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jahur

MAB Flight Deck Crew Shortage

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Friend working in mab just informed, that in 2018 January will only have 190+ fo's for the 738. Current 738 Network and frequency requirements requires near 300 co-pilots. Next batch of fo's coming online will only be 10+ due to sim constraint and you also have cadets leaving and being fished out by competitors half way through training. Not forgetting to take account of current pilots waiting to leave when the time comes. Few of them didn't had leave approval for 2 years are also the reasons for leaving, basically they were submitting leave request to hr and schedular every month.

 

Either mab gonna have to cut down frequency and do further major roster adjustment that's probably going to entice more pilots to leave the company soon. Another option is to pull in captains to substitute the fo seat. Don't even think mab can afford expansion using narrowbody aircraft anytime soon.

Edited by jahur

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Implying mab current cost is below what it could sustain it's business, and cost could only rise going forward.

 

A classic case of penny wise pounds foolish.

Edited by KK Lee

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That doesn't look good for MAB does it, seems that the curse of Ryanair is deflected to them. Perhaps the new boss should think of some innovative strategies to keep their pilots and lure in more FO since he was also an operation man. Strategic partnership with more flight schools and financial institution like what Airasia is currently doing could be one way to achieve it. There are so many boys and girls out there who inspired to be pilots but could not afford the training due to the exorbitant training cost.

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Pilots who left 2 years ago with the VSS exercise "may" have the option of returning to MAB from January.

The stipulation was cannot rejoin for 2 years.

Maybe someone with friends in MAB can verify this.

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It is indeed unfortunate that MAB has found itself to be in this situation.

 

However, if it is to become a fully fledged commercial entity, competing on every front is a fact of corporate life. Whether it is competing for business or competing in the job market for staff recruitment, the management must implement sound principles and policies and not rely on distortions in the market, whether natural or induced by the government or other institutions, to keep it going.

 

Relying on employee loyalty is a recipe for disaster - such loyalty should be the icing on the cake and not its foundation!

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There's recruitment drive and type rating sponsorship currently undergoing unfortunately even local pilots are fished out completely. Flying schools are also unable to comply the quota requirements because ak and OD are slotting in theirs as well. Basically very hard to fill in the staff numbers now.

 

Problem with mab expanding it's regionals routing and the slow recovery of deck crew intake vs deck crew leaving am not really sure how mab is going to do it. Hectic rostering with multi sectors any delays in between you'll have crew bursting their ftp and operation does not have any standby crew available it has happen many times already. It may poke them back via customer complaints with all the rescheduling and retiming that may occur.

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MAB is betting on dca approval for single fleet flying with their 333/332 and 359. Means all the pilot can fly all type with one rating WITHOUT schedule rotation just because airbus said its doable. Middle east operator practice that with their 330/340 with a six months rotation for each type. The problem is, even with a schedule rotation which make it a simpler operation, between 359 and 333/332 is a very different aircraft. System wise, cockpit layout, interface, it is just too much.

 

While 330/340 have their own differences, i would say the operation is very much alike. They are currently trying hard to sugar coat dca to approve this scheme. At this point, it is a safety concern. This is not about saving money on pilot anymore.

 

If dca decide not to approved single fleet flying by june, MAB workforce will be so bad, even Captain Izham Ismail will start flying back!

 

Anyway this is my personal opinion.

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New info this month nearly 20 first officers leaving, next month another 20 more leaving meaning by end of jan 2018 mab will be left with 160ish 738 fo a short of 130 fo's for nearly 300 fo as per network and balance work environment requirement. Fo's coming online are 4-6 every month replenishing only a quoter of those leaving some hired are returning crew from OD.

Edited by jahur

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New info this month nearly 20 first officers leaving, next month another 20 more leaving meaning by end of jan 2018 mab will be left with 160ish 738 fo a short of 130 fo's for nearly 300 fo as per network and balance work environment requirement. Fo's coming online are 4-6 every month replenishing only a quoter of those leaving some hired are returning crew from OD.

Returning crew from OD? I tought OD treat them well...

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Returning crew from OD? I tought OD treat them well...

Captains yes very well. FO its mostly mixed reception.

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New info this month nearly 20 first officers leaving, next month another 20 more leaving meaning by end of jan 2018 mab will be left with 160ish 738 fo a short of 130 fo's for nearly 300 fo as per network and balance work environment requirement. Fo's coming online are 4-6 every month replenishing only a quoter of those leaving some hired are returning crew from OD.

What does this translate to OTP for the 737s? Are they planning to merge/cancel flights a few days before departure or just do it on the day of?

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