factored for PPY or part time
Doing other work during your off periods I believe is not clear cut and you need approval from the DFO, the official line is it can't be for a competitor, but I'm not allowed to exercise another type rating, just SFI,I'm full time though

If your only concern is getting to the LHS of a commercial jet as quick as possible, don't waste a sick day

Good luck

Penworth - Sent a PM