For the military guys, if you get activated - at least at Air Japan - they will let you come back after your assignment. We had a new guy who got activated to Iraq after his training and was allowed to come back after his tour. Also, if you are with CREW or HACS, since they are both US companies they would have to let you come back if you get activated according to the US laws I presume. I'm not an expert on this subject, but I know for a fact Air Japan will let you comeback if you are activated. Also, the scheduling is flexible enough here where you can request days-off around reserve duty dates.

Hopes this helps a little.

How did the interview go guys / gals ???

Do you know what contractor he used? CReWs is pretty quick to say "no" in the past, regarding this contract.

Biggie

They are actively hiring and they need a few guys so if CREW is not cutting it, use another contractor.

Sorry I posted on regards to one of your posts biggie.

You didn't.

I was looking at NCA and AJX, a few years ago; and CReWs told me no for the 747 Classics and later for the -400s. Even though I'd heard different from pilots that had talked to NCA management. Jus sayin - might be better to try a different contractor, if CReWs won't even answer your e-mails.

Biggie

CReW is now doing just ANA while HACS is for Starflyer, and NCA. The recruiter for the NCA is Brooks at ext. 21. He is very nice and will give you an answer if you qualify or not. They ARE having issues getting qualified applicants to apply. They (HACS adn Parc) are competing with america getting ready to start up the hiring engine, China dangling $ in front of the young guys, and many pilots who are just not in a position to do a 4-6 month training gig. Not to mention it scares the heck out of most pilots when you tell them about it.

The first round there was 5 of us JCAB -400 type holders and 2 US -400 guys. The 2nd round I know of 1 JCAB -400 guy, 1 US type guy, and the rest I can only speculate. I have been told from HACS that if you have a JCAB rating on anything or a -400 type from anywhere, NCA will at least look at your resume/application. There are a total of about 45 guys on this planet that have a -400 JCAB rating and maybe a few hundred pilots that have flown in Japan...so that pool is going to dry up quick. This NCA is a bit more open to new ideas than the old NCA.

Here is one from a guy is typed and current on the 400.....pay more and work less. I wonder how that would go over!

Question about BUPA medical Ins through PARC
 

Just trying to get a "ballpark" idea of what BUPA medical coverage would be for my wife & daughter (worldwide coverage), i.e. they will spend periods of time in Canada, USA, & Europe through the course of the year (so yeah - worldwide coverage would be necessary).

Good luck to all in the interview process !

Heading back in Nov for my medical -

Not sure if it is the same with NCA, but I'm on contract with PARC and with BUPA insurance, it does NOT cover my family in the US, they would only be covered if I change my domicile outside of the US. This is one issue where PARC is very substandard for guys living in the US, they offered supplemental insurance for my family but what they quoted me was higher than what I was paying. Make sure they clarify this issue with you because I'm afraid you will have to get supplemental insurance on your own.

Thanks Dom - Certainly interesting when it comes to insurance & coverage (based on one's domicile).

Honestly - still not sure where we are going to call "home" yet. We have legal rights to live in Canada & Europe (in our case), but Canadians can also stay in the USA for up to 6 months (without a VISA)... Still researching what to do (my daughter is not school age as of yet, so there is some flexibility).

I applied for the LAX base (through PARC) - but as a non-resident

I went through the PARC/NCA interview last week. Sorry this took so long to post - back at work in Europe/ME with serious Internet challenges.
They indicated that:
Training will be at NCA training facility in Narita, accomodations at the Excel hotel. Training ws originally projected to be up to 6 months (total elapsed time, including return home after SIM and about a month of IOE). Planning on classes of 8 candidates each, every other month beginning in April, for a total cadre of 32 pilots, who are to replace junior JAL pilots that NCA had employed while on furlough and are being recalled.
Next screening (after the one this week) will be in December. PARC and HAAC are still accepting resumes.
PARC will reimburse the cost of the airfare to/from, and trains etc when there. Hotel is paid dirctly by NCA. Stay at the Excel Hotel in Narita (adjacent to the north end of the airfield). There is a crew-only cafeteria in the basement, which is a great place to meet and mingle.
Day one of the screening consists of a sim evaluation followed by panelinterview, both conducted at NCA's new training facility adjecent to the airport. PARC/HAAC rep will escort you and three other candidates to and from the training center. Each sim and interview is individual...everyone else waits in a conference room while the otheras are screened. Morning or afternoon sessions, but either lasts about 5 hours, with a lunch break.
You will revieve a one-page sim profile and the NRT ILS Rwy 16R approach plate, which you will review with a NCA Captain and the Chief Pilot. Very relaxed - they let you know what they would like to see. The Captain in the left seat runs all your checklists. In the sim: engines running, holding short of the runway, depart NRT 16R, engine flame out at V1. @500', LT to 010*, flaps 5* and 1,000' accellerate to 200kts, climb to 3,000, then Autopilot on. You're on a modified downwind for the approach. 3-engine ILS to a full stop, Autopilot off once established. Clear the runway at the highspeed ad stop. Done. In and out in ~20 minutes! They just want to see you fly and that you're trainable!
Panel interview included one PARC rep, who guided the questions, the chief pilot, and a NCA representitive. Standard interview questions (why NCA, you ok with Japanese culture, what would you do if a captain did this..., and a very few general aviation questions. Seems like basically a "Normal" test, verify that you are who you say you are.
After screening, return to hotel and await phone call to let you know that you "passed" the initial screening and will continue to the medical screening the following day. There were more applicants than medical creening slots available, so guys that are based or live in the area were asked to return at a later date for screening. Screening is in a large diagnostic clinic in downtown Tokyo. Train runs from the airport to the city, easy, with no transfers. Screening took 5 hours - extensive vision test (with dilation - bring sunglasses!!), hearing, balance, psych screening, EKG, EKG on treadmill, EEG (brainwave exam), chest exray, barium swallow digestive tract radiogram, E,N,&T exam, blood and urine sample. Return to hotel after about 1pm, and done. Medical tests take about a week to get back to NCA, then about a week for the house doctor to review them, and passs the results to the hiring board. Unclear when we might be notified of intent to offer a contract.

It's pretty quiet here. I haven't gotten the results for my medical yet. Has anyone? I also heard a rumor of a possible earlier class. As implausible as that is (the Japanese plan years in advance,have multiple committee agreements and a manual written) it may change the picture a bit. The FY2013 begins in April and I'm sure that is how the budget was written. Anybody hear anything good or bad?

Just wanted to post a correction to one of my earlier posts that was brought to my attention by a colleague, the NCA contract is held by HACS, not CREW, we tend to mix these two due to their common roots but I wanted to make the distinction.

RE: JCAB initial medical
 

Anyone care to comment (if they know) what max BMI is considered acceptable for the "initial" medical.

I've heard numbers as low as a BMI of 27 (max.) or under 30, considering other things are acceptable (i.e. cholesterol, etc...).

Thanks in advance !

Although it isn't a number they do share, but for what I understand in talking to the contract agencies folks is that the magic number is 30 or bellow.

as always: thanks Dominican!

I think I owe you a # of beers already -

Yeah, I've heard under 30, too - but then a couple of people started tossing around the "27" number as an initial cut-off.

I got word last night that background check/etc...paperwork is being sent next week. It sounds like they are starting to get results of the medicals back. What a nail biter.

Same here! Got the good news yesterday about the JCAB medical.

There's also been talk of moving the first course dates earlier to March, but nothing certain yet.

Fingers crossed.

Upspeed.

NCA is trying to put together a class of 16 for the last week of January. Invitations should go out in the next couple weeks after background checks come back. It's starting to happen finally.

On the HACS application site there is one section that I'm unsure about; it is separate and below "Last PC". What's the best way to fill out the section: "Date-Last Instrument Rating"

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

I was unsure exactly what it was asking as well. On my first run thru, my app timed out and I had to do it all over again. On the 2nd attempt, I decided to leave it blank. It is not marked as being required and I didn't want to have another timeout issue.

SL

Good news! That would be the best Christmas present any of us could hope for!

Offwidth- Most of the non-US contract agencies advised me that was the same as the last PC date. Personally I think it is a weird category, but you will always be safe in calling the agency direct and asking them what the heck they want. The HACS contract manager's name is Brooks Toyama - Extension 21. Good luck!

To the guys who've been notified about their background checks, did you go through PARC or HACS? PARC has been silent for some time now and hasn't answered a couple guys requests for more info.

Hi Gents and Ladies,

For those who applied and got the "good news" between Nov/Dec-2012, according to the latest update from one of the recruiting agencies, first class should start in early February for JCAB license holders (not many AFAIK). Second class will be for non-JCAB drivers and this one would start some time around the beginning / middle of March.

Things have been moving slowly recently due to X-mas and especially New Year's, which is a big thing in Japan. I've been informed that NCA pretty much halts ops during this time, and info should start flowing within the next 2 weeks. It also looks like more 748's may arrive earlier than expected and training will probably be for both the -400 and -8! Sweet!

Hope this gives some relief for those biting their nails (me included)!

Cheers,

Upspeed.

Hello, I didn't see covered in this discussion. Can somebody clarify what is considered a "Day off" at NCA?

It specifies 8 consecutive days off (or duty free), does that mean that the other two could be assigned on a layover? thanks in advance.

No. As far as I know the other 2 would be assigned at your operational base, which would be the same were you get your 8 days off in block (AMS, ORD or LAX).

Cheers,

Upspeed.

The contract says you are given 10 days off each month. You request your days off the month in advance and receive your schedule around the 25th of the month. You can break them up or take all 10 in a row. They also can give you what is called a blank day which is like a day off but they can make into a work day if they need you. It is not a reserve day so you can enjoy your blank days at home, but if they have extra flying or trips that need to be covered after the schedule is released then you have to be available. Some months you are not given any and some months you can be given a bunch depending on the flying schedule. Some months you may work the full 20 days and other months you may work as little as 12 days. You are also given 2 blocks of 12 days for vacation. So 2 months out of the year the most you could be scheduled for is 8 days but usually it is less.

Hi There,

Just a couple of questions regarding days off if you wouldn't mind answering:

1. How often do you get the 10 days off in block (as opposed to 8 in a row and 2 separately)?
2. Can you request these back to back? last 10 days of the month with first 10 days of the next? if yes, then how many times per calendar year?
3. I suppose blank days are not included in the 10 days off right?
4. Regarding the vacation days. Can you use these 24 days to extend your 10 days off to for ex 12 by deducting 2/ month from the 24?
5. Last question: average flight time per month?

Really looking forward to starting and will appreciate the extra info!

Upspeed.

1. They always give you 10 days off in a row if you request it. Very rarely they will ask you to move your days off. Usually this will only happen around Christmas.
2. You can put your 10 days back to back every month. There are people that commute from all over the world so they are very good about giving you the days this way.
3. Blank days are not included in your 10 days off. They are kinda of a bonus, some months you may not get any, other months you may get five. It all depends on the staffing.
4. Vacation is given in 2 blocks of 12 days, so you can't break them up. Some people bid them back to back and then bid their 10 days off in front of and behind their vacation. So they will be off for a month and a half.
5. Monthly flight times varies, people usually fly any where between 40-70 hours.

Congrats, have they given you a class date yet?

NCA
 

Thanks for the reply! It helps a lot when you know a bit more what to expect, specially in regards to things "out of the scope of the formal contract". Overall until now this really seems like one of the few good jobs out there!

I have been given an estimated start between beginning and middle of march, but no exact date yet. I believe the JCAB licensed guys should be starting within the next 2 weeks, but not 100% sure. Maybe someone in that first class could confirm.

Cheers,

Upspeed.

Upspeed I sent you a PM.

Checked! Thank you!

Anyone going to screening feb 18-20 ?

which LAX hotel?
 

got the March course -

Thanks to all who provided information and tips in this thread. All greatly appreciated ! Thank you!

Which LAX hotel do you guys normally use?

Best of luck to all !

Cheers!

Ok - while I'm at it, where do you guys stay in ANC?

thanks!

cheers!

Congrats on the class date. We stay at the Crown Plaza Redondo Beach, the Hilton in Anchorage and Westin O'hare. Wish you the best of luck.

Does anyone have information with regards to the NCA job KORD base with regards to commuting. I was curious if NCA tries to schedule most of your trips to start and finish in KORD or KLAX? Also, are hotels provided by NCA when you do operate flights to your base? A previous post mentioned a requirment to live in base. It would seem that one could use the commuting allowance to buy a ticket each month to offset the travel expense.

My understanding is this to get you to Japan to start your trip. But I guess you could start at base. That would be nice.

You start your trips out of your base where you are given a hotel room. You can live any where you would like. If you are based in ORD you may go months without even going to Japan, sometimes you are just scheduled to fly with in the US.