Your longevity will continue on your following contracts.., if you renew the second contract will begin at year 6 longevity pay

When you renew you get a new contract and it has a new payscale in it.

Thank you!

Just wondering what kind of supplies might be good to bring for training? Or what did you wish you would have had but didn't? Any advice for preparing for being gone for 6 months?

Bring a soft mattress cover/pad. The beds are super hard. Also Apple TV is a must. Don't stress and start freaking out like most do. It sure is intimidating when they put 50 manuals and books in front of you on the first day, but trust me you have 6 months to go through most of them and in general you will know or be told where to go. Just go with the flow and remember to take beer brakes and regroup otherwise you'll burn yourself out really fast. They need pilots and want you to succeed and remember if you have any issues or problems don't be shy to ask for help or advice before it's too late. This is an excellent group of pilots and the management team is fair. We've all been thought the process. It's no rocket science, just be respectful and understanding and you will go very far with the Japanese and this company. Good luck !!!

Definitely a soft mattress - go get one of those memory foam mattresses to bring. Also, slingbox works very well to watch your home tv from wherever you are in the world. Training starts out fairly mild and you get days off to do some touring (best time to have family over). After you get to the sims things start to get very busy and serious.

Thanks for the feed back! This is exactly what I was looking for!! Where you able to find a bed cover over there or did you bring it?

Thanks for the info!When would you recommend the family coming over during training? How long did you have yours stay? I really want my wife and two kids (very young kids) to come and experience Japan but I also live in reality and don't want to be too distracted at the wrong time.

I got one from Walmart, it's like 50 bucks and packed with me. Just easier this way then searching for one in Japan. The Shirokane apartments are nice and the area is descent (it is an Embassy area, so tends to get a little quite), however Roppongi just around the corner by train-use caution hahaha. Lots of little bars and eateries in Azabu-Juban just 10 minute walk from the apartments.

Mind you that I did it 8 years ago so my perception might be off a bit, hopefully one of the guys that have done it recently can correct me if it is necessary.

But I would say that earlier in the course would be best..., just bring them with you from the get go, if you get the apartment it will be comfortable for your wife and your two young ones (although small)
Training at the beginning is not that intense and all you will be doing is the license conversion, air law tests etc...., and pretty much they will give you the necessary tools to pass the tests so that would be an appropriate time to have your family with you.., but when you start SIM training then things get serious because they expect progress quickly in terms of the calls & SOP's..., your concentration should be in that particular area and don't get too upset about not flying the SIM perfectly.., your mission is to get the calls & SOP's down cold, you will get plenty time to refine the flying part later as you will get a plethora of SIM sessions.

At that time.., I would say the latter three months of SIM training, it's best to take care of business without too many distractions.

Good luck