Of course it's not all bad, if everyone's experience was horrible how many airplanes would move in Asia?

I do think it's valuable for any potential candidate to know the real downsides in addition to the assumed upside. As they say, "buyer beware". Gouge from the dissatisfied edge of the bell curve it's still good gouge.

 

For info on various contract gigs, PPrune is a good (cough cough???) resource. It is actually a horrific forum. While APC might be 50% DB's, PPRUNE is probably closer to 90%. You have to spend a great deal of time sorting through all the rants to get good info. But that good info is there.

As much time as it takes to sort through 3000 posts on ANA or Korean Air, it is a wise investment in time. Probably the easiest way to sort through the chaff to find one poster who seems adult and sane, and click on his name to see all of his posts.

Different strokes for different pilots. If you are a 28 year old RJ FO and dream about being a 777 Captain, Emirates is probably the best deal going. If you are a 50 year old with 15-20K hours, you can make a whole bunch of money, very quickly, in China. If you look at other cultures and can't figure out why they are so crazy, well, it is probably better you stay home.

 

<shameless plug>

^ or, instead of sifting through 3000 'DB' posts on dubious boards, you can read 400 pages of pure gold, company memos, photos and brutal memes.

BTW, you reading it Probe? If you are and have any input to offer (since it sounds like you have some good experience on the matter) feel free to drop a dime in the PM box.

</shameless plug>

 

I read the whole thing. couple years ago I did a 5 week study abroad in Beijing and found part of a small ribcage in a beef dish. From then on there I only ate at Pizza Hut. Don't mess with my food. Good book Duke. Where did you work before you went over?

 

book is freakin hilarious

 

Thanks for the kudos, folks!

It's rewarding to see that several years of blood, sweat and heartache puts a smile on the faces of others.

"Duke" is something of a composite of several pilots, similarly minded in their professional role, rolled into one. We're open to taking the stories of others for our next volume which we've already begun working on. Some of us come from North America, some from South America and some from Europe. A pretty eclectic group to be honest, now that I think of it!

Thanks again for the time anyone spends reading our accounts; it is really a boost to hear that Flying Upside Down resonates with others!

 

The airline probably never offered the position of NTR Captain. A handful of kids in the hiring department came up with the idea as they are under pressure to hire more pilots. They probably advertised it without getting anyones approval.

This is just one of the "dragons" there. Beware of any "sounds to good to be true" promise offered by a contract agency. Foreign bases are probably the biggest. It works out for very few, and usually not for long when they change equipment to a destination.

 

I have to say...that is one of the funniest things I have read in ages... Love the stories. I go to China often and love it there....but I don't "live" there...Much different experience.

Thanks for the warnings....and the laughs!

 

Thanks for the book, it has been entertaining and informative.

 

I have a lot to say about this excellent book you wrote. In the meantime this happened last night at our company. How the guy managed to get the fuel on the plane is beyond me. He tried to light it on fire

http://m.baidu.com/news?fr=ald02&tn=...6%2F017435.htm