Those considering Emirates
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Change of subject
The last two weeks we had obscured skies by sand blown in from SA .... well at least part of it may be sand. The rest is simple smog and dust from all the construction sites. Nothing new you might say. What's alarming is the many more friends and other people we know with increasing asthma and other respiratory problems. IT'S NOT THE FLU!
This problem is on a fast rise and needs to be considered by everyone wishing to join and those already installed. I believe we are facing a serious health risk here. As pilots at least we get away half of the time, but your family is stuck in the smog.
For me the monetary situation has become almost a non issue. The health of my family is way more important. To replace the thug threatening my life with something less tangible but as dangerous becomes a no option. I am really and sincerely considering to quit, even though i like the job.
THE ONLY SOLUTION WILL BE COMMUTING ROSTERS TO GET US, ESPECIALLY OUR FAMILY AWAY FROM THIS THREAT AND STILL BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB. DUBAI'S AIR BECOMES A HEALTH HAZARD.
Let me rephrase the whole thing for the EK managers:
EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF US RATHER LIKE THE JOB WITH EK, RISKING THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN IS NOT AN OPTION.
YOU NEED TO INSTITUTE EITHER COMUTING ROSTERS OR BASINGS IN ORDER TO RETAIN YOUR PILOTS.
You might laugh or dismiss the whole issue now and consider me a whinger. But i guarantee you will think of this in a few months or years when your child starts coughing.
Enjoy the summer break, at least your family may go for better air.
The last two weeks we had obscured skies by sand blown in from SA .... well at least part of it may be sand. The rest is simple smog and dust from all the construction sites. Nothing new you might say. What's alarming is the many more friends and other people we know with increasing asthma and other respiratory problems. IT'S NOT THE FLU!
This problem is on a fast rise and needs to be considered by everyone wishing to join and those already installed. I believe we are facing a serious health risk here. As pilots at least we get away half of the time, but your family is stuck in the smog.
For me the monetary situation has become almost a non issue. The health of my family is way more important. To replace the thug threatening my life with something less tangible but as dangerous becomes a no option. I am really and sincerely considering to quit, even though i like the job.
THE ONLY SOLUTION WILL BE COMMUTING ROSTERS TO GET US, ESPECIALLY OUR FAMILY AWAY FROM THIS THREAT AND STILL BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB. DUBAI'S AIR BECOMES A HEALTH HAZARD.
Let me rephrase the whole thing for the EK managers:
EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF US RATHER LIKE THE JOB WITH EK, RISKING THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN IS NOT AN OPTION.
YOU NEED TO INSTITUTE EITHER COMUTING ROSTERS OR BASINGS IN ORDER TO RETAIN YOUR PILOTS.
You might laugh or dismiss the whole issue now and consider me a whinger. But i guarantee you will think of this in a few months or years when your child starts coughing.
Enjoy the summer break, at least your family may go for better air.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: united arab emirates
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GMDS, I hear you man. But its never going to happen. With over 30 operators closing down / scaling down since the beginning of the year. There are plently of drivers to replace us. This is becoming a reality. The only way to change it is with your feet. But is it really a good time to move ? Have friends in corporate month on month off earning Dhs 56000 a month flying very nice kit. But how secure in the present times ?
I guess I sound a little insecure , I think a little more realistic. Yes we live in a dump. Make the move or wait , the pendulum always swings back.
Mates in Hong Kong also very unhappy about pollution , and as for the lads in China well. I guess CX do have basings , but only much later on though and by the time you would be able to hold one you will have 10 years wide body command at EK. Its all swings and roundabouts.
My personal frustrations are
1)Buying bloody appliances with plugs that dont fit the sockets , always have to buy a bloody cheap adaptor that also hardly works !!
2) Traffic
3)Trying to contact anyone in the office , the phone just rings and rings or is constantly engaged. Not too mention the automated answering system. Although I would love to Shag Evita ( love her voice)
4)Traffic
5)The crew sandwiches ( please super size me)
6)Traffic
7)The bloody beeping Caterpillar construction vehicles.
8)Traffic
9)Trying to get a Dentist appointment at EK clinic
10)Traffic
11)Asking the Audi Driver " are we picking up anyone else ? " and getting the perverbial Indian headshake to say NO , only to do a tour of the construction site to pick up someone else.
12)Traffic
13)No table on the 777 !!!
14)Getting the rosters so late. Impossible to plan anything toward month end/beginning.
15) Traffic
16)Big Black Landcruisers ( I wish they would meet head on with the Caterpillar)
17) aah F%^& it I'll ramble on all night.
Try see the humour in it. Have a friend 38 just lost his medical , 2 kids.
Could be worse.
I guess I sound a little insecure , I think a little more realistic. Yes we live in a dump. Make the move or wait , the pendulum always swings back.
Mates in Hong Kong also very unhappy about pollution , and as for the lads in China well. I guess CX do have basings , but only much later on though and by the time you would be able to hold one you will have 10 years wide body command at EK. Its all swings and roundabouts.
My personal frustrations are
1)Buying bloody appliances with plugs that dont fit the sockets , always have to buy a bloody cheap adaptor that also hardly works !!
2) Traffic
3)Trying to contact anyone in the office , the phone just rings and rings or is constantly engaged. Not too mention the automated answering system. Although I would love to Shag Evita ( love her voice)
4)Traffic
5)The crew sandwiches ( please super size me)
6)Traffic
7)The bloody beeping Caterpillar construction vehicles.
8)Traffic
9)Trying to get a Dentist appointment at EK clinic
10)Traffic
11)Asking the Audi Driver " are we picking up anyone else ? " and getting the perverbial Indian headshake to say NO , only to do a tour of the construction site to pick up someone else.
12)Traffic
13)No table on the 777 !!!
14)Getting the rosters so late. Impossible to plan anything toward month end/beginning.
15) Traffic
16)Big Black Landcruisers ( I wish they would meet head on with the Caterpillar)
17) aah F%^& it I'll ramble on all night.
Try see the humour in it. Have a friend 38 just lost his medical , 2 kids.
Could be worse.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I'm sure someone will send the two posts about her voice on to Sandra (Evita). (Have to say, I haven't been in the Sandpit long enough to find that accent particularly attractive either.)
For the last few months, I am also suffering with a constant cough and what could only be described as a wheeze - which magically goes away a day of so after I leave Dubai.
Can I add my vote to basings, Tim? Save you a fortune in accommodation costs. (And, I think I could safely say, another fortune in not having to train the replacements for many who will leave only because they no longer want their families living in the Dustbow... the Sandpit.)
It would be interesting to learn just how many EK pilots now live alone in their large villas.
For the last few months, I am also suffering with a constant cough and what could only be described as a wheeze - which magically goes away a day of so after I leave Dubai.
Can I add my vote to basings, Tim? Save you a fortune in accommodation costs. (And, I think I could safely say, another fortune in not having to train the replacements for many who will leave only because they no longer want their families living in the Dustbow... the Sandpit.)
It would be interesting to learn just how many EK pilots now live alone in their large villas.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Please, will somebody post pictures of these damn "large villas"? 
Or post any random pictures that would depict "Life in Dubai". Thanks!
How long does the company pay for housing? Temporary or for the duration?
Or post any random pictures that would depict "Life in Dubai". Thanks! How long does the company pay for housing? Temporary or for the duration?
Last edited by vlatkomk; 23rd Jun 2008 at 06:41.
Disturbing
Which one on EVITA would you like to shag?
"Welcome to EVITA. Please enter your steffff numbaa" (as said before- 50m rough road accent)
or....
"to collect your roster changessss...." (Baritone)
or
"It's a layover trip" (in Tagalog dialect)
fourgolds
Buying a UK plug and installing it at the end of the chord is not difficult. Just ask all the fried Jinglies around town.
You eat crew sandwiches?
The rest sounds like you need ear-plugs, a driver and a Panadol with a good lie down.
halas
"Welcome to EVITA. Please enter your steffff numbaa" (as said before- 50m rough road accent)
or....
"to collect your roster changessss...." (Baritone)
or
"It's a layover trip" (in Tagalog dialect)
fourgolds
Buying a UK plug and installing it at the end of the chord is not difficult. Just ask all the fried Jinglies around town.
You eat crew sandwiches?
The rest sounds like you need ear-plugs, a driver and a Panadol with a good lie down.
halas
Join Date: Aug 1998
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Breathing difficulties
Perhaps there is the core of a new thread beginning to show here.
I am normally found among the Dubai-boosters but I have become seriously concerned about air quality recently. I have never before had any respiratory difficulities but I don't think I've drawn a normal breath for the last three months. There seems to be an uninterrupted series of coughing spells, congestion and throat irritation.
It would be interesting to know how many of us have the same experience.
Nothing you can do about it of course, but in my case it begins to tarnish the golden handcuffs to the degree that I can see departing here much sooner than I thought, for that reason alone.
I am normally found among the Dubai-boosters but I have become seriously concerned about air quality recently. I have never before had any respiratory difficulities but I don't think I've drawn a normal breath for the last three months. There seems to be an uninterrupted series of coughing spells, congestion and throat irritation.
It would be interesting to know how many of us have the same experience.
Nothing you can do about it of course, but in my case it begins to tarnish the golden handcuffs to the degree that I can see departing here much sooner than I thought, for that reason alone.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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As high pressure takes over for the summer various toxic gases are trapped and circulating all around us:
Gas venting from the rigs offshore, concrete dust, gases released from the Aluminium smelting works next to the Marina, exhaust fumes from the gas guzzlers on the roads...
I try and get my kids out to exercise but the air is insipid and they look anemic. A few weeks back at home and some fresh air and they get some colour back... and then there's that Dubai cough we all have and the clinic know all too well.
The long term effects of all this crap in the air will not be known until... the longer term. Until then it doesn't take a genius to realise the detrimental effects this recirculated air will have on us and more importantly our kids. Rest assured there will be no study made public which lets us know what is in the air and the effects it will have.
BASINGS: Surely it must offer more efficiency than basing all us all in this pit. I cannot believe HRH TC still is so bloody minded that he will keep us all here regardless of the cost. Despite evidence to the contrary he is the main, perhaps only obstacle to giving us an option many of us so dearly want... a way out of here.
Gas venting from the rigs offshore, concrete dust, gases released from the Aluminium smelting works next to the Marina, exhaust fumes from the gas guzzlers on the roads...
I try and get my kids out to exercise but the air is insipid and they look anemic. A few weeks back at home and some fresh air and they get some colour back... and then there's that Dubai cough we all have and the clinic know all too well.
The long term effects of all this crap in the air will not be known until... the longer term. Until then it doesn't take a genius to realise the detrimental effects this recirculated air will have on us and more importantly our kids. Rest assured there will be no study made public which lets us know what is in the air and the effects it will have.
BASINGS: Surely it must offer more efficiency than basing all us all in this pit. I cannot believe HRH TC still is so bloody minded that he will keep us all here regardless of the cost. Despite evidence to the contrary he is the main, perhaps only obstacle to giving us an option many of us so dearly want... a way out of here.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Bad outside air is relatively new, but the air inside, with aircon on for most of the year, has always been a problem. You don't even want to imagine what's in the ducting of your house. My daughter always went down with a crook throat within 24 hours of coming home from OS.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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In regards to the air inside your house there is only one thing to do.
CLEAN THE AIRCON ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS.
If you want it done by a man who knows what he is doing then call:
GERMAN STAR at 050 2960374
It will cost you 1500 - 2000 but t is worth it.
CLEAN THE AIRCON ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS.
If you want it done by a man who knows what he is doing then call:
GERMAN STAR at 050 2960374
It will cost you 1500 - 2000 but t is worth it.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Interesting...this Gulf throats story....I did 26years at GF and the Gulf throats started after the first Gulf War for me... as a pilot.
At age 60 termination I had been on 9 course of anti biotic for them in the last 19months.
Retired for 8 years now in the UK Norfolk countryside I have not had a sore throat...but I did get my Gf rostering heart attack in year 4...and please note
I am one of the very few last man standing of my GF group at age 68!
Looking at your sectors in EK I think (know) there is a lot of premature mortality being rostered into you guys...you certainly will not need a big pension...but lots of life insurance if you want to provide for the family.
Have fun..know your numbers and their implications for your BP and cholesterol and never work on a rest day.
At age 60 termination I had been on 9 course of anti biotic for them in the last 19months.
Retired for 8 years now in the UK Norfolk countryside I have not had a sore throat...but I did get my Gf rostering heart attack in year 4...and please note
I am one of the very few last man standing of my GF group at age 68!
Looking at your sectors in EK I think (know) there is a lot of premature mortality being rostered into you guys...you certainly will not need a big pension...but lots of life insurance if you want to provide for the family.
Have fun..know your numbers and their implications for your BP and cholesterol and never work on a rest day.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
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Face it the job involves sitting in an aluminum tube.flying 80% or more of the speed of sound, surrounded by electrical wires (and God knows what else) maintained by.
..nevermind..with absolutely no normal body rest cycles,.breathing recycled dry air, being irradiated by the sun, eating food whose sanitary qualities are at best questionable.
..must I go on??? and I love it
....but it does not contribute to longevity for sure..
..nevermind..with absolutely no normal body rest cycles,.breathing recycled dry air, being irradiated by the sun, eating food whose sanitary qualities are at best questionable...must I go on??? and I love it....but it does not contribute to longevity for sure..
