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Hi Captain Lim,
Thanks for your useful website.
My name is Hanis and I'm from Ampang, Selangor. I have two questions about the pilots' job prospects. I am a private student at APFT (Asian Pacific Flight Training).
My first question - is it true that fresh private students will find it hard to apply for jobs in Malaysia because there are 7 flying academies in the country and just 3 companies - AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly to provide pilot jobs?
Secondly, must we have flying experiences if we want to work overseas?
Regards,
Hanis
Hi Hanis,
When you took the plunge to become an airline pilot by enrolling into a flying school as a private student, I hope you were aware that this job has its ups and downs. The picture would be different if you were sponsored as a cadet pilot by the airlines as they would guarantee you a flying career upon graduation.
I have mentioned many times in the past that the aviation industry is highly cyclical and is very prone to the fluctuating market forces. When times were bad, some of my First Officers were working as Flight Attendants or even became jobless upon graduation from the flying schools for a few years before they finally got to fly on the planes.
I am aware that there are at least 7 flying academies/schools in Malaysia. Some were rapidly set up to cope with the recent boom in pilot demand in the country but the scenario may be changing with the spiraling fuel costs and global slowing economy. Malaysia Airlines had just announced today that it is introducing drastic cost-cutting measures that would also include freeze on all recruitment and training. Your best bet then would be AirAsia or FireFly as I believe the leaner low cost carriers would weather this crisis better than a fatter airline.
Yes, you have to have flying experiences after graduation to be marketable overseas. You have to unfreeze your ATPL with at least 1500 total flight hours. Lately, I know of a First Officer who has been snatched up by Etihad Airlines just two years after graduation from MFA.
The Middle East is the place where they are still looking for pilots. For example, look at the advertisement below by Etihad Airlines :-
Job Details
First Officer A320 (50 vacancies)
Department: Flight Operations
Location: Abu Dhabi
Expiry Date: 31/12/2008
Qualifications:
A minimum of 1500 hours total flying time and
A minimum of 1000 hours on multi crew, glass cockpit jet aircraft and
ICAO ATPL, valid license and medical
Must be current and
Maximum age limit is 53 years old and
English Language Fluency (written and verbal)
Preference would be given to candidates with Airbus experience
The hours mentioned above shall be on powered fix wing aircraft only
Salary & Benefits:
Starting salary of AED 24500 or US$ 6655 per month for First Officers and an annual salary increment of AED 500 per month
Flight duty allowance of AED 40 per flying hour
Meal allowance during layovers as per the following rates:
-Middle East/ GCC/ Sub Continent AED 12 per hour
-Asia/ Far East AED 15 per hour
-Africa/ Australasia AED 18 per hour
-Europe/ Americas AED 23 per hour
Go to Universal Currency Converter Here
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