Truth about Air Arabia
The truth is Air Arabia is that the company is completely unorganised.
Upper management is ok. They are running a sweat shop and proud of it. Middle Management is full of smoke and mirrors. The truth is they are incompetent. Open door policy is a joke like their training department.
Training is non excitant.
Training is pointless and COSTS MONEY! Only Checking applies here. We check till we cannot check no more and then double check that we checked just to be sure you’re checked. What are we checking??? Well the theory here is if you have a type rating than all the FCOMs and OM should be fully memorized Including the QRH! Did you know we now operate with only one QRH onboard? Those things COST MONEY YOU KNOW!
Upgrades are impossible and firing / downgrades are easy. The current pass rate of FOs to CAPTs is 1 out of 15.
Firing and downgrades are quite normal around here. Every other week we hear about another victim.
Roistering is a joke. Yea I know every pilot says that. But believe me you have not seen nothing like this!
Simply put rosters are constantly changed via phone calls and text messages in the middle of the night telling you to report early morning or on your days off. You fly about 30% of your original roster.
Maximum 3 days off in a row per month. The rest of the month you will get one day here one day there.
Typical roster is as follows first day you fly early morning the next you are flying all night the day after that you are flying early morning again. (it’s great for the body!)
If you are 1 minute late checking than expect a phone call or calls the following day asking you why.
Annual leave is all screwed up. Usually 2 weeks in a row maximum, followed by punishment upon your return with consecutive days of flying till you time out.
You will fly about 95 to 100 hours a month until you time out for the year. Once you time out the fun begins. You will be scheduled a bunch of standby days with some Muscat or Doha trips. (These are 1 hour trips) this prohibits you from going home.
Sick Calls require a doctor’s note. Fair enough. BUT! That note then needs a stamp by another doctor located at the Airport. He kindly asks to collect 50 Dirham for his effort. HR then claims they did not receive the letter and you get fined 2 days or more worth of pay. Now the prorated pay is at HRs discretion and mood. Truth is they do pay you at some point but you must use up at least one of your 8 days off a month to accomplish the task.
Good things about Air Arabia.
They pay well.
Crews are very nice.
Maintenance is good.
You can afford a fancy car.
Malls are nice and a Rolex is a must. Problem is you can only buy it once.
Your wife will be on anti depressants or leave and go home within a month or two. Either way you won’t have to hear her mouth.
Russian Prostitutes are abundant.
You can tell your friends you live in Dubai.
You get to experience Unbelievable Heat and sand storms.
You can own a human for a mere 500 Euro a month.
You do not have to plan what to wear the next day because it’s always your uniform.
Your wallet will not be stolen.
Lying is a must and company policy.
Only 2 Americans in the whole company.
And Last but not least overnights in Beautiful tropical DAHKA and Colombo! It makes you appreciate the finer things in life like clean water!
I hope this helps.