N.A.S update from the inside!!!

[dustrat]

"I had a dream!"
A dream about a VIP company that would give me a reliable contract for more than 2 months, the dream about a VIP company for which human factor is more important than paperwork issue, the dream of a VIP company that will relly on the experience of its crew members, and learn from its diversity, the dream of a VIP company that will offer untrapped great package, the dream of a VIP company where operation based on an office team of 30 plus people to run 2 aircrafts would be THE one...
That was 7 months ago...
Hellooooo! Anyone here? You bozo! After 6 years in the middle-east you are still a dreamer!:E

Well. Nice try anyway.

N.A.S is operating 4 major sectors:
-Net-Jet Middle-East that it's not necessary to present.
-Maintenance (freeeeaaaaak), facility in Riyadh OERY, dealing with Air-force BBJ's, government BBJ's and other corporate aircrafts.
-N.A.S VIP, managing (ouch!) the 2 government BBJ's.
-And the new comer Al-Kaela, the A319 operation to fly first class/VIP type passengers on a regular schedule from riyadh and other cities in the kingdom.

For all of this, they have the financial and the human resources. Sure about that, and an incredible potential of growing in these specific field...
But...
Total chaos in the communication system, "little chiefs" daily battle, overnumbered departments that would ignore the next door ones, absurde financial policy regarding ticketing, hotac and flight support etc.
The operations department is paralizes by the overcontroll of the top managing team (one guy actualy...).
There won't delegate responsabilities (or only when that is at their advantage), they won't let the proper heads run their specific department the way it should, even though they 've got really good guys there. Among others, they worry more about ID cards design than flight support material or price of airline ticket than recurrency training for cockpitt crew...
The last one? They post ads to hire cabin crew for that Al-Kaela ops. They need around 50. Well, they sent all the girls who were short listed, the contract draft for...the BBJ operation.
Big surprised for all those girls who paid their own ticket from almost all around the world to be at the interview in Dub. (Some from Dunnunda...), And guess what?
the contract was actually totaly different. Instead of 35 on 30 off it's 6 weeks on and 3 weeks off, instead of 8500 riyals a month and 100 dollar per-diem it's 6000 a month and 30 a day, instead of downtown hotel it's airport hotel etc. Cool huh?:}
And as for pilots...Well we are waiting for the bomb shell.
For the moment they are still hiring...F/Ozz. Necessary to send CV? Not really guys, as they have a pile of thousands.
BBJ wise: They are hiring nationals. Fare enough. The question when we joined was not "Are they going to replace expats by nationals?" But "when will it happen?".
Witha 3 years contract we hoped for some good time. Well dream on, it is happening now.
Has anyone told us? Warn us? Once again dream on little boy!
So, to all of you who are willing to join:
Welcome, but watch your back! It's still the same as ever. Swim among the sharks, the bad teeth ones!

Dustrat, another N.A.S-hole!!:sad:

[mutt]

Interesting comments, we really expected this airline to take over from the flag carrier, but from what you are saying it sounds as bad as Saudia.......

Good Luck.


Mutt.

[GTJDS]

Hey dustrat,
if you so negative about your unrealistic dreams why don't you just leave and go somewhere else don't hang about with all your negative vibes no one needs them .Just go and see if you can find a better job if you do then tell us all the positive things you will feel a lot better.

I think you will find NAS is not bad at all.


cheers


good luck.

[dustrat]

What's the point GTJDS? U want my job?

So it should be anough to get a weel between our legs in our crual world?
Sorry man I disagree.
I ve been among the first one to join NAS, and we witnessed from the inside the changes. So we are working hard trying to improve things in that company, because that company has the resource to be the one it claims it is. It probably won't work for us, or it might not work at all actualy, but if it does at least the guys who are looking forward to join can face a better organisation.

May be you think that having such a job by itslef is already a good deal, and that people should enjoy a bit more instead of bitching that much!
Well, in that case you got a point.
But on the other hand I don't care if you think I am such an arse who can't appreciate what he got if it informs people about what is happening in the company.

And if I judge by the number of questions I received I made a point so once again, whoever wants precision regarding NAS is welcome to ask.

:ok:

[JoeCo]

Like dust-rat has said, no one seems to be disputing the comments made, well except for you GTJDS, so it kinda leads one to believe that NAS ain't all that it's cracked up to be. Please GTJDS, if you are also in the inside, could you please highlight the points that are inaccurate. Aside from myself, I know other that are interested so you'd be helping us out.

Joe

[LanFranc]

Dustrat,
Check PM's

[dustrat]

NAS has posted an Ad in Flight-International this week. Kind of a BIG one.

So here is some more details:

BBJ: There will be no more Captain hiring. NAS operates under a PART 125 certificate, meaning crew duty time limitation applies. That is the reason why there are more pilots here than in any other VIP ops around.
The certificate choice was quite smart actualy. Many Jet owners around here have the tendancy to "give" their aircraft to friends and relatives to fulfill their needs. The local authorities (PCA) is willing to terminate or at least reduce this kind of illegal charter business, since those private owners are operating under part 91. So there is a market for chartering medium jet, and since NAS applied for the first PART 125 cert. 3 other companies are doing the same.
We are 5 expat captains and there is 2 line saudi captains, plus 2 more at management who are to fly time to time...For 2 A/C.
Nevertheless, they are in need of 4 F/O's.
Contract is: 35 on/31 off. 4500 to 6500 us dollars (based on the last F/O's contract), plus 100 dollars a day per-diem when on duty. Medical insurance (BUPA Int'l gold scheme), and they fly you in and out ( don't expect business ticket!!).
Based in Riyadh, at the Marriott hotel. Fligths are mostly governmentals, so pretty official trips. No fun destinations or leisure trip like other VIP's.

A319: The aircrafts are not ready. They are still in Toulouse for interior work.
The company is willing to lauch the ops by August...Hum!!
The first hiring process was a total disaster. Not one expat was hired. They wanted to get a few guys from Saudia, but ended up with a few military pilots...
The reasons? Well may be some of you have read my first post about NAS (a very bad day it was, I must admitt!).
So the reason is that at first the contract was supposed to be the same as for the BBJ, with slightly lower salaries...
Now it is 6 weeks on, 3 weeks off. Salary for capt. between 5500 and 6500 at the most. For F/O's, from 3500 to 4500. Per-Diem is NOT 100 a day, but 30!!
Not Marriott, but airport hotel.

G-300: we haven't seen the airplane yet, but they got them. Should start sometime this sumer. No details so far...

Will update you anytime I have better input.

Good luck to you all.:}

[mutt]

Now it is 6 weeks on, 3 weeks off. Salary for capt. between 5500 and 6500 at the most. Per-Diem is NOT 100 a day, but 30!!
Personally know some of the ex SVA B777 drivers who retired to join NAS, they certainly mentioned a much better contract than that. Was the rug pulled from beneath their feet??


Mutt.