Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

Does any of you Ppruners currently work or has worked in the past for ADA?
If yes, could you give me details as to their work and pay schedule as well as any other relevant info like accomodation etc...
Thanks

Isn't there a very long thread about life in the Middle East? Should all be in there.

Phil

Hi Phil,

how can I find this thread?

Use the 'search' function.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=156157


:ok:

Mmmmmmm .........

Well the answers are easy enough eh chaps .....

1. ADA's primary work is supporting the AbuDhabi offshore oil industry with BH412/212 Helicopters and soon AW139.

2. Work schedule is a mix of 56/28 or 42/42 days on/off depending how much you argue.

3. Pay .... not enough!

4. Accomodation .... CRAP!

5. Fellow pilots/Engineers ..... F*****G EXCELLENT (by and large).

6. Management ....??????????? :ugh: :mad:

Cheers :E

ADA
 

ChopperGuy,

Check your PMs.

Advice?
 

Anyone currently working for ADA (seismic only) could advise life/conditions at the jobsite(s)

And currently how long to get checked out in Abu Dhabi before leaving for jobsite. What I gather from various sources, it seems the downside is being in Abu Dhabi but improves out in the field...

Pm or email if appropriate.....Appreciate some help on this. Thanks!

...Rog

Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

I am considering working for Abu Dhabi Aviation but am worried about all the bad press on the company.
What is it really like there?:uhoh:

I'd say the only real problem is the accommodation, but you spend some nights offshore anyway (it's really bad when a rig is better than your home!) :)

You probably won't see the real top management anyway, although ADACEO fhas been know to frequent this forum ;)

I'd say go for it, and look on the bright side - it's better than a lot of other companies out there! And the people you will be working with will make up for a lot.

But I thought a lot of their people were heading in your direction?

phil

Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

I have recently sent an application to ADA (online) and was doing some research when I came upon this forum. What is it like being employed by ADA? I have the email blocker turned off so you can email me direct if anyone can help

Thanks

Mmmmm ......

If you have read through this thread you will have gotten the gist of life in the Gulf.....

The ADA management attitude is very USA .... ie you are a resource to be used.

Do not expect too much and you will not be disappointed.

Do know your abilities .... so many come out thinking the job is easy (it certainly looks easy when you watch the way the senior pilots go about their tasks but they know all the tricks/traps).

"Big Heads" and "Prima Donna's" should not bother ... as you will not get though the indoctrination program .... you need to be level headed have a mature outlook and good skills and be able to play on a team.

You MUST be easily fluent in English to Level 4 but preferably Level 6 (Expert).

You must have plenty of Multi-Engine Helo time preferably in Bell 412 (or AW139).

You MUST have an Un-restricted ATPLH with reasonable IF experience (not just a rating obtained in an R22 trainer???).

Yes there is a turnover of pilots and engineers but there is also a lot of guys with in excess of 10yrs service there (and a few with 20+yrs of service).

The major enjoyment with working at ADA is the chance to work with a really good bunch of characters from whom you can learn quite a bit.

You make of it what you can ...... Pay is good!


:ok:

Despite its past reputation ADA has improved over the years from what I have seen. Professionalism was pretty poor but there's a wind of change blowing in the company with regard to that and at last everyone does recurrent simulator training at the Emirates/CAE facility up the road in Dubai.
The flying is the usual boring offshore stuff and anyone who's in Eket will find it little different from there, except it's hotter in the summer and there's a bit more underslung work. Accommodation is improving and at least we have our own bars and don't need to drink with the client. It's possible to go to the cinema or ice-skating our fishing and many other activities on days off. Transport to work doesn't involve going in armed convoys or getting ambushed and shot! There are many good supermarkets in town to get decent meals and internet and telephone connections are good (although Etisalat does censor many gambling and porn sites). You can even make mobile phone calls from offshore, though you'll need a mobile without a camera as they're paranoid about photos being taken offshore :ugh:
The pay isn't as good as Nigeria, but then there's far less stress and danger here too :). However, the dirham is linked to the $ and with the strength of that currency at the moment, depending where you live, the pay is really not bad. The company management is rubbish, but again, if you can cope with A$$lick in Nigeria it's certainly no worse :}. For anyone having strong reservations about staying in Nigeria after the Eket ambush last month, all I can say is, come on over - it's not so bad and a pretty good bunch of guys to work with. There's a shortage of qualified engineers, but again after what happened in Eket maybe that'll change too?
Friends still in Nigeria tell me that there are some changes happening soon and A$$lick will probably be gone in 6 months or so with Oni returning. I know that'll be 6 months too late for many, so why not come over here and have a look. You'll have nothing to lose as there will always be shortages in Nigeria and you can always go back if you don't like it here.

ADA
 

Chopperguy
I think the comments are all valid, but I would be very careful - read twice before you sign. Paco's comments about the management are absolutely spot on. Been there, done that :suspect:

I thought the accommodation was all sorted??? Did I not hear that they built new digs and bulldozed the vans?

Outwest ....

You heard WRONG!

New accommodation is in the process of being constructed but not yet completed ..... and though old, the vans are still preferred by the old hands who value the social network they foster.

New camp (in the middle of nowhere) will have to prove itself and may in fact prove to be very inconvenient!

Time will tell.

:E

Can anyone shed any light on the Dash-8 side of the operation there? I appreciate any info!

Previous experience in the ME.
3500hrs TT

Thanks!

ADA
 

The new pay rates are out for ADA $616 per day for A cat captains on a 6 and 6 rotation. The new accommodation is very nice indeed. Khalifa B and A are tops and the new ones at Madinat Zayed are very nice too.:ok:

So which is it?

This is just like our pilot meetings......put more than one pilot in a room and try and get them to agree to something :ugh:

Mmmmm ....

Outwest ....

If you are so knowledgeable about "our Pilot meetings" how come you are not up to speed with the truth about the accommodations ....

The Khalifa A & B villas mentioned are for "overflow" at the moment ... OR used to accommodate the SAR contract lads.

The NEW camp is still no where near habitable yet.

New "Pay rates" seem to be in force BUT also include (?) end of service benefit so may not be the great raise some were expecting.

In order to qualify for the $616/day particular specific qualifications and experience are required! .... limited slots available!

Don't expect too much ... you won't then be disappointed :eek:

:(

I am glad you quoted me correctly and that I did say "our" and not "your".

"our" meaning where I am working now, which is nowhere near ADA.........hence the questions and clarifications :ugh:

Anyway, thanks for the update, I'm sure all concerned appreciate it.