As ONE of the recently departed ( quit NOT fired, so I have no nasty bias) I thought I should take the time to post a general advisory opinion of Aerogulf Helicopters (AGS) in Dubai. Maybe some kind unbiased ADA or GHC pilots could do the same.
MONEY. AGS is the lowest paid (by far) helicopter company in the Gulf. Apparently they used to use the low oil prices as an excuse. Now they use the excuse “ We are a ‘married accompanied’ employer and this costs the company a lot of money”. How become Abu Dhabi & Gulf Helicopters have married accompanied and still pay a much better wage??? Every month this year there has been the promise of a pay increase BUT nothing has happened. There are ADA pilots renting in Dubai and commuting to work at ADA and still making more money than at AGS. Especially with a bit of work over money as well. The cost of living in Dubai is high & rising.
Speaking of promises – Get all that you are offered in the pre employment verbal discussions IN WRITING. The previous Director of Operations (KA) made all sorts of promises to new hires, about money, and there is now at least one very unhappy pilot. A note of interest about KA – He has been fired from his job in OZ. What a trail of trauma this man has left behind him!!!
ACCOMMODATION. Generally good BUT again you may not get what you were verbally offered. Home maintenance is slow and typical sub continent standard.
SCHOOL FEES: A low percentage of fees are paid BUT schooling here is EXPENSIVE.
MEDICAL INSURANCE. Good coverage BUT you have to make a healthy contribution to the premiums.
OPERATION. Very clean simple (boring) and legal, back to what it was before KA became D.Ops. UAE is well on the way to JAR compliance.
HANGAR OFFICE COMPLEX. Nice & new.
AIRCRAFT & MAINTENANCE. The ‘on the floor’ engineers are GOOD. The same cannot be said of the ‘upstairs’ people, they have been poor for some years. 6 Bell 212s - Old in years but some are reasonably young hours wise. 4 are Bell AFCS IFR and 2 are very old Sperry IFR. A mix of –3 & -3B engines. A 206. & a 412 in bits
MANAGEMENT. The GM is the only Western Helicopter GM in the GULF AREA and without doubt the most intelligent. Apparently, when he was Chief Pilot he was a very amiable caring competent person. It would seem that the GM PRESSURE is affecting him. He has become prone to temper tantrums and has loudly voiced his desire to fire every one in the company. I have heard it said that at one stage his nickname was FTF (FIRE THE F*****S). Generally he does not want to know your problems. BUT, he MUST have a soft spot in his heart because he likes to hire the Cast Off incompetents from ADA. (Not you GT).
Now GM, do not get angry. Try to remember that your workers contribute hugely to the good name of your company. Sure, they have / create the odd problem. Try a little communication and guidance. Maybe it is better ’the devil you know’ in your own company than an unknown from elsewhere.
TRAINING. Despite what I wrote about the GM, if you get him for Bell 212 training you will be in VERY good hands. As for the other Training Captain you won’t learn much at all. As another departed pilot said of him; ‘His only qualification for that job is that he baby sits the GMs dogs when the GM is on leave!!!!!’
ASSISTANT GM / D.Ops If you want to talk Tilt rotors – He is your man. Not likely to stick his neck out for anyone or anything.
CHIEF PILOT. (Dave in Dubai ) Definitely an honorable man.
ADMIN HUMAN RESOURCES. All sub continent folks but mostly they do a good job without the usual aggravation found at ADA.
DUBAI. There are lots of events and things to do. It appears to be half way between western world and Islamic world. Behave and you will be OK. Always remember you are a second class citizen when it comes to problems with the LAW. Traffic is bad- no one knows the rules and a certain group believe the rules do not apply to them anyway.
The rulers in Dubai do their best to keep the place safe, BUT you are living in an unstable part of the world. Recent headlines showed that peaceful little Doha, never thought they would have trouble there, had a car bombing NOT very long ago.
Basically that is it. You can earn a LOT MORE money at other companies, ADA & GHC, in the Gulf. These companies are WELL worth applying to.