Philly Boy

got a question for you EK fellas

i see you guys have 2 A310's still
are they gone soon?

also... when the A380 starts flying this year....will that be another type rating with another pilot group to fly it?
or will the A340/330 pilot group be flying it?

thanks

Typhoonpilot

The A310s are freighters and were just bought a few years ago. They are a versatile aircraft for some regional freight markets and other specialty flights. The company has been pretty good about letting guys hired on the A310 go to other fleets after about 3 years on type.

The A380 will be operated as a separate type from the A330/340 fleet, which is operated as a single fleet. The A330/340 guys already have to deal with three different models; the A330-200, A340-300, and A340-500. The current plan is to take A340 qualified pilots to the A380 for the first year of operation, after that they will allow some senior B777 pilots over.

Emirates nominally operates with freezes on type of varying lengths, but that is waived for new types. The true policy is they move people where they need them. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. The official written policy is that a First Officer is frozen in type for 3 years from final check and Captain is frozen for 6 years.

There is a policy for direct entry first officers on the A380 which states a minimum of 1000 hours on A330/340 or other widebody jet, among other requirements.


Typhoonpilot

Philly Boy

do you have any idea how much training it will take to transition from the 340/330 to the 380?
a few days of differences training?.....or a full training cycle?

thanks for the info!!!!

bus canuck

It's not a CCQ. About 1/2 to 2/3's of a full transition course. About 4 -5 weeks total.

Obviously it's a full transition course from the Boeing, so it wouldn't surprise me if the "freeze" periods are extended and they are 'left out in the cold...'
(Ouch, bad pun...)

KingAirPIC

Do you drive the Big Bus for AC Canuck?

shogun

What will be the incentive to get the people to fly the A380? I've heard the money will be the same as the other types. Maybe the schedules will be better? Any idea?

Thanks

Philly Boy

the incentive would probably be......
when you are asked the common question.........."What aircraft do you fly?"............

you can answer it with a big smile on your face.....

IronWalt

Then ask, "how much money do you make" and watch the smile go away as reality sets in.

bus canuck

Actually, the incentive will be the fact that the 380 will only fly to major centers. It will be virtually all long haul and thus should provide a good schedule.

On the other types you get stuck with a lot of short trips, often to dodgy places in the middle of the night.

As stated though, the money is the same 380 to 310.

KingAirPIC

Are many Canadian pilots considering going to Emirates after 60?