abudhabidaz
26th Jun 2008, 13:52
For all those thinking of joining an Abu Dhabi based Line Maintenance Department, (im sure you can work out who im talking about), i have been in Abu Dhabi for 4 months, nice enuff place, tho things do seem to be run a lil different to the norm as compared to australia.
For example, for those engineers thinking about joining, please take my experience and think long and hard. After leaving my country and travelling half way across the world for a "7 Star Airline" (see i havent lost my sense of humour), the real deal is as follows, you will be working for an MRO, not an airline as im sure most of you will be told, the price of accomodation will be at LEAST double what you will be told, and well above the allowance you will be given. Now the shift will be 4 on 4 off, PLUS COMPULSARY OVERTIME and COMPULSARY FLYING ENGINEER, as i was told this morning from HR, if its 'rostered' into the roster then you WILL work it!! , as it is now part of yr roster!!!!. Which is ok, because they will give you time in lieu for it, (so u will be given time off for the time you were supposed to get off anyway??? SOUNDS GOOD HUH!!!)
let me put it into perspective for alot of the guys working there, they do their 4 on, the 4 off is mostly broken down as follows:1st day off..go to sleep as u finish at 6am on yr first day off, second day off there is need for a support shift, (overtime, day or nightshift depending on requirements), third day off you may be needed for flying engineer(worst case scenario could be a flight to bombay, 18 hrs return), fourth day, more sleeping so yr right to go back to work the following day. Now im fair, this didnt happen to me, but plenty of other guys who have worked there longer than me this seems to be the normal routine, again being fair, im not sure how often this happens to them.
Now for overtime u get time in luie, time off for the extra hrs u worked, but u were due that time off the first place, so yr actually given the time off you earnt allready.
Flying engineer, you are given time in luei and a one off payment off approx 450 dirhams!!! This is the payment no matter where u fly to. BARGAIN!!!
And if you dont want to do these extra hours, you have a choice, like i found out this morning,
A: you do the hrs on yr roster, whatever the hrs are! or...
B: you refuse to do extra hours and flying engineer work and you get the sack!!!
One thing finally is clear......i now know who i dont work for!!!!:ugh:
Sadly, i was looking fwd to my time in the middle east, to all the guys currently here and new guys joining. I wish you all the best, Just be very wary of what you are told at an interview, and what actually is the case once you arrive!!
ENJOY!!!
Daz
For example, for those engineers thinking about joining, please take my experience and think long and hard. After leaving my country and travelling half way across the world for a "7 Star Airline" (see i havent lost my sense of humour), the real deal is as follows, you will be working for an MRO, not an airline as im sure most of you will be told, the price of accomodation will be at LEAST double what you will be told, and well above the allowance you will be given. Now the shift will be 4 on 4 off, PLUS COMPULSARY OVERTIME and COMPULSARY FLYING ENGINEER, as i was told this morning from HR, if its 'rostered' into the roster then you WILL work it!! , as it is now part of yr roster!!!!. Which is ok, because they will give you time in lieu for it, (so u will be given time off for the time you were supposed to get off anyway??? SOUNDS GOOD HUH!!!)
let me put it into perspective for alot of the guys working there, they do their 4 on, the 4 off is mostly broken down as follows:1st day off..go to sleep as u finish at 6am on yr first day off, second day off there is need for a support shift, (overtime, day or nightshift depending on requirements), third day off you may be needed for flying engineer(worst case scenario could be a flight to bombay, 18 hrs return), fourth day, more sleeping so yr right to go back to work the following day. Now im fair, this didnt happen to me, but plenty of other guys who have worked there longer than me this seems to be the normal routine, again being fair, im not sure how often this happens to them.
Now for overtime u get time in luie, time off for the extra hrs u worked, but u were due that time off the first place, so yr actually given the time off you earnt allready.
Flying engineer, you are given time in luei and a one off payment off approx 450 dirhams!!! This is the payment no matter where u fly to. BARGAIN!!!
And if you dont want to do these extra hours, you have a choice, like i found out this morning,
A: you do the hrs on yr roster, whatever the hrs are! or...
B: you refuse to do extra hours and flying engineer work and you get the sack!!!
One thing finally is clear......i now know who i dont work for!!!!:ugh:
Sadly, i was looking fwd to my time in the middle east, to all the guys currently here and new guys joining. I wish you all the best, Just be very wary of what you are told at an interview, and what actually is the case once you arrive!!
ENJOY!!!
Daz