**Pilot Shortage in the Middle East??**
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Solution to Pilot Shortage
There are a number of simple solutions to solving the pilot shortage in the Middle East:
I for one would love to move to the Midle East wth my family. I reckon it would be a great life experience. Obviously it depends where you move to in Middle East & the terms & conditions.
Now most of the carriers in ME have plenty of money, therfore they are in the position to pay pilots a lot more than what they are currently offering.
So first thing is increase salaries by 25% and offer some sort of offshore pension scheme and loyalty bonus for staying with the company.
Next offer a high quality accomodation, provided by the airline and pay for all utility bills. Also property seems to be a good business out in the ME so offer 100% mortgages to buy investment property. Most pilots like investing in property and this would be an attractive incentive.
Last but not least a STABLE ROSTER PATTERN. This can be achieved by long-haul operators too by creating a 6 0n/5 off roster.
If any of the big players like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar do te above I predict they will not have difficulty attracting high quality pilots.
Good Luck!
I for one would love to move to the Midle East wth my family. I reckon it would be a great life experience. Obviously it depends where you move to in Middle East & the terms & conditions.
Now most of the carriers in ME have plenty of money, therfore they are in the position to pay pilots a lot more than what they are currently offering.
So first thing is increase salaries by 25% and offer some sort of offshore pension scheme and loyalty bonus for staying with the company.
Next offer a high quality accomodation, provided by the airline and pay for all utility bills. Also property seems to be a good business out in the ME so offer 100% mortgages to buy investment property. Most pilots like investing in property and this would be an attractive incentive.
Last but not least a STABLE ROSTER PATTERN. This can be achieved by long-haul operators too by creating a 6 0n/5 off roster.
If any of the big players like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar do te above I predict they will not have difficulty attracting high quality pilots.
Good Luck!
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There is one way to ,manage the pilot shortage its called " flexibility"
and its not a word thats understood by draconian management that seems to dominate the region. Some want more money , some want basings , some want more time off at home base bla bla bla. The first company to offer basings will in my opinion have a huge jumpstart on the rest . I personally will be leaving the sandpit quite soon in search of a basing thats after 10 years with a company that has been batting this rumour around. There comes a time when you have to manage it yourself and not rely on what might happen. its amazing checking the job market as to just what is available .
and its not a word thats understood by draconian management that seems to dominate the region. Some want more money , some want basings , some want more time off at home base bla bla bla. The first company to offer basings will in my opinion have a huge jumpstart on the rest . I personally will be leaving the sandpit quite soon in search of a basing thats after 10 years with a company that has been batting this rumour around. There comes a time when you have to manage it yourself and not rely on what might happen. its amazing checking the job market as to just what is available .
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BBC TV program Middle East Business Report are advertising that they will be doing a story next week on how the Pilot Shortage will affect Airlines in the region
15 years ago we had same rumors of shortage in Europe, and hundreds of young boys and girls borrowed money to pay for the training, and they finally found out that there was no job for them. Some remained applying for years before getting their first job. I think we are not helping anybody with such rumors of shortage. If people like me with over 11 years of commercial experience can't easily get a job, I wonder how young unexperienced ones would do. This shortage rumor may push people to take risks they don't foresee.
In case of real shortage, people with experience should be able to get any job they like, so why so many unhappy people are complaining in the ME forum when it would be so easy for them to et a better position ?
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"...draconian management that seems to dominate the region."
You mean 'draconian management that seems to dominate THE BUSINESS'.
Obi Wan--Good plan. The suits would never go for it. They'd rather wreck the airline by canceling flights due to crew shortage rather than pay top dollar and run a smooth operation.
How do you say "morons" in Arabic? TC
You mean 'draconian management that seems to dominate THE BUSINESS'.
Obi Wan--Good plan. The suits would never go for it. They'd rather wreck the airline by canceling flights due to crew shortage rather than pay top dollar and run a smooth operation.
How do you say "morons" in Arabic? TC
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Anon: 'Pilot Shortage' is a generic term, but what pilots are we in the ME short of?
Well with respect to those still looking for work, Airlines such as EK and alike are looking for pilots with a certain amount of experience. We all know that there are other pilots who do not currently have this experience but the bar is not just set by just the company but also by insurance companies and aircraft manufacturers and one would hope, common sense (not much of which is apparent in EK).
'The Pilot Shortage' is there. It may not currently be apparent to those seeking the first or second rungs but it is being felt now and will begin to bite hard over the coming years.
Well with respect to those still looking for work, Airlines such as EK and alike are looking for pilots with a certain amount of experience. We all know that there are other pilots who do not currently have this experience but the bar is not just set by just the company but also by insurance companies and aircraft manufacturers and one would hope, common sense (not much of which is apparent in EK).
'The Pilot Shortage' is there. It may not currently be apparent to those seeking the first or second rungs but it is being felt now and will begin to bite hard over the coming years.
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BBC Middle East Business Report
Quote from BBC Reporter on this weeks Middle East Business Reportcomments are invited to be sent to this email address [email protected]
Next week we will be looking at a looming crises with more flights being flown in the region over more routes throughout the whole middle east will there be enough pilots to fly the planes?
SHOWING TIMES
Saturdays at 0530 GMT
Repeated: Saturdays at 1030, 1730 (South Asia & Middle East only) and 2230 GMT View Local viewing times here
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Sip and Anonmouse, the problem is that you expect a job on a jet. With turbine experience and the right to work there are millions of turbine jobs. Not that you could not step into a jet and fly it well - since anyone on a jet can tell you iot is easier than an advanced turboprop - but the applications from pilots with jet time is high. Those are the people you are competing against.
There is NO shortage of pilots with less than 3000 hours on turbo props- though even that is changing. The shortage is with experienced pilots with jet time and left seat jet time.
If you ant work in Europe then YES you need a JAA licence. Expecting any company to hire you without it makes no sense!!!
Finally, if I was charge of hiring at EK or any of the other airlines I would be targeting higher time turboprop captains. A guy in the left seat of, say a Dash 8, with 5000+ total and 2000+ command on it would be a gerat candidate. Flying in NA or Europe in the weather and ATC etc etc and he would have no difficulty transitioning to a jet. 3-5 years later he would have no difficulty with the command upgrade (already has subtantial command experience) and now with jet experience.
There is NO shortage of pilots with less than 3000 hours on turbo props- though even that is changing. The shortage is with experienced pilots with jet time and left seat jet time.
If you ant work in Europe then YES you need a JAA licence. Expecting any company to hire you without it makes no sense!!!
Finally, if I was charge of hiring at EK or any of the other airlines I would be targeting higher time turboprop captains. A guy in the left seat of, say a Dash 8, with 5000+ total and 2000+ command on it would be a gerat candidate. Flying in NA or Europe in the weather and ATC etc etc and he would have no difficulty transitioning to a jet. 3-5 years later he would have no difficulty with the command upgrade (already has subtantial command experience) and now with jet experience.
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Trader..""Expecting any (european)company to hire you without it(jar licence) makes non sense...""
Not really convinced by your statement: if so how do you explain that Ryanair has recruited a lot of people from south America without JAR licence...?
Not really convinced by your statement: if so how do you explain that Ryanair has recruited a lot of people from south America without JAR licence...?
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Ms Hamdan88
Since 'Capt' Alan Stealey is quoted in the aforementioned article an' he's the boss, well now why'd ya wanna hear from a bunch of us old line drivers?
Don't tell me yer cynical about what ya' read in the press! It was printed - it must be true!
Ya started with a good question an' got yerself a bunch of bleatin' about terms 'n conditions of service over here in the sandbox - I dunno if that's really answering yer question is it? But if ya spent enough time readin' through this web/blog thingy ya'd find some interestin' stuff 'bout the state of tha pilot mindset here in the GCC.
Basically the good days 'r gone. The profession is in decline globally, pilots usually come to the door with debt from the trainin' they paid fer, and are willin' to work for little to start with hopin' to gain increases as the years go by. Emirates (the carrier whom I work fer) has been able to capitalize nicely over the last many years by hirin' guys 'n gals from failed carriers. This kept the standard high, an' EK has the safety record ta show fer it. That's changin' a bit now.
I haven't seen any numbers yet that tell there's a pilot shortage at the moment. But I reckon' it's comin'.
Pay 'n conditions aren't keepin' up to the rate of inflation. Although paid reasonably well enough by local standards, the local currency ain't worth what it used ta be and that's makin' life hard in my home country. It ain't worth the expat sacrifice anymore. As soon as I can get it organized I'm leavin'. That ain't too far away.
When a small man casts a long shadow - it's pretty near sundown.
Adios 'n good luck with yer interview stuff. I reckon' I didn't actually contribute much, I'm gettin' a bit old 'n grumbly. Time to move on down the line.
Happy contrails!
k-o-t-s
Since 'Capt' Alan Stealey is quoted in the aforementioned article an' he's the boss, well now why'd ya wanna hear from a bunch of us old line drivers?
Don't tell me yer cynical about what ya' read in the press! It was printed - it must be true!
Ya started with a good question an' got yerself a bunch of bleatin' about terms 'n conditions of service over here in the sandbox - I dunno if that's really answering yer question is it? But if ya spent enough time readin' through this web/blog thingy ya'd find some interestin' stuff 'bout the state of tha pilot mindset here in the GCC.
Basically the good days 'r gone. The profession is in decline globally, pilots usually come to the door with debt from the trainin' they paid fer, and are willin' to work for little to start with hopin' to gain increases as the years go by. Emirates (the carrier whom I work fer) has been able to capitalize nicely over the last many years by hirin' guys 'n gals from failed carriers. This kept the standard high, an' EK has the safety record ta show fer it. That's changin' a bit now.
I haven't seen any numbers yet that tell there's a pilot shortage at the moment. But I reckon' it's comin'.
Pay 'n conditions aren't keepin' up to the rate of inflation. Although paid reasonably well enough by local standards, the local currency ain't worth what it used ta be and that's makin' life hard in my home country. It ain't worth the expat sacrifice anymore. As soon as I can get it organized I'm leavin'. That ain't too far away.
When a small man casts a long shadow - it's pretty near sundown.
Adios 'n good luck with yer interview stuff. I reckon' I didn't actually contribute much, I'm gettin' a bit old 'n grumbly. Time to move on down the line.
Happy contrails!
k-o-t-s
Not really convinced by your statement: if so how do you explain that Ryanair has recruited a lot of people from south America without JAR licence...?
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the bar is not just set by just the company but also by insurance companies and aircraft manufacturers and one would hope, common sense (not much of which is apparent in EK).
The word shortage has a very clear meaning. It means there would be less pilots than available positions, which is totally untrue. It's simply more difficult to find specific profiles such as DECs or instructors, but if you search well, you can find them. In the past it was difficult to find a job, now it will become easier for some of us, but "pilots shortage" is totally unadapted.
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If you ant work in Europe then YES you need a JAA licence. Expecting any company to hire you without it makes no sense!!!
Finally, if I was charge of hiring at EK or any of the other airlines I would be targeting higher time turboprop captains. A guy in the left seat of, say a Dash 8, with 5000+ total and 2000+ command on it would be a gerat candidate. Flying in NA or Europe in the weather and ATC etc etc and he would have no difficulty transitioning to a jet. 3-5 years later he would have no difficulty with the command upgrade (already has subtantial command experience) and now with jet experience.
Finally, if I was charge of hiring at EK or any of the other airlines I would be targeting higher time turboprop captains. A guy in the left seat of, say a Dash 8, with 5000+ total and 2000+ command on it would be a gerat candidate. Flying in NA or Europe in the weather and ATC etc etc and he would have no difficulty transitioning to a jet. 3-5 years later he would have no difficulty with the command upgrade (already has subtantial command experience) and now with jet experience.
In the ME I didn't even get an answer following my 4 applications as a B1900 Fo by FECA. This is why it is quite frustrating to read these pilots shortage stories, especially when you know it will push companies to setup cadets trainings and that young guys with no experience will get better positions than those I'm currently rejected of. This shortage story is not coming from nowhere, and I guess when we'll know who paid for this report we might get some clue about what is behind it...
Just open your eyes and see what is happening: people are talking a bout a lack of pilots (which in fact is a lack of experienced captains and instructors) and the reaction is to train lots of cadets, while experienced FOs are available. What kind of result do you think we will get that way ?
Most companies will lower their requirements when the need will become real, and I'm sure an experienced heavy turboprop captain would be pleased and able to do the job.
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What about the following scenario.
I come to a multi crew corporate operation on advanced light turboprops (impressive) and helicopters looking for a job but I lack the relevant experience. What's my chances of getting hired?
Another case.
If I was hiring for EK and a European pilot had 5000 hrs T/P time and 2000 in command of a Dash 8, I'd have to ask why he wasn't flying jets already.
You see, there is always another way of looking at a situation.
I come to a multi crew corporate operation on advanced light turboprops (impressive) and helicopters looking for a job but I lack the relevant experience. What's my chances of getting hired?
Another case.
If I was hiring for EK and a European pilot had 5000 hrs T/P time and 2000 in command of a Dash 8, I'd have to ask why he wasn't flying jets already.
You see, there is always another way of looking at a situation.
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There is already a self imposed pilot shortage in the ME. Airlines here are already operating with insufficient number of crew.
Counting on bending the rules
(Ex.1: Duty officialy starting 1hour before flight, when you're requested to be briefing 1h30 min before departure, so you can be on the crew bus 1h10 before dep.)
(Ex.2: Factoring hours of duty, where factoring is suppose to apply on personal log books only).
Etc etc.
If the airlines here would apply rules and regulations, without intentionally mis-interpreting them, there is not enough pilots already.
What does the future hold? More bending of rules? Or not enough pilots?
Pilot shortage, maybe. Airlines suffering from it, I doubt!
Counting on bending the rules
(Ex.1: Duty officialy starting 1hour before flight, when you're requested to be briefing 1h30 min before departure, so you can be on the crew bus 1h10 before dep.)
(Ex.2: Factoring hours of duty, where factoring is suppose to apply on personal log books only).
Etc etc.
If the airlines here would apply rules and regulations, without intentionally mis-interpreting them, there is not enough pilots already.
What does the future hold? More bending of rules? Or not enough pilots?
Pilot shortage, maybe. Airlines suffering from it, I doubt!
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seems like the problem is a lack of experienced pilots in the region. on top of that, inflation woes are making it an easier decision for expats to go back to their home countries. so the result will be a group of newly trained cadets-turned-FOs operating most flights in the next ten years?
where does that leave experienced FOs?...
also, if there really will be a pilot shortage in the near future, won't that make it harder for airlines to add new destinations and place more orders for aircrafts?
where does that leave experienced FOs?...
also, if there really will be a pilot shortage in the near future, won't that make it harder for airlines to add new destinations and place more orders for aircrafts?
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atiuta, that would be a fair question to ask. However, I could see many skippers on those turboprops staying on them for the pay. Big cut to go sit in the right seat of a jet for most Euro operators.