Originally Posted by ThePenguin328

Just to clear up a few things about flydubai for those doing their due diligence....

Late paychecks: the UAE central bank had a glitch one month during the summer where those of us who use a different bank than flydubai could not get our salary on the day we usually would expect it. In the end the salary arrived 4 days late. Usually salary arrives on the 25th of every month for those that use NBD and the 26th or 27th for those who choose to bank elsewhere. Mine arrived on the 30th, the last day of the month. The only other problem is that February has 28 days and no one seems to think that putting the salary in a few days early might be a good idea. In Feb my salary still arrived on the 27th lol. Some things are like a brick wall.

Working ragged: my schedule varies every month. Usually published with 80 hours if no vacation. Yes there are some long days to places in Russia, Africa, and central Asia with duty days approaching 13 hours. However in that 13 hours you are getting close to 11 hours of block. If you prefer working like a regional pilot there are days with 4 legs and same amount of duty, however your block hours now are in the neighborhood of 5 hours. Currently only one overnight stop in Dhaka Bangladesh. I prefer the hotel in Dhaka to the hotel my former company used in Newark (Ramada). I never went out in Newark and i dont go out in Dhaka lol. To each his own. The amount of night duties gets the most grief. You can fly three nights in a row, and there is even a provision for 4 nights with enough rest inbetween one of the duties. It's not FAA rules, and the Europeans don't fly at night in Europe because of curfews and noise restrictions at many airports. Different world in the middle east with different rules, but that is why you see so much negativity about schedules on pprune. Just my opinion, but if you spread your 6 weeks of leave out and use your requested days off effectively you can have a schedule that would be better than most regional schedules and some mainline schedules under bk rules. At the end of the day it varies from month to month and there is no bidding except for vacation and two RDOs every month. Due diligence is all I can say.

War zones: flydubai operates to Afganistan, 4 places in total now. Syria service has been pared way back from 3 cities to just one, and even then the flight to Damscus isn't daily anymore because of security. Egypt service at one point was to 3 cities as well, but is now just to Alexandria on the north coast. The company business plan is fluid and it is scrambling to put airplanes where it can make a profit, hence why Afganistan service continues. Everyone has to put that in the decision making process for the job. Even with all the complaining on pprune, of the original pilots who started flydubai only 1 pilot has walked into the chief pilots office and said I won't fly to Afganistan ever again. If you accept the job now, you would be expected to fly there.

Again, do your homework before accepting the job.

Originally Posted by ThePenguin328

Time to upgrade is too variable to put an exact number on, but realistically at least two years, probably three. The delivery schedule is slow for most of 2013, maybe 5 airplanes total. 2014 and 2015 will be busy with new aircraft arriving almost one a month, according to the current plan. Also the company just announced it will hire a small number ( around 10) DECs over the next couple of months for "unplanned expansion" which translates to "unplanned resignations". Flydubai is ramping up the upgrade program to get 4 or more upgrades finished per month. The problem though is not everyone passes the upgrade course, which is part of your second question. The course is fairly straight forward, but it is essentially a self study/self prep course. 1st step application/cover letter when you meet company requirements. 2nd step if accepted into the program is an assessment interview. 3rd step is evaluation flights, 12 in total. 4th step is 4days of ground school. 5th step is 3 sims and then a check ride on the 4th. Last step is line training. All of the failures have been in the interview or sim sessions. If you cork the interview it's a 6 month wait to reinterview. If you cork the sim it could be 6 or 12 months before you get a second shot. The problem is that although seniority determines when you start the program the first time, once you fail the training department is not very sympathetic in getting you back in the line for a 2nd go at it. The company will fill you in when it is convienient. It's a mixed curse because it doesn't hold up the guys that have been waiting for their first try, but also gives the 2nd chance guys little notice on when to expect another go at it. Is the course difficult? Too subjective. IMHO it's an exercise in cooperate and graduate.

Flydubai makes you sign a 3 year training bond no matter if you are typed and current or if you are doing a full training course. The bond amount varies, but it is either 24 or 36k prorated over 3 years. No new bond is currently signed when you upgrade, but that could change if new upgrades start leaving. EK and flydubai have an agreement that no flydubai pilot can leave for EK until 3 full years of service are completed. You must interview at EK just like anyone else would as there is no flow up or down between the separate airlines. Rumor has it that flydubai has a similar agreement with Etihad, but that is unconfirmed crewroom speculation. When flydubai first started there was only a 2 year ban to EK, but once the company realized how many pilots were trying to leave they increased it to 3 years. Is it possible it could go to 4 years? Maybe, but there are a few Captains who have been with flydubai 3+ years leaving flydubai for EK this fall and they are not being stopped.

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by ThePenguin328

Time to upgrade is too variable to put an exact number on, but realistically at least two years, probably three. The delivery schedule is slow for most of 2013, maybe 5 airplanes total. 2014 and 2015 will be busy with new aircraft arriving almost one a month, according to the current plan. Also the company just announced it will hire a small number ( around 10) DECs over the next couple of months for "unplanned expansion" which translates to "unplanned resignations". Flydubai is ramping up the upgrade program to get 4 or more upgrades finished per month. The problem though is not everyone passes the upgrade course, which is part of your second question. The course is fairly straight forward, but it is essentially a self study/self prep course. 1st step application/cover letter when you meet company requirements. 2nd step if accepted into the program is an assessment interview. 3rd step is evaluation flights, 12 in total. 4th step is 4days of ground school. 5th step is 3 sims and then a check ride on the 4th. Last step is line training. All of the failures have been in the interview or sim sessions. If you cork the interview it's a 6 month wait to reinterview. If you cork the sim it could be 6 or 12 months before you get a second shot. The problem is that although seniority determines when you start the program the first time, once you fail the training department is not very sympathetic in getting you back in the line for a 2nd go at it. The company will fill you in when it is convienient. It's a mixed curse because it doesn't hold up the guys that have been waiting for their first try, but also gives the 2nd chance guys little notice on when to expect another go at it. Is the course difficult? Too subjective. IMHO it's an exercise in cooperate and graduate.

Flydubai makes you sign a 3 year training bond no matter if you are typed and current or if you are doing a full training course. The bond amount varies, but it is either 24 or 36k prorated over 3 years. No new bond is currently signed when you upgrade, but that could change if new upgrades start leaving. EK and flydubai have an agreement that no flydubai pilot can leave for EK until 3 full years of service are completed. You must interview at EK just like anyone else would as there is no flow up or down between the separate airlines. Rumor has it that flydubai has a similar agreement with Etihad, but that is unconfirmed crewroom speculation. When flydubai first started there was only a 2 year ban to EK, but once the company realized how many pilots were trying to leave they increased it to 3 years. Is it possible it could go to 4 years? Maybe, but there are a few Captains who have been with flydubai 3+ years leaving flydubai for EK this fall and they are not being stopped.

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by CriticalMach

I have few questions. Mind if I pm you?

Originally Posted by gcpilot

Hi

If the questions are general that do not compromise privacy and the information can benefit everyone, why not post the questions on this forum so that we all can benefit?

Originally Posted by CriticalMach

Okay Sure.

I needed to know I am currently flying in States for a regional. Sitting with 1900TT, ATP, 1100 PIC, Cl-65 type, 1000 Jet time. If I apply, how soon will they turn me down? Shall I wait?

Originally Posted by CriticalMach

Read about flydubai on pprune prior to applying. Plus their minimums are at least 2000 hours for non typed pilots.
Late paychecks and flying war zones are common

Originally Posted by ualgrizz

Working you ragged and hostile areas...yes. Late paychecks...not. There was one month I remember the banking system had an issue, but the company is very good about on-time pay.