globalexpress

Norwegian Air CEO: 'I Need Experienced Pilots and I Pay Them Well' - TheStreet

So unless you've been under a rock lately, just about every airline pilot has heard about what the CEO of Norwegian Air is trying to do. He's the proverbial camel trying to get its nose under the "flag of convenience" tent. He's trying to operate an airline under a "flag of convenience," similar to what cruise ship lines do. You base your airline in a country of convenience, perhaps because it has lax safety and/or labor laws, staff it with employees from 2nd or 3rd world countries who will work for lower wages than perhaps a U.S. or EU pilot/flight attendant/mechanic would, then fly/operate wherever you want, trying to skirt pesky agreements between countries if possible.

I'm not necessarily trying to debate the points above (it's just more bad news for airline pilots IMO), but if you read the article, I saw that he wants to pay 787 Captains $170,000/year and his First Officers "about half that." My understanding is that these pilots will have to be based in Thailand, which I assume he is doing because he found some sort of way to get around difficult labor(s) law that he doesn't want to have to deal with if he based them in the US or EU.

Anyway, for you guys flying on foreign contracts, I thought $170,000/year for a 787 Captain and perhaps $85,000/year for a 787 First Officer was crazy low. Don't narrowbody contracts pay more than that, never mind widebody contracts? If things keep chugging along as they are now as far as "pilot shortage" stuff goes, are there guys/gals available that will fly a 787 for that low a wage?

FlyingNasaForm

Yea pay does seem low. But I'm sure they'll be able to find guys in Asia willing to take the job and pay for their own type and line training.

CRM114

As I recall, it was a Thai (not the airline) contract under Singapore labor laws (can't organize) for a Norwegian airline based out of Ireland. The arrangement is absolutely to form flag of convenience model for labor.

globalexpress

Thanks for the clarification. That makes it sound even worse!

8ballfreight

Career earnings is a funny thing, 85k transitioning to 170k straight out of the gate will well out pace the typical $18/hour to "killing it in the last fifteen years of your career".
This isn't a charity event. Open a Chicago base and game over.

The Dominican

I actually know a couple of pilots that are on this contract but I haven't ask about their T&C's, so without speaking specifics about this contract, it all depends on the fine print......! What are the allowances? Is the salary net or do they have to pay taxes in Thailand? Is there a housing allowance? All this little items make a big difference on a contract, let's take Korean's contract for example, at first glance it looks low but when you consider that taxes are paid in Korea and you can use that paperwork to reduce significantly or even eliminate your tax liability back home then that makes a difference, also the base is very attractive you must admit, if you are a divorced 55 year old that is eligible for early retirement from (insert any European flag carrier here) and based in Bangkok for the last 10 years of your airline career and get paid 170K in top of your retirement, pardon me but that really doesn't sound that bad. About your question if they will find pilots with this pay, If the Ryan Air's of the world get a stack of resumes, so will they! How much do you expect that the new reborn Eastern is going to pay? You've been around the block...., come on

zondaracer

I don't know about NAI, but Ryanair guys have been going to Norwegian Air Shuttle in droves lately. A friend of mine who made the switch cited improved working conditions and environment even through he was taking a paycut to fly the same equipment on essentially the same routes.

Denti

I have one of the early contracts (well, in front of me, never signed it). Pay is basically a flat rate without any allowances, the employee has to take care of his own tax situation. No overtime pay or any other additional pay except for trainers and check airmen, those receive an hourly additional pay for those flights or duties where they train or check (simulator, checking is 40€/hour, line instruction 20€/hour). The pay is split in basic pay and per diem which is the same 1000€ for everyone.

Payscale is 11.000€ for TRIs, 9000€ for captains, 7000€ for relief captains and 5000€ for FOs. Add another 1000€ for per diems and thats it.

Everything is in euros, if you do not live in europe there is an additional currency exchange risk. However there is a chance to request an extended outstation layover which according to my information most pilots use to spend their free time in europe or the US with their family. Although officially based in Thailand most do not reside there as their duties are planned out of europe.

Total income per year with todays euro exchange rate would be therefore roughly 166.000$ for captains, 133.000$ for cruise relief captains (senior FOs) and 99.500$ for first officers.

EXPAT1

The BIG issue with this contract is the requirement for an JAA ATPL. If you don't have one the testing process is long and difficult. Expect to take 14 different tests and then do a sim type PC. The process normally takes 18 months just to get the license. There are flight schools in FL which offer the tests.

hoover

I also think that you need to have the right to work in the EU even though you are not based there the company is. So even if you get the JAA license you still have that hurdle.