Is there hope in the Sandpit after all?

[gnadirs]

Is there hope for all of us currently flying in the Middle East?

Is there hope for all the ones looking towards coming to the sandpit, but their wives and families voted against it?

Are our managers finally waking up to smell reality! No sane minded expat really WANTS to live in the Sandpit!


A Middle Eastern Airline just started offering contracts on commuting bases via storm aviation! They aim at A320 crews so it can either be QR or EY ( Indeed, EY is looking into starting an A320 fleet, with about 20 planes on order at the moment).
It’s a 6 week on/2 weeks off contract.

It’s a start I would say….

Description
Experience:

Interested pilots must:

Have a minimum of 500 hours on type

Details:

An opportunity for experienced A320 Captains to join this airline based in the Middle East offering excellent terms:

Commutable roster- 6 WEEKS ON 2 WEEKS OFF
Return economy airfares for each rotation
Market leading salary
Secure accommodation of airline standard
Transport between accommodation and base
Medical and repatriation insurances

Interested applicants must have the following minimum requirements:

Interested applicants must have a current JAA, ICAO or FAA licence.
Must be rated and current on the A320

[loc22550]

What about the pilots currently employed by those companies....wondering if they are entitled to apply for this kind of contract.....:uhoh:

[ironbutt57]

It has been known to happen before that pilots applying to an agency were in fact already employees of the customer airline:D

[atiuta]

Could be Jazeera or Air Arabia......where do I sign?

[ramiyns]

I hope this Airline is Qatar Airways,and indeed it would be a big magnet to alot of people to stick around.
I don't think it will affect the Airline,they still fly you the max with littel extra work on the rostering part.At the end of the year they will get the 900 hours out of you.

[expat400]

Six weeks away from the family?

Guess you have to be a bachelor for that kind of commuting. If not you'll probably end up like one pretty fast...

[Albergineman]

Could it be GF? With so many pilots resigning there and with so poor package maybe they are offering something different for A320 CP.

I would not be surprised about that...

[scanscanscan]

Repatriation Medevac insurance in the event of medical problems is an interesting new perk... I think it has now been introduced because of the concerns this item caused by not being available to a GF pilot who got seriously ill and the medevac bill was to be £80,000.00.and he was not covered.
However.... as explained to me... if you have been non resident UK for 12 months you are also not covered for free NHS treatments on your return.
In this case you pay full private wack unless your medical cover continues for at least a year after your arrival in the UK and your employment termination on medical grounds from your Middle East employer.
Basically when you can nolonger hold a licence medically...your middle east employer can and has in the past terminated you according to your contract and your ongoing medical costs then become your own responsibility.
If your contract said you were London based.... and you commute six on two off to fly.... you are eligable for free NHS treatment if flown home by medevac flight to the UK......However in this situation you salery is also required to be taxed by the UK Tax man.

[smart123]

The life style of crew will improve on QR only when QR replaces the current CRM with a smart guy who has in depth knowledge of Rostering and AIMS system.

[bear11]

Has anyone actually bothered to check which airline it is, rather than use this ad to grind their own axe? I'd put money on that the job is in Saudi.

[FlyingCroc]

Nobody who has a family would sign this contract. But it will be eventually the future in the sandpit if they want people to work there. It is a start.

[Trashed Aviator]

If it was month off then month on I be gone in a flash.
Half a pilot is better than no pilot.

[loc22550]

well a lot people (have) to leave their family behind..(because of doha,boring, expensive....)..this could be a great relieve for them as well!

[Bombay HF]

I wonder if it's for EY

[Ajax]

The job's based in Riyadh, Saudi.

[411A]

Yep, it was announced some time back that SV would obtain leased in A320's for a period until new ordered acft arrive.

Could be quite a good deal, actually, for the crews concerned.

[atiuta]

Only the desperate would ever work in Saudi.

[ShockWave]

It is so very frustrating that most contracting companies try to sell this 6 on, 2 off rubish especially when it is for long haul operations. With clever rostering you could easily get maximum hours from pilots with 3 on and 2 off. With slightly less hours and less salary you could offer 2 on, 2 off or 3 on, 3 off and have no problem finding crews.

6 on, 2 off is only for crew with no family or who want to escape their family or who are desperate to find a job. There simply are not that many experienced, qualified crew who fall into that category around anymore.

If they want to entice good pilots from good jobs they need to get a lot smarter and offer reasonable conditions!

[thrust clb]

It's for Atlas Jet. Saudia leased their 320's for one year. Got offered a simcheck/interview last month but wife violently said NO!:bored:

[NZ X man]

:DIf it is the garden city of Riyadh, then it is probably Nas, they are running 320's to Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, dying for crew, mostly expats. They are possible offering that schdule to get pilots, because of the location, and the outfit. Either way, 6 weeks on two off is a suckers bet in Riyadh.

Good Luck

[B-777-3]

Its EY for sure they looking for type rated pilot for there confirm order of A320