We are pleased to have Andras Imre Javorkai, a Hungarian B737 captain, as our first ambassador for this campaign “Dynamic ASIA”. Andras has been worked for Hainan Airlines for 5 years. APAS met Andras in 2012 in Hungary where we had a roadshow in that year. In that time, Andras was still single. But now, while working in China, he is married and has two lovely children, one girl and one boy.
Wondering the pros and cons of being an expat-pilot in China? Andras will share why he works in China, what he has encountered, how he managed to balance work and life and his advice for future expat-pilots in China.
----- Conversation between APAS and Captain Andras -----
APAS: When do you start to work in China? Where did you work before working in China? What was your position before?
Andras: I started to work in China in July, 2012, right after the bankruptcy of my previous Airline, Malev Hungarian Airlines, where I'd been working for 18 years. My position was B737 senior first officer.
APAS: What makes you move to China? Why do you choose Hainan Airlines?
Andras: Old Hungarian ex-colleagues, working at HNA motivated me to attend APAS roadshow held in my Country in early 2012. Competitive salaries and amount of available off days convinced me easily to choose Hainan Airlines.
APAS: What is your first impression of working in China?
Andras: My first impression of working in China is the company culture and system of flight operations which are very different from what I got used to, so it takes some time for me to accommodate to new circumstances. However, after the bankruptcy of my previous Company and unstable financial resources in European aviation industry, it was a kind of relief to find a financially strong, stable working environment.
APAS: What are the most unforgettable/impressed experiences as a pilot in China?
Andras: The ATC system here is currently complicated and slow which is impressing sometimes. ATC system has some space to improve. It can be more explicable and efficient.
APAS: Do you feel the differences when working in China and in Hungary?
Andras: I feel the biggest difference between working in Western culture and Asian culture is the mentality people have toward the rules. Western culture is based on teaching and makes people understand the importance of following rules and regulations to reach the success of all instead of punishment. However, Asian culture, in my opinion, tends to simply follow the rules due to the mindset of collectivism. Being a pilot, I feel safety awareness is the basic knowledge, which we all need to know the importance and the reason rather than “just follow it”.
APAS: What is your roster? Do you think (agree) the commuting program will help pilots to manage the work and life balanced and also more colorful?
Andras: I am on the "11 days off" working contract, which means an average of 18 days in China and 13 days (consecutive) off (off days combined with annual leave days). Basically, it can be family-friendly and gives a balanced life, as we can talk about balanced life when we consider we are pilots. Duty roster is acceptable, we mostly fly 4-5 days domestic roundtrips, ending at our operational base (in most of the time) and having at least 36 hours rest between 2 duty cycles.
APAS: When was your last holiday? What do you usually do on dayoffs/holiday?
Andras: I am on a holiday right now, started shortly before Christmas. I am spending my time with my family, raising my children, traveling and solving everyday problems at home. On my off days between duty cycles, I do a lot of sports and spending some time with my foreign pilot colleagues.
APAS: Do you have any suggestions for the pilots who want to work in Asia but with the second thoughts?
Andras: I would recommend pilot jobs in China to those colleagues who are very patient and stable personalities. I believe patience and stability are two very important features that Asian culture embraces.
----- Words from editor -----
When one door closed, there is another door open for you. It seems a depressing story at the beginning that one company went bankrupt and one lost his job. However, another door opens with competitive salary and commuting on and off programs in Asia. Although it is a challenging task which needs to spend time to adjust in order to immerse in a whole new culture, Asia experience enable one to explore the other lifestyles that has ever expected before. We appreciated this precious sharing Andras has offered to us. More stories to come, stay tune.
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