Merry Christmas all !!!

Just to bring a little Christmas cheer to the board. I was looking at Emirates needs for the next two years. Based on aircraft deliveries and some possible attrition my estimate for their hiring needs is 675 pilots for 2006 and 2007. That breakdown would be 275 pilots in 2006 and 400 in 2007. That is based on 8 crews per airplane and 50 resignations per year. Since EK presently has just over 1300 pilots that is growth by 50% in the next two year period. New destinations in the planning stages or already announced include Abijan ( Ivory Coast ), Hamburg, Beijing, Nagoya, Trivandrum, Addis Ababa as well as increased frequencies to current destinations. Others that look very possible include Pnomh Penh and Barcelona.

Our VP flight Ops just sent a nice Christmas present to the current Airbus F.O.s that will see their upgrades accelerated by a fair amount with the re-instatement of transition upgrades to the Boeing ( better plane anyway ). Now all we need is a 25% pay raise and life will be grand Lots of us are pushing the company to hire from the U.S. and European regionals and I think it is bound to happen in the near future.

Stay tuned for more news from the desert.


Merry Christmas,

Typhoonpilot

 

Any DEC's or just FO's?

 

The letter out yesterday mentioned "some" DECs, probably only on the 777 and A310.

I figure you would have seen my post on Korean as well. Honestly for a DEC who might want to commute from the States, that it is the better job. If you want to live overseas then EK is the better job.


TP

 

Sorry but, what's a DEC ?

 

I think I just figured it out myself... Direct Entry Captain ??

 

You got it...Direct entry captain...

-LA

 

TP
The letter you are refering to is not a victory for the FOs because the transition upgrade is not straight on to the other fleet, rather you have to first do the type training (2-3 months) then six months on type as an FO and then another 2-3 months Command training, so that basicaly means that you will do 3 years on your fleet to qualify for command and then another year prior to you getting your command on the other fleet or if you qualify for an accelerated command unless you are on the correct type expanding at the time you will do 21 months in the company and then another year prior to getting your command so we are back to sqaure one. In the mean time since we need captains now we will hire DECs now prior to any of these policies taking effect but in the long term 5 to 7 years down the road it will not realy harm you because you will be a captain as well. If you ask me, this letter was put out to try to calm the storm the news of more DECs arriving now will cause to the FO pilot body. I would have much rather preferred an increase in salary of 30% rather than a great piece of paper worth nothing.......

 

With the need for that many pilots, is Emirates gonna start easing back a little on their minimums for FO positions in the coming years? Also, is there any preference put on JAA vs FAA rated pilots when it comes to getting an interview?

 

No preference on FAA versus JAA. I've been thinking it is likely they would have to ease back on the minimums for ahwile now, but they manage to still get enough people without doing so. With the numbers needed over the next two years that will have to change. I wouldn't be surprised if they started recruiting for Second Officers as the new guy in charge of pilot recruiting came from an airline that used Second Officers. In that case the minimums could go quite low, down towards Cathay type mins. for an SO position.


TP

 

What would a SO do in a two person cockpit? Please forgive the ignorance - is it like an apprenticeship?

V/r,
LA