Fly Dubai and Copa Airlines - Page 2 - Airline Pilot Central Forums

#11

SoFloFlyer , 09-09-2018 09:07 AM

Gets Weekends Off

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSAviator76

Don't bother with FlyDubai. The pay is decent, but you'll spend it all on housing and the cost of living in Dubai which is really high. They also fly quite a bit of backside of the clock (redeyes) and to some really bad places. Also, I will promise you this... you will have never been as tired in your life as you will be with either Emirates or FlyDubai.

Fatigue is a real concern there, but their GCAA (authority) attitude towards it is something that will leave you scratching your head and wonder if these people are in the same century as the rest of the world. For example, if you call in fatigued, their rules require the company to give you 48 hours off (good)... but then you have to go see your aviation doctor to root out why you were fatigued (really bad). In other words, you can't just say "these rosters are killing me" because the answer will be "... but it's legal 'captain'..."

But legal doesn’t always man safe... but they probably wouldn’t understand that if they wouldn’t care.

#12

RJSAviator76 , 09-09-2018 10:08 AM

Gets Weekend Reserve

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoFloFlyer

But legal doesn’t always man safe... but they probably wouldn’t understand that if they wouldn’t care.

Are you seriously trying to make sense in that part of the world?

#13

SoFloFlyer , 09-09-2018 09:39 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSAviator76

Are you seriously trying to make sense in that part of the world?

You’re right.. I dygress.

#14

Asiabound , 09-10-2018 10:21 AM

Gets Weekends Off

I haven't worked at FD, but have spent A LOT of time there and have a great group of friends from the states working for them. They seem pretty happy to be honest though the typical complaints include the rapidly increasing cost of living. If you consider the cost of rent, food, the new 5% VAT, etc, it's really not that much more than what you would get at a regional or ACMI. Make no mistake, Dubai is like Manhattan or South Beach in terms of cost, especially if you're going out a lot.

It's a fun place though, some of the hottest FA's I've ever seen. For being in the Middle East, Dubai is a crazy place for partying. I wouldn't recommend going there if you are married.

As for the schedule, my closest friend is a senior FO (been there a couple of yrs) and has a great schedule and doesn't work much and avoids most of the red-eyes. He really doesn't want to upgrade because of his QOL and the increased workload doesn't equate to the pay bump for him. The junior guys I guess get absolutely hammered. Two other acquaintances I made in our group over there are former COPA pilots from Panama, and didn't have anything nice to say about COPA.

I would really consider why it is you want to leave your current regional? If you're 25 and want to chase women it sounds like fun, besides that I think the US is the place to be. If you can believe it, no one I've talked to at FlyDubai seems to really want to go to EK right now, apparently the schedules are much worse. There's no United or Delta, working 10 days a month for $250,000 type flying to be had over there.

YMMV and Good Luck.