Woofer

There is a thread going on Pprune with regards to the subject. Any truth on whether they will be starting recruitment for DEC's?

Can't get a feel really. Some are saying yes (due to incoming planes & internal upgrade failures) and others are saying no way due to more then enough internal F/O's

Thanks

Typhoonpilot

Highly unlikely in the near term. The current flight operations management are against DECs because they adversely affect morale and don't really save much in terms of time or money. That said, if an edict from above comes in to hire DECs, then it will happen.



Typhoonpilot

Woofer

Thanks for the info.

ShortBus_Driver

Perhaps a dumb question, but how does the seniority work at Emirates?

Are upgrades done primarily based on seniority like US Carriers?

What are the minimum requirements to upgrade?

If DECs are brought on property, will the FOs that get skipped maintain their seniority once they do upgrade? (meaning they will be more senior to the DECs that came in after them?)

Thanks

Typhoonpilot

Not a dumb question. There is seniority at Emirates and there isn't. Pilots all get a date of hire and seniority number when they are hired. However direct entry captains and accelerated upgrades have bypassed more senior first officers to the left seat. Also transfer between fleets is not always based on seniority. Last time it was based on who was home to answer their phone versus who wasn't.

When a bypassed first officer upgrades he is more senior to those who were hired after him for the purpose of bidding monthly schedules and vacation.

Monthly schedules go on a rotating basis. Pilots are placed into one of five groups. The groups rotate each month. Your seniority within the group is based on date of hire. So every year you get at least 2 top bid groups and 2 second to top where you can get good to very good schedules. Some guys do well in their middle group as well, but the bottom two are generally pretty dismal. At least once per year you get 35 days of reserve, usually it coincides with a bottom bid period.

Minimus to upgrade are something like 4000 hours in aircraft over 55 tonnes, 3000 hours at Emirates, and 1000 hours on type.





Typhoonpilot

ShortBus_Driver

Hey thanks Typhoon for the very helpful information!

One follow up: how do you get 35 days of reserve once per year with the monthly schedules, when there aren't 35 days in a month? Maybe I misunderstood you. How many bid periods are there in a year?

Thanks!

the turtle

yeah its a monthly bid, but due to integration issues w/your reserve month it carries 5 days into the next month....so 35 days total.

even ek can't make a month = 35 days, but if they could, they would!

ShortBus_Driver

Cool thanks!

What is the time call-out for reserve pilots?

Any other info pertinent info on RSV schedules / rules would be greatly appreciated!

Typhoonpilot

30 minutes

Reserve can suck since days off aren't pre-assigned. Sometimes it's not too bad if you don't get called or get some trips pre-assigned.

I've never personally done a reserve month, I do hear the stories though.




TP

the turtle

rules...there are no rules!!! seriously, that is about correct. when you are on reserve, which your contactable time is assigned to you a day in advance, you must be ready for pickup 30 mins min from the time you answer, or you can get yourself to the airport (say you're not home). That has happened to me twice in 3 years. Also, unlike US, the duty times are vague and you can be called out to fly after say hours sitting on reserve and its legal for you to do a nasty 8-10 hour turn around. Don't ask why, its their rules....

I have had really easy reserves where I flew like 1 ulr, 1 asia, 1 out and back and that was it. I had one reserve where I ****ed them off by calling in sick instead of accepting a pre assigned min rest nasty trip and their payback was a month (90+) hrs in 28 days of crap. Both can happen.

The worst is not having the pre assigned days off to plan your life. You are at their mercy for 35 days, unless you are a very clever bidder in the top month before, where then you can shorten your reserve by having a carryover drop into your reseve month.

reserve isn't the best, but like TP said you do it once a year. they've gotten clever in that you can't search open time to call them to stay ahead of the game, so to speak.