DOHA ATCO 2022
 

Well 10 years later since I was last there and Doha unfortunately is still doing it wrong. The QCAA is on a recruitment hunt but they've contracted an absolutely amuteur organization ENAV or Fusion as they advertise to do the hiring. Complete morons the interview was rediculous then the invite to an assessment 3 days after weeks of wondering how the interview went. Then all candidates passed the assessment but only 2 of 5 were hired by Doha. I believe there is now a conflict between the QCAA and "Fusion". No I wasn't a part of this assessment I just had the information passed to me from someone who was.

Don't waste your valuable time unless your desperate... steer clear of Doha. They've been doing it wrong for a long time and judging from their latest partnership have no hope of getting it right in the near future.Just read the Qatar posts about ATC for the last 15 years on here and decide for yourself. I can tell you I've worked here as well as other ME locations and Doha is the bottom of the barrel as an employer.

Yes if you have no other choice, come from a horrible place or are a third world controller you might consider this but all of the experienced, desired and professional controllers stay away from Qatar.

The Middle East in general is still not paying enough with any of the ANS providers to compensate for the high cost of living there and the geographic armpit of the world to live. Life is more valuable then a few tax free dollars they grab back anyways in accommodation and living expenses. .

Do you know what kind of package they were offered? Were they hired for TWR/APP or the "soon" to be opened ACC?

Duh
 

Wow I list the many reasons why you should never consider Doha and the history of this employer and yet there are always those ready to be slaves!

Yes I know the package and its better then most in the region and they have to offer that why??? Because their reputation is catching up with them and most intelligent experienced controllers just won't go near them until the money gets absurd. It's not there yet!!!

Don't worry about the package or what they are hiring for....STAY AWAY!

What exactly is the package?

Sour grapes?
 

Don't be too quick to listen to the bitter rantings of the OP. Yes there is a lot that still needs improved in Doha ATC. Nowhere is perfect and this place is certainly no exception. OP is almost certainly "misspeaking" about not being part of the recent assessment. I hear there were 5 assessed, not all passed the practical and of those that did, some were rejected due to other factors. Its no good being a great controller if nobody wants to work with you eh? He is ranting like a lunatic about how terrible this place is but was desperate to come back? I smell a rotten rat in there somewhere.
Anyone for sour grapes? I'm sure it sucks to be basically unemployable due to your reputation even though you are a perfectly capable controller.
Anyway the bottom line is there are a lot worse places to work in the world and all of them are worse paid than here.
Is it everyone's ideal destination? Definitely not. Are the QCAA the worst employer in the region? 100% no!
Do your own research. I think the money is probably the best in the world right now. A lot of that is because there is some **** to put up with. Don't listen to Doha's least favorite black sheep.

Whilst one controller may be relatively established in their career and happy with where they are, there will be others who are still climbing the ladder - getting more substantial experience and something potentially useful on their CVs - who may, quite reasonably consider a position that others would not even think about. Is it fair to disparage those who are not in such as fortunate a place as we may be? I write as someone who took some pretty dire jobs early in my career which I consider paid off in the long run (others, of course, may not agree).

Has anyone who's applied heard anything back yet?

Would appreciate any Doha controllers sending me a PM to discuss the unit/package too

Thanks

Would also appreciate to get info on the package! Thanks

FIR expanding
 

What’s the latest on QCAA grabbing a sizeable chunk of the Bahrain FIR? I guess they will be hiring for area controllers in preparation for the airspace grab.
will it happen before the World Cup?

Would any current Doha ATCO mind messaging me on here? I’m trying to find out some more details about the current state of things.
Thanks!

Any news or possibility of short term contracts for the World Cup?

I've heard that the DOH package is 60,000 QAR a month plus accommodation.

BAH is around 4500 BHD I think, with school fees for two kids but no accommodation.

MCT (3500 OMR) has lost several expat staff to BAH with more heading there soon, if salaries don't change.

Sad to see good friends leaving, but salaries have been reduced and business being business, folks are voting with their feet.

That being said, lifestyle-wise, I'd still choose MCT any day.

I hope u missed a zero, otherwise this is modern day slavery :)

Ah yes! 🤣 now corrected!

I sent an email to Bahrain and was advised that they weren't hiring right now?

Is MCT Muscat? I'd be interested in working there but I heard they were hiring either?

BAH just hired 4, very short staffed, no predictability in the roster, no notice changes.
However, once Doha take over a sizeable chunk of the Bahrain FIR job security becomes a real issue. Last contract included 5% salary reduction post covid. Current contract expires 2023.

Any news from Qatar? Did anyone get a reply on latest job ad from Fusion Technology?

Well chaps and chappettes,
Interesting reading and a few interesting facts…….but isn’t there always 2 sides to every story??
I wouldn’t normally take an interest in politics and gossip, and I’d also like to point out I have NEVER posted on here before! however as this seems to have gotten personal and unprofessional I feel I should interject .

FACT…….I have worked in Doha, with some genuinely nice , capable people both local and expat , it was and I’m sure still is an exciting and challenging place to work.

FACT……like everywhere it’s not perfect, but had and still does have the potential to be great , if personal opinions, gossip and unfounded speculation were put aside for the sake of protecting people and the countries reputation…….and a robust recruitment strategy…..based on FACT….put in place…..are you qualified, YES have you passed the assessment, YES , can you do the job YES ……..it’s highly unprofessional for someone to suggest that a person is unemployable due to hearsay, gossip and conjecture……there will ALWAYS be differences of opinion within organisations and individuals.
Unlike the present , where false promises, inaccurate timeframes, and most astonishing of all ……(although Fusion and ENAV have been subcontracted to recruit) and by the posters own admission , ‘ people are NOT recruited on ability first’ the ultimate decision still seems to rest with 1 or 2 individuals , with little or NO radar experience, who have been entrusted to deem suitability on behalf of the QCAA……based on hearsay, gossip and unfounded conjecture…..rather than safety ,ability and FACT!

FACT……it is tipped to be the one of the busiest airports in the world for the the World Cup period, with traffic projections like nothing seen before……quote from a representative at the selection process
“ the current staffing situation is at crisis point….we need YOU yesterday…..without you and others like you the system and colleagues are F****D …..and it’s not IF….but WHEN safety will be compromised!! “. ..unfortunately the recruiting process to date seems to be fundamentally flawed, putting not only work colleagues at great risk but also the reputation and public face of QATAR…….the eyes of the world WILL be on you!

Maybe I’m wrong, but surely the common sense and SAFE approach would be to put aside personal opinions/ differences ……and trust the FACTS
1… Are you Qualified…..YES
2….Have you passed the assessment. YES
3….Can you do the job. YES

Get these people in on a temporary contract……call it a probation/ suitability period….and make up your own opinions based on personal experience NOT gossip or hearsay!
After all……this is NO Joke…..it’s not a game! It’s the personal welfare of the current staff, the safety of the operation and THE REPUTATION of QATAR that are at stake…..

So put any personal opinions , gossip and hearsay…..back in the box for a while, do the decent , right and safe thing for QATAR and your colleagues and recruit on FACTS !

THE EYES of THE WORLD WILL be watching!!

YES! FACTS! Wholeheartedly agree with you!

Although I think people will show up here again, to defend the couple incapable people who make decisions based on…yeah based on what?

Why ask people to apply if you are not going to take them anyway. (Mind you I was ASKED!!! to apply)
And then basically end up hearing nothing from
Fusion (although all 5 who came in for the
assessment were told they passed the
assessment) for over a month now.
Meanwhile the rumors are only two out of the five are hired.

Who hired those amateur recruiters? In what
world is this professional behavior?

Many Accurate Thoughts
 

As the person who originated the thread I want to acknowledge many good, ACCURATE, and valids points by ATCPino and Oakley.

Yes controllers will head there again, money and employment have that effect.

Personal opinions when accompanied with a high degree of accuracy is what this platform is all about. So asking to remove opinions really isn't practical. I started this thread with historical accuracy as well as experience as they relate to Doha and the QCAA. Again I encourage searches of Doha threads over the past 10-15 years.

What is also so absolutely accurate is Doha has always had a poster child or two whom is grateful the QCAA gave them a chance and opportunity at employment as they were not employable at most other ANS providers. It seems Bitter n Twisted has picked up where Curtis and a couple of others left off after years of defending the QCAA. You won't find them so proud of Doha any longer and Twisted will find themselves in the same position at some point.

This new recruiter is very disorganized and unprofessional. In the first couple of weeks they replaced their administrator of the Doha project with another incompetent lead (many of us know him from other locations). While I agree Fusion is in a no-win situation dealing with a couple of complete morons in Doha Fusion needs to assert themselves or walk away. While Serco has some faults they would never continue a recruitment agreement with a non-professional organization like Doha hence their departure from Doha in 2014.

Facts for "Twisted post"
5 ATCO's attended the assessment, all 5 passed. Confirmed by Fusion. Then Doha morons got involved and said they only wanted 2 of 5 ATCO's that passed and also disqualified a few other qualified, experienced ATCO's slated for next rounds of assessments. Now they are forced to offer ATCO's who have no Approach experience assessment rides, ATCO's with little high density experience.. They are calling around to foreign agencies asking about any controllers recently retired, close to retiring etc.. YES they are desperate, their actions continue to reinforce this.

Yes Doha has the potential to be great. I too have worked here and I had hoped the new contact would prove to be encouraging that Doha had indeed changed. I really wanted to believe I might join an improved and wonderful place. We have all made great friends at ME locations and Doha was no exception but nearly all of us are always pushed away for a number of reasons no matter how much we appreciate the friendships.

Oakley's comments that highlight the important aspect of flight safety is spot on mate. While opinions and personal experiences are enlightening the most serious consequence of this condition in Doha is being led or influenced by some unqualified morons which has always kept Doha dangerously close to a tragic consequence. The replacement of Curtis by a fella (ATCO) from Portugal and another sidekick who have absolutely zero ability to do the job and even less ability to determine whom are the better ATCO solutions for new hires at Doha.

If the QCAA wants to be a responsible provider of Air Navigation Services it should remove itself and its minions and underlings from all hiring and employment at Doha. Let an experienced and reputable (not Fusion) organization come in and staff this operation and run it like a professional provider should. In other words Doha and QCAA get out of the ANS business.