Anyone know what the interview is like for SIA Cargo?
How long is the interview?
Where is it held?
Is there a sim ride?
Any info would be great.

WP

 

I would be interested in the same information, except that I do know that all interviews are held in Singapore.

 

Just a little more info on DEC positions. I've been with Cargo for a little while now. My monthly pay averages about 21-22,000/mo, excluding the education allowance. Average days off are about 12-13/mo.

Our profit sharing last year was 4 months pay and should be the same this year. And a 13th month pay check. Adding in the education allowance I was on the north side of S$300,000 on an annual basis. Taxes are very reasonable, less than 10%.

Typhoon pilot was slightly off on his assessment of vacation and medical. If you take a whole month off, which is very unlikely, then you get your monthly salary and your MVC (monthly variable component 10%). However, as I implied, the odds of getting an entire calendar month off are somewhere between slim and none. I will take 23 days vacation into next year.

All in all, it's very nice here. SIN is a great city, very clean, lots to do. The Cargo flying is very low keyed, nice locations, for the most part. You will not work hard at all. Most likely between 50-60 hours/mo.

As far as the interview goes, it's very relaxed. The biggest hurdle is getting past Jokila and her "personality". The sim is very straight forward, no surprises at all.

The process starts out with interview, if you're successful, it's off to the sim. If you pass that, it's a physical the next day. The physical is just like a FAA medical. Not an astronaut medical.

 

Hi Phil:

Good information. Is that 20-21,000 per month before or after taxes ? Also, could you explain in more detail what is necessary for the bank guarantee.

Thanks,

TP

 

The amount is before taxes. The tax system in SIN is pretty straight forward. Sometime in March you get a form from the company (IR-8). You go on line plug the numbers in and a few months later you get a bill from the IRAS. My tax rate was just under 7%. You don't have to pay it all at once, if you prefer you can have it deducted from your bank via GIRO. Pretty painless.

I had no bank guarantee, so I'm not that up to speed. But what you have to do is have that sum of money on deposit in a Singapore bank. Neither party can touch it and once your bond is satisfied, then the company notifies the bank and the money is yours.

Hope that helps, sorry I'm not up to speed on the bond details.

 

Phil, Hi my name is Rick Garcia I am a retired 777 captain from delta. I have an interview at Singapore cargo for the 747-400 in March. I was wondering how the living is. Can you get a nice place for the S3000. dollars? How's the golf? what did you have to do in the sim? any information would be helpful. thanks rick my email is [email protected]

 

I am currently at DL. 40 years old w/ 15 years flying 7ER B. Is this a job someone like me should entertain. I've lived in SE Asia and enjoyed it, my family would like if too. But do I cut ties w/ DL? They are about to dump the pension so it is not like I'd be walking away from any money. I'd be interested in your opinions. If you like post it here or email me at [email protected]


What are the upgrade prospects like? Any transition from cargo to pax?

Thanks,

Nick

 

I'll try to answer the last two posts as best as I can.

1) Singapore is great. Great weather, great food, extremely clean, no crime. But, it's a little sterile for some people, but my family enjoys it here.

2) S$3000/mo housing???? It depends on what you want and where you want to live. In my case, I am in an extremely central location, just off Orchard Road. I have a 4 BDRM condo on the 18th floor (30 total), brand new. I pay S$4000. You can live out on the East Coast area, where things are much cheaper, but there is a trade off. If it's just you and your wife, then yes, S$3000 is more than enough. However, being centrally located does have it's advantages. My kids take the public bus to and from school, loads of stuff within 5 min walk. Not quite the same on the East Coast.

3) The sim profile is very straight forward. It's been over 2 years for me, but it hasn't changed. No FMS work, a normal takeoff with an engine failure after you're airborne. 3 engine ILS to a missed, back around for a landing. Another takeoff for a visual. That's it. No tricks, no hidden land mines.

4) The medical is very standard. Similar to FAA, but you have to have specialists for a chest X-ray and eyes.

5) The interview is, again, very relaxed. No surprises there.

6) Upgrade...that's a tough one. Minimum time is 5 years. However, there is a push to give guys that don't have the DEC requirements a faster track. Nothing firm on that yet. A word of warning, if you do upgrade, the deal is you take a "local" contract. That means, no housing, no schooling. However you do get CPF, which is a pension scheme. Also, at this time, no transition from cargo to pax. Although, it is being looked at...(so says Gen. Raymond)

7) Golf is good. Tip....get an AMEX Platinum, one of the bennies is free golf during the week and small charge for the weekend.

I am very happy at SQ. It's not perfect, but they are trying to change things to attract "qualified" pilots. You certainly don't work too hard. Flying is very nice, varied destinations. All in all, it's worth a very close look.

 

How did you deal with the transportation of pets and family into the country? I like my wife, but I am really concerned about my dogs and their welfare. Any information about pets would be appreciated.

 

No pets, but I did take my wife and she had no problems!

SQ really arranges all the travel plans. Just tell them what date you want your family to arrive. I waited until kids were out of school (UK) and moved them then.

Pets can be shipped with you. There is a quarantine in effect for Singapore, but I believe depending on where you're from there is a way around it.

All in all, it was very painless.