Transition and Upgrade Opportunities with Vietnam Airlines
B787 Captain Harvey Perez has been on assignment with Rishworth Aviation since 2010 and has recently completed the transition from A320 Captain to B787 Captain with Vietnam Airlines.
Did you always want to be a pilot?
Actually it happened by chance when I graduated from my aeronautical degree and entered Military Flying School. Since then, I have never looked back!
What attracted you to join Vietnam Airlines?
I wanted to join Vietnam Airlines as it is a reputable and growing airline. I also saw the opportunity to transition onto the wide-body with the airline which has been a career goal of mine.
What do you enjoy about living in Vietnam?
The people, the environment, and the food. There is a great expatriate pilot community here in Vietnam, in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. I feel quite at home here.
You have recently upgraded to B787 Captain from A320 Captain. How did you find the transition from Airbus to Boeing?
The transition was both challenging and motivating. After nearly 10 years flying Airbus aircraft I was a little nervous about making the change. It was a lot of hard work but ultimately it was worth it! The are many opportunities to improve your career at Vietnam Airlines, and for me, this was a great step to take – I have no regrets!
What was your transition program like?
I completed the first part of my transition training at Vietnam Airlines’ Flight Training Centre, in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines has a great new training centre, complete with a training room with multiple B787 cockpit layouts. My simulator sessions were completed in Singapore at the Boeing training centre. The Vietnamese instructors were very helpful, supportive, well experienced and professional. The training was challenging but all you need to do is study and be well prepared at all times.
What is it that you enjoy most about flying the B787?
The new, modern, cockpit design and all the new destinations I can now fly to! Vietnam Airlines flies the B787 to: FRA, LHR, DME, KIX, NRT, PEK, SYD, MEL. The Dreamliner is an exciting new experience and a pleasure to fly.
Would you recommend this transition opportunity to other pilots?
I would surely recommend Vietnam Airlines to other pilots who wish to take the next step in their career. There will be many opportunities for A320 Captains to transition to the new Fleets (B787) in the coming years at Vietnam Airlines. From my personal experience I can highly recommend the Dreamliner.
Tell us about your experience with Rishworth Aviation
From day one, Rishworth has been there to support me. If I ever have a query, I can trust them to respond to me quickly. I enjoy meeting with the Rishworth team when they visit Vietnam and attending the many pilot events that they host. I highly recommend their services to any pilot, you will not be let down!