I assure you southflyer that "checksix" is as straight as they get, and he would not have any second thoughts to stand strong on all the issues you have brought up.
As a general rule though, it is allot easier to move on and do your own thing, than to change the situation you are in, because uniting together is as likely to happen as snow in Dubai (Outside the Emirates Mall).
EK has a diverse group of pilots, with only one thing in common (Money and Career, thus we are all looking out for number 1, (from Ed, to TCAS, to you and me.)
We do it on a different level, Ops management do not care about the pilots, the TREs do not care about the TRIs, the TRIs do not care about the LTCs, the LTCs, do not care about the Captains, the Captains do not care about the FOs, and on and on.
This is not a society based on values, and principles. It is a basic money, and fun culture. Those of us who want to stay in Dubai need to accept it, and those of us who can not accept it need to move on, or be miserable.
What is acceptable to you , might not be to me and vice versa. We do not stay in Dubai because we like it, but because we want it. Deep down we do not mind the abuse because we get something else in return.
Those who have done some soul searching have packed their bags and moved on. Those who have not, stick it out either in a happy oblivion, or in a miserable state of understanding.
Dubai is exactly what it used to be 20 and 30 years ago. It has not changed. Dubai has now become unbearable to us further up the food chain, and not only for the less fortunate from the sub continent and other regions doing the menial jobs. It was never a nice place unless you were one of the privileged. We are not part of that group any more I am afraid.
Our masters see us as workers, just like those building their palms, and worlds, and buildings etc. People with a lot less skill and education are building high rises, shopping centres and fun parks. Why do you think that they should care about those flying their shiny airplanes?
They do not care about any of us here, and what we want, they only care about what they want.
We too, do not care about anything else but what is good for us personally. It is a vicious cycle and the sooner we recognise it, the sooner we can do something about it; leave for a more normal life, stay and be more caring to each other, or stay trapped in "the I wish I could go but I cannot because...."
Things will not improve because we all see this place as a temporary fix to what we want, and our masters see us as a temporary fix to what the need as well. In every industry, the temp guys never get anything improved....
Regards
Cpt K
