Does anyone have any info on working for Aramco in Dhahran, Saudia Arabia. It's corporate flying, flying U.S. registered aircraft.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!!

 

From some of the guys I know, They start with a 2 month on/1 month off rotation for 6-9 months. You come on a business visa. Then you get the opportunity for full time. Once you are full time, they will get you a resident work permit.

I heard the compound in Dhaharan is not bad. You are just 30 minutes (to 4 hours depending on traffic on the causeway) from Bahrain.

I understand they pay for your kid's private school also.

The big plus is they have a very good End of Service fund after 10 years of service.

Hope this helps.

 

It can be challenging working there. Aside from G-550, all of the flying is inside Saudi (Boeings, Embraers, Hawkers). Middle East management mentality and their politics also get very old and tiring as it's all about face saving and who's right as opposed to what's right. It can be very frustrating to a westerner.

Here's some required reading for anyone looking to work in the Middle East, particularly with Middle East management:

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...3a05p_0001.htm

 

I fly the Lineage 1000 in China and just went through recurrent with an Aramco guy. Aramco seems like an amazing operation. He cannot commute any longer. The money is great, the equipment is great, they are getting new airbuses and they make enough money in one day to replace the entire fleet. He was making in the 200k range as an fo with full benefits. Its not China money but its warm and you can breathe.

 

The web page for Aramco pilot employment lists some pretty hard requirements. 3000 total is a bit hard to believe since I have doubts that there are that many people with degrees wanting to go to saudi. Maybe it is though.

A close family member of mine lived in Saudi in a compound which was not nearly the standard it is today. It was not easy and most people did not stay longer than 1-2 years total.

Does anyone here have any info concerning the 3000 total requirement for an FO?

 

From what I have been told it is VERY competitive on both the fixed & rotary wing sides. I do believe "the mins are the mins" with very little to zero wiggle room. The rotor side has even higher flight times then the fixed wing side. Inside recommendations are supposedly really helpful too. If you can land a pilot slot there, you will be well compensated from my research. If you do not mind compound living, which would not be an issue for my family & I since we were exposed to military base living, then it could be a final career position. Good luck, I have had my stuff in on both the fixed & rotor sides for some time now with nothing heard back either good or bad. If anyone has any first hand knowledge or recent experience with Saudi Aramco, I would love to hear it or chat with you on here, via PM or phone! Thanks & fly safe!

 

FlyArmy11,

It is not quiet Air Force housing, but it is not as bad as some of the Army housing I saw in Panama.
The big problems for us "old timers" is they want guys under 40. It is really hard to get on with them when you are older than that. We just lost one of our guys to them.
Fly Safe

 

Thanks gtale7, I might have some hope since I just turned 37!

 

Do they prefer ex military? Seems like they would be the most adaptable for a position like this.

 

I worked for Aramco as an engineer, not a pilot. QOL is decent if you are single, wouldnt say you need to be military at all as long as you know what you are getting into. The accom is basic, food is basic, the people are often not all that friendly to the expats, BUT you are getting a good salary.

I would jump at the chance if I had the required mins