In France we have several types of pilot contracts:
1) To apply for water bomber captain :
– less than 43 years old at the 1st of January of the year you will sign the contract (not the evaluation year),
– airplane commercial pilot license, IFR rating, MCC (multi crew certification), EASA theoretical ATPL and at least FCL 1.028 level 4 in English.
– minimum 2.400 flight time hours as a Pilot in Command,
– minimum 12 years as commercial pilot (training time included).
It will not be a time-limited contract.
2) To apply for water bomber first officer :
– less than 33 years old at the 1st of January of the year you will sign the contract (not the evaluation year), – airplane commercial pilot license, IFR rating, MCC (multi crew certification), EASA theoretical ATPL and at least FCL 1.028 level 4 in English.
– minimum 500 flight hours,
– minimum 2 years as commercial pilot (training time included).
It will be a 3 year contract that can be renewed once.
3) To be a future transportation and coordination captain :
– less than 50 years old at the 1st of January of the year you will sign the contract (not the evaluation year),
– airplane commercial pilot license, IFR rating and at least FCL 1.028 level 4 in English
– minimum 1.500 flight time hours including 500 hours IFR ,
– minimum 5 years as airplane commercial pilot (training time included).
It will not be a time-limited contract.
Francis ARNOULD
Flight Safety Officer & Technical Pilot
S.O.F.T.
Base d’Avions de la Sécurité Civile
BP12
Aeroport de MARSEILLE PROVENCE
13727 MARIGNANE CEDEX
FRANCE
There is one heck of a difference in experience then required under Australian national contracts. I suppose due to the fixed wing types they are using this is a great deal of experience as opposed to Australia where SEATs dominate. Pity we were not able to see all that experience come into play at the conference due to local disputes!