Middle East, Australian base.
 

So a couple of days ago I was contacted by a recruiting department on behalf of a well known Middle Eastern carrier, by telephone, Conversation was reference a COVID times CV that I sent off and I thought it interesting that reference was made to the very likely possibility of an Australian base. I’m employed outside of flying these days so I cut the call short and continued preparing flowers in our florist store. The afternoon rolled by and I got to thinking……

Anyone get a call like this? Was it a prank?

ps.The 14th is only around the corner, don’t forget the flowers😀

Don’t be shy, which Company?

You should be in Marketing, that was the best advertisement for a Florist that I’ve seen lately. Excellent work😉👍🌹.

Rumours that it could be Emirates, a base would be an option similar to Cathay years ago. Reverse rostering could work as well with trips starting and ending in Australia and a hotel room provided in Dubai.

If it’s true and does happen, in my opinion it’ll be the catalyst to finally tip the pilot shortage over the edge of the cliff here in Australia. Here’s hoping

Have heard the same, interesting.

It appears to be very true. “Sooner rather than later” seems to be the feeling.
Have spoken with 2 colleagues now working in the UAE and there is much excitement among the expatriate community with prospects of returning home.
Big plans apparently with several bases outside of UAE, Aus the largest.
Exciting times.💪💪

It would go against every previous ME carrier hiring policy. Even if this did become a reality I would imagine first choice for Australian bases would be given to already employed pilots.

Are the hiring policies currently providing enough crew?

Wouldnt that reduce the efficacy of the policy? Ie why fill it up with pilots you already have access to if your goal is to get more pilots flying your metal? I think a more likely strategy would be to drip feed the ME based Ausi’s home at juuuuust the right rate to keep them onboard while still attracting Rex, Bonza, Jetstar and Virgin pilots to join up. I’d say two newbies for every Australian who moves back from the desert.
I suspect this is driven by the competition for ME pilots with RX starting up. They have 39 787’s on order and I doubt they’ll be short of cash.

Of what calibre is probably the question to ask.

It will put VA and JQ under enormous pressure if they seriously recruit domestically.

It's a considerable benefit to the airline as well, no more housing, school fees and medical coverage. Just a hotel room when passing through. Crew turnover will plummet and they will attract people who weren't willing to live in the desert full time.

No doubt about that at all. Its just lucky that the corporate types at our main Airlines have made a concerted effort post-Covid to ensure all their pilots feel valued and reap the benefits of the incredible demand for air travel that has seen ticket prices soar. If they had continued on as if the market for pilots hadn’t changed they would really struggle in 2025 to maintain their schedules let alone enact their plans to increase market-share through expansion. Phew!

As long as they think carefully about Australian Long Service Leave entitlements, which will accrue from the date you joined your ME airline (even if they set up a separate company for based crew) - Cathay got badly bitten by this when setting up Australian bases.

gold.

Sir please refrain from exhausting the full month's supply of sarcasm in one post. Leave some for the rest of us. :D

Yeah. The point I was making was that, sensible organisations that they are, they will only maintain their stance against commuting until they have to start parking aeroplanes. Sadly that level of pragmatism doesn’t seem to exist amongst Australian employers

I’m sure the ATO will welcome this initiative….

Check the definition of an Australian tax resident before making a decision to base in Australia, as the tax free salary may in fact be taxed at nearly 50% :}

I was just about to say the same thing.

I have a good mate who was working in tech field in the US and was able to head the expansion back here to move home.
He outsourced all the HR stuff and employment stuff at the start to just focus on the tech side. Soon after he gets an irate call from the American boss ranting about “they get 4 weeks leave in Oz that’s insane and what’s this f$&@#% long service leave crap, tell me it’s a joke!”