Try to explain again, why some choose EK over the others. As you know, very few DEC positions available for someone who does not have the exact type rating. ANA and the such have "NASA" type physicals. Recent friend interviewed and had a cholesteral reading TWO points over thier standard-bye, bye. Singapore requires a 45000US bond DEPOSIT for over five years with, in my understanding, the potential to lose it all if you leave a day early. Short course at EK is 12000US prorated over three years. Korean, need the type rating, 747 or 777. Believe it or not, EK is the easiest of all to make it work, compared to many in the Far East. Culture at EK more like US carriers than the Far East ones. Loss of pensions for retired low to mid fifty year olds who were able to get out with some money before it was "stolen". Most US carriers will not look at 50+ year old legacy trained pilots unless they need their expertise to start up. If they do, then copilot pay can be as low as 36000US/yr at some majors for the first few years-take a look at first year pay at UPS, Alaska Air, CAL and others on
www.airlinepilotcentral.info. So let's see: don't have a type on a 747 or 777 so that knocks out a lot of the Asian carriers, can't live on 36000US, want to preserve whatever 401k money one has for after retirement. Like it or not, EK offers housing, 100,000US (overtime included) tax free for most of it, a very low bond, and a 777 rating. Perhaps these guys are using EK for a year or so to get the rating, over 1000 hours in eighteen months for a bond of 6-8000 remaing. Not a bad deal. Now one can hit up Singapore, Korean, EVA or any of the others or even back to the US when the 777 cargo version hits the streets. Compared with unaccompanied deployments to GUAM, Gitmo, and other remote areas the Air Force and Navy headed out to, compared with eight month deployments at sea, landing at night in low vis. pitching deck conditions, refueling in a single seat fighter at night and then landing on said deck, EK can be a breeze.
Yeah, they had it pretty good for years, but now they have to make some decisions for the next few years of their flying careers. So overall, EK is an easier entry portal for these type guys than some of the Asian carriers.
I am not saying these guys are any better than anyone else by their past experiences. But they have made sacrifices and have put up with conditions far more difficult than flying for EK and living in Dubai, in the past.
But no worries guys, most of the legacy US captains will not now leave their carriers because of the financial improvements made by their carriers.
I have no dog in this fight other than I know a couple of the guys over there now, keep in contact with them. So far so good for them.
IXNAT