Cargo start-up AeroLogic has launched a major recruitment drive to secure enough pilots to crew its Boeing 777F fleet when it initiates operations in April next year.
The DHL Express/Lufthansa Cargo joint venture will launch operations with two Boeing 777Fs and finish the year with four in service. It is aiming to secure an initial pool of up to 80 pilots and grow its flightcrew numbers to 200 by early in the next decade when its fleet will number 11 aircraft.
The Leipzig, Germany-based airline is tying up with an undisclosed training partner to assist it in the early stages of its operations, says joint managing director Dr Thomas Papke. "We will start with a crew/aircraft factor of 10, so for our 2009 fleet of four 777Fs we will have 40 captains and 40 co-pilots."
Papke says the airline wants experienced pilots but a 777 type rating is not a necessity. "For captains we need a minimum of 5,000h and for co-pilots 1,000h."
AeroLogic has arranged to take simulator time and "we will use our partner until we have our own type rating examiners and instructors", says Papke. "We expect to have our own type-rating capability in place by mid-2009." Papke expects to be able to disclose the training partner in February.
AeroLogic, which will have its own air operator's certificate, will not be staffed through the transfer of pilots from either parent company, says Papke. "We're recruiting directly through our website."
With AeroLogic offering "a competitive package" for the freight sector, Papke does not foresee any problems securing sufficient crews to grow the airline. However, Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Carsten Spohr says he does not expect to lose any pilots to the start-up, despite the appeal of a 777 type rating.
AeroLogic is acquiring eight 777Fs in 2009 and 2010 on 10-year operating leases from Deucalion, an investment fund owned by DVB bank which purchased the delivery positions for existing customer Avion. Three additional 777Fs will be acquired in 2011-12 from a yet-to-be selected source. The airline will operate a predominantly Asian network from DHL's new "mega-hub" in Leipzig. It will fly express services for DHL during weekdays, and switch to general cargo flights for Lufthansa Cargo at weekends.
Source: Flight International
