Quote:
Originally Posted by Woofer
Typhoonpilot,
If by recruiting DEC's, EK will find it hard to employ F/O's is very subjective in my opinion. Last time Emirates recruited DEC's they still managed to recruit F/O's.
True, but these are different times. They have not hired a DEC for about 3 years now and have stated on many occasions they do not intend to hire DECs. If management change their tune that will cause a morale problem and it will cause those who are on the fence about coming to EK to stay where they are. Come late 2012 and the end of the age 65 stagnation worldwide it will be even harder to find qualifed first officers to entice to an overseas job.
If a F/O joins an airline as they don't employ DEC's is, without any offence intended, dreaming. Even more applicable today where every airline is after cost cutting.
So an F.O. joining American airlines is dreaming about no DECs? 
Why, may I ask, do you state that hiring DEC's entails a high percentage risk? Aren't recruitment up to the task to select the appropriate people?
It's just a fact. The number of incidents that occured during the last big DEC hiring spree was pretty high in their first year.
Emirates route network is indeed very diverse (worldwide ops) and can be demanding. Having said that it doesn't mean its only the job for internal upgrades. Granted that they already know the procedures, routes aand have you making it 'easier' but it still doesn't mean that when their time is up for upgrade they are going to breeze through it. As a matter of fact, a high percentage are failing their upgrade.
The upgrade failure rate is less than 10%, that's not pretty high.
I have flown in every continent with no problems whatsoever. Yes flying in Africa, for example, can be demanding but with good preparation and attention the flight's outcome should be safe. Then, I guess, it's up to the individual to put in some effort and don't expect to be spoon-fed all the way through training.
Agreed that effort needs to be put in by individuals when they start at a new airline.
My response here isn't a slam on DECs in general. I'm just stating facts. Most of us that are at EK will only leave as DECs to another airline someday so it would be hypocritical to be against DECs in general. It's just the way EK have hired them in the past there have been issues. Other airlines that hire DECs also have the same issues. So it's not just EK.
Going to an airline as a DEC is difficult enough if you do so on a type that you have experience on. EK have compounded that by taking DECs who only had narrow body experience and only had domestic experience. That created a huge learning curve for them which is one of the reasons the number of incidents was high.
If EK do decide to hire DECs the pilots at EK are generally not angry at the individuals who take the opportunity to move to a "better" job. They are angry at the company for delaying their command and costing them money.
It doesn't affect me, but it would affect many of my friends who have joined in the last few years so I would rather not see EK go down that road if they can avoid it.
Typhoonpilot
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