Oh come on, EK has absolute influence within the GCAA. Take a look at our FTL's. Whenever a new route appears, or one that cannot be completed under the normal FTL's during certain periods of the year, then a Variation appears to cover it. Usually rest is given after such stupid pairings, but that does no good in the last stages of approach to land at 0530AM.
How else are the insane rest facilities on board allowed?
CRC facilities are a joke. Captain at the back of the aircraft for rest?? Brilliant! Temperature and humidity controls that simply do not work. Noise beyond belief in the A380.
Non-CRC rest was required in a fully reclined first class seat, blocked off from other passengers. We don't even have fully reclining seats so that was never followed. Then the adjacent seat was allowed to be sold. Now ED and TCAS have once again shown their lack of intelligence and credibility by not fighting against business class only rest seats (noise, rude and loud passengers, service etc).
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I read that EK has more employees per aircraft than most operators, yet less pilots per aircraft. In addition to that, we fly our aircraft more hours per day than almost any other operator. Something is out of whack there.
Pick up at off-blocks minus 2 1/4 hours. Duty starts at off-blocks minus 1 hour (we're already into our pre-flights by that time). Duty ends at on-blocks. Remember the attempted ''factored'' flight times? Only after ASR's and a massive increase in health related issues and sick days did the GCAA intercede. And that took effect... not immediately... but after another month of craziness.
Attempted layovers that defy sensibility. Fatigue problems are not an issue with EK management. Simple as that!
Training days went from 2 ground-school and 2 sim days, to potentially ONE sim day. Plus we no longer receive credit for training days.
EK controls, manipulates and decides what the GCAA does. To think otherwise is to be naive. The only areas where the GCAA restrict EK, are with respect to things such as licence re-issue time frames, medical re-instatements and such. EK throws them these bones to make everything look on the up and up.
The GCAA only responds when inundated with ASR's and only after they conclude they would potentially suffer some legal responsibility in the event of a fatigue related accident.
Buddy who posted above is absolutely correct. EK does not operate on a level playing field. This is good for us in one respect because it makes our jobs more secure and our company profitable, but the downside is an operation that over-extends it's employees. Do not kid yourself, EK would do even more if not for the ''appearance'' of impropriety. ASR's are our only recourse, because they are documented proof of insane practices.