I read that they still have yet to receive or exercise (depending on which one is correct) the last 6 747-8F from Boeing.

Are they options to be exercised or firm orders yet to be delivered?

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So thats why they are hiring and now they do not require 747 type. Must need a lot of crew.

No one really knows what will happen with those 6 -8Fs. The company has said they want to just operate 8F's and maybe keep 1 or 2 400's around for charters. They currently have airplanes sitting on the ramp that they are not flying because of lack of flight crew but they really do not want to hire. They have the business but keep turning it down due to lack of crews. They will probably lose at least 6 pilots by the time the 6 new hires start in January and they won't be on the line until October. So schedules will not get any easier for a long time.

The reason they are hiring non-type rated pilots is they are looking for lower time pilots who will not be looking to leave so quickly. This way they can open up the pool to a broader group of pilots and put them on a lower payscale. No one use to leave NCA except when they retired, but that has all changed. Even Japanese pilots are leaving which is unheard of in Japan.

Everything is not all negative but things have changed so much. The people you fly with are great, the maintenance is excellent, you never have to worry about having enough fuel and training is fairly relaxed once you get on the line.

.

And if you do worry about not having enough fuel you get a nice little paid vacation :D:p

We recently had one Japanese copilot leave for Emirates... Now THAT is unheard of. Not to mention guys with 8+ years leaving. I can't possibly see this being a long term destination anymore. Sucks.

Wow moving to EK is def a surprise...
Sounds like the gig is a bit of gamble. If they get more frames in near future could be a winner. If freight conditions stay challenging then might be a longtime F/O. Either way from the job I'm in apart from being home all the time, NCA would be leaps and bounds better. Pay for start, support and operation all light years better

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Whats the medical like in Japan? Anything like the chinese astronaut medical?

Top/Search this thread/medical/enter/all your questions answered.

Wow., I thought NCA was one of the primo jobs along with the airline Domincan flies for!!

Guess all these managers went to the same school….

Kap

Ever since ANA sold their majority on NCA it has steadily gone downhill....! And the T&C'S along with it. They are trying to get some capital by selling their 744's but there are very few buyers on the market right now.

There was a rumor going on a few months back that ANA wanted to buy them back and turn everything into ANA Cargo along with the 76 freighters but I haven't heard anything else in a long time now.

Will see I guess..! ANA is keeping very tight lip about their future plans.....!

Yup. Definitely has gone downhill. Our new schedulers have only made matters much worse. Huge discrepancies in days off between pilots with zero reason given, and an attitude of "deal with it".

Haven't heard anything about the ANA rumor in about five months. It would be interesting if it happened... I could use an HNL overnight!

Hello,
I have a question about the medical exam in Japan (and China). I understand they are strict - I have an ankle arthrodesis (a tractor ran on my foot 25 years ago) and I also have lots of scars on my leg.
I have no problem walking (and running on a short distance) and I don't have any limitation on the EASA/FAA/Canadian medical certificate.
I am flying the A330 as FO in Canada but I would like to move away from here. Do you think my problem is a no go for Japan (or China)?
Thank you for your help

You won't know until you try.

Honestly, just don't disclose it (or any other medical problem) to them. Let them find it. The only two medical tests that you may have issue with are balancing on one foot for thirty seconds with your eyes closed, and the EKG stress test on the treadmill if you show any kind of a limp. If you can pass through those you should be fine.

Yes it is a shame, people have left for the Desert, Korean and China. So that is a good indication of the direction things are going. There are also guys heading back to the Legacy carriers in the US. In years past guys have resigned from Delta and United to stay because it was such a great contract. That is not happening anymore. Most of the guys have applications out and are looking for something else.

Things is Asia in general are not all that they seem these days. Have a look at an airline in the Fragrant Harbor. Once known as the premier airline pilot job in the world, most are clamoring to move on. Flying a B747 around the world in a foreign land is phenomenal when you are out of work at home, but once home calls again, there is nothing better than a job at a US legacy.

Having your schedule dictated to you and being gone 7-10+ days at a time is a grand adventure in the beginning, but it can where on you mentally and definitely physically as time goes by.

Regarding NCA, what would QOL/schedule be if you live in base, say LAX?

LAX...
You get 10 guaranteed days off a month, you can split that into 5/5 or 6/4 etc. you may be awarded some additional "blank days" which are essentially at home reserve days, you just need to be contactable.
Let's assume an average of 11 to 13 days off a month, but certainly as few as 10 is possible.

Your first flight will be LAX - SFO – NRT with a three man crew. Once in NRT you may spend the next week or so flying out and backs to Asian cities, sometimes at night, sometimes during the day, however they can mess up your body clock the most. Once you are thoroughly fatigued, you will fly a two-man flight across the Pacific back to LAX. Yes, two-man crew across the Pacific.

Alternatively, you may just pop back and forth across the Pacific, that is much preferred. Good luck getting it. The Excel in NRT Will become your second home. You may occasionally fly over to ANC or ORD, but rarely.

Any flying over 65 hours is above guarantee "overtime".
Rinse, wash, repeat.

Thanks for the info....

Hello everyone,

Would just like to revive this old thread as I am looking for infos on NCA myself. Is my understanding the company has gone through some shrinking, however finding accurate informations (or even something more substantial than a simple rumour) is very hard. What is the outlook of NCA? People leaving and will continue to do so? Time to command stretching even further? Or are there signs (however small) of improvement?

Thanks

Have a real good think
 

Expat jobs are plentiful for a reason. Trust me when I tell you, it's not worth it. You don't have to work for a U.S. major to be a successful, professional pilot.

Those great expat jobs are really not so great. Yes, go read Fragrant Harbour on the PPRUNE or even better, the ME forum about Emirates. Simply put, being an expat, or working for a foreign carrier, SUCKS!

If you're flying a widebody, or any body, in your home country, STAY PUT! Just trust me. If you have a job, keep your job, make the best of your job and stay home. Moving or going to a foreign carrier will wear off very quickly, believe me.

If the training alone does not make you realize, then flying the line will. Just you wait till check ride time and the astronaut physical EVERY year. And you just wait until you get to fly with an Ozzie!

Enjoy

NO, there are not even small signs. Still sending a second 400 to Atlas to do NCA flying, so less upgrades and less money for long term copilots, and the schedules just continue to SUCK and get worse. They have no orders and no plans for anything after these -8s wear out. More resignations from both seats than they can keep up with in hiring. No raises in contract signed in May. Flying 780-920 hours a year flipping back in forth between day and night and day with 24 hour layovers after 15 hour duty days with 2 pilot, 2 leg days. 10 days off a month and sometimes commuting on them.

Be more specific about what you want out of coming here and where you are coming from geographically and you may get better answers.

Hey Palmtree,

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. I made the tough decision to quit last year, and I didn't want to leave. I saw a negative trend starting to pick up speed and didn't want to pass V1 while at NCA. The jury is still out if I made the right call, but from all my friends that are still there it doesn't sound like much of anything is improving. I know some of them are actively looking for alternatives. It's disappointing considering how great it could be there.

Man, what a shame.

Years back, before NYK bought them out the NCA 74 contract gig was one of the best kept secrets and a highly coveted gig in that world.

For Do2g,

Someone else can fact check this but:

They fired all their expat pilots a number of years ago. The guys sued the company for breach of contract and WON. I k ow someone personally who was in the pilot group.

Nippon Yusen owns NCA. Most of their business is with surface ships. I think NCA runs at a loss but it ties into their shipping plan somehow.

Of all the people to meet at a baseball game I sat next to someone who works there just recently. They are contracting out as much of the -400 flying as they can because the jets are old and cost so much to fix because of JCAB regulations.

Was told 2 years ago that it's a 15 year upgrade.

Hope that is accurate and helpful.

I'd like to thank everyone for their answers and insights.

A broad picture of the current state of affairs is what I was looking for and I got it.
I am all too familiar with what being and expat means in this industry, PotatoChip mentioned a negative trend starting to pick up speed, which is what is happening in my current outfit as well and the reason why I am looking elsewhere.
I suppose I'll have to keep looking.

How’re things at NCA now? I’m sure there’s been ups and downs

Every American I’m friends with there has left except for two, both of whom have active apps out elsewhere.
The majority have left for UPS, FedEx and Kalitta. I know one went to UAL.
As fun as it is having mandatory breathalyzers before EVERY flight… it’s not what it was.