Gulf Air and FAA rated pilots

[saviboy]

Hello,
somebody told me that Gulf Air was not very fond of FAA rated pilots and consequently, would interview every other pilots before any FAA pilots.
any truth to that?

[.Aero]

Hmm.. I don't think that's strictly true. They've got a handful of FAA & Transport Canada licensed pilots flying for them.

You'll ultimately have your licences & ratings converted into a Bahrain CAA issued licence. Form for you to have a look at available here (http://www.caa.gov.bh/pdf/forms/AERONAUTICALLICENSING/LICENSING/Application%20for%20Pilot%20Licence%20and,or%20Ratings.pdf) [PDF 1.06MB]

[ironbutt57]

They cannot accept the commercial licence, however the ATP with a type rating is acceptable as far as I recall..not sure what GF's recruiting preferences are though...

[Joe Monsoon]

GF does not accept Faa Cos of BAH CAA is not very fond of FAA thats FACT:eek:

[Lovesickguy]

I used to be a ''very senior'' person at a Bahrian Aviation co and I'm american.... FAA rated of course...
the last comment by Joe about the CAA there disliking the FAA rated pilots is totally incorrect and BS to be very blunt...!! sorry Mr. Monson.. Trust me GF DOES hire FAA rated pilots it's just that it's a ''club'' there run by non americans so you may not fit into the corporate culture there AND who the $#&% WANTS TO ANYWAY???

it's all very UK, Austrialian, NZ, AND Indians there, as they're cheap labor (read: Slave!! and who incendintly get treated like **** !!) Tea pot calling the bloody kettle black!!

In fact, in BAH there aren't too many US pilots as they find they that to succeed they have to be ''One of the good ol' bloody boys''.... VERY INCENTIOUS TO BE SURE !!! VERY !!! so they move on like I did...
Try Saudi Arabia's NAS that's more ''user friendly'' better pay/conditions and lot's of time off !! for us non incestious types like myself... Lol !!

Not to worry... there are a lot of ''other great folks out there'' to work for anyway... don't give a **** about GF my friend... Good luck ...
LSG

[40&80]

Lovesickguy.... I love you....But you sound a bit undecided...are you sure you can make a command decision and stick to it?...
Hopefully you Americans will eventually cut the BS and get real and actually bomb Iran before we Brits send over our restored Victor and do it for you! That is if we can afford to fuel it and then it holds together long enough for us to find Iran.

[Lovesickguy]

40&80 Thanks for loving me. I love ya too buddy !! I'm not undecided just didn't like BAH too much to be sure..as far as Iran is concerned... Where did that come come 40&80 ?? don't forget you Brits were the colonials once upon a time...... A LONG TIME AGO.. so you must know if you're from the UK.. no we US folks do have our problems then you got Gordon Brown to take up the slack?? ... after all the UK is the 51st state of the USA isn't it??? Hey let's not go there old chap !!

Enjoy the day / night and don't forget to breath deeply !! LSG... Peace be up ya !!

[ironbutt57]

Gee wz...I didnt know I am "one of the good old bloody boys" (whatever that means:confused:) just show up and do what's on my roster and go home...anyway, like I said, not sure of what GF's hiring preferences are..they have in the past, been burned by several North Americans getting rated, the hours then moving to other carriers, or taking recall back home, so maybe they have a bad taste in their mouth over the whole deal..

[411A]

Well, I don't work for GF, but I did work for the old L10 fleet manager (John Ross) at another company, and I can say that wherever the Brits are, especially if they have worked their way into management, sometimes tend to look down their collective noses at the FAA license...on the other hand, when these Brits went to work for SaudiArabian, they had to get FAA licenses, and many didn't like it one darn bit...especially as some failed the type checkride.
You see, the FAA does not have an 'old boys network'...you either measure up with your flying, or you are sent packing.
By the way, John Ross was a class act...really nice guy.

[ironbutt57]

The knowledge base required for the FAA ATP is practical, but minimal...the "continuing education" begins when one signs on to an airline and attends their training course. At the end of the day I've noticed that one's ability to complete training had nothing to do with where they obtained their licence, but more as to how they applied themselves during their training..seen good and bad with all sorts of licences...but the licence issue is quite often used as an excuse by those with other axes to grind..anyway just means more pilots for EK, EY, and every other carrier over here...

[Lovesickguy]

Well said Ironbutt57 and 411A ! you both are absolutely right!! couldn't agree more... Indeed, I've flown with ''really lousy'' and really great pilots from ''all over the world'' Hey... I even did a check ride for a Chinese guy with minimum time who was just fantastic... and he could hardly speake English !!
Indeed, where you got your license is NO grantee that you're great... Except for some ''European pilots'' who think ''their guys are the best in the world !!" RIGHT !!! NOT !! :=

Your attitude 411A is right on the money... "Know your stuff, just come, do your job, take the money and go home!" if they hire you... fine.. if not, Fine !! that's how I am anyway...
LSG..

[latetonite]

411A and Ironbutt57 (where you get that name from), you are right on the numbers. I have gone through FAA and JAA licensing in my career, and met many pilots. I would not dare to say who is better and why. Most people who rely on their licence to be proud are indeed very poor in their mind.

[Che Guevara]

Wow, some pretty strong opinions here....

Well, here is my humble opinion for what its worth. I hold / have held both JAA and FAA licences. I have had the pleasure of flying with some fine aviators from both sides of the fence (if there is one) and have to say that a lot of what you see is a result of the individual's personal application and abilities, no matter what licence they hold. In addition, there is a great deal of ignorance and misunderstanding regarding the 'system' of training pilots and end product. IB57 alluded to the fact that the airlines in the US carry a lot of resposibility for training certain criteria to their 'new hires', whereas in Europe and other places it is different, not better, but different.

After 25++ years of flying jets, I can still safely say that the best pilot I have ever operated with was an ex US Navy pilot with guess what, yes an FAA licence!

Regarding GF policy I too can only go on heresay, however the word on the street is that they will, and have, accepted FAA ATPs with a type rating. I believe the BCAA has quite a few FAA licenced pilots on their books flying for the DHL operator (Dilmun I think it's called).

Blue side up!

[Ayla]

I have taught both JAA and FAA syllabus, both have their merits. The FAA system works extremely well if there is plenty of flying available to build hours and experience (ie regionals) prior to moving to the larger jets and obtaining ATPL. In the States there is a lot of commuter flying and it works well.

The JAA system works well for pilots joining airlines with low hours as it tries to replace the lack of experience with enhanced knowledge. This is often the case in Europe where the means to build hours are more limited.

Once established as a type rated pilot with experience it is as previously mentioned down to the individual, with good and bad from both systems.

[Joe Monsoon]

FAA licences pilots as new hires are not accepted by gf,its their policy nothing to do with where u r from! i have both caa/faa and i am not american...:ok:

[Sal-e]

Some authorities are willing to piggy-back on the strength of others, while for the others, it's a "I can pee further than you can" contest.

[40&80]

Yes sale I would agree with that....What I find interesting is these same authorities preach the importance of a SOP policy to be followed by pilots and have a totally non SOP policy when it comes to flying licences they issue to pilots.
Global Aviation Standardisation has sort of not reached their licencing departments.

[nibraska]

Gents,
I hope to have some feedback on this.
What I do understand that even if GF do not min the FAA License, other airlines in the region do really mind the FAA license.
Doesn’t all SO have to go on the same exact line training, checks, simulator tests ++++++,,or is it a JAR holder get to skip some certain stages??!!
If that is not the case, then I think it is not fare that there are airlines who dislikes the FAA License.
The FAA is cheaper, easier and friendly to obtain.
My basic knowledge is that the prerequisite is to have the CPL-IR that is to have a general view and experience of flying, which im sure the FAA license do provide that.


Cyaaa

[nibraska]

Gents,
I hope to have some feedback on this.
What I do understand that even if GF do not min the FAA License, other airlines in the region do really mind the FAA license.
Doesn’t all SO have to go on the same exact line training, checks, simulator tests ++++++,,or is it a JAR holder get to skip some certain stages??!!
If that is not the case, then I think it is not fare that there are airlines who dislikes the FAA License.
The FAA is cheaper, easier and friendly to obtain.
My basic knowledge is that the prerequisite is to have the CPL-IR that is to have a general view and experience of flying, which im sure the FAA license do provide that.


Cyaaa

[Joe Monsoon]

Mate its GF ( it means GULF AIR ) thread i think you should go back to the top and read the title sorry :confused:

[Panama Jack]

Gulf Air does not seem to have any formal position on a FAA Certificate (they don't issue "licenses") but that is just nomenclature.

In the past and present though, both DGCAM and BCAA have had issues with FAA Certificates. These issues disappeared though when the candidate had a type rating and time on a comparable sized aircraft-- if a guy came to Gulf Air with a rating and/or time on a 737 or a 727, it would not be a problem. Honestly, I don't understand the logic on this licencing issue but then again, many countries' licencing schemes suffer logical disconnects from time to time.

[.Aero]

I just found a very interesting slide which was presented by GF's VP of Training at the MPL forum in Aqaba 2 or so months ago. It's really interesting.

Download the slide as a PDF HERE (http://www.ftoholdings.com/MPLforum/presentations/Chris_Ranagathan.pdf) [541Kb - Right click, Save As]

According to the slide, all of Gulf Air's training that comes under the their AQP programme is actually the brain child of the FAA under Advisory Circular (AC 120-54). Goes onto say that the FAA assisted them with their AQP programme from day one.

A small extract from the slide:


Gulf Air’s Pilot requirements in the next 5 years

• Significant new-hire / command upgrade program required NOW !!
• 755 new pilots required (avg. 150+ per year)
• 470 new F/O’s (avg. 90+ per year)
• MPL will provide bulk of new F/O’s

[.Aero]

GF stood for Gulf Air

Sal-e, was it not Goof Air? :}