Gulf Aviation Academy (Bahrain)
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Yes, apparently they won't have their contracts renewed as this is new over 60 rule applies throughout Bahrain (for expats only).
Yes things have changed in GF re. the national students having to pay for their training now. I guess GF's pockets are not that deep now with Abu D gone etc.
I met a few 'candidates' recently on my way through the sim building. What I found most interesting was that not one in that particular group knew anything about airplanes....zip. Surely if you are going to be hit with a bill of the amount quoted, you might have some knowlege about what you were getting into or even what it is all about, other than it is a good job....?
Yes things have changed in GF re. the national students having to pay for their training now. I guess GF's pockets are not that deep now with Abu D gone etc.
I met a few 'candidates' recently on my way through the sim building. What I found most interesting was that not one in that particular group knew anything about airplanes....zip. Surely if you are going to be hit with a bill of the amount quoted, you might have some knowlege about what you were getting into or even what it is all about, other than it is a good job....?
Last edited by Che Guevara; 7th Jul 2009 at 13:33.
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What I found most interesting was that not one in that particular group knew anything about airplanes....zip
But then again, what is there to inspire young Bahrainis? General Aviation is non-existent, military aviation is non-existant, there are no social clubs or groups, no Air Cadets... remote control planes are illegal.... you get the picture
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These student may not know Zip about aviation but if they do not like the job or the training I think they will simply walk away.
I agree... this is another GF dream again poorly thought through.
The new law that all the expat bankers, industrial managers and investment boys and pilots buggering off at sixty will IMHO not be cost effective as they will bugger off well before 60 to other Gulf states which will welcome them and their skills and their money with open arms.
This law is also not positive news for the Bahrain property market.
I agree... this is another GF dream again poorly thought through.
The new law that all the expat bankers, industrial managers and investment boys and pilots buggering off at sixty will IMHO not be cost effective as they will bugger off well before 60 to other Gulf states which will welcome them and their skills and their money with open arms.
This law is also not positive news for the Bahrain property market.
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pilots buggering off at sixty will IMHO not be cost effective
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i heard that the 100 GAA cadets will get a gaurantee job with gulfair after they finish is this even possible
No job guarantee. However, Oxford's training standards are high enough to guarantee a cockpit seat with any major airline!
Why so much? The catalog list price for oxford's integrated course is 40k Dinars (66k GBP)
You may have another deeper look at the prices.
66,000 for the Integrated course alone.
11,000-13,000 for accommodation.
5,000 for regulatory and Exam fees.
Total @ approx. GBP85,000
I do not think the GF national student in the 1970s at Oxford had to do this.
Yeah, not even those of 1998 if I'm not mistaken. But that was full cadet sponsorship program.
I met a few 'candidates' recently on my way through the sim building. What I found most interesting was that not one in that particular group knew anything about airplanes....zip. Surely if you are going to be hit with a bill of the amount quoted, you might have some knowlege about what you were getting into or even what it is all about, other than it is a good job....?
Day 2 assessment is considering the aviation industry knowledge of applicants. If they don't know what's in it for them, they are likely to fail!
But then again, what is there to inspire young Bahrainis? General Aviation is non-existent, military aviation is non-existant, there are no social clubs or groups, no Air Cadets... remote control planes are illegal.... you get the picture 
The demand for pilots of Nationals is increasing. Not only in Bahrain, but also in the whole region. This is a chance for highly qualified national cadets with the most prestigious aviation academy in the world. Perfect fit I believe!
I think today is the last day of screening for the 100 applicants.
The assessment is still going on. They will continue to invite more applicants for few more days.
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No job guarantee. However, Oxford's training standards are high enough to guarantee a cockpit seat with any major airline!
b. As all of the applicants are Bahraini nationals, they wont be able to secure employment anywhere else in the world apart from Bahrain.
Whilst they may be training towards a UK CAA issued licence, they do not have the right to live & work in the European Union and therefor employment with UK/EU airlines is virtually impossible.
Realistically speaking, their only initial employment prospects are with the Bahraini owned airlines such as Gulf Air, and Bahrain Air.
Whilst the bigger airlines in the region such as Emirates, Etihald, Qatar Airways do accept pilots fresh out of flight schools, they all have policies in place which limit applications to their own nationals only (just like the policy Gulf Air has with Bahraini pilots).
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a. There is no guarantee of a job anywhere, irregardless of the choice of FTO.
b. As all of the applicants are Bahraini nationals, they wont be able to secure employment anywhere else in the world apart from Bahrain.
b. As all of the applicants are Bahraini nationals, they wont be able to secure employment anywhere else in the world apart from Bahrain.
While for working in the EU, it's already impossible for those cadets to work there because of other reasons that are very VERY well known too!
Whilst the bigger airlines in the region such as Emirates, Etihald, Qatar Airways do accept pilots fresh out of flight school, they have policies in place which limit applications to their own nationals (just like the policy Gulf Air has).
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Many things could develop sooner than you think! you don't know how could something like GAA change the rules!!
So what is the current pass rate anyway?
Cheers
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I don't have accurate data about this for the moment. The ambitious plans of GAA might include supplying other airlines in the region with newly licenced pilots. Once the structure of GAA is finalized, many things will be clearer.
For the pass rate, until last Tuesday it has remained very poor with a total of only 7 applicants invited for day 2 assessment.
Cheers mate
For the pass rate, until last Tuesday it has remained very poor with a total of only 7 applicants invited for day 2 assessment.
Cheers mate
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I am a bit confused. How does sending cadets to Oxford in the UK constitute the founding of the Gulf Aviation Academy?
Prior to this BDB with Gulf Air approval, were carrying out selection testing to send students to Jordan, now it's UK. Clearly the selection standards are more rigorous and Oxford are a quality outfit issuing EASA licence, rather than Jordanian FAA based CPL, but in concept nothing has changed!
Prior to this BDB with Gulf Air approval, were carrying out selection testing to send students to Jordan, now it's UK. Clearly the selection standards are more rigorous and Oxford are a quality outfit issuing EASA licence, rather than Jordanian FAA based CPL, but in concept nothing has changed!
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That's the plan anyway apparently, not to sure if it only for "airline candidates", or if anybody will be able to just walk in for a type rating
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I am a bit confused. How does sending cadets to Oxford in the UK constitute the founding of the Gulf Aviation Academy?
but in concept nothing has changed!
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So at the moment GAA is effectively the former training department from Gulf Air offering a type rating to the students after they have paid to go to Oxford. Will the students have to pay for the type rating as well?
Surely the way ahead has got to be to move to MPL with the Core and Basic phase done at Oxford and the intermediate and Advanced at GAA in Bahrain. Chris R Gulf training manager said that was what Gulf Air wanted at the Aqaba MPL forum in 2008!
Surely the way ahead has got to be to move to MPL with the Core and Basic phase done at Oxford and the intermediate and Advanced at GAA in Bahrain. Chris R Gulf training manager said that was what Gulf Air wanted at the Aqaba MPL forum in 2008!
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GAA has nothing to do with the training department at GF. GAA is only owned by Mumtalakat which is the owner of several governmental companies including GF. Oxford graduates will get the opportunity to do the sim check and if hired, GF will sponsor their type rating just like any other non-type rated pilot.
And your projection for MPL training might be very close to the actual plans. However, this seems far from execution now.
And your projection for MPL training might be very close to the actual plans. However, this seems far from execution now.
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GulfAir/OAA/GAA/Mumtalakat/Tamkeen/BDB = Messy & unnecessary
Why can't Gulf Air just run a mentored pilot scheme?
If Gulf Air are in need of freshly qualified Bahraini pilots, they could have run their own mentored pilot scheme. This would involve GF running their own selection process and offering successful candidates conditional employment with Gulf Air providing they successfully complete and fund their training at an FTO nominated by GF.
- There would be no financial risk to Gulf Air
- The financial risk to the candidate will be largely reduced (due to the conditional job offer which will make access to a training loan much easier)
Wouldn't this be a win-win for everyone?
Why can't Gulf Air just run a mentored pilot scheme?
If Gulf Air are in need of freshly qualified Bahraini pilots, they could have run their own mentored pilot scheme. This would involve GF running their own selection process and offering successful candidates conditional employment with Gulf Air providing they successfully complete and fund their training at an FTO nominated by GF.
- There would be no financial risk to Gulf Air
- The financial risk to the candidate will be largely reduced (due to the conditional job offer which will make access to a training loan much easier)
Wouldn't this be a win-win for everyone?