Originally Posted by
WhiteFly
Sally I am mostly just a lurker here to read the occasional rumor and whatnot...
I also came from a LCC from europe with the absolute min requirements and got my command on the fatbus in less than 5 years.
It all depends on where you come from and what you had before the jump to the desert. The senior guys have seen deteriorations so are quite grumpy while most new guys I fly with are happy atleast on the fatbus.
You will fly over 900 hours a year and on average 10 days a month if not more.
I cant speak for the 777 or the littlebus were things are much worse.
If I had to decide now to come again I still would come no questions asked..
Nothings perfect but its much better than 6 days turnarounds 2 days off and 7days turnarounds 1 day off that i had before
Once you fly ULR operations there is no going back!
Also one thing you should consider that the happy guys even possibly a minority like most ppl will say here dont bother with pprune and have better things to do with their time.
I'm not a negative person in general and when I got my command at the 3 year mark I was generally happy...
By the 5 year mark I began to realise that Dubai was not a good place for the family (have a young boy who was 3 at that time).
By the 7 year mark I was totally disillusioned with the rat-race lifestyle of Dubai and was very lucky to be offered a left seat in a successful loco at home base in the UK. A little less money but such a healthier lifestyle and nicer workplace atmosphere. And my family life has improved so much.
Would I recommend EK to anyone there days? To a young, single FO I would say YES, see the world and enjoy the EK girls. For a more experienced family guy or a current captain? NO, not these days. Don't take the family out when it will be a one-way ticket. So difficult in our rarefied profession to get back to your job/base of choice especially if you're left-seat...