JustaRampagent

For whatever reason I can’t post this in the Foreign Section so I apologize but here it goes.
I was offered a job a few week ago in Dubai and I need some advice.

Here are the details

2 year commitment is need.
$55,000 US salary
$12,500 US for Housing
$1,200 a month for a car lease

My goal is to fly but the industry is not looking good right now. I also have student loans (100K) I’m currently working on my master and plan to graduate in August. My wife is also working on her masters so if I do take the job she will have to stay here for a couple of months till she finishes up with school. (May 09) Should I take the job and hold off on flying for another two years or jump to the regional’s making 20,000 a year??

Right now I’m looking at apartment in Dubai and they are expensive. If I do take the job, I know it wouldn’t be right to ask my wife not to work for 2 years. How hard is it for women to work in Dubai?? A second income would seal the deal…Thanks in advance

shanKs

I would be curious to see what type of aircraft that salary is for, because in all honesty that pay is not commensurate with working overseas on almost any airplane. Corporate jet FO based overseas should be making at least 70-80K (depending on cost of living) and that housing allowance is a little low as well. I'm getting 15K per year for housing in HK and that still doesn't get me a very large place, but my good salary makes up for it. Not sure about women working there, I've known of a few spouses that were nurses in Saudi and found good work. Does the 2 year contract also come with a type rating? I would be inclined to demand that as well. Living across the pond does have its tax benefits tho (87.5K tax free US if you file the exclusion). PM me if you have any more questions.

JustaRampagent

The job is a non-flying job. the position is for a "The Planning and Airworthiness Administrator"

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Preparing aircraft maintenance work packages for the Cirrus SR22 and the Eclipse EA500.
2. Review AD’s & SB’s for compliance and to update the records as necessary.
3. Review the aircraft component list and all technical related documents.
4. Develop Technical Instructions / Procedures & Forms / Aircraft Maintenance Check documents as well as any other maintenance related documents.
5. Perform forecast and analysis of aircraft maintenance schedules.
6. Assist, as required, the Head of Stores and Materials Procurement and carry out any other duties requested by the Maintenance Manager.


Thanks Shanks

de727ups

This industry will always be here when you come back. I'd say pay off the student loans and try to fly enough to keep current.

rickair7777

Shanks...

The offer is severely lowball in my opinion. Generally when employers in foriegn locations which are drastically different from the west need western skills, they pay significantly more than the going rate in the west. This is to compensate for hardship, social isolation, and distance from home.

I would expect any professional/skilled job in Dubai to pay at least $100K base salary. And since it's non-flying, you will not be building career-enhancing flight time. You could make $70K at home in the US.

The only positives I see are tax-free income and the opportunity to check out Dubai for a couple of years...which could be a lot of fun if you're single or have an adventerous SO.

Typhoonpilot

$12,500 for housing will only get you a studio apartment in Dubai. You would want at least $20,000 to get a one bedroom apartment and that still would not be in the better locations. $1200/month for a car lease is plenty. You can get long term rentals for much less than that. $55K tax free is pretty good. With the house and car covered you would be able to save a lot.

Your wife can most certainly work in Dubai. She any good at real estate? Wives are making as much or more than their husbands by working in that industry here. School teachers are in high demand as well as a host of other professions.

Are you sure this is a Dubai based position? The flight school you are working for is Horizon or Dubai Aerospace Academy? DAE is actually located in Ras Al Khaimah. In which case the $12,500 will get you a reasonable one or two bedroom apartment. It would be more difficult for your wife to find work, but still possible. RAK is kind of the hick town of the UAE, but it's growing with major projects underway and lots of new businesses setting up there.


Typhoonpilot

JustaRampagent

Thanks for the information guys I'll let you know how it turns out....

cfii2007

I've heard of CFI jobs in some foreign countries offerring around $8000 a month.....

seattlepilot

What's the name of the city south of Dubai that has an academy with Cirrus aircraft? Sharm al Rahman or something like that?

cfii2007

Not sure.....I just know of a CFI that turned down a regional job to instruct overseas. The pay was about 4x as much...........