APAS is always aware of our pilots’ thoughts and feelings when working and living in Asia. From time to time, we interview our pilots to better understand their perceptions. It is also a chance to show our future pilots the work and life in Asia through personal experiences. Today, we are lucky to have Giorgio Calvarese, a Venezuelan B777 First Officer, to share his experience and opinions with EVA Air and the life in Taiwan.
1. What is your first impression when you started working in Taiwan?
Taiwan is a country with very friendly and helpful people. It is very easy to ask questions and request information to
anybody in the streets despite the language barrier.
2. What do you think about EVA AIR? Is it different to what you expected?
EVA AIR is a much organized and safe airline than I expected, it is a perfect working clock.
3. What do you think about your current working environment in Taiwan?
EVA AIR offers the dorms, which is a key feature when moving to a new country to have a place to stay since the day of arrival, to have a place with kitchen, TV, internet, AC, laundry and much more it is a stress free advantage.
4. Does EVA assist you in adapting to the workplace and living environment?
Everybody in the company can help you out for any work related or personal concerns; EVA AIR is used to foreign pilots for many years.
5. What advantages are you getting from the airlines during your service period? How do you achieve work-life balance in this position?
Sometimes my wife visits me in Taiwan and we stay in the island or travel somewhere in the world during the BDOs and we can enjoy the discount tickets with EVA AIR or other airlines.
6. Are you satisfied with the company’s day-off schedule? What do you do during your days-off?
I currently do commuting back home each month, I enjoy my time at home because is 100% off 24/7 during my Blocks Days Off, I get enough days and sometimes I use my annual leave plus BDOs.
7. Do you have any advice to the pilots who are planning to develop their career in Taiwan?
EVA AIR it is a very stable job, that is my opinion and the opinion of other expat pilots with more years of experience. So I can recommend EVA AIR as an excellent choice to develop a professional airline pilot career. Some like to start a new life in Taiwan and others enjoy the commuting.
Giorgio has been with APAS and EVA for almost three years. As he has already signed the direct-hire contract with EVA Air, he will soon become directly hired by the airlines after the contract with APAS ends. However, the contract does end, but not our friendship, Giorgio will forever be one of the APAS gang.