Is it greener on the other side of the sand dune?
 

Fellow UAE pilots,

I have got an interview coming up with UAE and I am wandering what is the best way to prepare for said interview? Also, other than the normal materials that a company requires for an interview can anyone suggest what other documents I should bring along with me that the panel might desire? Are internal recommendations a significant help? No flaming please but what are the percentages of FO's being SEAT LOCKED because of the pysc eval? Mind you that I don't think I am crazy but who knows what someone else thinks. Finally, what do guys think are the chances of a RJ pilot with a good amount of captain time and overseas flying experience are of getting hired? Remember I am a pilot with an ego so go easy on the last question! Thanks for the help!;)

There are two books out on preparing for your emirates interview.
One is advertised here on APC. The other available through bookshops in Canada and the UK. I've got the later, it's a bit dated but did help. Haven't seen the former so couldn't say for sure whether it's useful or not.

Logbooks, properly stamped and certified. Internal recommendations can only come from somebody you have flown with who has been employed by EK for one year. If you can get one of those it does help.

Guessing here, but less than 1%. There are a number of permanent F.O.s who either failed an upgrade or were never put up for it. Usually there is a good reason for that. Some guys, including a classmate of mine, got dicked around a little by the Psych people. It is something that could be improved on. They have way too much power, as does HR.

Pretty good right now.


Typhoonpilot

Thanks for the great info typhoon. Do you recall the title of the book that you have?

Preparing for your Emirates Interview by Captain's X,Y, and Z

The other one is here


TP

Usually there is a good reason for that. Some guys, including a classmate of mine, got dicked around a little by the Psych people. It is something that could be improved on. They have way too much power, as does HR.

Hahaha...... That would have to be me

Where can I find the Emirates Interview by X Y Z on this side of the planet(US)?
On line could only find it in a NZ book store.

I hope that came across right. It was two separate thoughts. as in:

then,

For the EK book Transair Pilot Shop in the UK has it and apparently there is one somewhere in Canada, but I don't know the name.

TP

Thanks.
800S

TP, or any Emirates pilot-

In another of your posts you said that you would not recommend EK for young guys in the U.S. I was wondering what makes you say that. I am relatively young (31) with a family. My wife seems to like the idea of living in Dubai. I am looking at all of the options and EK seems pretty good, but some guys are really disappointed. I'm more on the glass half full side, but I do realize it is only half.

Are the families that live there supportive of each other? Are there get togethers, bbq's etc.? Are the schedules the typical 4-5 days on 2-3 off that we have at U.S. regional airlines? I have seen some posts that make it seem difficult to live on an FO salary. If you live in the company provided housing and school is reimbursed, what are the other expenses that would make this difficult? I wouldn't keep a house in the States, so I would think we would be okay, but I might be missing something.

Thanks for the input,

UCP

I'll try to help.

I'm not sure he said that, but I would agree with the thought. EK is a good deal for 5-7 years. After that, it's pretty tough to be so far from home and you start to worry about your kids not having enough of their home culture. If you're 31, that'd mean you'd probably be pretty restless when you're still only in your late '30s. Having said that, the advantage of being young is that you can afford to wait the anticipated 5+ year time frame to upgrade.

Yes. We probably have a better social life here than we did back home. People do tend to stick to their own nationalities, but it's also nice to branch out a bit and hang out with people from other places. Hell, we even occasionally socialize with Americans!:D

No. There's everything from 3 hour pairings to 11 day ones. There's no way to avoid the fact that you have to fly at night - a lot. On the Bus, it's very rare to do a complete trip in daylight.

I've written this before, but I'll summarize again. The first year, you have all kinds of "settling in" expenses. You're not likely to save money. After that, without kids, you should be able to save. However, you do spend money on stuff that you wouldn't back home. For example, long distance calls, travel back and forth, 'other travel' and 'creature comforts' that you're going to want to make the "lifestyle" here what you came for. That would be things such as a golf membership.

Hope this helps,

BC