Orient Thai
 

Anyone have info on this outfit?

Yes I know it's saltier than what the average is but I fit in well at those sort of outfits.

Asked on PPRUNE already and got some rudimentary info, hoping for more here.

I know that they fly the hadj using B747-400. Based out of Jeddah and they do turns, so no non Saudi layovers. Several furloughed World guys have gone there. I don't think it's a full time gig.

Does anybody know whether or not they still recruit B737 captains?

Wasn't aware of the Hajj runs but I'm not surprised. More interested in their domestic 73CL operation.

If you want to fly the 737/tree top trimmer have a look here:
http://www.ourfreesky.com/
Look at the website and decide if you want to use them.

Avoid using the clown above and try the direct approach first:
[email protected]

Good Luck! I had some great times there!

As I recall, they were a bottom feeder 10 years ago when they wanted me to join as a line trainer. They are still a bottom feeder today.

Disreputable management, both corporate and flight ops level.

I live in BKK and work for another airline there. I have some friends at Orient Thai on the 767. Don't know anything about the 737 operation, but I do know that their pay scale on the 767 is the best of the 4 airlines in town that hire expats. They pay on time. Not all airlines here do. They also do not do overnights, which means they do heavy crew and have some (many? depends on who you talk to) 28 hour duty days. But that certainly wouldn't be the case on the 737 as it is used on their domestic network.

The 747 does mostly hajj and some UN charter. Quite seasonal. The 767 does a mixture of Hajj, vacation charter into Thailand, UN, etc. The 737 does their domestic scheduled service. When they went from 747-200s to 747-400s they wouldn't retrain crews. Just got rid of the old guys and hired new ones with 744 qualifications. The 737s are replacing MD80s, so the same is probably happening now. They hire mostly expats, and have been fined by the government for not hiring 20% Thai pilots. The owner also does not believe in obtaining work permits for his foreign pilots, and I have no idea how he gets away with that.

I can tell you it is a real company with real paychecks and I know some Americans who've been there for quite a while and seem reasonably happy there.

Stratorfactor and got2fly,

Many thanks for the info... I should be getting to their PIC mins with time on type in the next year or so and am actively trying to commute out of Thailand starting next year. So this sounds like a great option for me. Do you mind if I PM you both for some more detailed info?

Captjns,

We get it, not everywhere is UAL/DAL/AA, etc.. some of us value lifestyle over other things. But thanks for sharing your contempt.

Wouldn't know about UAL/DAL/AA/ etal., as I've been an expat for many years, and have had the benefit of being an educated consumer, and contract negotiator before accepting any position.

Be very careful should this be your first experience beyond the Boarders of the US. Make sure you do your home work. For example, many places do not provide transport to and from the location of the operation. Many do not provide accommodations while awaiting approvals from DGCAs. Many are very dodgy and evasive on terms and conditions. Some offer contracts written in there home language too, without interpretation. Some realize that you may have spent a great deal of money and will sign any documents, and accept the terms and conditions regardless of what was promised in there Red Herring. As the saying goes... "Buyer beware."

But good luck to you just the same aviatorhi.