ATC IssuesA place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.
I am interested in working en-route control in the UAE. I'm certified and currently work traffic in the states in Atlanta (world's busiest) and would like the oppurtunity to work in the UAE. As far as I can tell, Serco does the hiring for the towers and approach controls, but I can't find much about enroute. Anyone have a suggestion? Thanks, ISRT
ISaidRightTurns Area control is run by the GCAA General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE and is based in Abu Dhabi.
The current centre(er) is in the process of being replaced with a new purpose built centre. The replacement program(me) is behind schedule but should be up and running in about two years. The equipment will be Raytheon. The people to contact may be found at the GCAA website: www.gcaa.ae Alternatively it is worth looking at the Flight International website.
Taken as a given that Atlanta is busy but the UAE FIR is fast expanding and has its own idiosyncrasies & peculiarities. Unlike in the USA there is not much light aviation nor much Biz jet traffic.
Vercingtorix - Thanks for the quality reply, I will look into those suggestions.
Traffic - I had submitted to Serco a few times without ever hearing back. I couldn't figure out why I wouldn't be good enough for the UAE, working Atlanta and all. We are the busiest, la la la. Its the airport at the end of all your over flights, la la la. Finishing the mid, up for 23 hours, going to sleep, excuse the sarcasm.
It does makes sense, everybody wants to come and enjoy our understaffed, underpaid, overworked, traffic saturated, grossly managed, poor procedure'd, poorly equipped center that we call home.......
And did I mention that we are not allowed to have a fridge or coffee machine in the crew room because we are not responsible enough.
ISRT - forgive TT - he works at Maastricht UAC and most (not all) of them have a bit of a "we are ATC" sense of being..
How's the whole US excepting non-USers for ATC jobs thing coming along? Heard plenty to retire soon and they may have to open up to non US, non FAA ATC's..?
Impi - I wouldn't hold my breath. You know how it is over here, we don't be takin' to kindly to funny speakin' people. And I think it is rare for anyone on a work visa to be granted a security clearance. We do have some folks with dual citizenship or legal immigrants who can be granted clearances.
Why leave Atlanta? It's gotten a little boring at work and I would like you opportunity to at least try someplace else. I can always come back.
Did you apply to the SERCO office in Abu Dhabi? In my experience if you do not apply to the correct office, the other offices will not forward your resume to the correct one. (Something about the cost of a stamp.)
At the moment, as Vercing says, probably applying to the GCAA here is your best option.
We do not pretend to have the volume of Atlanta but remember "busy" means the amount of work you are doing, it doesn't mean the amount of traffic you have. For example, in a single day here, you will probably repeat yourself and "confirm" more clearances than you have in your entire career in Atlanta.
Anyways, come on out for a look. Everyone's always welcome.
Between the Left East and the Right East of course !
As to the FAA accepting foreigners...
...George Bush would contract his grandmother if he could get away with it so it would be a possibility if he could go that route but I think his reign is about over.
I doubt the FAA would ever accept them in the Enroute Centers and probably not in the Approach Controls and Towers. It's mostly a national security excuse.
It does makes sense, everybody wants to come and enjoy our understaffed, underpaid, overworked, traffic saturated, grossly managed, poor procedure'd, poorly equipped center that we call home.......
...and where you must explain to Emirates and Air Arabia Ops why you f*****g dare put there plane in the hold, but that is worth a thread all on its own.
Alright, sorry about the busiest thing. Didn't exactly get the point that I wanted across.
As far as the yank hatred - whatever.
Thanks for the good info, I have an interview set up next week due to the contacts you all have provided. I'd appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks again to those who helped.
ISRT
BTW - Don Brown, holy crap! Its like the legend of avweb right here and now. Good to see you at the Xmas party this year too. - Thompson, Area 4 YY
After the cricket fiasco the yanks will have to get in line behind us Aussies when it comes to hatred
The work here is fun (I would say it is a hybrid of your Area & TRACON with shitty radios and a lot of dodgy pilots) and the lifestyle is OK if you take it for what it is, a third world country with 1st world cash flow.
The real stinker about work in Abu Dhabi is that there is virtually no accommodation, unless ofcourse you want to spend more than half of your salary. Even when you get accommodation there is no parking. There are a lot of apartment projects under way but they are at least 18 months to 2 years off, and they will still cost a shit load. Do not believe any of the adverts in the paper about villas for 140,000AED they don't exist. Yesterday 3,400 applied for three rent controlled apartments. http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Housi.../10180462.html
The upside mmm..... a gallon of unleaded costs US$1.55 and we get 56 days vacation for Serco or 45 days for GCAA.
Best advice though is to jump on DAL7(8) out of Atlanta and take a good look around here, Dubai, Oman and Bahrain before you give up your job at home.
At least here you'll get a real welcome without any bigotry as the aussies are only just starting to arrive here in numbers so haven't had time to think they own the place yet! Make sure you get here soon though 'cos it doesn't take them long!
For a South African I am so so surprised by your harsh words, in fact...I'm sniffle... quite hurt
IsaidRightTurns Don't worry mate, that Yank comment actually came from one of your neighbors to the North, what's that all aboot!
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