It is clear from the contradicting information that no one. starting from THY, has a clue. For those having a tendency to see things with rose tinting lenses here a few much needed points to consider in your reality check
1) Expat are not welcome in THY and generally only welcomed in Turkey as long as they can get their money
2)THY is a non expat airline. They are irresponsibly lying to expat to fulfill a temporary lack of Turkish national. Your "permanent" yabanci contract is not permanent but linked to your work permit that will be renewed every year.
A phone call to the Ministry of Labor will suffice when needed.
3) Turkey has become largely a dictatorship and THY is a direct emanation of the Government. Freedom of speech has been limited. Youtube banned after expose' revealing massive bribery of PM and gang
4) No upgrade of DEC to long haul fleet will ever happen. No upgrade of foreign FO will ever happen even for astrophysicists.
5) You will be tolerated as a necessary evil and treated with interested courtesy until needed
6) THY is far from being the best European Airline as they love to call them self. Beside Turkey hasn't been for the last 50 years (and will probably never be) able to fully understand what being European implies.
7) The company is still vastly under control of an ex- military mafia starting from flight ops management, protecting the local military pilots and keeping their seat warm until ready for the next CFIT by imposing absurd limitation on civilian pilots ( degree and 6 years ) while they can upgrade in two without speaking a word ( may be one ?) of English and with questionable attitude. Many would not pass a screening in any "real" airline.
8) G4RCE is an expat that has been involved by THY recruitment as they have no what so ever clue in trying to sell for gold what actually is mostly lead.
9) TL has lost 33% of its value in one year. The country is in a constant political turmoil causing large, unpredictable fluctuations of its currency. Devaluation of 99% happened not so long ago.
10) Commuting on narrow body is impossible from Europe imagine from the US. Leave stands at 15 days , No leave first year. Moving your family to Istanbul impossible. Foreign schools are incredibly expensive ( starting from 15000 EUR per kid/year). THY does not offer any benefit.Two ID90 tickets month for eligible family members. Turkey inflation skyrocketing at 12% and Istanbul is more expensive than you think.
11) Of the initiial group of 350 pilots 77% is not working for THY anymore me included.
12) The job becomes acceptable if you are retired from other outfit looking for some last fun and extra bucks in Turkey on wide body fleets.
Enjoy
Last edited by porkflyer; 30th May 2014 at 06:59.