Barcelona road show
Went to the EK show in BCN last weekend, was well attended, around 40 nervous-looking Spaniards and a handful of Brits.
Opened with a question - 'anyone from EZY or RYR?' answer 'no'
Then a presentation about EK, why they are so good, history, etc.
Benefits of EK - career stability, young fleet, expanding network, growth and expansion, all-inclusive salary package
4.5 to 5 years to command
Details of selection process - well covered on pprune elsewhere
All courses for rest of year are 777 except 2 airbus courses
40 joined last week, 16 this week, courses every week until mid-2011
They want your application yesterday, if you meet the requirements (which are not set in stone - I heard them tell one guy they wanted 'preferably' 2500 hours multipilot time) you will be called next day for interview !
A non-recruitment 'real' pilot talked about type rating and company induction, line training, rostering and bidding processes (covered elsewhere on pprune)
He said no swaps possible at the moment, usually 10-14 days off a month but min of 8.
Generally unhappy with roster 2 months out of 5
Talked about trip length - 1 day trips up to 9-day trips, mostly 24hour layovers
High standard of hotac
meal allowances in local currency, not as high as European usuals, examples of DUS 120Euro Columbo 30Euro
42 days leave, but only 30 guaranteed, any unused carried over to next year
Everything done in EK by computer
Life generally frustrating in terms of getting things done
Talked about salary, FO and Capt
Annual increment, not guaranteed
Pilots not happy about high hour months, at moment >85 hours per month
Talked about accomodation options and allowances, education allowance, bond, location of EK villas being allocated at the moment is Silicon Oasis, they have the keys waiting for new joiners
Talked about medical, free cover for self, spouse is 440Euro pa, kids 160Euro pa each
Exchange rate protection for 50% of salary
Profit share, not guaranteed
Provident fund - need 7 years service to get the 'lot'
They pay for: uniform, LOL, sick pay 12 months, free dry cleaning, chauffer driven to work in company Audi by a suicidal Indian or Pakistani
Talked about DXB: safe, family-friendly, not old-fashioned idea of cutting off your hands for anything worse than stealing, no problems of drugs or violence, good level of education ("outstanding"), interesting flight deck experience (85 nationalities), biggest shopping mall in the world, indoor skiing, luxurious lifestyle (maids, beaches, don't have to pump your own gas!!!)
What to do in DXB: beach, resto, cine, sport, 4x4 driving, shops, parks
EPC
Cost of living - gas 1.44 Euro a gallon, 2.50Euro for 1L of milk, 2Euro for 5L of H20, cinema 6.65 Euro, car 23K Euros (Ford Explorer)
Details of salary and flying pay, etc etc all covered in other threads but basically:
FO salary 24110 AED (according to them 5330Euro) tax free + flying pay 10Euro per hour
hope this is useful
strangestranger