Qatar Airways
 

I was wondering if anyone had any current information on Qatar either from being there or knowing anyone there. Everything I can find is years old. Questions like QOL, days off, schedules, living conditions and living in Doha for my wife and I. I appreciate any information.

I'm 33 and married
5300 hours and an FO at a U.S. regional currently on an E145

Also if they have a training bond and if they collect on it if yes

I know a regional CA that went over there. He was there less than a year, then he came running back to the US and re-started at the regional he originally left for 22,000/yr again. Should tell you a lot.

Basically, your paid a lot of money, to be a treated and worked like complete slave. Flying 100/hrs a month almost every month (which is painful if your doing long haul stuff) with 6-8 days off. The catch is that they sometimes they give you your days off on the road. Your also required to live in Doha and your schedule is specifically built so you can't commute home. My friend said the company sells potential candidates on getting 42 days off per year, but now that there are better options and the company is having staffing issues; most guys are only getting about 30 OFF a year. There's also no guarantee that they'll be consecutive. I believe there is a $30,000 training bond if you bail early, or just never go back to Qatar. Not 100% on that though.

There is also a atmosphere of George Orwell's 1984 going on. The company is heavily relies on fear to keep its employees under control. They've been on the radar of Amnesty International along with other human rights organizations because of they're treatment of foreign workers.

Go to the forums of pprune.org, this is the best site for information on airlines in the Middle East and Asia. There's a ton of information on Qatar on there, should tell you everything you need to know.

I think Emirates and the" other airline in Abu Dhabi" (there's a supposed restraining order from them to be discussed on the internet) is a better deal.

Good Luck.

I know Emirates has a training bond too do you know if they collect on it or if you can just bail early if need be?

From a friend we left Qatar... "Can you say "indentured slavery?"".

I'd say its all about perspective... I have three former colleagues/friends who work there and although they do have gripes it seems the majority of their annoyances are similar to mine. Being single, adventurous minded, having an open mind towards different cultures, and knowing the job isn't forever (unless you want it to be) helps tremendously. Good equipment, good pay, and good experience. There are plenty of 135 and some 121 carriers that only offer minimal time at home as well. My advice to anyone considering Qatar or other ME carriers.... Use them to bolster your resume, fatten your bank account, and gain valuable experience... and then return to the US.

I'm not sure exactly how it works, but if you do some research on pprune.org you'll get your answer.

That said, my friend, (and I'm sure many other people) just leave and don't ever go back. The only problem is you now have a travel restriction from returning to Qatar. If you work at a place like Allegiant, Frontier, or Spirit, it probably won't ever matter. If you go to United, FedEx, Atlas, etc. it could be since they actually fly there. If you re-enter the country, even as flight crew they may arrest you.

Um 100 hours a month?? I'm sorry but the guys I know that are on the A320 fly 65-70 hours max, and make at least 15,000-16,000 dollars a month. Don't know if it is different on the other fleets.

Sometimes more than 100 hours. Apparently they changed the law over there so it's only 100 hours of "seat" time. So if your doing the long haul stuff, time spent sleeping in the rack doesn't count so guys are going well over 100/month.

The guys I know we're on the -330 and the -777.

I'll second that. My next door neighbor is a 320 FO who flies about this much and is getting his command upgrade after 3 years with the company.

Asian airlines are managed much different than their U.S. counterparts and if you can play the game and keep your head down you should be fine.

They just got a housing allowance raise but it still doesn't cover a nice compound villa if you have a couple of kids. Believe the Captain's are at 15,000 QR and the FO's are at 12,000.

School fee reimbursement was recently raised and I believe is 125,000QR total for up to 3 kids. The 125k will almost pay for the American School for two kids. Schools are generally difficult to get into and you may have to settle for a second or third choice or home school for a year.

It's blazing hot in the summer and beautiful in the winter. There are no other seasons. We just had a nasty sandstorm that was right out of the apocalypse. Mopped our floor five times and the bucket water still came away dirty. Had to take the wife to the ER for multiple breathing treatments and medicine after it wreaked havoc on her asthma. We even have 3 air purifiers in the villa.

Medical care is hit and miss but I would say not up to US standards based on our experiences. We just flew her to Hong Kong for other issues. Others I know have been quite happy depending on the issue at hand.

Construction is everywhere prepping for the World Cup and beyond. Traffic can be stressful.

FWIW I don't work for them but I know a few guys from the U.S. that do. Perhaps some of them may care to chime in. Schedules and hours flown vary greatly depending on your fleet.

If you have any other questions let me know and if you come to Doha for the interview give me a shout and I'll buy you a beer if I'm around.


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Qatar Airways
 

They are getting paid well for that sack time too...I've heard it's not uncommon for the long haul guys to credit 130 hours of flight pay a month.


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You have your info mixed up mate. The above stated case is with Emirates. Qatar has a good reputation and have many ex EK pilots join them. Bottom line, living in Middle East is an acquired taste. It's not for all the gringos. Those that accept it, are happy.

Qatar Airways is one of the best expat jobs out there...I have worked there and it was the best job I ever had....

I was on the A330 and averaged 60 hours a month...Pay is $13,000 per month for FO's and $17,000 for Captains..instructors/examiners make around $20,000 a month.. About half the month off...

I'm just passing on what my friends that were there told me. I have no axe to grind. I thought that "100 hours of seat time," was implemented in Qatar also? not just the UAE. I have been to the sandbox before and am familiar with the culture, just not to Doha.

Good Luck to the original poster.

I'm at QR now, but haven't even finished training yet. Joined as a B777 DEC. Personally, I couldn't be happier so far. So much of your happiness depends on your expectations and what you're comparing your situation to. For me, for the last 7 years I've bounced around from one scum bag charter 767 operator to another from the USA to Middle East to Africa to Thailand. I was just so tired of old airplanes, substandard maintenance, substandard hotels, constant schedule changes, and companies failing or at least paying late. So now I feel like I'm in heaven! The equipment is new. They buy airplanes with all the bells and whistles. They don't skimp on anything. Pay is decent. I've lived in better places and I've lived in worse, but Doha isn't bad at all. My American friends who have been here 5 or 6 years are happy. All airline pilots find something to complain about, whether it is AA, UA, DL or QR. There is no more complaining here than at any other major. There are advantages to being here, and some disadvantages. It isn't perfect, but it is a very good job. The attitude and approach to training is very much the western mindset we Americans are used to (believe me, that isn't true in much of the world and it can be a shock in some overseas jobs). This is a much better job for a DEC than for an F/O. Captains are treated like CAPTAINS here. There is a much higher level of respect here than in the USA. Do your research. Come over for the interview and look the place over. Remember, the 2% complainers who constantly whine about everything and wouldn't be happy anywhere will find their way to pprune to vent and whine, but the other 98% have no reason to even go to those web sites. Go to pprune for information, but recognize that you are getting a skewed viewpoint by those who have an agenda.

Please keep us updated on your experiences there and your schedule. I started to apply there but I've literally heard nothing but horror stories from people I knew personally that went and the stuff I've read only.

If you can consistently get 15 OFF per month flying long haul, maybe I'll finish my app.

Thanks.

Anyone recently taken the PSA (pilot suitability assessment)? Just received that today and just seeing what to expect as far as what type of questions. Thanks.

Just over a year on here, I fly 80-90 hrs per month and get 12-14 off, DEC 777. Not a bad gig, Doha isn't paradise but I go home on days off. The general sentiment on the internet boards about ME jobs seems to lag a few years behind reality..

I will echo that it is a better gig for DEC than DFO.
Cheers

Thanks, how many days off in a row and where is home? I'm from the US so I figure I'd need at least 7 in a row to get back to the Boston area or FL.

Commuting to/from the US is not really an option. Difficult to get 7 in a row month after month.

Can't compare the U.S. to Qatar. Think about it twice if you have family.

El Aviador

Do share your personal first hand experience of the region as an expat with us.

Just seeing if anyone has gone through the assessment/interview process recently? I got the PSA and took the PSA and two days later received 3 emails about the short form, long form and advanced candidate login. Once I submit the required forms and documents is next step that an interview is scheduled? Thanks in advance for any info.

Hey guys!

I've applied to Qatar about 3 months ago, app still says ''NEW'' anybody got the same issue ? I have about 2300 total time and 2000 jet time. RJ time above 50 tons.

Regards

yes, I applied for DEC and have loads of heavy time, etc, 1 month and still "New".

?????

I think it is like with anyplace, timing. It all goes in cycles. Hang in there.

Thanks Worldguy

Just want to get some clarification on the schedule of the interview. Mine is scheduled the 16-17 so 16 would be introduction, 50 question ATPL, then if you pass that the board interview. Then the 17th assuming I pass everything on the 16th would be SIM which won't begin until late at night which means earliest I could fly back home would be the 18th? Thanks in advance

Correct........

WG.... Please check your PM.
Thanks.

Just seeing if anyone who currently works for QR can give me some insight on the living arrangements. Do you get company provided housing or do you get a monthly payment towards getting your own housing? If it is company housing how is it? Thanks in advance

My class was given temporary company accommodation (4-6 weeks), but some chose not to move out and the company never said a word to them. They are still in the "temporary" housing which is the same compound as the long term housing. Class behind ours and class ahead of ours got long term company accommodation, so it is hit and miss. Anyone can opt out of Company accommodation at any time and take the 15,000 QAR housing allowance instead.

Company accommodation is generally a 3 BR / 2BA apartment in a compound that has a good gym, pool, dry cleaners, small general store. Theoretically captains are supposed to get a villa, but there is a long waiting list for villas. Many of us choose to get our own accommodation.

Thanks a lot for the response. Will 15000 QR get you something nicer? Sounds like the company housing is pretty nice.

An amusing tidbit about Qatar Airways. The symbol of the airline and country is the Arabian Oryx. The people in the middle east effectively hunted them to extinction by the early 70s.

The Phoenix Zoo with the help of a few other western groups saved the animal from complete extinction by captive breeding them at the Phoenix Zoo. I have been a member of the Phoenix Zoo for quite a while, that's the only reason I know that.

It's slightly humorous that Qatar Airways would choose a symbol for their airline that is symbolic for Western generosity. Kind of like the EM-IX Bank when you think about it.

Arabian oryx - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I received my travel package today for the interview next week and I had a question regarding my logbook. On the list of items to bring it mentions my logbook which needs to be updated/signed/stamped. I'm unsure about the stamped part?? I've only ever done interviews here in the U.S. Which does not have that requirement. Could someone please enlighten me as to what I need to do for that. Could I take it to a notary and have them notorize the last page in my logbook? any help would be appreciated as I am running out of time to get this done. Thank you.

This question has been asked numerous times on Emirates and other threads. Search those threads for other answers.

The answer is, in that part of the world they love their stamps. If you can get your current company, chief pilot, etc to sign your logbook and they have a company stamp that is best. A letter from your company computer print out of flight time signed and stamped is good as well.

Some people have gone to the FAA to have them sign it, not sure how that worked. Some people have gone to a stationary store and had stamps made up to stamp their logbook just to meet this requirement. Some people have done nothing and explained that we don't stamp logbooks in the USA.

The really relevant section to verify is your current company so I'd try for the signed computer printout of company flight time if that is an option. If the signature is too tricky then just the printout might do.



Good luck,


Typhoonpilot

Thanks for the response. I'm just going to get the last page notarized. Hopefully that will be sufficient.

You can take your company logo to Staples and get a stamp made for about $20. I'm not suggesting dishonesty, but if you know your information is accurate and it is difficult or impossible to get the company to put a stamp on it, that is one solution.

Unauthorized reproduction of trademark logos and falsifying documents is a crime..., not a solution.:mad: