Royal Brunei Airlines
Haven't pilots been leaving Brunei for the last 10 years?? Sounds like it's a real shame (again) that an airline with so much potential, and in fact was once seen as one of the few "Glory" jobs, is being run into the ground by poor management.
b.
(And yes I did once work for RBA)
b.
(And yes I did once work for RBA)
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Its Official, RBA Management have f......d their staff once again.
The promised 80% of school fees reimbursement from the 1st Jan 2008 has been squashed. "No money la may be next year "
Just ask the CEO if you don't believe me.
Watch out for those carrots, RBA plant them every second !!!!!!!!!
The promised 80% of school fees reimbursement from the 1st Jan 2008 has been squashed. "No money la may be next year "
Just ask the CEO if you don't believe me.
Watch out for those carrots, RBA plant them every second !!!!!!!!!
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Very sad news indeed
Hi Big Ben,
That is bad news. I know guys that have been hanging on for just this one peice of positive action from the company. It is clear they dont wont expats so time to go and be a proper expat elsewhere.
I think it is the last nail in the coffin for a lot of people.
Time to get your head out of the sand people and move on unfortunately.
That is bad news. I know guys that have been hanging on for just this one peice of positive action from the company. It is clear they dont wont expats so time to go and be a proper expat elsewhere.
I think it is the last nail in the coffin for a lot of people.
Time to get your head out of the sand people and move on unfortunately.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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It appears all the talk from the new ceo was just that. A bit of carrot waving about how he realizes there are serious issues with the staff pay, conditions and morale.
Just a lot of hot air out of an individual earning $40,000 a month.
If there is no money to increase salaries, flight allowances, and education allowances now, that have not seen any increase in over 20 years, then it’s safe to say there never will be. Rba will never make a profit if it is unable to get rid of the deadwood, many middle managers, incompetent management and corruption. So there will never be enough money available to increase pay.
The b777 introduction is so fluid they have all but gone down the drain. Many millions of dollars wasted. Will the managers involved in this be sacked for incompetence? There must be Swiss bank accounts bulging from this mess up.
CD, NM and a few others have not flown any aircraft since their b777 rating one and a quarter years ago. Meanwhile some line pilots have not been able to take leave for a year as the b767 was understaffed. They must be the most highly paid little office boys in the company’s history.
As usual these people manipulate things to suit themselves at the expense of others. Just like the cutting of annual salary increments (they had reached the threshold allowed), then introducing a new system in which they are not only entitled to annual increments again, but their increments are substantially more than the insulting $100 a month received by the line pilots.
The bond is unenforceable, the b777 are not likely coming. If they do come it is rumored only two airplanes now. So best you use your b777 rating elsewhere. $15,000USD a month is better than $12,000BND a month and the conditions at any of the other airlines requiring pilots could not be any worse than rba’s thanks to rba’s poor management.
Insulting.
Just a lot of hot air out of an individual earning $40,000 a month.
If there is no money to increase salaries, flight allowances, and education allowances now, that have not seen any increase in over 20 years, then it’s safe to say there never will be. Rba will never make a profit if it is unable to get rid of the deadwood, many middle managers, incompetent management and corruption. So there will never be enough money available to increase pay.
The b777 introduction is so fluid they have all but gone down the drain. Many millions of dollars wasted. Will the managers involved in this be sacked for incompetence? There must be Swiss bank accounts bulging from this mess up.
CD, NM and a few others have not flown any aircraft since their b777 rating one and a quarter years ago. Meanwhile some line pilots have not been able to take leave for a year as the b767 was understaffed. They must be the most highly paid little office boys in the company’s history.
As usual these people manipulate things to suit themselves at the expense of others. Just like the cutting of annual salary increments (they had reached the threshold allowed), then introducing a new system in which they are not only entitled to annual increments again, but their increments are substantially more than the insulting $100 a month received by the line pilots.
The bond is unenforceable, the b777 are not likely coming. If they do come it is rumored only two airplanes now. So best you use your b777 rating elsewhere. $15,000USD a month is better than $12,000BND a month and the conditions at any of the other airlines requiring pilots could not be any worse than rba’s thanks to rba’s poor management.
Insulting.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Millions Wasted
Orangputisatu well said
But be fair on Ray Sayer, how many new CEOs would have landed in such a can of worms.
While the jury is still out fromwhat I hear he has tried hard on the school fees and will have been stonewalled by the Directors.
As a new CEO how do you present the Board a plan to removing incompetent flight operations management, when it involves almost every manager.
How many pilots have left due to the indignity of the Boeing 767 Manager, he alone causing the loss of hundreds of thousands due to re training.
How many pilots have not flown for over a year?
Can of Worms
But be fair on Ray Sayer, how many new CEOs would have landed in such a can of worms.
While the jury is still out fromwhat I hear he has tried hard on the school fees and will have been stonewalled by the Directors.
As a new CEO how do you present the Board a plan to removing incompetent flight operations management, when it involves almost every manager.
How many pilots have left due to the indignity of the Boeing 767 Manager, he alone causing the loss of hundreds of thousands due to re training.
How many pilots have not flown for over a year?
Can of Worms
Join Date: May 2006
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Orangp you are extremely accurate in your summary of RBA. there has been continual promise of improvement in conditions for many years now and still no change. Another CEO will mealy line his pockets for the three year contract and then leave, the only thing to show will be further demise from when he commenced. As for the incompetent Flt Dept,they will as before make their own rules at the expense of the line pilots. Think of all the new forms and manuals CD must have been able to rewrite in 16 months, much to the amusement of other operators and pilots who DO know how to operate the aircraft.
You are 100% right, the bonds are not enforcable, and with pilots in such short supply prospective employers will laugh at an airline that thinks they can bond you to an aircraft they don't have or you have not flown. Time on the 767 is fast becoming about as useful as 707 time. While there are good jobs around take your experience and move on, 76 time NOW will get you into modern glass, you may not be so lucky in two years. If it does it will be in non first world places like Brunei.
No money is forward coming, and it will not be. If it was the Sultan would have not sat back and watched this farce unfold.
You are 100% right, the bonds are not enforcable, and with pilots in such short supply prospective employers will laugh at an airline that thinks they can bond you to an aircraft they don't have or you have not flown. Time on the 767 is fast becoming about as useful as 707 time. While there are good jobs around take your experience and move on, 76 time NOW will get you into modern glass, you may not be so lucky in two years. If it does it will be in non first world places like Brunei.
No money is forward coming, and it will not be. If it was the Sultan would have not sat back and watched this farce unfold.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Suggestion
Why not do a petition and as a group collectively submit a formal letter suggesting ideas or underline problems about how the Flight Ops organisation is being run to the CEO?
It looks to me there are more than enough unhappy pilots in RBA to actually wake the company up! Every company needs a good spine to run well, and you as pilots are partly/heavily involved in helping the company generate revenue and your thoughts in my opinion ought to be heard.
Everyone can take the easy way out and leave for a better airlines, but if you want to see the company take the right step forward, gather as whole and speak up and be heard!!!!!
As life has taught us, the only constant is change and its time RBA opens up to new ideas, as suggested by His Majesty's titah, if we as human beings do not know that already.
In my opinion there are alot of daft, unreactive to positive change managers in RBA but I reckon their minds can be opened!
So it's about time for a good meeting and brainstorm to help the company get on the right path. If it falls on deaf ear, least you tried!
It looks to me there are more than enough unhappy pilots in RBA to actually wake the company up! Every company needs a good spine to run well, and you as pilots are partly/heavily involved in helping the company generate revenue and your thoughts in my opinion ought to be heard.
Everyone can take the easy way out and leave for a better airlines, but if you want to see the company take the right step forward, gather as whole and speak up and be heard!!!!!
As life has taught us, the only constant is change and its time RBA opens up to new ideas, as suggested by His Majesty's titah, if we as human beings do not know that already.
In my opinion there are alot of daft, unreactive to positive change managers in RBA but I reckon their minds can be opened!
So it's about time for a good meeting and brainstorm to help the company get on the right path. If it falls on deaf ear, least you tried!
Join Date: Sep 2002
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RBA passengers harassed by Brunei customs
There are rumours rba passengers are being harrassed by brunei customs for exceeding their beer allowance. Passengers are not allowed to take liquids through security now. So many are buying from duty free. However most duty free sell only 375ml cans. the brunei yellow form states the largest size can allowed is 333ml and are harassing them over exceeding the allowable limit.
The rumor goes the passenger was so angry they offered to open a can and pour it down the toilet. this did not satisfy brunei customs as the yellow form clearly states the maximum size allowed is 333ml.
Welcome to brunei, the kingdom of no bars, no entertainment and no duty free allowance.
Is it true?
Silly if it is.
The rumor goes the passenger was so angry they offered to open a can and pour it down the toilet. this did not satisfy brunei customs as the yellow form clearly states the maximum size allowed is 333ml.
Welcome to brunei, the kingdom of no bars, no entertainment and no duty free allowance.
Is it true?
Silly if it is.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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how gozit in the abode?
Happy new year to all in the abode. Its been a while since anyone wrote anything in here. All goes well I hope. Has anybody resigned recently? Just heard the B777 is now totally scraped. But somebody else is still putting some hope that it will arrive by the end of FEB. Well.... you should see the aircraft yourself. Painted in all white with no engines. I seriously doubt it will be ready in a month.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Education allowance
Flew with a local captain a few days back and during the cruise,our conversation came to the disparity in the pay. We compared our payslips and it was clear that he gets paid less than me. Is that right? I don't know of any airline where a captain gets paid less than the first officer. All the locals i've flown with are great guys and they seem to be getting a bad deal. Again, another reason why the locals are leaving.
I've been waiting for an increase in the education allowance and so far, nada, zilch, nil. This increase would really reduce my expenses here significantly. ISB has new rates this year(B$1500 per term, last year it was $800+)and it's a killer. Still waiting for the company to give us the increased education allowance. Is it any surprise that FO's, local and xpats,are leaving for airlines that give a better renumeration package?
Brunei is a great place to live in and RBA has massive potential but i wish, our management at Flt Ops and the Board of Directors would wake up and get their act together.
I've been waiting for an increase in the education allowance and so far, nada, zilch, nil. This increase would really reduce my expenses here significantly. ISB has new rates this year(B$1500 per term, last year it was $800+)and it's a killer. Still waiting for the company to give us the increased education allowance. Is it any surprise that FO's, local and xpats,are leaving for airlines that give a better renumeration package?
Brunei is a great place to live in and RBA has massive potential but i wish, our management at Flt Ops and the Board of Directors would wake up and get their act together.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Mayday
This is getting serious. Now I don’t know much, but I do know that a large number of solid Captain s & F/Os are actively applying for new jobs. And getting interviews. Emirates, Etihad, SQ Cargo, Korean etc all happy to talk. PLEASE, someone communicate, a landslide may be on the cards; not as in victory, but rather great loss. A core part of the airline’s staff may be about to walk; Brunei is a great place, but the pilots need info and solid promises to make informed family & career decisions. And that is not forthcoming – leaving them with little choice. Of course I may have got it all wrong, better all cross our fingers hard.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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500ml cans of beer on the wall
Icom,
I never implied it was rba’s doing.
But even with your rose tinted glasses of rba, you would admit it could impact negatively on rba passengers and therefore, rba may loose some passengers flying with rba and stopping off in brunei.
Passengers may elect to fly on other carriers with stopovers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dubai or simply elect not to stopover in brunei.
If it also applies to expats living in brunei, it would be yet another point to add to the growing list of negatives living and working in brunei.
I doubt everyone has 500ml cans; perhaps you could post the contact number of your black market supplier of these. Brunei’s Tourists and Expats may need it.
It may be a minor issue, but is it really a necessary one. Why harass tourists / crews on such a silly technicality. Why not change the yellow form to reflect what is available in duty free stores at airports inbound to brunei.
I never implied it was rba’s doing.
But even with your rose tinted glasses of rba, you would admit it could impact negatively on rba passengers and therefore, rba may loose some passengers flying with rba and stopping off in brunei.
Passengers may elect to fly on other carriers with stopovers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dubai or simply elect not to stopover in brunei.
If it also applies to expats living in brunei, it would be yet another point to add to the growing list of negatives living and working in brunei.
I doubt everyone has 500ml cans; perhaps you could post the contact number of your black market supplier of these. Brunei’s Tourists and Expats may need it.
It may be a minor issue, but is it really a necessary one. Why harass tourists / crews on such a silly technicality. Why not change the yellow form to reflect what is available in duty free stores at airports inbound to brunei.
