EK flight deck crew INFO

[continental777]

Hello,

I was wondering if any REAL EK pilots could shed some of their insight of certain aspects of life at EK for pilots.

Before i ask my questions, ill share a little information about my situation. I work for a decent legacy carrier in the U.S. (won't state which one, but if your observant then you should be able to figure it out; before i get a dumb comment, YES we are still two separate companies!) Due to the indecisive legal eagle that "runs" my company, i am actively looking for a new carrier that i can call my own. Ive been with my current company for 4 years, and served 8 years as a US Navy "go fast" pilot. Now that ive explained my self a bit, i have a few questions:

-What are the Co. accommodations like?

-How much do average FO's really get paid (monthly)?

-What is the attitude towards Americans in Dubai?

-How does travel for pilots work on the airline(STBY)(reduced ticket prices)?

-How is management?

(p.s.-I dont want to hear another disgruntled pilot gripe about how bad he has it at EK, join my airline and get t-bagged by management for a year and then we will talk)

Thanks to anyone that can help me out!

[Bindair Dundat]

continental7777

every single question you asked has heaps of information already posted in volumes on this forum

take the time, read the threads, and form your own opinion

some will gripe of course because it is not a bed of roses at EK but it is not all bad either

you have to decide if the cons are greater than the ones you are already facing

the glory days of EK are well and truly over and if you are looking for good management, this is not the place for you it's appalling and many things will make your toes curl compared to anything you have experienced stateside BUT if you can tolerate the one size fits all package and fully understand that you are only the hired help in this country then go for it

[Dropp the Pilot]

When exactly were the glory days, then? I've been here since the beginning and I can't say I remember them but I would love to hear your experiences.

[donpizmeov]

Bindair, be nice. If Cont777 was able to read he would have joined the Air Force.

The Don

[General Dogsbody]

Here is my experience after a year, save you reading 100's of pages


-What are the Co. accommodations like? Very good particularly for FO's with Kids you get a nice villa with all expenses paid.

-How much do average FO's really get paid (monthly)? as it says on the website its about 25K Dirhams per month plus 45Dirhams per hour flown typically averages at 75 hours per month, some very small deductions for family health cover and 5% into your provident fund

-What is the attitude towards Americans in Dubai? we have over 80 nationalities on the flight deck, I don't believe Americans have any issues as a group here.

-How does travel for pilots work on the airline(STBY)(reduced ticket prices)? Staff travel is very good and the fares are good, certainly a very good staff travel perk compared to european carriers, however the Flights are very full so stby travel can be difficult, on the other hand the flights are Full...

-How is management? You will have to find out for yourself can be as bad as some airlines and better then others, I have heard stories to prove both sides of that argument.

My Two Dirhams

[JoeNow]

hi conti
nuthin to see here:E
they,the astronauts got slapped away,by theire Masters with a 12 week lunch paket and some change....so you wont hear any bad music....all whipped in line like little dogs....till next spring when temps get high:E:E:E

[Iver]

You will probably see the left seat of an EK widebody (most likely 777 if you have that experience at CAL) much faster than you would at the combined UAL/CAL. But, you will have to make peace with living in the desert and accepting the cultural differences and the lack of union protections that you have become accustomed to in the States. From what I have been told, you really do need to visit Dubai first and then come with your eyes WIDE open...

[continental777]

I appreciate the help from Iver, Varmint, and Gen. Dogsbody, Thank you guys for answering my questions!. To donpizmeov (http://www.pprune.org/members/31968-donpizmeov), Your ignorance proceeds you! Its OK tho, I can understand if your are some wash-out from PFI that got stuck with rotary wing for your military career because you just couldn't stomach pulling more than 2gs. If your were never involved in the military, I replace my last statement with a F$#@ YOU and have a nice day! :ok:

[JoeNow]

yeah,don is in the gang with neil armstrong and dr.ed:E....thinks he deserves 400k for missions from dxb to mct in his full automatic skylab:E
well he s a natural:E
falconeasydriver you cool:ok:

[Praise Jebus]

Those Navy gommers can't help them selves. Now flying a 1g jet but still think they're in the Hornet... Move on Conti you've turned professional. Come out for a look is the best way. Americans are treated like every one else, hired help.

[donpizmeov]

Joenow, you have me confused with someone else. Neil Armstrong and Mr Ed were also Navy, so I was never in that gang.
Sign me up for the 400k to do MCT turns though :ok: Day time only ones too please.
Conti777, I think reading and comprehension are part of the computer based testing that EK uses now (if you use the search function on pprune you will find the details I am sure). Perhaps a quick brush up on that before your interview might help. I never flew fling wing, but when I see them doing beach patrols I sometimes wonder if I have missed out on something.

Good luck,

The Don

[falconeasydriver]

falconeasydriver you coolhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

I ALWAYS knew my public loved me, even if Don Doesn't:8

Connie777, General Dog sums up life nicely, keep your profile low and just blend in.
The only issue I've even seen a septic (septic-tank=yank) suffer from here is the sometimes pedantic approach to RT that certain chaps in the training Dept adhere too. Apart from that, if you have a pulse, an open mind and an understanding wife, you'll be fine.

[BGG]

Hi...I also have a small question and before anyone asks...I used the search function which gave me my answer - but the answer was from 2005 :} so just wanted to reconfirm....which family members are entitled to the staff tickets at emirates?

[White Knight]

The only issue I've even seen a septic (septic-tank=yank) suffer from here is the sometimes pedantic approach to RT that certain chaps in the training Dept adhere too

Sorry Falcon - but I'm in that Pedantic bracket (having done my PPL, CPL, CFI, CFII etc in the US) whereby the Yanks speak sh1te RT...........

Just my POV :D:ok:

[Swan Man]

Are you Brits still stuck on RT? Is that your biggest gripe?
When you have 30,000 commerical flights a day in the US you can't speak like you are in kindergarten. You have to say Emirates twenty eleven, not emirates two zero one one. It is so much faster to say twenty eleven and then you don't tie up the frequency.
When you get a contract that is worth it weight in salt you can point fingers. Until then we will speak fast and coherently and if you can't understand or keep up work on your contract and your pay.

[cerbus]

And "Fully Ready", established on the localizer, and descent on the glide does not garble up the frequency?
While we are at it a PDC at every airport would also help. The US got that in 1993.

[falconeasydriver]

Sorry Falcon - but I'm in that Pedantic bracket (having done my PPL, CPL, CFI, CFII etc in the US) whereby the Yanks speak sh1te RT...........

Don't worry WK, I genuinely understand, and it's understanding in this world that allows people like me to tolerate pedantic people like you :}

[Oblaaspop]

I'm also with WK on this one!

In the States, everyone is on the same page, everyone speaks on the RT in a lazy, 'cool' (in their mind anyway) fashion and you know what... It works!

However, bring that pilot out of the US and deposit him over China, Africa or here, and he just sounds like an unprofessional tw@t!

Keep the crap RT Stateside boys and use standard RT here and youwaaaal get along just fine during your training!

Incidentally Swan, FYI the most congested Airspace on the planet is actually Western Europe (The South of the UK in particular) not the good 'ol US of A..... We manage just fine using standard RT. Give it a go buddy, you may be surprised!

[jumbo1]

What does any of this have to do with the original thread?
It always amuses me that every thread turns into a "mines bigger, better,faster etc than yours"
:ok:

[cerbus]

So what is standard? I have been around the whole world and everyone does it differntly to varing degress.
There is a reason the states is so easy to fly in. Good ATC, pilots who are professionally trained and when night time comes most pilots go to the bar where the captain pays for his crew.
The reason Western Europe is so congested is because there are not that many airways open for commercial traffic. Hence all the slot times.
I would have to look up weather Western Europe is the busiest place on earth as the bsuiest non US airport is CDG and that comes in at #11. In fact 16 out of the 20 busiest airports are all in the states. Before you socialist get your tit in a ringer I am citing movements not pax. After all this is a pilot forum not a boarding agents forum.

[cf680c2b]

amen brotha!
I look at it dis way...........them poms sure talk purty and us yanks sure fly purty, so let them do all the talkin and we'll do all the flyin.....its a match made in heaven.....heeha!

[White Knight]

Don't worry WK, I genuinely understand, and it's understanding in this world that allows people like me to tolerate pedantic people like you

Good stuff!!!!

Reckon we should chat over an ale sometime:cool:

[xxxpil]

Hi, can someone tell me how much is the basic salary? Without the hours pay. Thanks

[Wizofoz]

Hi, can someone tell me how much is the basic salary? Without the hours pay. Thanks


Emirates | Welcome to Emirates.com (http://www.emirates.com)

[Kapitanleutnant]

As the wife comes from the US, I've spent many years over there prior to EK, and even I have noticed a bit of a lack of RT discipline myself when I go to the states these days.

I heard this transmission one day while flying. It was from a very young RJ crewmember:

Chicago Center ATC: RJ123, contact Chicago Center on 131.23, good day.

RJ123: Rog, 131 and a "Michael Jordan".

For those who don't know.... Michael Jordan was a famous Chicago NBA basketball star whose uniform number was.... 23!

I agree, things are fast and furious over in the states, but seriously....
"131 and a Michael Jordan""???

K

[Craggenmore]

Rog, 131 and a "Michael Jordan

Brilliant - love it..!

[xxxpil]

Yes I know, but there I only can find the salary with hours included....

[Oakape]

Yes I know, but there I only can find the salary with hours included....

Just checked & so they are! They really are trying to make the package look attractive, aren't they?! Listing the salary with 85 hours flight pay included. Why don't they make it 95 hours & throw in a bit of productivity pay as well? That would really make it look good!

Sorry xxxpil, but I don't know what the F/O's 1st year basic salary is, so I can't help.

[DuneMentat]

Basic for a 1st year FO is 25320 AED (6893 USD) pr month

[Kempus]

Out of interest and that I cant find it anywhere, a move to EK would be a long term move and so what are the upper limits for salary?

A skipper in BA would be looking at a basic of around £144K plus allowances/flight pay but thats year 24 on the payscale. How would an EK skipper compare at year 10 and 24?

Also, the provident fund contributions are based on the basic. As your salary increases are these contributions taken from the increased salary? Just to compare the pension contributions in BA are taken from the basic long haul year 1 salary which is £49.5k so as your salary increases your contributions dont increase. You can of course opt to increase your contributions but being a pilot the least amount of work the better.

Hope this makes sense as i've been looking at the difference between pensions and provident funds and I can no longer remember where I live.

Kempus

kempus

[Gulf News]

The top salary scale at EK is step 30 which is circa AED 59800.00 basic. A first year Captain is promoted to step 13 which at the moment is AED 36125.00 or 10 scales above the scale that the pilot was on at the time of upgrade. For example an F.O. who had been in the company 4 years before upgrade would move to step 14 which would be 37320.00.

Provident fund is based on a percentage of basic pay. I dont have the scheme rules to hand but from memory employee compulsory contribution is fixed at 5% and the company contribution starts at 10% and increases in accordance with years service within certain bands.

This information was always readily available to prospective joiners before the smoke and mirrors crowd moved in.

[Wizofoz]

How would an EK skipper compare at year 10 and 24?


It's not contractually guaranteed, but EK have granted a 3% Increment each year up until level 10, except for 2009 and 2010. In 2010 they gave everyone a 6% pay rise, but it wasn't counted as an increment. In 2011, they gave everyone 5%, PLUS 3% increment to anyone on less than increment 10.

On reaching command you are on bottom increment for captain, so, assuming they grant increments every year, you will be on top increment after 10 years of command- and still there in year 24.

That being said, you should have had opportunities to go into training or some other supplementary duty by then.

As your salary increases are these contributions taken from the increased salary?

Yes, they are based on your basic salary each month, not your basic salary at time of joining.

Hope this makes sense as I've been looking at the difference between pensions and provident funds and I can no longer remember where I live.


There's a lot more to it than money. Yes, you will probably make more in EK, particularly as you will get a command sooner.

But you have to live here. For some, that's a small price to pay, for others, it is a big mistake.

Take your time, ask a lot of questions, and decide as wisely as you can.

Good luck!!

[Wizofoz]

the company contribution starts at 10% and increases in accordance with years service within certain bands.


Actually it's 12% and goes to 15% after ten years service, but GFs information on salary at upgrade and highest achievable may be better than mine.

[Kempus]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I did look through my contract but cannot see any information regarding incremental steps in salary and it only states what is reimbursed for a new FO at year 1 and a Captain at year 1 (DEC).

Joining and moving to any new job is a personal choice getting the right information is paramount. It is difficult to wade through the pages on pprune to obtain only relevant information.

Being from the UK I wouldnt be able to afford the private education for my kids equal to what is on offer in Dubai. I also cannot afford to buy a house in the UK although classed within the top 10 paid jobs. The benefits system is a disgrace and so the super rich get richer, those not willing to improve themselves are awarded to multiply and the middle class foot the bill. Mention the Eurozone and UK auserity measures and it all depresses the hell out of me for the next 5yrs at least.

I'm lucky to have an offer from a national and know how it works for them but want to make a balanced decision.

kempus

[goldthop]

In regards to the 131.Michael Jordan comment, the US doesn't use .23 as a frequency, so I'm not sure I believe that story. I find the worst offenders are the corporate guys and the sunday drivers.

[Gulfstreamaviator]

WASHINGTON WIRCAG125.57500HIGH
WASHINGTON RCAG133.35000HIGH
WASHINGTON RCAG134.32500HIGH



Glf