SunExpress
 

Does anyone know how the roster is currently at SunExpress?
And how is life as a commuting expat? Does commuting actually work or no?

Unless you are desperate for a job or you want them to pay for your rating coming from a heavy turboprop or a light jet in exchange for a couple of years of your life, I would recommend you to stay clear. There is a reason why they are recruiting all the time.

From what I heard they offer a 14/14 roster but that is just a rumor I heard.

Anyone knows if this is true?

Commuting contract is available. 3 months full time, 9 months part-time (20 on/10 off). Pay is around double compared to European market (if you take tax into consideration), but in the summer you can expect to fly 100+hrs per month and lots of night flights and layovers in Turkey. Feel free to pm if you need more info.

Not true right now, only 20/10 and minimum 3 months full time.

I wouldn't call 20 on/10 off part time. I dread to think how full time might look

sorry, my explanation wasn’t precise. 10 consecutive days off (commuting days) that you choose, let’s say in May 1-10th off, or 10-20th or whatever you choose. Then on top of that minimum additional 5 days off at homebase. 6-12 return flights per month.

What reason is that?

Not correct. Company grow each year and also few retirement. Like any other company there is turnover as well. It is good company maybe best in Turkey in terms of working conditions (not in terms of pay). Best for expat to work in terms of CRM. Mostly young and dynamic Captains. Winter is easy, summer is busy as it has been said, many domestic layovers then international flights from different domestic destinations. Basic salary + additional fee for duty hours (not block hours). Again like other user say, almost double the money comparing the European counterparts, Condor, Transavia, Smartwings and etc.

Many rumours about duty hours in SXS... Can anyone confirm how many duty hours one can expect in summer and in winter time? What's an average duty hours?

What layovers can be expected, or it's mainly turnaround flying?

Anyone can give feedback regarding simulator assessment?
Thanks

Let me answer a few questions about this company. I’ll start with the worst part. During summer, expect some layovers, which will be an average of 3-5 days. Winters were quiet, but it might’ve changed. The worst flights are on layovers from 23:45 to 03:00 local check-in. Depending on your luck, you might have an awesome or fatigue-inducing roster. In summer, expect 3-4 night flights per month. In winter, perhaps 1. There are a lot of good parts. If you are coming from a low-cost company, you will find out how it feels to be respected. Especially if you are from the UK and get used to being harassed by airport security. There are part-time options, but with a full-time job during the low season, you can request 5 off days in a row and additional off days ( 5-3-2; there is no limit). The summer season is rough, but you can have 4 offs a month and some additional requests. 90% of your off requests are granted, and you can also bid for flights before and after your off days. For AYT base (this will be your base as an expat), winter was around 80-100 duty hours, and summer around 140+ duty hours. Basically, you will fly the same hours as a UK low-cost company, earn around 14-15K € net. To compensate with a UK low-cost, after 5 days in a row, I feel drained but not fatigued, but in SXS, you will feel fatigued, but you will fly more motivated because of duty hours payment,night payment, andoff day payment, etc.

CRM wise best company in Turkey, I’ve never talked with an expat unhappy about it. Training wise I thin it is on par with UK low costs. If you have more questions, you can ask under this topic.

Bringingownfood thank you for the info, really appreciated! Is there any chance to move from part time roster to full time and vice verse? Also, if on 20/10 roster what is the life quality of these 20 days on, for someone who wants to live in Antalya? Should I expect heavy rosters and working almost every day or...?
Additionally, how are trainings in Sunexpress in terms of quality? Thank you!

You can apply every September for full time or different part-time models (3 months full time, 9 months part-time, or 6 months part-time (winter) and 6 full (summer)). During your 20 days, you can request additionally another block of 3 days off (I've managed to get 3 weekends off most months). ON days as part-time (especially in the summer) are usually a mixture of long flights (UK), night flights to Germany (departure between 21-00 LT and back in the morning) and layovers. (for example you stay 3-5 days in Gaziantep/Adana/Dalaman and fly from there to Germany/UK).

Thank you very much for information! As a pay is very much variating depending on duty time, can you please give a feedback on approximate duty time hours around the year, to estimate average net salary. I am getting a contradictory information from various sources and would appreciate a bit more insight on that if you would be so kind...

Thank you very much!

I am alsof curious to the terms. Is there someone who knows within how long you can request parttime; is that possible in your first year?

cheers,

any feedback for the final board interview?

Any feedback in terms of questions and experience for the final interview would be a great help.