EK OR NOT EK THIS IS THE PROBLEM
HI, YOU'RE THINKING IN A VERY CONVENTIONAL WAY AND A LOT OF THE GUYS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REPLY IN AS HONEST (FROM WHAT I HAVE READ) A WAY AS POSSIBLE.
YOU MAY BE WISHING FOR A ROSTER THAT GETS YOU OUT OF DUBAI - HAVE YOU GIVEN THAT ANY THOUGHT. YOU MIGHT DISLIKE THIS ISLAND OF HYPOCRISY SO MUCH. IF YOU'RE MARRIED AND YOUR WIFE IS MISERABLE, HOW WILL YOU COPE WITH THAT WHEN YOU GET TO GO TO EUROPE OR AUSTRALIA AND SHE DOESN'T. IF LIFE FOR YOU BEGINS AND ENDS IN THE COCKPIT OF A BIG AEROPLANE THEN COME HERE, YOU DESERVE IT.
HOW SECURE WILL YOU FEEL WHEN AS AN F/O YOU WILL BE AT MANAGEMENT'S BEHEST FOR AS MANY YEARS AS IT TAKES TO GET A COMMAND INTERVIEW (A330'S RETIREMENT BEGINS THIS YEAR-DO YOUR SUM). HOW WILL YOU COPE IF YOU DON'T GET PAST THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, WHICH YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD PASSED WHEN YOU GOT HIRED, FOR THAT COMMAND - SO YOU DON'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE INTERVIEW. HAVE THEY TOLD YOU THAT EVERY PROMOTION REQUIRES YOU PASSING A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION? HAVE THEY TOLD YOU HOW MANY COMMAND CANDIDATES HAVE FAILED. IF YOU MEET SOME OF THEM YOU WILL WONDER WHY BECAUSE WHEN I DID THEY SEEMED QUITE SANE TO ME.
HAVE YOU EVER FLOWN BACK TO BACK TRIPS THAT HAD YOU FLYING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR HOME BASE AND WHICH COVERED QUITE A NUMBER OF TIME ZONES? WHEN YOU ARE SO TIRED THAT YOU FEEL YOU SHOULDN'T BE AT WORK BUT GO ANYWAY - AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THE COMPANY WILL HIDE BEHIND THE FOM, WHICH STATES CLEARLY THAT YOU SHOULDN'T SHOW UP FOR WORK TIRED.
YOU ARE ENTRUSTED WITH QUITE A LUMP OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS JOB BUT AT EK YOU WILL RECEIVE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY AND NO LOYALTY. YOU ARE DISPATCHED YET YOUR DISPATCHER ISN'T WORTH THE SEAT HE SITS ON. IF YOU TRY TO HELP YOU CAN EXPECT SHORT SHRIFT ESPECIALLY IF DEALING WITH SOME OF THE EGOES WHO OCCUPY THE SMNC POSITIONS (SENIOUR MANAGER NETWORK CONTROL).
THESE MAY NOT EQUATE TO MUCH FOR YOU IF YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH YOUR BIG SHINEY JET BUT WHEN YOU MESS UP DUE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE, YOU WILL STAND VERY ALONE. BROADEN YOUR FOCUS AND DON'T GET SUCKED INTO THE WANABEE FRAME OF MIND.