View Full Version : which is the 'better' EK fleet
palmdeira
20th Apr 2006, 10:12
so at the interview they ask you the q - which type would you prefer? You give the standard answer - I'll take whatever I'm offered.
But in reality, which fleet is the best?? I'm thinking in terms of promotion, routes, lifestyle/roster pattern etc.
Any useful feedback from those wot know would be appreciated. Whingers or moaners need not reply.
thanks
Scudsy
20th Apr 2006, 10:40
It's a stupid question to ask at interview, and if you were asked it then it just goes to show that the question is presented to make you feel good and not because you have any say in your direction. No accounting of your previous experience is applied. Guys with literally thousands of hours (including 4 figure command time) on one manufacturer are placed on the OTHER fleet. This is what happened to me and I've met many others. All the trainers could do was shake there heads in pure disbelief. The utter stupidity of it. They will simply put you where they feel like putting you and that will be the first slot that needs filling, even if it's the A310. I don't think anyone with flying experience makes the choice for you. If you complain about that, then it's "our way or the highway". You essentially have no choice.
One year a particular fleet will be better than another. But it changes around alot. The equipment on the routes is constantly changed. For example, Australia is going "all 777" but when the 380 arrives then the 380 will take over the direct routings.
Everyone is waiting to see if the pay will increase to match the quite staggering inflation here in Dubai. The next announcement will be interesting for sure.
Payscale
20th Apr 2006, 15:07
The Boeing is a better aircraft, but the Airbus fleet is nicer to be on..
Airbus is nicer all round if you ask me :E You have the 330, great performance, 340-3 bit of a slug, but flys nice, 340-5 a hot ship, most love. The 777 most people like, nice ship by all accounts, has no frickin table to do your paperwork on, ya know Sudoku etc. There is also some bizarre elements also who live in the LHS of the 777, the "astronauts". The Airbus is a "much" friendlier place to work by all accounts, though as new blood comes through this will be less problematic on the 777.
The Airbus fleet works hard at the moment, 330 only is not supposed to be so bad, the 777 will be maxed out by July/August. 310 fleet, not knowing.
EGGW :\
ruserious
20th Apr 2006, 18:30
14 hour flight to JFK, 13.5 hours table time, 5 minutes sidestick, no competition really, vote bus :ok:
Scudsy
20th Apr 2006, 20:27
I cannot stand the airbus. It's a complete dog. The side stick is a joke, god help you in a cross wind, it's not flying, it's not even fun compared to my playstation. The bunk is in the arse end of the 340 500 and thats the best bit of it. They all come with the most stupid procedures conceived by man, franglais doesn't even come close to describing the confusion that is airbus manuals. Boring, painful, plastic, and designed so aerosexuals can bore you to death with flight control laws. Now they invent the 380! The plastic pig will fly. Is it kosher?
Bored bored bored
just press 2
Scud,
the stick works great in xwind, maybe you should work a bit on your technic.
Scudsy
21st Apr 2006, 06:37
zomp have you ever flown a Boeing?
Nearjet
21st Apr 2006, 07:44
The better aircraft- Not really debatable. (I have flown both types!):ok:
Better lifestyle - That can be debated. However as someone mentioned in a previous post, lifestyle changes as route structures change. What might suite some today will not necessarily
suite the same person this time next year.
palmdeira
21st Apr 2006, 19:33
scudsy - pi** off, your idiotic comments are not welcome here.
I'm pleased to see that there isn't a clear cut answer to this one, as I thought there might be.
Do the airbus crews do more hours and end up with productivity pay some months? What is the time to command differences between the 2?
donpizmeov
21st Apr 2006, 20:16
Palm,
Pay is the same on both (most important fact). As has been stated already, where the types go is still changing and will do so until the growth calms down....so not for another 7ish years or so. Both fleets are working hard now, and it would seem that this will stay around for awhile as well. The Boeing does do longer patterns than the Bus. Both fleets go to some nice places and both go to places that you might not really bid to go to again.
A few years ago the Bus fellas were getting commands at a quicker rate than the Boeing fellas, but at the moment the Boeing guys are doing better than there Bus mates. Time to upgrade on the Bus is about 3.5yrs at the moment (by that I mean for the guys that joined 3.5yrs ago, not sure how long it will be for a new joiner), and 3yrs for the Boeing chaps. Both fleets are getting overtime at the moment, as it was mainly the Bus fleet doing the overtime for the last few years. By the way, you do not ask for overtime here, it is rostered for you, and you have no choice about it etc etc.
So really, trying to choose a fleet to go to on joining is not as easy as it would seem, as things change daily here. 99% of the fellas on both fleets are great to go to work with, but just like anywhere, you will come across a weird one every now and then (and no I did not mean it like that...keep mind out of the gutter ya weirdo!!!).
Not much help I guess, but I hope you get the idea.
Don
Scudsy
21st Apr 2006, 20:28
Oh we have touched a raw one haven't we!
If you take the time to PROPERLY READ the reply I posted earlier, IT IS CLEAR to all but those who are dead from the neck up that THE STUPIDITY I REFER TO IS aimed at EMIRATES. They have asked a stupid question of YOU at interview! Not the posting you have put on this forum. So much for wanting to give advice to wanna-be's.
If you jump on your colleagues so quickly without taking time to double check your incorrect mental picture then I suspect you are not the kind of candidate we are looking for. In fact you have shown yourself to be some what idiotic. Your grasp of the English language is indicative of the piss poor standard of candidates we are now willing to interview.
Or is it my preference for American hardware you take greivance to?
What are you flying at the moment? Have you flown both Airbus & Boeing like myself and various other pilots posting here?
Just what is it that is pissing you off so much?
Haven't you got laid lately?
Need an anger management course?
ruserious
22nd Apr 2006, 04:37
Chill Scudsy, yes I have flown both types. Both have their good & bad points. But only one has a table Preference is just like opinion, everyone has one. I would fly a BAC11 if it gave me the lifestyle I wanted, but in the mean time, doing 14 hour sectors, just leave me with my table its just so god-darned civilised.
Vive la France
Vive la table
I spit on the pathetic stupid stick between your legs
:\ :\ :\
(oops now we are into Brokeback Mountain territory)
L1011
22nd Apr 2006, 04:45
:confused:
Methinks we have thread-drift here.
Having flown both types and been on both fleets (in the same seat), there is very little to choose between the fleets really. On the 777 you are gone for long periods. On the Bus there are more short layovers (especially for Europhiles) but more night turnarounds as well. If only we could bid without restrictions, the 340 would be the best for long trips and plenty of time off. But then it wouldn't be EK would it?
Right now the 777 seems better as a newbie copilot for the command thing, but that too is a lottery around here.
Have to (reluctantly) agree with RU that the table is nice. Wish the sidestick was as responsive as the 777 control wheel though. Hate the Bus in gusty conditions.
BTW, RU what are you doing up so early in the morning? Gout bothering you again?:E
puff m'call
22nd Apr 2006, 07:43
Well this one's right up my street, but hey don't let me get going, all i will say is:
At least the Boeing pilots have got something between their legs, unlike.............................:ok:
Wshear
22nd Apr 2006, 08:14
No one talked about the A310.
I guess EK has some of them and is getting more.
Does anybody know how long they intend to ride them?
How is the life on A310? More info appreciated.
I hope this will unite everybody....It is a Bus and has a stick in..........
Sheer Shear
scud,
couple of thousand hours on the 767 left and right seat and a couple of thousand hours on 330/340 also left and right, the bus is easy on day to day operation, if something goes wrong I would rather be on the boeing, but in the last 15 years nothing went wrong, just one engine failure on the bus and that was easy.
dont want to fly without stick and table anymore.
Cerberus
22nd Apr 2006, 11:07
Puff in the words of ruserious we've got a TABLE between our legs. Beats the worlds biggest force feedback joystick. fnnnr!
ruserious
22nd Apr 2006, 11:11
At least the Boeing pilots have got something between their legs, unlike.......................
Puff, I thought you were more of a man than that, if you need Mr Boeing to justify the existence of something between your legs, you are in deep trouble :}
Eliason
22nd Apr 2006, 15:26
Wshear
As for the A310 - there is 1 passenger plane and a few cargo versions. Routes vary - bet someone else is able to tell you more...
I for one would prefer the A310 :D - I like old "small" planes :} (well, in the EK fleet it is the smallest)
There aren't many airlines where you get a chance to fly cargo and pax both!
As for table or no... I'd be just happy about an opening side window! :{
ZigZagZog
22nd Apr 2006, 16:28
310Pax (1 aircraft - left over from the good old days:D )
Alexandria, Kuwait & Muscat turnarounds only.
310F (3 aircraft - recent acquisitions & conversions - ex Aeroflot birds.)
A whole variety of short and medium haul routes, schedule not really bedded in so it seems and keeps changing:confused: . Lots of regional turnarounds to India, Pakistan, Istanbul, Khartoum. Quite a few East African frequencies LLW,EBB,Eldoret), all with a night stop in Nairobi. Just started some European routes to Vienna, Zurich and Milan - night stopping, but quite a bit of deadheading between these points. Occasional charters to various places including some long haul stuff to USA with horses belonging to HH.
Roster faces same problems as rest of EK - ie they change a lot and you work hard for you money:\ ... even though there is a pax aircraft, you don't really get to mix with the girls - not a problem for many....in more ways that one.:ok:
Sporty 'little' aircraft, but getting on a bit now....:)
At first there was no chance to get off the fleet to the big stuff (ie A310 or nothing:eek: ), but now a policy in place to allow it after a few years subject to qualification:hmm: .
That covers the A310 in EK.
Hope this helps you.;)
ZZZ