Virgin Blue

[NastyGirl]

Is Virgin Blue a happy place? Will they hire yanks - I keep getting E-Mails from them. What kind of politics are going on in Aussie land with Virgin?

 

[Expat]

Virgin Blue is indeed a great place to work...SWA with an aussie flare to it.
However, Australia is very strict on work permits. If you want to work there, you need one. Australia is swamped with overqualified pilots, due to the demise of Ansett and a couple of others.
The other in oz that you have to contend with is the Unions. Aussie unions are notorious for being the nastiest B@@@@@@s thsi side of Port Said, so be careful.
Certificate wise, the Aussies don't generally convert US certificates to oz without a arduous conversion course.
If you have neither a work permit or oz papers, I suggest calling the Aussie emabssy in DC and asking to speak with the commercial Attache. They should be able to give yo the info you need.

 

[Kenny]

Virgin Blue is on the up, last I'd heard they were looking for 400 pilots over the next 12 months, all in the 738. As expat said you'll need a visa to work there and they don't come easy. In fact they're as difficult to get as it is to get a Green Card.

As far as the conversion is concerned, the Australians are a bit more realistic than the Brits. If you have an FAA ATP, you'll need to take 3 exams. Air Law, Human Perf and the Instrument exam. Then you'll need to take whats called the "Command Instrument" Flight Test, which can be included on your CPL flight test. There's no ATP flight test.

If you can get the right to work and live there, you can get into a Boeing with less than 2000 hours.

Take it easy.

 

[NastyGirl]

Great information - thanks!

 

[wheetbix]

Any idea what DJ is paying its FOs and Capts? What about QF?

Perhaps it's time for me to go back.....

 

[Kenny]

wheetbix,

Do a search in the "Dunnunda & Godzone" forum at www.pprune.com

You'll find out all you ever wanted to know about DJ.

 

[wheetbix]

I have....but no one will post any payrate info. If you know, could you post it here?

Thanks.

 

[FlyinBrian]

Hey NastyGirl, Where'd you get that pic...
It's classic.

 

[NastyGirl]

A furloughed pilot sent it to me - he said he is starting his own airline and calling it Slut! The orignal is great, if you want it give me an E-Mail to send it to. Are you really an office slut, because being an airplane slut is much more interesting - but doesn't pay as well!

 

[46Driver]

Was just down in Sydney - some of the Virgin Blue flight attendants girls dressed in black leather were the cover photo of FHM magazine - who needs money..... And is that quote "In chaos there is opportunity" from the movie Operation Petticoat?