Maybe because they were not suitable or good enough for an upgrade? I know personally many new captains upgraded in the last two years, good people definetly.

In the last two years, they had two runway excursions and two near CFIT incidents, so being good people isn't enough. Pilots who left, found jobs in much more reputable outfits. The ones who stayed, let's say that wasn't in their hands to leave. Furthermore, many of the pilots who were stuck in the right seat for 5-6 years in the Airbaltic, upgraded quickly in their new airline.

pilot academy
 

Hello guys!
I am applying to airBaltic after 21.06.

Can anyone share the info about the test (2 part of assessment).

Thank you!

If they can’t prepare for upgrade pilots who fly for the company for 6 years, how they will fast track ATR newcomers?

Did you get anything?

Hi Pilots,
Who possess and could share the latest airbaltic online test Tripod, which this company got used in common for assessment?

Thanks,

Hello,
Maybe you have got some test for preparation for Step2 assessment?
Thanks.

Do you have any preparation tips for the online assessment?
 

Do you have any preparation tips for the online assessment?

Did you get anything I need help
 

If you can help me i am wondering how were the Q’s in the online assesmey

They lowered FO minimum hours back to 300 CAT.

Which pilot with more than 1000 CAT would be attracted by their T&C? Even Airbaltic academy graduates are leaving them
They will start hiring again LET410 and Beech200 pilots

That's embarrassing

Why the hate on small turboprop pilots? Did you guys get rejected while some of those guys got hired? Is that why you stick around in this thread hating on airBaltic in every post? Please enlighten us.

I'd take a L410 or Beech King Air pilot as an FO over a fresh cadet most days of the week :rolleyes:. Experience matters.

There was a funny dispute some pages back if L410 or Beechcraft 200 aircrafts fit the entry requirements. I thing it was about advertising something and acting differently and not about the skills

Pilot shortage is actually happening
But 300 hours is weird, it’s usually 500 or 0 hours

I saw an advertisement for position in Spain. Are they making a base there or is it like Tampere base?

You are guessing wrong.
This forum is called Professional Pilot Rumors. It's not an act of hate if you post that an airline is hiring people who don't meet the initial requirements. If I was flying for a German airline which requires B2 in German language, I would post it too if seeing people who got hired without speaking any German. This doesn't mean that I hate people who don't speak German.
I saw some posts of yours about AIS. Did you feel offended?

No, not offended at all. I flew the JS31/32 for a solid and quite fun 4 years (though never for AIS). But I have been flying jets for many years since, without any particular interest in airBaltic. It is just a bit weird that a handful of posters here got upset, and have since been salty, that a company gives applicants MORE opportunity instead of less.

I would say it does not really negatively affect anyone already employed in AB if you get some guys with actual commercial flying experience instead of cadets only? Anyway, carry on.

Prestn T&C in Air Baltic
 

Hi Guys!

As I can see Air Baltic is hiring constantly for a lot of bases across Europe (NTR F/O position).

Is anybody here working for them as F/O?

Their T&C (especially those concerning salary) are not clear for me - so it would be easier to get some answers directly from somebody working there before applying.

1. How big salary can I expect there monthly net? In my current airline I can get approximately 3750 Euroes net per month and no other benefits except food on board and myid tickets. B2B of course, no permanent job contract, no any licence/medical insurance, terrible DT/FT ratio,
2. How is the general atmosphere? Instructors, captains, cabin crew and another people which we cooperate with daily?
3. What are the options for being upgraded to Cpt? Currently as FO on E-Jet family I have approximately 1500hrs and 2500hrs total.

Thank You so much Guys in advance for all the replies.

My first aviation job was on the Piper Cheyenne. Still, I root for the ''haters''. I think you are too naive if you believe that any HR department would have the initiative to give to RANDOM applicants MORE opportunity than the advertisement of the job. Same for the upgrades, leaves and anything else that can turn an employee to a pilot that purposely doesn't turn on the logo lights

They keep advertising for Finland…

1. FO 4100 gross (2815 net), so 935 euros less than your current salary. Bond is 3 years, 36000 euros. Apartments in center cost more than 1000 for rent plus the utilities which are a lot especially during the winter. Parking is expensive in the center and for free if you have an electric car. Captain's salary 4600 net
2. Atmosphere.. Some happy some not. Keep in mind that a lot of pilots are paying the bond to leave, can't handle it for three years. Beside job, Riga is depressing.
3. There are pilots in the company flying the A220 since 2018 and still not upgraded. There are some quick upgrades like a Captain who was involved in a runway excursion having failed his TR on the A220 at the first try. Social skills matter for the upgrade

What do you mean by bases across Europe? There isn't such a thing

Maybe I misunderstood something about the base.

1. It's unbelievable. I was sure that my company with it's pilot's salary is at the bottom in this part of Europe. You have mentioned probably net base salary but there has to be some additional part. I cannot imagine that They are able to find flight crews for this money and keep them in,

2. This is pretty much same everywhere and in this part of Europe,

3. So it's rubbish what They have mentioned in their offer? I can imagine that one is accepting lower income because of the faster upgrade possibility but if it's as well rubbish... ymmm super strange..


Exactly, it's super strange but nevertheless Thank You so much for Your reply.

You are welcome. Recently I attended an interview for another airline operating the A220, also in Eastern Europe, they were offering 2k net...

Ok but then - who takes this kind of offer? Isn't better to become a taxi driver or find employment in any warehouse?

What makes people's decision about taking this kind of offer?

It takes time to face that you got into a loop chasing jobs in foreign countries for pennies destroying your personal life. Recently a good pilot and very nice person left airbaltic just to return to his hometown in Sweden without an aviation job.
2-3 k for flying could be ok as long as you don't need to relocate. Otherwise it doesn't worth it

No, I saw the advertisements for Spain and other bases too. Looks there is a gap between what they advertise and what they actually do

European problem with too many wannabee instagram pilots. All it will take is one crash to brake this circle in Europe between instagram pilots and airlines which are paying peanuts. Unfortunately

In this case, the problem isn't BT, it's the advertising sites that publish misleading ads on many companies. There is only one base: Riga. You start your duty in Riga and you end it there. There are operational bases from which aircraft fly, but as a crew you fly from there and sleep in a hotel afterwards for 5 days.

I've been flying for them for several years and I'm fed up. The rosters in winter are very chill, but from March to October it's 3/4 ACMI layovers in Zurich or Munich per month. The work-life balance is non-existent with 20 days a month away from home. The rosters are FLEX and sometimes make no sense at all. In August I have a 5-1-5-2-6-1-6-4. It's not sustainable in the long term.

The management has brushed off criticism of the conditions with a ‘take it or leave it’ policy. The result: no improvement and many pilots have resigned or are in the process of leaving. Some are happy.

As far as salary is concerned, I got an average of €3,200 net after tax as an FO1, plus €500 per diem. There's been a small increase of €300 gross recently.

Beyond that, airBaltic is not a bad company. If we had the possibility of being based in Tallinn and Vilnius, with a fix roster, that would be a very good condition. In the meantime, it's not worth it unless you're on a turboprop or want to switch to a left seat.

The aircraft are well maintained, and most of my colleagues are very professional.

Easy for them to say it with the 3 years bond. In my current company I have 18 months bond

The most expensive one

Did you know that AirBaltic pilots who were laid off during COVID, were failed in the assessment to rejoin? And hired some FIs from AirBaltic academy in their position with 0 CS25 hours, despite the requirement for hours on CS25 aircrafts? So if you are already employed, you can loose your position from someone who has the right friends. Like your mates from AIS JS31 which is not a CS25 aircraft and still got through en masse

I know a few who were laid off and got rehired without issue. One of them mentioned that some did not get rehired after failing the psychological assessment that became standard somewhere not too long before COVID.

I would not be surprised if the CS-25 requirement is another way to state "multi-engine turbine powered aircraft with a MTOW of 5700kg or above" which the JS31/32 definitely is.

Define CS-25 aircraft... For example, the TCDS for the Dash-8 Series does not state it is certified according to CS-25. Is it a CS-25 plane? Certification basis is FAR25 and JAR25, predecessors of CS-25. The UK equivalent back then was BCAR Section D, under which the Jetstream was certified and which is the certification basis of its EASA type certificate.

But that is something for another discussion. Great, they gave some pilots who know how to fly a plane a chance, after others failed to pass the new assessment procedures. Unless you or I were part of the process at that time, we have no way of telling what happened behind the scenes. Could be nasty intentions, could be unfortunate assessment fails. You have heard stuff, I have heard different stuff.

Truth probably somewhere in the middle as always, but I just don't get the point of bringing it up at every opportunity if you have no dog in the fight. If you already have a job at AB you get new colleagues that likely are a bit more qualified than your average cadet. And if you do not yet have a job at AB, cool, their requirements might not be as set in stone as they advertise so shoot your shot.

Intrance
I don't have any specific interest, but it doesn't add up to be super strict and actually fire colleagues over formality assessments and on the other hand being soft on initial requirements. In less or greater extent most of us have seen or experienced unfair treatment in different airlines, is not a bad thing to call such behaviors

Requirements also include hours on FMS, FMA, EFIS aircrafts, which definitely Js 31, LET410 King Air and piston trainers are not

Following the large number of departures, improvements have been announced.

A minimum of 11 days off per month, with 2x4 days off in a row per month. A change in salary calculation with the introduction of sector pay and a minimum number of hours per month reduced from 60 to 45. The experience supplement has been integrated into the basic salary. Opening of permanent bases this winter and 3 temporary bases next summer.

Finally, bonuses for SFOs and CPTs have been announced for next year.

Management is looking to reduce pilot attrition and attract experienced CPTs and SFOs over the next few years as the fleet expands.

Hi Mr Bloo, I hope you did great with your assessment. Can you please share any helpful information? When you went to Riga did they conducted any medical tests like blood or urine exams? Thanks in advance

They promise better conditions for the last two decades

If fleets is expanding and pilots are leaving including the bonded ones, how will they improve the roster?