Jet Star, from what I understand, pays pretty decent ($180K for a skipper on the 330). You have to have a type rating, but that type of nonesense may end down here at some point as both Virgin and Jet Star are losing pilots in droves. Virgin is seriously talking about getting rid of the requirement for a type rating as the discounters find it more difficult to get good pilots, or keep the ones they have, and their pay is not too shabby to be fair.

When a person pays their own way they do not have loyalty to the company. With the diaspora of drivers going to EK (and everywhere else for that matter) which frankly is a bit of a 'grass is always greener' move, the discounters are having crewing problems, and for the time being may end this disaster of pay for training. Get rid of a couple 'contract' companies which will remain nameless, and the problem could be solved quicker.

The S/O positions are currently being filled by experinced pilots, both at QF and NZ. It is a good job and a good lifestyle, but it's not a great lifestyle and, even though we are fully type rated and current, we don't get to land. Some trips you can feal like a glorified flight attendant who get's to do the walk around.

So, for S/O's they have hired highly experienced pilots, given them full type ratings and operational experience; if you were offered a job properly flying the beasty with an airline getting more money and, imagine, to land the thing, you'd think pretty hard about it. And all these airlines around the Pacific Rim that want qualified pilots are going to be loveing it.

Perhaps there is an upside here. Without the big operations employing S/O's on effectively 'B' scale, many drivers would not have the ability (type rating and ops experience)nor the desire to move to a company that wants them as actual pilots. Looking at the longer term, it is a good move and both NZ and QF, regardless of their respective low cost arms will continue to hire many pilots into the main-line operations.

That all said, I don't land the thing, but most of the guy's sitting in front of me have the auto-pilot in at 400ft and out at 500ft, max, so I don't feal too bad. I am also making out quite well with overtime at the moment while we are short, and we get treated pretty well by the company in many other respects. Personally, I still believe that it's a good job and worth pursueing if you are that way inclined.