Airbus widebody comes up with big dreams among Air France pilots.
And fierce competition is on as who will be picked to drive the A380
Plans set by the top management called to entrust the double-deckker to the best experienced 777 pilots, (here a 228 passenger variant)
But a drastic slump in all cargo services (mostly operated by dedicated all freighter 428Fs and former passenger 428s converted as BCFs)
didacted otherwise as no fewer than 100 747-400 (here a 428) pilots out of 400 are on redudency.
The latters are the airline's ongest employed and best paid ones. Many are also close to 60 years.
Air France offered the unions the conclusion of a passageway agreement to relocate some 744 drivers on T7s, (here, a 228F freighter)
by taking into account that recouping costs of type ratings lasts 6 years or so.
So a 58 year veteran could not have been entitled to a seat on the newly introduced A380.
But effective January 1st, retirement age will also be raised to 65 years in France and this change everything to the afore mentioned 58 year veteran who can demand a new rating.
Not to mention that a 58 year old 744 driver can get a priority over a 54 year 777 fellow flyer
Coming out of such transcients is not well accepted by other pilots.
The Triple Seven (here, a stretched 328ER) drivers would like to move up on A380,
while A32X ones are eager to upgrade on the Boeing.
(making up for the 32X family of single aisle aircrafts are
the A318
the A319
the A320, first to be introduced into revenue in 1988 by AF
and the stretched A321)
The ongoing uneasiness by the 747-400 dept may spill over the whole airline's pilot staff says Jean François Huzen, head of UNPL/Union National des Pilote de Ligne (National Union of Airline Pilots) Adds he, "granting the ratings to some will jam the ways for many others"
The airline also openely dislikes the idea in seeing old-timers seating by the joystick of its new double-decker flagship ...
AF would then back the unions who plan setting a 60 year age limit in getting another type rating.
But some 744 drivers have already warned they will procesute the airline over age discrimination !
Source : Le Figaro 14-12-2009, Fabrice Amedeo
And fierce competition is on as who will be picked to drive the A380
Plans set by the top management called to entrust the double-deckker to the best experienced 777 pilots, (here a 228 passenger variant)
But a drastic slump in all cargo services (mostly operated by dedicated all freighter 428Fs and former passenger 428s converted as BCFs)
didacted otherwise as no fewer than 100 747-400 (here a 428) pilots out of 400 are on redudency.
The latters are the airline's ongest employed and best paid ones. Many are also close to 60 years.
Air France offered the unions the conclusion of a passageway agreement to relocate some 744 drivers on T7s, (here, a 228F freighter)
by taking into account that recouping costs of type ratings lasts 6 years or so.
So a 58 year veteran could not have been entitled to a seat on the newly introduced A380.
But effective January 1st, retirement age will also be raised to 65 years in France and this change everything to the afore mentioned 58 year veteran who can demand a new rating.
Not to mention that a 58 year old 744 driver can get a priority over a 54 year 777 fellow flyer
Coming out of such transcients is not well accepted by other pilots.
The Triple Seven (here, a stretched 328ER) drivers would like to move up on A380,
while A32X ones are eager to upgrade on the Boeing.
(making up for the 32X family of single aisle aircrafts are
the A318
the A319
the A320, first to be introduced into revenue in 1988 by AF
and the stretched A321)The ongoing uneasiness by the 747-400 dept may spill over the whole airline's pilot staff says Jean François Huzen, head of UNPL/Union National des Pilote de Ligne (National Union of Airline Pilots) Adds he, "granting the ratings to some will jam the ways for many others"
The airline also openely dislikes the idea in seeing old-timers seating by the joystick of its new double-decker flagship ...
AF would then back the unions who plan setting a 60 year age limit in getting another type rating.
But some 744 drivers have already warned they will procesute the airline over age discrimination !
Source : Le Figaro 14-12-2009, Fabrice Amedeo
