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