cac737

Thanks TP for the info, and I was hoping that you were going to say what you did with respect to the diverse crew. I just was hoping that it wasnt a you guys vs 'them' attitude or something weird like that, but it does sound very exciting flying with so many diverse backgrounds!

Hey speed, thanks for the input! That is exactly what I was wondering. How long between app and possible call for interview and then possible offer.

Well my clock has at least started....lol

Skyone

cac737,

Watch different hiring websites for information about EK doing assesments in a location close to your domicile. This can make the process go a lot faster, plus if you can get the simulator ride and pass it, then the airline will pony up a free ride to Dubai. Plus a little one on one time and a face to a number never hurts. I know a couple of guys that actually did the sim ride in Atlanta before an application was completed, because they showed up and showed a genuine real interest. Not the norm, but it worked for them. But TP would have much more info on that, than I. I bow to his expertise.
S1

cac737

Hey skyone, that is a good point about some face to face time this side of the pond! Even better if they get ya over there too! do you or anyone know where the next 'hiring fair' will be where EK will participate at?

One thing i am curious about is how come none of the EK airline pilot wives come on here to give their two cents in.....i know TP tried to get some volunteers in before, but for those that have wives/gf's on here, im sure it would be invaluable for the women to connect as only they can.

on another note i saw that EK just put in an order for B747F i think it was, what are the internal channels saying about this? Speaking of which, how long will EK keep up their relationship with Atlas as far as their ACMI deals?
does any EK pilots wanna fly the cargo side and has this been an issue at EK?

cac737

Dune

Oh my, TP you're at it again.......

I'm gonna let this one slide but for cac737, if downroute inter-crew interaction is important to you I would highly suggest this is NOT the airline for you.

Suggest you post the same question on Pprune to get a more "rounded" answer.


http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=44

They don't call them "slam-clickers" and "noodle-suckers" for nothing.


Dune

cac737

Hey dune, thanks for tip, but rest assured that I do not base my decisions solely or mostly for the crew experience, and nor as a married man do i have any interest in 'playing around'. the crew comraderie questions was me basically wondering how do all the nationalities get along especially when there is alot of help 'farmed in' from the outside, and if the expats are viewed as outsiders etc etc etc.... sure there are slamclickers and others at every place, so i just wanted to get an idea of what Ek entailed with it's unique circumstances as compared to us airlines back in the states.

As far as Pprune, well lets say that the first time i went on there and read the EK topics, i was so depressed that i thought about quiting being a pilot! lol.....i mean, damn! those posts reek of all sorts of negativity!!!
now i just read alot more to give it a fair shake and when you sift through all the BS and sarcasm there you actually get some really good advice as well! all of it is not positive, but yes, very helpful as pointers to think about!!!

TP is the counter to all of the pprune negativity, seems like it to me that for the scores of burned or scorned pilots on pprune, he is the lone or one of the few who is 'optimistic'. everyone on pprune who has been screwed, has every right to ***** and moan, just as TP has every right to be positive.

I have never had the fortune of being at a major airline. Im still scratching and clawing my way up and have 5 uniforms in my closet as a tribute to my lack of luck...lol.....but i am one of those that still loves to fly, and as such, remain overly optimistic about flying. the us airline situation is in the ****ter.

gripes about lack of union protection is valid to a point, but remember that here in the us it's everyone for themselves. I would invite a side by side comparison of a us major with EK and i think that you would see alot of very interesting comparisons.

the people that do have something useful to contribute at pprune are right when they say that "you better be coming to EK with the right reasons and not for $$$" are damn right! Everyone's situation is different and so are their motivations and expectations, and that ultimately leads to their happiness or lack of it.

A die hard UAL guy will hate the SWA mentality and have his gripes with it, even though the SWA guy makes more than he does. The SWA may hate the 777 flying and being away from home for 8-9 days in other countries and prefer the 6-7 legs a day while the UAL guys couldnt be bothered with such 'regional airline type flying'.
It all depends on everyone's flavor, but i really do thank you for pointing me back towards pprune to get more perspectives, it just gets a bit tiresome sometimes sifting through crap to get honest well intentioned opinions.

Dune

Hi cac737,

Sounds like you have a good balanced view of EK. As to crew getting along; there is no problem with that here. You may not see most of them on layovers (many bring their own food and eat in their rooms to save their allowances) but they do treat you with respect.

As you said, TP tends to "balance" Pprune somewhat but alternately I would suggest Pprune tends to "balance" TP as well. Best to read both and develop your own impressions, thoughts, and opinions before making any potential move to Emirates. The guys posting on Pprune do have legitimate complaints and in my opinion their thoughts should not be disregarded.

I've been here 8 yours now and am neutral on both Dubai and Emirates; this is not the best job/place/airline in the world but it certainly is not the worst either. If I were to give one piece of advice to any potential new hire it would be to NOT consider this a "retirement" job; consider it more like an open ended contract. If you plan on coming here with the "job for life strategy", you will probably be disappointed. If you have a "career exit strategy" should this place not work out to your liking you will be much more comfortable coming here. Very few pilots who come here stay for more than 10 years.......what do you do then? Keep that in mind when deciding whether to come here or not.

If you haven't read the Washington post article I posted, I would suggest you do so. It is well written and also provides a balanced view of Dubai.

Best of luck should you decide to come.

EK Birdcage

Greetings all... Thought I would kick in a few thoughts..
Regarding the crews hanging/going out, I find it to be totally hit or miss.. I am single, relatively young, and live in one of the crew dorms (apartments) so they tend to be social around me.. Like with any airline, we have some pilots here that compensate for personal issues/inabilities by mis-treating the crews or acting like asses and that can scare many off.. I have had a 9 day BKK-SYD-BKK trip inwhich I never saw one crew out, and other times I taken years off my life by trying to keep up with them. Certain cultures do lead us to stereotype, and you can often have a good sense 15 seconds after you walk into the brief.. 5 days in SIN lately, and havent seen any of my crew, but you do see other crews at the local hangouts. Still sunburnt from white water rafting with the crew in Uganda two weeks ago, so it can go either way!!
Regarding hiring, I agree with most of what is being said on here.. It took me forever to get an interview and then a friend of mine was hired, and magically I was emailed and then things went fast.. So if you have anyone on the "inside" it never hurts.. I also agree about attending one of these "meet and greets".. Not to say you will leave with anything, but the face time is bueno.. I know EK were at the Aeroservice job fair a couple of weeks ago in MIA, so keep tabs on that stuff.. climbto350.com tends to have all the Aeroservice info...
Regarding the 747-8, here is what I know..
(preface, CAUTION info mostly comes from other pilots)
From an Atlas friend of mine: "EK will fly the new planes, and Atlas is not sure about the future of the SkyCargo contract."
Remember our crews already fly the 310s and will fly the 777-200LR Cargo planes as well-as the 380Fs.
From a TRE here, "Our guys (or our gal) will fly the -8s.." He went on to say that "they might be offered to guys as an incentive to stay if they are thinking about leaving.." Oh man, I will leave that statement alone because when I threatened to quit, they offered me a dc-9!! Should I read into this??? joking of course...

cheers all

cac737

Hello Dune,
I think it's essential to have two sides to every story! That way anyone can weigh it all against their own beliefs, motivations and values.
About EK being a retirement place,...I don't know if you can really say that about any airline anymore. But I do see your point about being really cautious in hanging your future there. As far as career, my motivations to go include being a part of and contributing to a world class airline. Something that I cannot do here in the US, at least for the next 5-7 years.
As for my wife (kids are in the near future), we both agree that it would be an adventure as well as a great privelage to go out in the world and expand our cultural experiences, whether it be the UAE or Singapore, or somewhere else. The most difficult aspect of this all, for me at least, is whether she would be happy there or not for the length of the contract at a minimum. That is why I think it would be invaluable for wives to get on here or start a new thread to put in their thoughts. How much freedom or lack of it will she have in the normal course of a day? Will she have to worry about problems with the morality police? Is DXB as strict as Saudi Arabia? These are some questions that we have....any of you guys have any input as to what your wives have to deal with, both pros and cons? What do they do there on a general basis? Does she work, go out often, have any social interactions with neighbors, fellow expat wives etc??

EK birdcage, thanks for your input! Your post made me laugh as I can recall some good nights sleep traded for trying to keep up with the crazier crowd! But yes, I assume that there are all types in every airline. Glad your process was speeded along with inside help, as I have been fortunate to have been in that position in the past! I will have to wait for another job fair around here, because I have no one on the inside there in EK. Anyone there gonna be in BOS anytime soon, so I can buy ya a drink? lol!
Seriously, I am interested in what will happen with the ATLAS ACMI deal going forward for what it bods for EK and for atlas and their crews going forward.

That article from the washington post btw was very very good! It doesn't surprise me much to hear that you can have a spare no expense high rise not too far from a slum (who's tenants, built said high rise). You see this round the world. Sounds like DXB is trying to pull the middle east out of it's decades of decay and squandor be being a model of what it should be like (as far as taking and adopting capitalism). It was a downer to read about the trasnplanted bangladeshi, but unfortunately that same sorry scenario can be played round the world as well, especially here in the US with regards to illegals.
One question that I have for you guys/gals is how would you rate the healthcare there? the article talked about how before you had to leave to find it, is it there now, or still on the way?
To have little red tape get in the way of business actually surprises me for a muslim culture....am i naive or does it seem that other ME countries have rolls of it when it comes to trying to do things there as compared to DXB.
Seems like the city's diversity echoes that of EK. I believe that an airport is a window to it's respective city. From what I have heard, both the airport and city (macro view) have similar expansion underway. Both have growing revenues as well as growing pax and cargo #'s that supports the cities expansion plans for itself and for it's region.
What has surprised me was how little bush and his policies have impacted day to day talk (at least from what the article said) and that the failure of the dubai ports deal was seen as more as a failure on their part surprised me, because i thought that this would be a great chance for the bears to launch their anti captialism campaigns against reform from the old style.

If i were there, I would be worried about the inflation situation, and how that will play out with Ek's housing allowances and if people will be asked to fork over $$ to stay where they are and what EK will do about this.....
I just think that at some point, there has got to be a correction due, but that wont come until something drastic happens (terrorist action) or when the cost of doing business makes DXB economically unviable.

Unless I am missing something, it seems like (from the article) that Dubai, is on track to becoming a beacon of sorts for the entire middle east. It's black eyes I think echo what has happened in other parts of the world when they were developing as fast as they could, too often with less than desirable effects. Take the gold rush here in the US, post depression, the recession post world war II, the lack of rights, safe work environments, decent pay etc etc...and it seems like that cycle is repeating itself in Dubai.

So like Anthony Shadid said in the article, I just hope that what he said comes true at some point for Dubai to truly be a model of how it should be done.

"The only limitations are your own limitations," he said matter of factly. "No one tells you that it cannot be done, that it should not be done. The only pushback has always been let's do it bigger, let's do it better, AND LET'S DO IT SMARTER".

Typhoonpilot

I'm not going to let this one slide. You've obviously never worked for an Asian airline or a U.S. domestic airline. The crew inter-action is far better at EK than those two examples. Maybe you are coming from a UK charter airline where the scene was apparently very different. If so, then EK probably pales in comparison. As I always say, it's a matter of perspective.

There are some cities where the crew tend to go out in large groups and others where they don't. London is very bad as it seems everybody has a friend or relative there, while Auckland is excellent ( I've never been out with less than 10 crew there ).

Crew inter-action is always going to depend a lot on YOUR attitude. Some people are naturally going to have better experiences than others.

I've got a good friend at Korean who has been thinking about leaving there because the crew inter-action is so bad. I hear bad things about Singapore and China Airlines. If you are going to be an expat then you probably won't find better crew inter-action than EK or another carrier that employs multiple nationalities.

Here, of course, Dune you assummed downroute inter-action and not just on the plane. Again EK is far better than most Asian carriers and most U.S. domestic carriers.

As always, YMMV


TP

AirbusDaddy

Hi Guys and Galls,

I just received my interview date with EK for a DEC position and must thank you all for the great info on this site. I have been reading it for a while now and I must say it seems much more professional than PPrune.