So they really expect an experienced EK 777 guy to pack up their life and work for a take home of around £2700/ month for 13weeks?

Pilots must really hate the desert.

[So they really expect an experienced EK 777 guy to pack up their life and work for a take home of around £2700/ month for 13weeks?
Well I suppose it remains to be seen how many they recruited from the desert on their recent holiday!

I have noticed on the advertisement that they offer a "great benefits package" What are the benefits they provide?

No, I don't hate the desert. It's a harmless bunch of sand dunes.

Luke Skywalker didn't hate the desert, but then again he didn't live in Mos Eisley.

Horses for courses, to each his own.

Some people can adopt to middle eastern working conditions, the money helps a lot. I was there as well, hated it like hell and ejected asap, after 2 years. Since then ghosting around in some european companies, most of them bad but still happy not to be down there anymore any being a piece of (very) high priced cattle without any working rights. Point.

This not to offend anyone, just some can live with that !!!! what they do down there, other ,like me, not. I prefer to live in free countries and for companies that are bad but are forced by european laws to obey rules that are clearly written down.
Of course you pay a price, but that's up to each individual pilot. Is it necessary to fly this brand new , shiny planes? Is money really everything? Do I really need this beautiful car and that expensive hotel/gym membership(especially for wife and kids) and so on.

I decided that I cannot take all that money with me into the tomb and voted for nice landscapes and european freedom.

I will have as well a look into that Jet2 option, even not being english/scottish(but loving Scotland) and moving up there if they want me. Let's see.

Roll up roll up, forget your 777s and 380s, we're offering knackered old 73s and 75s, and a 50% pay cut to boot... oh and you can forget you private healthcare, housing provision, chauffeur pickups, city layovers & first class travel... cos we at J2 are offering an industry below average 5% pension!!

J2 recruitment road shows in Dubai? seriously? I spot a jolly!!

Sounds great.

Interesting though that a significantly higher number of pilots (Captains mainly) will be heading the other way, despite the perks as advertised by the commercial dept.

Just sayin' :ok:

The pension is actually 8% for Captains, which (although pretty poor) is still more than Thomson will be offering new recruits soon DooblerChina!

I heard a rumour recently that new joining DEC's from the Middle East have been told a basic salary of about £100k. Anyone else heard this? Sounds implausible to me considering the rest of us skippers (apart from those on increments) are at least £15k below this level.

Quote.
I heard a rumour recently that new joining DEC's from the Middle East have been told a basic salary of about £100k. Anyone else heard this? Sounds implausible to me considering the rest of us skippers (apart from those on increments) are at least £15k below this level

I wonder if there are ANY recruits from the sandpit and how many of those will still have a current 73/75 rating? So PTF or bonding? (Not PM's favoured option since the two numpties who took the 73 rating and ran)

Penworth,

A poor 10% actually.

Penworth, incorrect statement about pension provisions at TOM but this isn't about my employer. My main issue is that there must be plenty of FOs command suitable. I know one guy in particular who has fell into the face doesn't fit category. Good pilot, good bloke just doesn't prescribe to the corporate babble and he will remain an FO because of it. Crying shame.

Meanwhile your recruitment team are hoovering up exit planners.... these are going to be people with cash in the bank looking to get home and get a cheeky pay check before retirement. Now who would be the better Captain? I would suggest a promoted FO any day of the week.

Anyway, as you alluded to, nothing to do with me so I'll say ta ta.

I completely agree regarding internal upgrades being preferred. The company professes to having the same view but when it comes down to it, guys who would make great captains don't get through and I can't understand why. They're consequently losing these folks to BA and elsewhere. This combined with a preference for taking low houred guys onto the pilot apprentice scheme is I feel going to result in an experience shortfall in the future.

(Regarding Thomson's pension, just going off what I read on PPJN - 10% in 2016 and 7% in 2017)

Yes, there several guys joining from the ME, at least from my airline anyway. Non-rated Captains (bonded for 3 years) and I think a couple of FOs too.

I can assure you that not one of the guys joining from here is cashed-up, close to retirement and looking for a cheeky pay check. We all just want to come home. No one is naive enough to think that it's going to be a chocolate-coated gum drops gig - we have all come from where you are now, so we know the score. Actually most guys coming home are in their 30s and 40s rather than their early sixties.

I know it's not nice to have a DEC suddenly jump in to that left seat that you're working hard towards achieving - we've all been there - but I can assure you all the guys joining that I know of personally are highly experienced, highly disciplined and well below retirement age. No over-inflated egos here either so don't worry about that sort of stuff. It's a win-win for the Company as they know these guys won't be leaving anytime soon looking for mega $$$ or big shiny new widebodies...

Hope there won't be too much bitterness shown towards DECs - if you put yourself in this position would you turn down a Captain position at your place of choice if it was offered?

Joining jet2
 

A word of warning. I recall one of the CRMIs saying that the goal posts @jet2 are fitted with very efficient castors. So Caveat Emptor.

Mr Good Cat

As a non-type rated DEC joiner are you, and your colleagues, being offered a 100% or 70% contract?

100% for the guys I know who are joining from the ME.

But are the ME guys getting £100k contracts though?

Errr... No.

Just the same as everyone else of course.

Good news for Jet 2 if they are getting guys coming home from ME. A lot of posters seem to struggle with the concept of EK guys joining given all the "roster woes" at Jet 2. Just goes to show it's not all about the roster stability (suspect EK rosters are fairly stable)

Mr Good Cat

Not true - several well qualified, if not better qualified DECs, still on 70% contracts from last year.

What are we talking about here?

I thought the question was about £100k contracts. No one I know has been offered anything more than the standard salary.

If you're talking about 100% full-time contracts - yes, all those I know who are joining/applied from this way are 100% but I can't speak for anyone else.

As for better qualified DECs - I'm just commenting on the thread for the purpose of providing information to the best of my knowledge, to those who are interested in joining... I'm not here to get into a debate about who is more qualified to do this job. If you want pick a fight about that one you need to speak to one of your English/UK colleagues at the offices. I was offered a job and accepted it, just like you did when you joined, no?

Anyway, look forward to working with you and being professional at all times buddy. :ok:

Hi guys.

I finished the verbal reasoning assessment last week on the career page. Upon completion i clicked 'complete' and it was sent across the North sea.

Looking at the assessments tab it said i still i had to do the test i just did. I sent them an email on the address i got for problems with the application. Does anyone know if they respond to it. And if yes in a fair amount of time?

Rgrds.

I stated a fact, Mr Good Cat, and you tell me I am looking for a fight!

You stated that you were joining on the same salary as everyone else - I am trying to point out that you are starting on a better salary than a number of people.

Fact - you are being offered 100% contract as a NTR DEC.

Fact - there are a reasonable number of NTR DEC (a couple are friends of mine) who are on 70% contracts having been just as honest and willing as you were at the interview. They are as well qualified (I'll drop the better qualified bit to keep the peace) as anyone from Emirates.

As for me - I answered the telephone questions from the pilot apprentice as honestly as I could. Still waiting but not the end of the world for me.

It would be a bit strange if I subsequently joined on 100% (and I would be as pleased as you obviously are) whilst people who joined before me are still on 70% .

Now do you see where I am coming from?

You are correct in saying that the problem is created at J2 Head Office.

Okay, I see where you are coming from on the 70% thing but I have no idea on Company politics I'm just coming to do my job as safely, efficiently and professionally as I can and go home at night and forget about work.

Any pilot will ALWAYS accept a suitable job offer irrespective of whether it affects current employees. I'm not saying it's right, it's just the way it is. I had a good reason to come home and I took the job :sad:

I wouldn't worry about delays on being contacted - most guys seem to have a wait before being contacted.

:cool:

Top Cat - you're already a Cool Aid Drinker! Have you even started yet?!?

Fair to assume that someone looking to come home from the sandpit will have a cv in at several companies? Maybe some empty seats on courses next march.

And just how much training capacity is available to get large numbers of NTR people on line in a sensible time scale?

Any moves to improve things for existing crew? Fix the leaks before putting more water in the bucket?

Management position!
 

Now that would be a poisoned chalice for anybody with half a brain.

Rumours are that someone has been tasked with pilot retention and fixing the leaks as you put it.

But as with all things here, we'll wait and see if anything comes of it. Meanwhile, many people (from all ranks) keep looking and applying elsewhere.

I expect another winter of resignations unless they announce their retention plans in the next week or so. With virtually all airlines recruiting or planning to recruit, time is of the essence to improve morale and keep people from leaving.

They've scraped through in terms of crew this summer, but I think next will prove far more challenging.

As to training capacity, no, there isn't enough capacity to train vast numbers of NTR joiners, mainly due to the limited sectors in the winter, and the lack of trainers to train them.

Overall, it's not a bad place to work, there are lots of little things which need fixing, mostly stemming from the flying club era. Grown up terms, and grown up ideas are what's required. But generally, you go to work, work with some great people, and are tucked up in your own bed at nights, which has its advantages.

As the saying goes - beatings will continue until morale improves.

There are simply much better offers out there, North and South.

All the airlines are now struggling to get crews with experience. 20 years of diminishing t&cs, together with a much restricted cash flow for training just hasn't attracted the numbers of wannabes like we all once were(are!) And now a bun fight is starting with Emirates visiting Jet2 bases, and Jet2 doing exactly the same in Dubai.

Jet2 is a good place to work, but with a few small changes it could be a great place to have and finish a career.

Hi Tonker

As a current 737 captain at jet2 who wants to live in the North of the UK, where or what is a better option?

This is a serious question.

PW

ill send you a PM.

Silverhawk
 

Snappy hi-vis?

With all due respect Silverhawk, that didn't answer the question in any way.

We all know there are big bucks to be had if you want to chase them around the globe but to those of us who wish to know their kids, keep their wives (or husbands) and see their family in the North of the UK.......there ain't much choice.

Jet2 Autumn 2014
 

That means no then Tonker?

No it means I'll send you a PM with what colleagues at Easyjet, Ryanair and Thompson are telling me are telling me about their recruitment and current deals.

Plus the news from folk who've gone long haul with BA, but stayed living in the north.

27 new NG's but no Pilots required. Don't get excited these don't even come with window blinds and only replace some of the tat you guys have to fly. Maybe they will give you a decent salary now you have responsibility for Aircraft that are actually worth something!

Our primary responsibility is to the passengers, and the value of the airframe is irrelevant. BA fly 300's.

One would need to be more mature and experienced to realise that though.

Perhaps when she gets her command....

Could we not just post the big insight here?

Although from the above list I don't see the holy grail. From my understanding Easy will base freeze captains for 5 years with no recruitment straight into the north. Ryanair MAY give you your desired base if you're lucky, no guarantees and it's still Ryanair. Thompson don't accept DECs.

As for BA commuting, yes it's an option but for those that value their time at home highly it will never be attractive. Also an unlikely choice for an already experienced captain.

I stand to be corrected on any of the above, genuinely.

Thomson, not Thompson.