Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

They're offering Newark and Dulles.

But they have bases all over the US. They even got pilots living in Europe in Australia but good luck getting one of those slots. It would probably take 10 years of seniority.

My wife has never been to California but thinks that new York is the be all and end all. She loves it.

I've been to both and prefer the West Coast hands down.

Move to the East coast first, and after the first winter and a sweaty summer there, your wife will be begging you to move to the West Coast, to which you can commute to the East Coast. Just need to get yourself a "crash pad" with other pilots to share in the East Coast.

That's another issue. To buy or not to buy?

[Paphitis]

I did stay with friends in Adelaide for a week and they took me around the wine regions and did many wine tasting. I was able to adopt to Australia with little difficulty as most of the cities have a USA style grid system for streets, so it is very easy to find your way around without GPS. Driving on the left was not a problem as I'm used to that from growing up in the UK. Most of my driving in Australia resembled driving in the USA, except there were very few cars on the roads and few people when away from major cities.

How long ago with this?

If you were in Adelaide, you should have told me. I'm in Brissy right now but more-so in Sydney till 3 months ago.

I really miss Adelaide.

This was two years ago, but will be making another trip soon as my friends keep bugging me to come over again to Adelaide to see them. When I do, I will give you heads up, and if you are still in Australia, it will be great to meet up, or eventually in California as I'm there couple of times a year. I am also due for a trip to the East coast one of these days as it has been awhile since I last was in the New York, Boston, Washington DC region.

Geez, why didn't you tell me?

I had the impression you were living in the Middle East somewhere for the last few years.

I did about 6 months in Hong Kong and I even gave Jeddah a go too.

Both were not for me, and I think it would have been very stupid to subject my family to Saudi Arabia. I could do Dubai though. But overall, America is way better than all of the above.

Just while I got you. I was even looking at Turkish Airlines at one point. I know lots of guys there (ex Olympic) and they swear it is really good. These guys reckon they got their retirement job with them. But for these Greek it probably works out well because they are close to Greece.

[Kikapu]

As long as Turkish Airlines pay their pilots in Euros or Dollars, you can separate politics from career and fly for them, assuming you want to live in Turkey or in Cyprus. Greece may be a good option for you if you did work for Turkish Airlines. I was watching an interview with the CEO from United last week. I was very impressed by him.

[Paphitis]

As long as Turkish Airlines pay their pilots in Euros or Dollars, you can separate politics from career and fly for them, assuming you want to live in Turkey or in Cyprus. Greece may be a good option for you if you did work for Turkish Airlines. I was watching an interview with the CEO from United last week. I was very impressed by him.

They are paying in USD. 27K per month for Captains and 17K for FOs.

This from some ex Olympic guys I know extremely well. Some Greeks are in senior roles too, as in Check and Training. There is literally over 100 Greek Pilots there now.

They are gabbing whoever they can get as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a couple of Cypriots working with them as well (ex Cyprus Airways)

Emirates have just parked 50 long haul B777, A350 and A380 on the fence because they can't crew their aircraft anymore.

[Kikapu]

Pilot shortage is becoming a big issue lately all over. At this rate, pilotless planes will be pushed to become reality much earlier than I was expecting, perhaps in the next 20+ years. Just have one pilot/technician on board to monitor the flight deck instruments on his laptop from his private bunk on the plane.

[Paphitis]

Pilot shortage is becoming a big issue lately all over. At this rate, pilotless planes will be pushed to become reality much earlier than I was expecting, perhaps in the next 20+ years. Just have one pilot/technician on board to monitor the flight deck instruments on his laptop from his private bunk on the plane.

I doubt it. It will be a long time before this occurs.

Either way, I got 17 years of flying left so i'm good. I can't imagine doing anything else.

Although I do sometimes curse and ponder on early retirement whenever I'm due for a sim check in Melbourne.

Oh and the 50 odd online exams...

[Kikapu]

That was a funny video.

I was talking with a commercial Russian pilot the other day who flies in Russia, who told me that that he only has about 48 hours rest after flying 5 days. His total flight time per month was 90 hours. I assume that is 90 hours gears up/gears down time. Point is, many pilots are really earning their salaries these days than the past generation of commercial pilots.

[Paphitis]

That was a funny video.

I was talking with a commercial Russian pilot the other day who flies in Russia, who told me that that he only has about 48 hours rest after flying 5 days. His total flight time per month was 90 hours. I assume that is 90 hours gears up/gears down time. Point is, many pilots are really earning their salaries these days than the past generation of commercial pilots.

Yeh 90 hours per month is pretty standard.

All of our Flight and Duty times are pretty much standardized globally, whether in Russia, USA, EU or Australia.

No flight time is engine start to engine shut.

You can fly a maximum of 1000 hours in a calendar year. So with his 6 weeks leave and standby days, he should be clocking about 1000 hours.

That equates to about 18 hours of flying per week.

It use to be 900 hours per year a few years ago, but the airlines managed to con the regulators in upping it to 1000 hours. But sick leave is on the up and more pilots are calling fatigue and we have a shortage so everyone is pushing the limits.

[Kikapu]

As long as Turkish Airlines pay their pilots in Euros or Dollars, you can separate politics from career and fly for them, assuming you want to live in Turkey or in Cyprus. Greece may be a good option for you if you did work for Turkish Airlines. I was watching an interview with the CEO from United last week. I was very impressed by him.

They are paying in USD. 27K per month for Captains and 17K for FOs.

This from some ex Olympic guys I know extremely well. Some Greeks are in senior roles too, as in Check and Training. There is literally over 100 Greek Pilots there now.

They are gabbing whoever they can get as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a couple of Cypriots working with them as well (ex Cyprus Airways)

Emirates have just parked 50 long haul B777, A350 and A380 on the fence because they can't crew their aircraft anymore.

Erdogan wants Turkish Lira to be used for everything instead of foreign currency in Turkey, so perhaps soon Turkish airlines may pay their pilots with the TL, which as you know has been devalued by 70% over the last 12 months and likely to get worse in the future since the TL has always lost value since it‘s inception, whether as the old TL or the new TL.

[Paphitis]

As long as Turkish Airlines pay their pilots in Euros or Dollars, you can separate politics from career and fly for them, assuming you want to live in Turkey or in Cyprus. Greece may be a good option for you if you did work for Turkish Airlines. I was watching an interview with the CEO from United last week. I was very impressed by him.

They are paying in USD. 27K per month for Captains and 17K for FOs.

This from some ex Olympic guys I know extremely well. Some Greeks are in senior roles too, as in Check and Training. There is literally over 100 Greek Pilots there now.

They are gabbing whoever they can get as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a couple of Cypriots working with them as well (ex Cyprus Airways)

Emirates have just parked 50 long haul B777, A350 and A380 on the fence because they can't crew their aircraft anymore.

Erdogan wants Turkish Lira to be used for everything instead of foreign currency in Turkey, so perhaps soon Turkish airlines may pay their pilots with the TL, which as you know has been devalued by 70% over the last 12 months and likely to get worse in the future since the TL has always lost value since it‘s inception, whether as the old TL or the new TL.

I don't know. My information may be at least 6 months old.

But the boys told me they are paying USD now. If that has changed and is Lira, they won't be getting any pilots and will start parking planes up and they probably already parked a few.

Airlines are now in survival mode, trying to crew planes. They will probably end up paying whatever each guy wants. But Turkish Lira won't be very attractive.

TA is becoming a really good tier one operation as well. One of the desired places to work. It's right up there these days with the very best in the world.

I also believe they are employing Cypriots with Cypriot passports as well. It's everyone for themselves in this environment. I asked bout that and the answer was that they would be happy to take every pilot from Cyprus Airways if they apply. They got a lot of ex Olympic and a lot are leaving Aegean for Turkish because they pay better.

I guess the money always trumps politics.