Thanks for your reply! It's good to hear genuine insight because someone always knows somebody.

It seems like it might not be a viable option as a possible employer, atleast not at the moment.

Let's be honest, there was never a crew base in Tampere.

There's obviously a fast track command at the moment, and I fly most of my time with young captains who were upgraded less than 6 months ago. You just need to have the right requirements. And that's just as well, because I don't want to fly in Zurich with a captain who has no experience on the 220, nor any experience on a jet.

A lot of pilots are leaving (and I'm one of them), but the reasons are not linked to airBaltic's financial situation. Exhausting rosters, ACMI literally destroying personal lives, a base (Riga) that's as nice to live in as a gulag in winter, low pay for captains... These are the reasons.

Strangely enough, FO salaries are actually quite decent. Not good enough, given that we spend all our time in ACMI, but I've received contracts from big companies in Western Europe and the salaries aren't that attractive. Count 5k after tax (all inclusive) during the summer for a FO with 1000h at airBaltic. 3k during the winter when the roster is very chill.

They've lowered their requirements because they need to find a large number of new pilots to compensate for the people leaving and to plan for their growth, which the academy isn't currently able to train. In addition, the improved rosters planned for 2025 will require more crew.

Beyond that, airBaltic is a good opportunity depending on how far you've progressed in your career. The academy is probably one of the cheapest programmes in Europe, with the assurance that you'll end up on the right side of a +50t jet. You have to pay +100k at CAE/EZY, here we're talking about 25k as airBaltic sponsors more than 2/3 of the price. (The financial risks are therefore very low in the end). If you're an experienced turboprop pilot, you can switch to a jet and become a captain in just one year.

The work-life balance is quite good in winter, non-existent in summer.

In summer, we have 20 days in ACMI for the lufthansa group if you have a low seniority. On second thought, even with a decent seniority you will be sent on ACMI for the lufthansa group, but you can choose your layovers. Flights from Riga are mainly used for training or for those at the top of the seniority list.

There is a bidding system, but in summer you will basically have the choice of flying ACMi for Swiss, Lufthansa or Eurowings.

The rosters can only get better next summer. This summer has been hell.
For next summer, we'll probably have a 5on/4off/5on/2off/5on/4off/5on/1off.

Again, thanks for your reply!

As one who might apply for the academy, the financial situation worries me quite a lot. I the aspect that what if the company would go "under" during the studies or soon after the possible employment, possibly having paid already for a certain part of the studies. Having to relocate to Riga etc...

The studies cost 79k according to the info and it can be financed by your self or with a loan from aB. As you said, it is far cheaper than most of the fly schools in europe and should come with a mostly certain job guarantee...

It's good to know how it really is for you out there, thanks for that.

You should wait for the IPO, that will decide if they go bust or not. Otherwise it will be too stressful to give so much money and relocate to Riga thinking that any day this business could go bankrupt and lose your money

Smartlynx which is also Latvian, could easily replace Air Baltic in Riga airport in case of bankruptcy. Air Baltic's airplanes belong to a lessor, the only valuable thing they have are the slots

Thanks for your feedback

Latvians are accusing this politician for the lost money and the destruction of state businesses

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....92addde02.jpeg

Adverts pop up that now Air Baltic accepts ICAO pilots. Good luck to the passengers

An analysis by experts

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c48733264.jpeg

That's the Fitch analysis from last May, before the losses of first half of the year were announced

This minister stated yesterday on TV that if the potential IPO fails, it will be aB fault and not his. Great way to advertise a potential IPO

There is a long list of companies that went bankrupt while providing ACMI for Lufthansa

Hey i know there has been issues with AB, but regardless still willing to try for their academy since they will have base in Tallinn next year and i already have a family and this is where i am at.
If anyone could DM or share more intel on the passing the whole thing. Also, after the first application does everybody get a pass to the first online assessment or already you can get declined?
Ive started to practice with pilotassessments. Somebody also mention skytest. Like, i have reasonable IQ set, knowledge of some Maths and Physics and not a psycho etc. But i realize to actually pass to the studies you will actually have to be better than most others onsite assessment possibly has a great weight in that also. Is there knowledge on using some kind of specific test programs in addition to practice?
I would be so happy to get any information from people who actually passed it all and are now pilots or cadets. Willing to prepare myself and study a lot not sure if i can pass!

No idea about the tests but all aviation ones are similar. Don’t pay anything upfront before the IPO, can’t claim money back from a bankrupt business

Hi everyone

Is there anyone who had the Riga Assessment the past few days for the SFO Fast track Captain Position? What was the Sim Profile on the Da42? Which questions for the technical interview? What is the 4 hours safety assessment? What were HR Questions?

I can not find any current information. THANKS

From former colleagues who went through it last winter (Nov. 2023);

- Sim profile very basic. Takeoff, bit of basic flying skills, tune VOR, after some turns get asked to report position, one or two approaches including a go around, possibly a hold entry and hold. Don't recall if they mentioned N-1 flying.

- For most of them the technical questions focused on winter ops, hold over times, runway conditions, deicing. Could have been because the time off year they went for the assessment. Also some general technical questions, nothing that should really trip you up if you are coming in with some experience. This interview was done by the same person assessing your sim ride. HR person also present with some standard questions like Why airBaltic, where do you see yourself etc.

- "Safety Assessment" are just general aptitude tests. I've heard them mention some test with holding a triangle balanced in the center of a room with the use of some joysticks while it constantly tries to move away from there. Some sort of rhythm test smacking different color buttons and feet pedals on command. Spatial and logical reasoning tests. Those sounded like pretty standard fare.

If you pass it all, second day was some psych eval, multi mode personality test and then interview with chief pilot and head of HR.

Don't know how much this helps, as it is not the most current info, but I doubt they completely changed their process in the meantime.

Hello my friends.
I would like to ask if Air Baltic is helping with the visa for the ICAO pilots. Does anyone know if they provide tickets from and to Africa? I will apply for DEC ICAO pilots category for Air Baltic. I am A220 Captain with Air Tanzania.
Thank you for your help my dear friends

I would write to recruitment directly. They seem very kind and respond quite quickly.

On financial news. Claims of creditors should have been submitted by 30.09.2024.
Mid October and not registered yet. This month will be crucial

I do not believe that they will and that they are looking for EASA licenced candidates, but just send an email to recruitment, you never know!

Thank you. In Air Baltic recruitment page is stated that ICAO pilots can apply. I will send an email when I am sure that I want to come, I will need a formal invitation for the visa. Do you know when will they do the IPO?

Before the CS300/A220 they were ready to order the Sukhoi SSJ100
Just saying

For the ICAO pilots, do they sponsor visa for the whole family?

IPO supposed to take place this October and it is almost November now. They will operate normally until they run out of money, that's the classic Soviet plan

They are looking for ICAO pilots too. Airlines from this part of Europe are also known as the cancer of aviation for a reason

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....67d4674751.png

Although nothing is confirmed yet, Lufthansa seems to be stepping in very soon: https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-n...ake-airbaltic/

Also there have been quite a few improvements recently, like 2x 4 consecutive days off per month, a new payment scheme increasing average pay slightly new bases in TLL and VNO.
All is actually published on the website: https://careers.airbaltic.com/en/teams/pilots

The article says that this information comes from anonymous sources in the Baltics. Sounds like they are trying to spread information to convince people to buy some shares in the IPO. Why Lufthansa to invest in a company with more than half a billion on debt and current losses? They will go immediately bankrupt if creditors will demand it, or if European Commission decides that they shouldn't have taken state money, like Malev case. Many other articles are circulating for years that Lufthansa is buying TAP and Air Europa. Lufthansa is buying healthy competitors like ita and not companies with debts many times their value.
If the conditions were nice, AB wouldn't have to open to ICAO pilots. The only EASA companies that accept ICAO pilots are the ones in the Baltics. What's going on there?
Sorry to say, but these companies who are fishing pilots from third countries, better go out off business cause of bankruptcy rather cause of an accident

They ain't fooling anyone, Latvians consider wiser to invest their money in the casino, rather in the IPO. The second half will have larger losses than the first one, last months were full of long delays and cancelations. Mostly due to A220 engine issues and Carpatair Fokkers that AB leased
AB joined the rest of the Baltic circuses airlines who hire ICAO pilots for some years now. I am afraid that this trend might expand to other EU companies thanks to EASA and local authorities. There are a lot of operators out there who prefer to have cheap labor who doesn't complain for the poor conditions. Airplanes these days fly themselves, why to pay a spoiled European and give him days off?

Do you fly for BT?

Hello,

Can you please share some information what to expect on the 2-part onsite assessment?
I would appreciate any info.
Thank you!

Hello guys.. anyone can give me some feedback about the company, like environment, salary, training and also, if is true this fast track contract ? Its difficulty see some airlines doing that.. after a year, a senior FO can upgrade ?
if someone who fly in the company could write me, I would be so glad. I’m highly considering apply.
thank you in advance.

The above figures are quite accurate, you can add a few hundred euros more but not much
You don't have to pay for the training but you have a 3 years, 36000 bond
Fast track. For some pilots yes, for some not. Recently we had a lot of Fins who left after a year or so because they didn't get the fast track, neither the advertised base in Tampere which remained only on papers, like many other things
Are you really from Brazil? I would strongly advice you to check the financial situation of the company before making all these expenses to come over here

Jeez
Soon in an EU airline, ICAO pilots from Turkmenistan, Brazil,and Burkina Faso will be flying EASA registered planes
Thank you EASA

It’s not easy like you said Zen…
For a foreign pilot that what’s to fly in EU, there are a couple airlines that hire. Nowadays we can see Ryan with Uk bases.
On the other hand, are some pilots ( talking to Brazilians), that also have EU passport and get EASA ATPL too. The chances are the same cause they have EU citizenship,like you.

Thank you Captain Patituri
i was considering this fast track, but as I can see and all the research I did, the best way is continuing in y airline. I’m Brazilian but not flying in Brazil, and I’m hugely considering moving from where I’m based.
thank you for your feedback.
fly safe

ZEN Krempie,
I'm sure you don't have any ZEN attitude or exemplary behaviour
with your racist statements, you need to change the job if you are a pilot of course. Aviation is for open-minded people.
The administrator must close your account and your M****.

I don't see any racism in his statements. All he is saying is that when pilots turn their back to poor conditions, airlines react by opening to pilots from third countries (legal definition for non EU countries) with ICAO licenses, instead of improving the conditions, something that if it spreads in EU, will destroy this profession for good. What's next for the flight schools? Going to Botswana to obtain a 5k ICAO CPL?
A bit of banter is fine for any forum but your post is full of hate, especially when you call to shut down voices you don't agree with

I apologize, but your discussion focuses only on money foreigners, non-EU. What about the FAA? Do you believe you fly aircraft while Brazilians and those from Botswana fly the piano? At the very least, try not to blame any nationality. It's important to be open-minded—it's as simple as that for me.
Fly Safe.

https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/air-bal...s-940610851800

Does anyone have more background info? Unfortunately the article is in German, but when you put it through a translator it seems Swiss authorities are investigating whether AirBaltic is disregarding Switzerland's minimum salary rules for cross-border deployment of employees and that Swiss authorities are investigating. Apparently these laws say that as a cross-border deployed employee, you have to get a "usual" salary for the job you do according Swiss salary standards.

That sounds like it could become expensive for AirBaltic.