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аэрофлот (Aeroflot)

Anybody else here has done some research on the above airline?

My recent search has revealed a significant expansion foreseen. The following is a snippet of the stated aircraft orders:

12 A319/A320/A321 family
22 A350
50 B737
16 B777
22 B787
significant amount of SSJ

One can only but imagine the quantity of pilots required to fulfill the forthcoming seats in the aircraft. Yes, Aeroflot has its own aviation school but they are unable to produce the needed number of pilots per year (120 fresh pilot graduates is the current rate). A new terminal ('D' I believe) is soon to be opened at Sheremetyovo Airport solely for Aeroflot.
Recently there have been statements that the airline is willing to open its doors to foreign pilots. The changes in laws are still required though to allow this to happen. Initially I believe one had to be a Russian citizen (and of course know the Russian language). Maybe now those requirements are not necessary.

The package seems to be promising too:

up to 10,000 Eur a month
70 days a year vacation (paid naturally)
good pension plans
family benefits
and so on

All that and you do get to live in a great city (I've been there a couple of times myself as a tourist).

Anybody else has any ideas related to this?

PS: please leave aside any 'funny' comments regarding the Russian way of life and culture. Every country has its own particularities, good ones and not very popular ones.
PSS: for those who are tempted to write 'comrade', please note that the Russian word for comrade is actually 'товарищ' (tavarish).

The T&C'S have indeed improved dramatically in Aeroflot in the past decade, this is an interesting development in the worldwide pilots job market, I'm curious to see how much accommodation to other cultures they will provide within the company to attract suitable candidates, companies like Korean have had problems with a culturally uncomfortable environment for expats and that has been the topic of conversation lately, money is not the only measure that is attractive of a job, the company has to make an effort to be inclusive if they want to be successful at attracting quality personnel. Even if this particular job is not what you are looking for, I think that every market that opens up influences better terms in other markets.

That's a fair point raised - how the Russians will accommodate to foreigners. I may be biased as I have a few Russian friends, but I do not think foreigners would be left to feel like a bad potato in a sack. I have received some very positive attitudes from Russians while I was in Moscow. Of course there will be some who may not like the idea of foreigners in their land but I believe this number to be a rather low percentage and such attitudes can be experienced in any other country.

So on the whole I would have a positive feeling to the level of acceptance within Russia.

Actually Moscow is a great city. I would however point out that there is a pretty big neo Nazi problem occuring in Russia right now. Random attacks on anyone who doesnt look Russian is becoming more common. Just an FYI. Moscow may be more difficult for some to live in than others. And yes, I was in Moscow and seen one of these "gangs" myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentoen (Post 1296129)

These feelings often change when you're perceived as taking a job from a local. I'm not saying it would happen in eastern Europe - I've never been there - but it does happen. The corporate culture at your place of employment will make a big difference, as well as your own ability to fit in.

I post it here from another thread:

Aeroflot pilot pay has come up significantly; just a little while ago wasn’t good at all.
Captains: $10-11K
AFL A330 Captains make close to $14K, but fly worldwide ops (exp. USA) with 2 men crews regardless of flight time. No typo.
FO's: $4-7K
Everyone flies very close to 92 hours of block time/month for that pay, which is Russian legal monthly limit. Everyone is flight planned for M.81 in cruise. If you manage to fly your schedule and still are legal for an extra trip - they will assign it to you at the very end of the month.

The fleet is new, but they run it like they are in the 80's - no acars, no cpdlc, yes you will have to get atis over the radio, no comms with dispatch in flight in fact many airlines still don't have dispatchers at all. Once you get in the cockpit – you are on your own.

Flying deep inside Russia could be very challenging. The weather can be the worst on the planet. Very few people speak English, including the crew members.

Very inexperienced FO’s – 80 hours TT in cessnas or Yak-18T for a new pilot is a norm, many are returning to flying after 10-15 years totally out of the industry.

Moscow looks very European now and is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Traffic is bad. Currently Aeroflot is providing the housing to the pilots that are not from Moscow area. They shuttle people from SVO to a hotel in the nearby town. Nothing to write home about, but it is ok. The common complaint is that there is nowhere to eat around the hotel espessially after 19:00.
Terrible to non-existant healthcare system. If you do go there you will oppose social medicine for the rest of your life.

No seniority system. Whoever is connected gets to upgrade, whoever brings wine to scheds flies better trips.
For connected guys there is an upgrade program designed for pilots with less than 800 hours total time. 24-25 year old captains is a norm now, but you will also see 50+ y.o. FO’s.

8 days off per month is max, 4-5 average. Lots of red eyes. They do have good vacations - 30-40 days per year. Training is on days off.

Very long IOE's - up to 6 months. Aeroflot has ground school programs up to 2 years. Pay in training - ~$800/month.

Russian mentality is to cut the corners. If you are not comfortable with it you will not last long.

Terminal D at SVO has been operational for close to 2 years.

The foreign pilots are still not allowed to man the russian AIRLINE crews.
The russian government is working to change that responding to the pressure from individual airlines. Hopefully soon.

Once the bill becomes the law expect the russian recruiters at the pilot career fairs in the US.

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentoen (Post 1296058)

There is a system of flight training education in Russia. Kids can choose between 2 four-year universities and 3 two-year colleges around the country that have pilot programs. Collectively they pump out aprox 600 graduates per year.

Additionally about 50-100/year are separated from the millitary.

Obviously it is not enough, so will see what happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentoen (Post 1296058)

The package seems to be promising too:

up to 10,000 Eur a month
70 days a year vacation (paid naturally)
good pension plans
family benefits
and so on

If you don't mind, where have you heard this?
Aeroflot leadership doen't have any idea on what to offer yet. They do think though that with their current pay/conditions they will be flooded with applicants once the law goes through.