career progression on the Airbus side of EK

[NineInchSnail]

Hello gents,

777 has been for a while and seems to be still the good fleet to be on at EK, but with the increasing number of deliveries of the 380, what is the current career progression for the poor FOs hired on the 330/340?

How many years on the slave boat before having a shot at transitionning to the whale and enjoy a better lifestyle?

Any truth that there is still a 2 years seat lock for Fos on the 380 before going anywhere else ( captain upgrade!!)?

Also what's the current fleet transfer policy at EK. Can an FO on the AB fleet get an upgrade to the left seat of a Boeing and vice versa?

Thanks for the help

[a747jb]

As it stands today, transition to the 380 from the 330/340 is around 1.5 years. This is because at present, due to complete lack of planning, the company is once again showing their true colors and bypassing all of the 340 fo's that want to go to the 380 because of lack of 340 qualified pilots. So, as of today, if you are on the 340, you are sh.t out of luck to get a transfer. Tomorrow, who knows. So to answer your question with regards to the transfer, it really and truly is a guessing game, but plan on at least a year and a couple months to get your required 700 hours.

As for the seat lock, yes, its still there. In fact, there is rumor that they have stopped allowing 380 guys to come back to do the upgrade. This is rumor as far as I know, but maybe somebody else might know better. If it is a fact, its a very recent one. However, the numbers would support this as they can't afford to replace a 380 FO at the moment due to lack of crews on the the 340 fleet.

With regards to right seat 330/340 to left seat 777, never going to happen. I believe there is a 1000 hour requirement on type per the GCAA here before you can upgrade. Could be wrong on that one.

In short, my best advice is that if you want to come to Emirates, then come to Emirates for the airline, not the fleet. The planning of management at this company is by far and away some of the worst I know of. Therefore, you can NOT personally plan anything, as it could change tomorrow. That being said, it works for them, or at least they think it does, so it is what it is. All I know is the paycheck shows up on time, life in Dubai is what you make of it, and there's some darn good golf and drinking holes around here if you need to get away from it all.

[LHR Rain]

But think long and hard before joining EK. With the DECs coming your upgrade will be delayed by at least a year and you will be still joining a company that treats its employees very badly.

[CAYNINE]

Not sure of the actual source of the statement 1000 on type before upgrade, referring to 330/340 to 777.

Most 310 guys had to do 6 months and 1 PPC on the 777 after the initial then they could do the upgrade.

[yardman]

The comments about the guys stuck on the 340 are probably valid, but you must admit that their quality of life is significantly better than the guys who fly 330 only. Most of the 340 FOs seem to fly the 330 for recency only, and I've seen their rosters. They're much better than mine that's for sure!

[Praise Jebus]

Probably true yard man but those 340 FOs most likely joined before you and have done the hard yards on the 330 already, but I guess that doesn't matter, leave them there eh?

[yardman]

Well, the reality is that it is what it is and all the griping in the world won't change anything. I've found that accepting this reality is the key to happiness in this part of the world. Personally speaking, the day I find it unacceptable is the day I start actively making plans to leave. Until then always keep a little vaseline handy:E

[groundtoflightdeck]

What makes the A330/340 less desirable than the A380? Are new hires generally going to the A330 these days?

[1000ft Cruiser]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but I've yet to here a definitive answer...

Is it possible to go straight in on the A340 as a new recruit? I know the EK website says either 330 or 777, but I've heard (very sketchy) rumours of people being recruited straight onto the 340. If there really is a shortage of 340 crews, that would seem to make sense.

Following on from that, would you want to? I'm guessing a year from now the -300s will be gone and there will just be a handful of -500 doing some of the less attractive routes (I'm guessing Dar Es Salaam and Abidjan aren't the best night stops).

[Iver]

If I were a slave-driver A330 pilot flying the same regional routes (with a few Euro destinations), I'd probably want some time on the A340 to experience some new destinations before flying the "trunk" routes on the A380. On the A340 you can check off more destination boxes and see some new sites that you will fly over or skip on the A380 - not a bad option in my opinion while waiting for the double decker. :ok:

[MagicCarpet]

Is it possible to go straight in on the A340 as a new recruit?

No. You can’t hire directly into the 340. You have to start on the 330.

Having said that, EK has put 2 guys from Singapore directly into the right seat of the 380 bypassing the 330/340 altogether. I believe both were 380 FOs at SQ.

The question is, will EK start hiring non-rated guys off the street directly into the right seat of the 380? That’s anyone’s guess.

[safelife]

The question is, when will EK start hiring non-rated guys off the street directly into the right seat of the 380.
With the A340 and the A330 leaving in the future, they have to do that at some point. Unless all A380 crew shall go via B777. The A350 won't be there early enough to be the "beginners aircraft".

[Craggenmore]

poor FOs hired on the 330/340?

You're right, I am poor.

At an average of 45 hours per month for the past 12 months, my flight pay is terrible.

[Mango]

You're right, I am poor.

At an average of 45 hours per month for the past 12 months, my flight pay is terrible.

Especially when your other half has expensive taste in champagne. Isn't that right Craggenmore!

[donpizmeov]

Craggen,

Don't go clouding the debate with facts. That would never do.

The Don

[airbuddy]

So are all new joiners going on A330 nowadays?? Is there the possibility to join on the 777 fleet even if in possession of A330 rating?
Thanx a lot
AB

[Craggenmore]

don - of course not..!

Nota Bene..."As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, or sciolists*, to elicit certain reactions."

[Free wings]

Hi guys!

I am joining EK in May, on the A330 course. Between all I had heard from the airbus fleet in Emirates, seems that the lifestyle in the A340 is fairly decent... so my question is how long it takes normally from joining on the 330, and the upgrade to the 340? I would be interested in spending some more years flying the 340 (although I know you fly mixed 330-340) before the final upgrade to the 380.
So very interested in any info regarding time to get the 340 and once on it, its lifestyle...

Thank you.
FW

[Iver]

I know an EK pilot on the A340 and it took him roughly 2 years to transition to the A340 from the A330. I have heard that in the future some A330 pilots will jump to the A380 once they meet the minimum hour requirements for such a move. So, evidently not everyone on the A330 will get A340 time.

[Warlock2000]

Was at Starfleet Command on Thurday and the latest one going around the (reliable) rumour mill is that there will be no more transition upgrades from A380 to A330.

All FO's on A380 fleet are "locked in" and will upgrade on the A380.
:rolleyes:

[MagicCarpet]

All FO's on A380 fleet are "locked in" and will upgrade on the A380.
:rolleyes:

. . . right up until upgrades grind to a halt when EK figures out the 380 is a niche-market aircraft and stops delivery of the leviathans. :ugh:

[captainsmiffy]

Thought that some realism needs injecting here on this thread. Current EK AB, been here 5 years and affected by so many rule changes that it is not funny any more and no prospect - on present rules - of an upgrade before completing 8 years here. 12000 hours and a decade in command previously. Have been by-passed by others less-senior due to being 'wrong-footed' with an enforced fleet-change. Am less than happy with the way my career has been manipulated for me. Progression here only works if you have the right number of the 'right' hours. Thought my hours-building days were long gone. Oh, by the time that I next fly I will have flown once in 2 months (and that was only to keep current) so not even my hours-building is going according to plan!! Am now only staying because I wish to take the crown for the longest time to upgrade in EK!!

Gotta go, revising for my next trip.....pull back and camels get smaller...??!!

[GS2012]

Previously training was done in house by Emirates with a full type conversion, but have heard that CCQs are now being considered for new joiners with previous Bus experience.

So if the decision has been made to keep the old Airbus aircraft for a few more years, and all the recent recruiting has been directly on to the A330 (not A340/380), then where is the flood of sim training, checking and conversion training being done?

[fatbus]

330/340 are retiring!

[MagicCarpet]

. . . in 2017

[fatbus]

11 gone this year, a mix of 332/343 and the remainder of the 343 's next year. EK wants them gone!. Plenty of new and addition seats coming on the new planes. Replace a 332/343 with a 777/380 and you incraese the overall seats without needing another peak arr/dep slot. New dep bank @ 3am will start with the small bus and move to the 777 when the loads go up.

[MagicCarpet]

Sorry but I just don’t believe the 330 is going anywhere until the 350 comes along 5 years from now and takes over all those godforsaken night turns to India.

The 777 is the star athlete. EK isn’t going to use it as water boy. That’s why the Boeing has a much lower percentage of night turns proportional to fleet size than the 330.

I have also heard the Indian government limited the number of pax we can haul in and out of India anyway. It’s hard to see how it makes sense to send a 777 just to haul more empty seats we’re not allowed to fill anyway.

In my opinion, the Airbus side of the EK house is still rubbish for career progression compared to the 777.

[halas]

11 330's gone this year :confused:

That's a lot in 2.7 months! 330 drivers must be enjoying a similar holiday to the 380 guys.

halas

[fatbus]

This coming year, I thought you could figure that out. Unless you are just being a smart aas.
Maybe things wil be much clearer very soon.
Personnally 1) it makes no diierence to me and 2) I dont think the 359 is coming