View Full Version : New 'ab-initio' vacancy with Gulf Air
Gulf Air have reintroduced a vacancy for low hours, non type rated pilots. They call it their "Abintio vacancy"
Gulf Air - Vacancy Description (http://www.gulfaircareers.com/careers/gulfair/VacancyDetail.aspx?VacancyId=11340)
They seem to have laxed some of their requirements. The most notable one being that non-Bahrainis it seems are eligible to apply and be type rated by the company! That's a first! This programme used to be under their nationalization scheme for many years and there was a clear stipulation that it was only open to Omani/Bahraini nationals (recently only Bahrainis).
They've also increased the maximum age from 35 to 40 years of age and they have dropped a specified minimum age too - used to be 19.
In exchange for the type rating, you'll be bonded to the airline for two years which sounds pretty good to be honest.. (on reduced pay ofcourse).
Panama Jack
3rd Jul 2008, 13:26
Sounds like United Airlines' minimums a few years ago. Why not get as many applicants as possible and look at the whole picture? Doesn't mean thought that they will be hiring guys with 200 hours necessarily-- they might get a guy with 800 hours total time with the last 500 on Boeing 737's-- still a good applicant IMHO.
Doesn't mean thought that they will be hiring guys with 200 hours necessarily
True, but we won't know until later on. Most significant thing is that they have opened the scheme to everyone. Traditionally they used to be quite discriminatory with their low hours "ab initio" vacancies. They made it very clear in bold red writing that only Bahraini nationals were eligible to apply.
dubble_dubble
3rd Jul 2008, 16:23
Anybody know if thier cadet program (for candidates starting from zero hours zero training etc) will ever go online again?
Thanks.
i think its for Bahraini Nationals because it is in National program section.
i think its for Bahraini Nationals
Think again! It's not. It's open to everyone. The nationality requirement was REMOVED!
Anybody know if thier cadet program (for candidates starting from zero hours zero training etc) will ever go online again?
I'm doubtful they will after their royal mess up with their last public/official sponsorship scheme - however I have heard rumours (yes only rumours) that they have sponsored individuals "unofficialy" behind closed doors.
ok lets think what it is but hopefully they hire all the 15 Bahraini nationals who are waiting for more than a year. Good luck to everyone who applies.
Panama Jack
3rd Jul 2008, 19:07
Well, before this goes down the nasty route of a nationality pissing match, allow me to say good luck to all, and may those who deserve the job (due to aptitude and skills) get it. With the amount of recruiting forecast, should be plenty of oportunity.
This is from the website:
"Ab-Initio Pilots
The programme covers type rating training for owner state nationals who already have a Pilot's licence. When the course is complete the Pilots enter employment as Second Officers.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, the following criteria must be met:
Be a national of Kingdom Of Bahrain
Be between 19 and 35 years of age
Be a high school graduate (science stream)Additional requirements exist. For more details, refer to current positions."
n92ec,
Thats a STATIC page from their 'Our Process' links... but like it says on the bottom of that very same page you pasted - For more details, refer to current positions. Once you do so - low and behold, you'll find a list of current vacancies, one of which is ab-initio pilot (http://www.gulfaircareers.com/careers/gulfair/VacancyDetail.aspx?VacancyId=11340) . It is the prerequisites on THAT page that need to be met.
Immigrant
3rd Jul 2008, 21:14
I am just curious, whay in section "Pilot Training Programmes" and "Direct Entry" as well, stated::ugh:
=================
Current Positions
(There are no vacancies at the moment)
Didn't know navigating through GF's careers website would be so much of a struggle!
hjmemon
4th Jul 2008, 10:13
well, this job is listed under their national programme. Under that you find Ab-initio, inwhich it is mentioned about being a Bahrain National. When click on the link at bottom for further details, it doesnt say anything about the nationality. But i do have feeling that it is for nationals only. Anyways I have applied in it and waiting for any response. Lets keep up the hopes.
TC
Che Guevara
4th Jul 2008, 12:44
Usually the ab-initio program runs for nationals etc. Direct entry F/Os require a fair bit more experience.
Chao
its for nationals and first degree relative of Gulf air staff, this is whats mentioned when applying. Good luck guys
TZZ, It's open to everyone.
As you can see from the new vacancy page (http://www.gulfaircareers.com/careers/gulfair/VacancyDetail.aspx?VacancyId=11340) , the nationality requirement (which used to always be there by default) was manually removed.
:ok:
hjmemon
4th Jul 2008, 18:30
Well .AERO, I am not criticising anything and I really do hope and pray that the nationality restriction is removed, but do you have any confirmed inside info on this issue, besides no nationality mentioned on the link that you have provided.
BTW thanks for letting us know about it anyways.
Rhodes13
4th Jul 2008, 19:12
.Aero I think you may be missing the point slightly. In the far left you have to click the link for National Programme and then click the link that takes you to the ab-initio section.
So it would be fairly logical that you have be a national. Even if it doesn't say it on the page that you refer to you still have to refer to the first part which says it in big ass red lettering.
Sorry to burst the bubble boys! Keep plugging away though!
Yes I'm quite aware of that. Like I said, historically the scheme was only available to the nationals of the UAE/Oman/Bahrain... which later dwindled down to Bahrainis only.
On their sniperhire ATS system, once a profile is created it remains the same unless it it manually changed. This means when they want to start recruiting Cabin Crew for example, they don't need to create a new profile from scratch.
The 'ab initio' vacancy page (when it does become a vacancy) used to have bold text at the bottom saying it was open to Bahraini nationals only - and it would not accept your application if you selected another country. This has been removed manually!
A friend of mine in the USA has just applied and his application went through with no problems. The system never rejected it based on the nationality field! :ok:
john321
6th Jul 2008, 06:43
i got a rejection letter from gulf air for the ab-initio and dont even know why?
ive got masters degree and a canadian cpl.
any body have thier phone number?
thanks
john
peefactor
6th Jul 2008, 06:53
I just received a rejection notice as well...however, I wasn't even finished with my application! I thought it could be submitted once I had fully entered all the details...I didn't even get to upload my CV.
Alright then...looks like I'll have to build a couple thousand hours and try again in a few years for a direct entry f/o position:-p
Good luck to everyone else.
Its a National programme. Thats the reason you guys got rejected.
peefactor
6th Jul 2008, 07:54
I think you're right. There was some confusion initially, because when you look on the right side of Gulf Air's Careers page, under 'vacancies' you can access the Ab-Initio page right away and it does not list any nationality requirements. But if you navigate to that section from the left side of the page, you have to access it under the 'Gulf National' programs.
jet_air
6th Jul 2008, 08:06
Ok here s the answer.. This is an National Program and is not meant for other nationals so plz do waste time in filling the application also feel free to apply for direct entry vacancies- Gulf Air HR(over the phone).:}
taffik
6th Jul 2008, 21:01
Does anybody know who I should address my cover letter to at GA in the Pilot Recruiting office? Appreciate any info
Sultan85
7th Jul 2008, 14:07
Hello to every one
I think it's for nationals only as I have cheeked with a direct related person how works in HR:oh:.any way, the interview is planed to be in august and this time it looks series.
Good luck to all.:ok:
cadet_hani
7th Jul 2008, 15:09
ITS FOR NATIONAL just got rejection letter!
sameraindrop
8th Jul 2008, 02:33
got the PFO aswell
It seems that Gulf Air have finally realized their little screw up with leaving out a vitally important piece of information on their ab-intio vacancy page that only Bahrainis (god bless them) are eligible to apply.
They've now edited their vacancy page to reflect this - which I was saying all along from the start - It wasn't there to begin with!
The people we are looking for are::
Bahraini National;
Less than 41 years of age;
Good luck to all you budding red passport holders! :ok:
Time to close this thread.