Jetstar to hire pilots on 457 visas

[MelUser]

ABC article is here:

Jetstar to hire pilots on 457 visas - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Travel Guru]

Yet another reason why I won't fly 1*

TG

 

[simongr]

Is that on principle or some fear that johnny foreigner wont fly to the same standards? Do you apply the same assessment criteria to hospitals employing doctors on 457 visas?

 

[mainly tailfirst]

As far as 457's go, at least they're being used for pilots rather than butchers for a change.

mt

 

[Happy Dude]

This article from The Age quotes from a different pilots union rep:

Qantas slammed over Jetstar 'charade' - News - Travel - theage.com.au

Quite different reasons why they're "disappointed" and "furious" with Jetstar.

Happy to be corrected, but I thought 457 visas were issued if there's a labour shortage. Whilst I wouldn't have the first clue about whether or not there's enough pilots to go around, I really find it hard to believe that they can't fill FA positions without resorting to 457 visas. Are the pay/working conditions for FAs so bad that it's become the new fruit-picking?

C'mon Jetstar, call a spade a spade. Are you using the 457 visa to gain access to cheap labour?

 

[simongr]

I personally was on a 457 visa for 6 years - and many companies use them extensively - not just to access cheap labour.

 

[NM]

Whilst I wouldn't have the first clue about whether or not there's enough pilots to go around...

There does appear to be a significant shortage of experienced commercial pilots in Australia. QantasLink recently reduced its schedules due to having insufficient qualified pilots to operate the services.

I expect the majority of foreign pilots may be sourced from places like the USA where the airline industry is going through a consolidation phase. I do not believe this is a push for cheap labour, but a push to obtain the experienced pilot resources needed to support the growth plan of the airline.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

There does appear to be a significant shortage of experienced commercial pilots in Australia. QantasLink recently reduced its schedules due to having insufficient qualified pilots to operate the services.

I expect the majority of foreign pilots may be sourced from places like the USA where the airline industry is going through a consolidation phase. I do not believe this is a push for cheap labour, but a push to obtain the experienced pilot resources needed to support the growth plan of the airline.

Re: the USA, I wonder if there are many type rated A320/330 pilots available? I guess if the NW/DL merger goes ugly or UA/US have issues, then it'll be quite a rich selection for JQ!

mt

 

[NM]

Re: the USA, I wonder if there are many type rated A320/330 pilots available? I guess if the NW/DL merger goes ugly or UA/US have issues, then it'll be quite a rich selection for JQ!

mt

I think they would be happy to train experienced MD80, 737, 757 etc pilots. There are no experienced/certified 787 pilots yet, so have to start somewhere.

 

[oz_mark]

I think they would be happy to train experienced MD80, 737, 757 etc pilots. There are no experienced/certified 787 pilots yet, so have to start somewhere.

There's no 787 yet either.

 

[Standby]

There's no 787 yet either.

Given the value of the $A it would be a great 'seachange' for some older US crew..no more flying in extreme WX.
Aussie pilots have shown a willingness to move from bugchoppers to jets and others are fine to chase the tax free bucks in the sandpit so if QF/JQ or DJ can get experienced crew that meet our requirements I dont have an issue.Post the great pilots strike there were many US crew who came out and flew here. Their coherant and friendly PAs onboard were a real change from what we used to get previously
Of course if the airlines cant get line ready crew here that will mean 1 of 2 things...some verry young FOs or lots more flight cancelations....In my mind Flying is one of those jobs where you cant have too much experience

 

[straitman]

There does appear to be a significant shortage of experienced commercial pilots in Australia. QantasLink recently reduced its schedules due to having insufficient qualified pilots to operate the services.

I expect the majority of foreign pilots may be sourced from places like the USA where the airline industry is going through a consolidation phase. I do not believe this is a push for cheap labour, but a push to obtain the experienced pilot resources needed to support the growth plan of the airline.

QF has Crash 8s parked due lack of pilots.

DJ has been cancelling flights for a while due lack of pilots.

Why should JQ be any different.

Aviation is one of the areas where rules and regulations are fairly standard world wide so it is not such a big issue. The foreign pilots still have to pass the competency tests of the airlines and I can assure you that these are never relaxed whether short of pilots or other wise.

In Australia pilots now have to pass an English language test and CASA are now introducing D & A tests as well.