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KoruPilot · 06-19-2009, 05:37 AM

MeLu,

I like your shutspa, well done for trying out your English, but mate, get somebody to help you out here. It's like watching the knock off foreign (to me)movies I get down the road here in Shanghai; interesting English subtitles, but I inevitably end up lost as far as the story goes. Please don't take this the wrong way though, I think it's great that your trying out the language, but get a bit of help from a native English speaker and I think you'll not only get your point across, but your written English will improve. That said, you English is way better than my Mandarin, so well done.

SayAgain

As for making dreams a reality. You absolutely, positively require residence, not just a work permit, to get into Air NZ. However, currently Jetstar NZ is taking Europeans who are typed to fly the airplanes. It's a long story and a bit of a bone of contention, but basically the imports are getting more money than Jetstar is willing to pay Kiwi's/Aussies in order to keep the airplanes in the air while trying to get Kiwi's/Aussies to give in and work for less. Keep in mind that that's slanted a bit as it is my opinion and I'm sick of HR departments worldwide using the 'crisis' to screw down wages. But I digress.

As already pointed out by my bank robbing gun slinging friend, Air NZ is not hiring, nor does it look like they will be hiring for the foreseeable future. They are trying to get people to take LWOP as they have an apparent overstaffing situation while they run 75 hour roster averages. I've always liked Air NZ and have only good thing's to say about working for the company and the pilot management, but, they are heading down an interesting path here and the ends are a bit fuzzy from a pilots perspective.

Again, it's a great lifestyle job and the pay, in NZ terms, is not too bad. There is however almost no movement now, so if you go you can expect to be in the cruise seat (or B733 FO seat, same position as far as the company is concerned) for a very long time. It was too long for me so I left (I asked for LWOP, argued the point rather eloquently I think, and was flat out denied. Six months later they can't get rid of pilots fast enough. Go figure). Others however think I'm an idiot though, so there you go. What I'm doing now is simply more my thing, plus I commute anyway so what the heck eh. The S/O position was not my thing. Simple as that.

But that's not really what you asked was it. Sorry 'bout that, I do tend to ramble.

Pacific Blue is starting a whole bunch more flying trans-Tasman, and Jetstar is looking to come into NZ in a big way. As far as I know neither of them require anything more than a work permit, and if you are type rated with good experience you might just be able to squeeze a sponsor before the door closes on that one. Both companies have down sides compared to Air NZ, but the upside would be an upgrade at least a decade faster.

(I should note that when I was hired at Air NZ there was a fellow upgraded to the B733 in less than five years, but also guy's at that time who had waited as S/O's for close to ten. In my opinion, and my opinion only, those day's are over for a while. Management is talking not only short term, but also long term overstaffing numbers. Since they are saying that publicly I can only assume that whatever expansion plans they had have been cancelled. If they are not cancelled then they are blowing smoke to get something out of the pilots, which will come around to bite them very squarely on the rear. But again I digress).

Once again more than you requested. Sorry for the opinions. You can go ahead and blame Tweet, who should bloody well stop in AKL for a beer next time he's in country. Have a great weekend everybody.

06-19-2009, 05:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
KoruPilot Gets Weekends Off Joined APC: Mar 2006 Position: B744 FO Posts: 503	MeLu, I like your shutspa, well done for trying out your English, but mate, get somebody to help you out here. It's like watching the knock off foreign (to me)movies I get down the road here in Shanghai; interesting English subtitles, but I inevitably end up lost as far as the story goes. Please don't take this the wrong way though, I think it's great that your trying out the language, but get a bit of help from a native English speaker and I think you'll not only get your point across, but your written English will improve. That said, you English is way better than my Mandarin, so well done. SayAgain As for making dreams a reality. You absolutely, positively require residence, not just a work permit, to get into Air NZ. However, currently Jetstar NZ is taking Europeans who are typed to fly the airplanes. It's a long story and a bit of a bone of contention, but basically the imports are getting more money than Jetstar is willing to pay Kiwi's/Aussies in order to keep the airplanes in the air while trying to get Kiwi's/Aussies to give in and work for less. Keep in mind that that's slanted a bit as it is my opinion and I'm sick of HR departments worldwide using the 'crisis' to screw down wages. But I digress. As already pointed out by my bank robbing gun slinging friend, Air NZ is not hiring, nor does it look like they will be hiring for the foreseeable future. They are trying to get people to take LWOP as they have an apparent overstaffing situation while they run 75 hour roster averages. I've always liked Air NZ and have only good thing's to say about working for the company and the pilot management, but, they are heading down an interesting path here and the ends are a bit fuzzy from a pilots perspective. Again, it's a great lifestyle job and the pay, in NZ terms, is not too bad. There is however almost no movement now, so if you go you can expect to be in the cruise seat (or B733 FO seat, same position as far as the company is concerned) for a very long time. It was too long for me so I left (I asked for LWOP, argued the point rather eloquently I think, and was flat out denied. Six months later they can't get rid of pilots fast enough. Go figure). Others however think I'm an idiot though, so there you go. What I'm doing now is simply more my thing, plus I commute anyway so what the heck eh. The S/O position was not my thing. Simple as that. But that's not really what you asked was it. Sorry 'bout that, I do tend to ramble. Pacific Blue is starting a whole bunch more flying trans-Tasman, and Jetstar is looking to come into NZ in a big way. As far as I know neither of them require anything more than a work permit, and if you are type rated with good experience you might just be able to squeeze a sponsor before the door closes on that one. Both companies have down sides compared to Air NZ, but the upside would be an upgrade at least a decade faster. (I should note that when I was hired at Air NZ there was a fellow upgraded to the B733 in less than five years, but also guy's at that time who had waited as S/O's for close to ten. In my opinion, and my opinion only, those day's are over for a while. Management is talking not only short term, but also long term overstaffing numbers. Since they are saying that publicly I can only assume that whatever expansion plans they had have been cancelled. If they are not cancelled then they are blowing smoke to get something out of the pilots, which will come around to bite them very squarely on the rear. But again I digress). Once again more than you requested. Sorry for the opinions. You can go ahead and blame Tweet, who should bloody well stop in AKL for a beer next time he's in country. Have a great weekend everybody.