Fast track Command on 777/380 @ EK for narrow body capts

[Flyboy_SG]

They want to hire narrow body capts with no WB experience to fill their left seats ?
Just wondering what’s cooking.

[Pilot12345678]

I wonder if someone flying a narrow body as capt would accept to fly as a f/o from the right seat . Not really what I would think of

[fatbus]

WB experience is highly overrated. Depending on a guys NB background he will do just fine.

[Wizofoz]

They hired THIS NB Captain as a WB Captain- 18 months later I was training.

There are challenges and differences in long-haul v short haul- but an aeroplane is an aeroplane.

[hunterboy]

As with most things in life...it’s being in the right place at the right time. Let’s face it, nobody is born a sky god.

[J.L.Seagull]

Any externally available reference to that? Or is this an internal memo/rumour?

[APU_inop]

It says after fulfilling those requirements, you are eligible for an upgrade. How many more years it's going to take is not clear.

[Monarch Man]

It’s laughable really, The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. One person saying limited opportunities, the next person saying “join us!” and a quick command awaits!
So as ever, smoke, mirrors and camel dung, caveat emptor as always chaps and remember we value your fuel saving (bonus increasing) efforts.

[FlightDetent]

BTW what is their definition of NB?

[Kamelchaser]

Anybody who gives up a NB command to join EK in the RHS on THAT promise would have to be completely nuts.

[Old King Coal]

NB vs WB?!... what a crock of proverbial ****... wherein, like most of us on here, I have done my time in both and, imho, once you're up in the drivers seat you've got stuff-all idea about how much aeroplane is behind you, be that NB or WB... but for keeping the fun in flying I'll take the BBJ to wacky little out of the way airports option every time!

But, much as the other sage heads on here are saying... caveat emptor with anything said or offered by the likes of EK wrt 'an early command'.

[fatbus]

The biggest challenge for the NB pilot is being able to walk down one isle and up the other, I would hope that could be trained !!!!

[nolimitholdem]

It's a bit weird how defensive former NB pilots are, considering no one is attacking them whatsoever.

From what I see it was just a question asking if EK is taking them as DEC's.

But I certainly wouldn't leave the left seat of anything for a ME promise of anything.

[Wizofoz]

When I joined as a DEC, they were ALSO employing on a "fast track" command scheme- supposedly 6 months on line and then into the command process.

AFTER several guys had joined on that basis, they changed the upgrade criteria- meaning some of them had to wait as much as five years for a command.

Join EK with the clear knowledge that the letter of the contract is all you are guaranteed- anything else is subject to change.

[Kamelchaser]

A friend of a friend (Capt from an unmentionable airline) applied for DEC, got the offer of FO, rejected the offer (rightly so!), then was quickly offered DEC..supposedly a "misunderstanding from management". Take from that what you will. Total shambles.

Not sure if he is NB or WB.

[Emma Royds]

Commands on the Boeing will be slowing down significantly due to a net reduction in the fleet size. For those considering joining for a 'fast track' command on the Boeing, make of that what you will.

[Alloy]

It was only two years ago, after the 777 crash, that A330 skippers were forced to go RHS on the 380, some of them included recent DECs from NBs.

[aussiefarmer]

As I mentioned on another thread, this brings a very interesting scenario to the upgrade numbers.

Fleet stagnation means commands only become available due to attrition, which at 5% is just over 60 spots per year per each of the 2 fleets.

Join at the back of a 1200 FO seniority list in your fleet and...

Then again, EK might completely disregard seniority as they have done before and prioritise these "accelerated command" candidates,.... but that will open another pandora box with dozens of senior guys waiting too...

Remember "current upgrade times don't guarantee future upgrade times" and saving on FO salary particularly when you have a family is very difficult if not impossible. To struggle financially in Dubai I rather struggle financially back home.