ogilthorpe

If any of you are currently on the Q400 contract, I have an interview coming up and have all the usual questions. Schedules, housing costs, taxes in Japan, etc. Cheers!

Controlled Rest

I don't work there anymore, but I did a few years ago. What do you want to know?

TurboDVR42

Controlled,
Since you cant PM yet. Can you share any useful info. Anything will work

Schedule
Benefits
Overtime
Lay overs
Crews
Hour flown per month
Employee Treatment
Training (i heard its like 3 months or so)
Interview

Any info would be great
thanks
ps
did you have to wear white gloves?

Controlled Rest

Schedule: It's set up as a commuting contract so you work 5 days on/1 day off for 4-6 weeks then you have 10 days - 3 weeks off. There were some options for the length of your work/off days. The total contractual days off per year is 144 (120 days off plus 24 vacation days). When I was there they also introduced a "local" schedule choice where you'd get 10 days off/month and have your 24 vacation days to take at some point in the year. Similar to what a local pilot would have.

Benefits: Depends on your contract company. I was with Parc. We had medical (BUPA) and a small pension plan that Parc contributed to. Can't remember the percentage but I ended up at the end of the contract with about an extra month of money.

Overtime: There is overtime in the contract. Can't remember what the threshhold was, but you'll never hit it.

Layovers: When I started we did 1 or 2 a month. By the end of the contract we were doing ~10/month. I'm told it's less again now as they've cut back a lot of flying due to crew shortages.

Crews: Not sure what you mean here. When I was there it was all contract crews except a dozen or so Japanese captains who were the trainers/managers. Towards the end of my time they brought in a few Japanese FOs. I believe there a more now. Some of the Japanese FOs are captains now too I think.

Hours per month: ~50 in the logbook. Duty days were 7-9 hours (either morning or afternoon shift) and normally 3-5 sectors.

Employee Treatment: Was pretty good when I was there. There was an adjustment period for both groups but we generally all got along. There were a few exceptions in both groups. You definitely need to remember that you work for a Japanese company and things are done differently. I've heard rumours that things aren't as good as they were when I was there, but I have no first hand knowledge.

Training: 3 months? that would be nice. More like 6 or more. 6 is the standard. Some guys were stretched out to 9-10 months. That being said, it's not very busy training. Lots of days off in between sim sessions, and time off between sim, medical, line training...etc.

Interview/sim eval: Standard and not difficult. It's the 2-day medical that's interesting.

White gloves: The Japanese wear them. You don't have to. Some people did, some didn't.

All my information is 3 years old so may have changed.

TurboDVR42

Good Info. Thank you very much.
Where did you go, and why did you leave?

Tumbleweed

I've applied too. It sounds like mostly locals. Does the company put you up somewhere when you're doing a 5-week tour or are you expected to find a crashpad? I was considering a commute from Guam unless it would be possible to move to Japan. That being said, I presume you might have to find a legal way to live in Japan if you're a U.S. citizen? Thanks

Controlled Rest

You get accomodation during training. After that you need to get an apartment in Osaka. You get a Japanese work visa so you can live in Japan.

Ak Pilot

is true than (1/2 SIC time calculated toward PIC req) for the application for the q400

thanks

hoover

so has anyone passed the interview and those who have any word on the medical results?

TristarJS30

Just wanted to bump this thread. Anyone interviewed or worked recently under the Q400 CA contract that can share info?