Flight deck positions at FlyDubai Master Thread - Merged
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Wow I didn't think it was that hard to book a date 
I Check it 2/3 Times a day,but it's not necessarily easy when I'm at work. Plus,I'm on the other side of the planet,I hope they don't always open the slots when it's night time where I live...
Thanks a lot Mrglass,always good to have feedback from those who already went through the same path!
I Check it 2/3 Times a day,but it's not necessarily easy when I'm at work. Plus,I'm on the other side of the planet,I hope they don't always open the slots when it's night time where I live...
Thanks a lot Mrglass,always good to have feedback from those who already went through the same path!
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Velocity of an unladen swallow…...
Some chap was so taken with this question there is a whole webpage devoted to the answer. It can be found at the bottom so if you don't want to know, then do not open the following link 
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More deliveries.
HIGH Energy,
Per the last CP meeting, we're set to get 2 deliveries in December, one a month going forward, none in March 2014, but 2 in July 2014.
New destinations? ....Future secrets to be revealed at an undetermined date.
BTW.. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
Much more importantly, when are the leave bids for 2014 going to begin? I have a vacation I'm trying to book, but can't get the tickets until I know I have leave. Meanwhile, the prices keep going up, up, up!
Per the last CP meeting, we're set to get 2 deliveries in December, one a month going forward, none in March 2014, but 2 in July 2014.
New destinations? ....Future secrets to be revealed at an undetermined date.
BTW.. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
Much more importantly, when are the leave bids for 2014 going to begin? I have a vacation I'm trying to book, but can't get the tickets until I know I have leave. Meanwhile, the prices keep going up, up, up!
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Fwiw, I spoke to HP (head of rostering) just a few days ago and he said that the 2014 leaving bidding should open this week (and that it will be conducted in the same manner as it was for 2013).
I also asked him about Preferential Bidding for December, and he told me that it wasn't yet available because Commercial Dept hadn't yet finalised the flying program for December, and that once it was passed down to Rostering the first thing that they have to do is to assign and / or allocate training duties into it, and only then can they release the roster for Preferential Bidding.
All I want to know is when am I starting my A350 or B787 type rating ?
I also asked him about Preferential Bidding for December, and he told me that it wasn't yet available because Commercial Dept hadn't yet finalised the flying program for December, and that once it was passed down to Rostering the first thing that they have to do is to assign and / or allocate training duties into it, and only then can they release the roster for Preferential Bidding.
All I want to know is when am I starting my A350 or B787 type rating ?
Last edited by Old King Coal; 3rd Nov 2013 at 11:55.
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dubaigong: lol, you cheeky bugger! 
Vortac1: yes, PBS is implemented, i.e. live (though presently only for flight crew, with Cabin Crew to follow in due course). It is based entirely on seniority (i.e. it is not like the Emirates implementation).
Vortac1: yes, PBS is implemented, i.e. live (though presently only for flight crew, with Cabin Crew to follow in due course). It is based entirely on seniority (i.e. it is not like the Emirates implementation).
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Thanks OKC. How do yall like it? Implemented as expected? Do you still get 2-3 days of reserve spread out across the entire group or are full reserve lines being built for the most junior?
Hopefully PBS will bring a little relief to rosters at FD...
Hopefully PBS will bring a little relief to rosters at FD...
Last edited by Vortac1; 3rd Nov 2013 at 15:35.
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Vortac1: Well mine is none too bad, though it's probably too early to commit an answer to that question... thus ask me the same question in 6 months from now (if I'm still here?!) and I'll be better placed to answer it.
And wrt people being predominantly on 'reserve', I can't give you a definitive answer on that because I'm not privy to what has been rostered for other people / ranks.
And wrt people being predominantly on 'reserve', I can't give you a definitive answer on that because I'm not privy to what has been rostered for other people / ranks.
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The low cost carrier had submitted a schedule to start flights between Dubai and Bhubaneswar two years ago. It is yet to be approved.
There are speculations that the airline may start its operation by November end. But the official declined to commit anything and said, it is a subject of bilateral agreement between India and Dubai.
There are speculations that the airline may start its operation by November end. But the official declined to commit anything and said, it is a subject of bilateral agreement between India and Dubai.
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PBS with FZ
This PBS buisiness is a joke. It's only benefiting the high seniority pilots, that of course take advantage of it and bid for as many days OFF as possible and for the nice day flights that report around 8:30am.
All the rest get the
flights that report 11pm to get back something like 9 am the next day.
Is this fair? No it is not. Why should the high seniority people ALWAYS get good rosters and the others ALWAYS bad?? Are low seniority pilots condemned to fly night flights? And double sectors in the night? And have night DOH 7 times in one roster??
What is this? The Middle Ages? Slavery?
High seniority people will have a difficult time looking their colleagues and friends in the eyes after this.
The pilots are now divided into 2 groups. Privileged and non privileged. If that's what is supposed to be then I am sorry, I kind of lost the ball.
High seniority people with a sense of DIGNITY and self respect first, and respect to the others, should THEMSELVES push for alternating seniority in bidding. So that everyone is treated the SAME.
All the rest get the
flights that report 11pm to get back something like 9 am the next day.Is this fair? No it is not. Why should the high seniority people ALWAYS get good rosters and the others ALWAYS bad?? Are low seniority pilots condemned to fly night flights? And double sectors in the night? And have night DOH 7 times in one roster??
What is this? The Middle Ages? Slavery?
High seniority people will have a difficult time looking their colleagues and friends in the eyes after this.
The pilots are now divided into 2 groups. Privileged and non privileged. If that's what is supposed to be then I am sorry, I kind of lost the ball.
High seniority people with a sense of DIGNITY and self respect first, and respect to the others, should THEMSELVES push for alternating seniority in bidding. So that everyone is treated the SAME.
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My roster is the same. Nights, nights and more nights. All the stuff others don't want. 
They should divide the pilot group into several sections and limit the 'guaranteed' request approvals to, lets say, 2. You can't have people awarded all their request untill everything is filled and then divide the rest over whoever is left.
Then every month or so rotate the groups around from nbr 1,3,3 to 2,1,3, 3,2,1 etc so that both seniors and juniors in their respective group have a fair chance at getting something descent once and a while.
BUT, we should give it a few months to let it settle down, tweak it a bit, and then we can properly judge. I'll propably be dead at that point...
They should divide the pilot group into several sections and limit the 'guaranteed' request approvals to, lets say, 2. You can't have people awarded all their request untill everything is filled and then divide the rest over whoever is left. Then every month or so rotate the groups around from nbr 1,3,3 to 2,1,3, 3,2,1 etc so that both seniors and juniors in their respective group have a fair chance at getting something descent once and a while.
BUT, we should give it a few months to let it settle down, tweak it a bit, and then we can properly judge. I'll propably be dead at that point...
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Pole Shift,
What you are saying is not fair and it shows a great level of frustration and by consequence not at all a balanced comment on PBS...
First do you know how many of the high seniority pilots have got what they wanted ?
All I can tell you is that I know some of them who are not happy about what they have got according to their bids.
Also what has to be understood is that a seniority system is NEVER seen as being fair when you are at the bottom of the list but when you have been for years at the bottom and finally get closer to the top you feel like a fair situation to finally enjoy being there.
What should also be understood is that in an airline like FZ with no fleet upgrade possible ( single aircraft type ) , no salary increase according to the seniority , no specific benefits for being here for a long time it is difficult to blame those pilots to be happy to finally get a reward for being here for so long ( 5 years already for some of them )
So the real problem is the way the company wants or doesn't want to make sure the workforce is happy and keep them long term ?
You can not blame the high seniority for the result of PBS which is also due to many other factors like the ways we are allow to bid and the always increasing limitations put in place and very restrictive ( like the mandatory 1 day off in 6 days instead of 7 days before , 2 consecutive days off in 12 days instead of 14 days before , the 85 hours maximum in 28 days etc.... )
The only way to really know how many are happier than before PBS is to make a survey but for that you also need to give some time to assess the rosters in a few months and not only one.
And last but not least , I have never seen in my life a system that will please everybody , you will always have pilots not happy about it.
The first thing to do would be to agree with each other what we would like to have and then ACT to have it done by the company.... BUT look around you and find out how many pilots are really concerned by the situation of their fellows ?
Look at the best example ( according to me ) of a well known low cost company in Europe where almost each pilot got a different contract and this is lasting for more than 15 years without any real change due to only one thing that the manager of this company understood very quickly PILOTS ARE SELFISH and are only thinking short terms , own career and not about long term and group...
When this will be sort it out then you can expect to see improvement.
What you are saying is not fair and it shows a great level of frustration and by consequence not at all a balanced comment on PBS...
First do you know how many of the high seniority pilots have got what they wanted ?
All I can tell you is that I know some of them who are not happy about what they have got according to their bids.
Also what has to be understood is that a seniority system is NEVER seen as being fair when you are at the bottom of the list but when you have been for years at the bottom and finally get closer to the top you feel like a fair situation to finally enjoy being there.
What should also be understood is that in an airline like FZ with no fleet upgrade possible ( single aircraft type ) , no salary increase according to the seniority , no specific benefits for being here for a long time it is difficult to blame those pilots to be happy to finally get a reward for being here for so long ( 5 years already for some of them )
So the real problem is the way the company wants or doesn't want to make sure the workforce is happy and keep them long term ?
You can not blame the high seniority for the result of PBS which is also due to many other factors like the ways we are allow to bid and the always increasing limitations put in place and very restrictive ( like the mandatory 1 day off in 6 days instead of 7 days before , 2 consecutive days off in 12 days instead of 14 days before , the 85 hours maximum in 28 days etc.... )
The only way to really know how many are happier than before PBS is to make a survey but for that you also need to give some time to assess the rosters in a few months and not only one.
And last but not least , I have never seen in my life a system that will please everybody , you will always have pilots not happy about it.
The first thing to do would be to agree with each other what we would like to have and then ACT to have it done by the company.... BUT look around you and find out how many pilots are really concerned by the situation of their fellows ?
Look at the best example ( according to me ) of a well known low cost company in Europe where almost each pilot got a different contract and this is lasting for more than 15 years without any real change due to only one thing that the manager of this company understood very quickly PILOTS ARE SELFISH and are only thinking short terms , own career and not about long term and group...
When this will be sort it out then you can expect to see improvement.
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Dubai gong
I know all about the restrictions. And of course. Senior people didn't get all of their 10 bids rather they got 5-6? Some people got none! And seniority? Senior guys are on scale A. So yes, they are rewarded more than the others.
And FZ is around almost 5 years, so we are not talking seniority of United, or BA or Lufthansa.
Talking of European low cost carriers, at least they have a balanced roster, 5 - 4 or similar. Nothing like here.
Bottom line: For all pilots of this airline, to have a fair roster, because I am sure you agree, no one should be treated preferentially - after all we all have families, or whatever, then ALTERNATING SENIORITY PBS would give the message that at least the pilots of this company are above all COLLEAGUES.
Have a look around you, talk to people and then you will get the feeling. It's absolutely pointless to hide behind excuses about 'yes but' and the senior guys bla bla bla...
. It just proves my point that now the pilots are divided , privileged and not privileged.
I know all about the restrictions. And of course. Senior people didn't get all of their 10 bids rather they got 5-6? Some people got none! And seniority? Senior guys are on scale A. So yes, they are rewarded more than the others.
And FZ is around almost 5 years, so we are not talking seniority of United, or BA or Lufthansa.
Talking of European low cost carriers, at least they have a balanced roster, 5 - 4 or similar. Nothing like here.
Bottom line: For all pilots of this airline, to have a fair roster, because I am sure you agree, no one should be treated preferentially - after all we all have families, or whatever, then ALTERNATING SENIORITY PBS would give the message that at least the pilots of this company are above all COLLEAGUES.
Have a look around you, talk to people and then you will get the feeling. It's absolutely pointless to hide behind excuses about 'yes but' and the senior guys bla bla bla...
. It just proves my point that now the pilots are divided , privileged and not privileged.
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Pole Shift,
I am not hiding behind anything and again who has decided to introduce different pay scales ? Not the most senior pilots.
Furthermore most of the pilot who joined FZ after , knew or should have known if they had done their homework.
When you plan to go far away from home to work , the least one can do is to make sure that all information are made available to them.
About the pilots being divided , it's not new it has been like that for a long time , I have been to most of the chief pilot's meeting and I can tell you that the pilots were already divided.
What about the nationality "problem" we have here... I have never been in a company where I could feel so much the tension between the American , Brazilian , British , Cypriots etc...
We are well divided and this was well before the PBS has been introduced.
And it is logical because of the agenda people joining have,
Most of the first officers joining in the beginning were looking mainly for a quick command upgrade and didn't care at all , at that time , about the conditions.
You have direct entry captains coming for the money they expect to save to improve their retirement package , to get some training upgrade or to try to jump later in another company to fly bigger aircraft.
Now you also have a good amount of pilots coming from turbo-prop looking for a good jet rating while earning a very good salary compared to what they could maybe get at home.
That is the main problem we have , no long term vision because most of the pilots are here with their own agenda for a period between 3 to 6 years waiting for an opportunity to go back home or jump in a long haul position or to retire...
At the end having a balanced roster would be only possible for me if they were able to produce a roster which take into consideration of the fact that every pilot in the company got , in a year , roughly the same amount of 4 sectors day , night flights , early morning flights , war zones flights , etc... which will probably never happen...
So what to do ???
But a blaming the most senior pilots for that situation is for sure not the best way to create a nice unity amongst the pilot group.
That's all I have to say about that subject , it will not be sorted out here on PPRUNE and needs to be addressed within the company with all the pilots.
I doubt though that there is a real will from the majority to do something.
You would be surprised to see how many are more than happy to be here and surely don't want to rock the boat.
I wish you the best for your fight but I strongly suggest that you change your strategy if you want to achieve something positive...
I am not hiding behind anything and again who has decided to introduce different pay scales ? Not the most senior pilots.
Furthermore most of the pilot who joined FZ after , knew or should have known if they had done their homework.
When you plan to go far away from home to work , the least one can do is to make sure that all information are made available to them.
About the pilots being divided , it's not new it has been like that for a long time , I have been to most of the chief pilot's meeting and I can tell you that the pilots were already divided.
What about the nationality "problem" we have here... I have never been in a company where I could feel so much the tension between the American , Brazilian , British , Cypriots etc...
We are well divided and this was well before the PBS has been introduced.
And it is logical because of the agenda people joining have,
Most of the first officers joining in the beginning were looking mainly for a quick command upgrade and didn't care at all , at that time , about the conditions.
You have direct entry captains coming for the money they expect to save to improve their retirement package , to get some training upgrade or to try to jump later in another company to fly bigger aircraft.
Now you also have a good amount of pilots coming from turbo-prop looking for a good jet rating while earning a very good salary compared to what they could maybe get at home.
That is the main problem we have , no long term vision because most of the pilots are here with their own agenda for a period between 3 to 6 years waiting for an opportunity to go back home or jump in a long haul position or to retire...
At the end having a balanced roster would be only possible for me if they were able to produce a roster which take into consideration of the fact that every pilot in the company got , in a year , roughly the same amount of 4 sectors day , night flights , early morning flights , war zones flights , etc... which will probably never happen...
So what to do ???
But a blaming the most senior pilots for that situation is for sure not the best way to create a nice unity amongst the pilot group.
That's all I have to say about that subject , it will not be sorted out here on PPRUNE and needs to be addressed within the company with all the pilots.
I doubt though that there is a real will from the majority to do something.
You would be surprised to see how many are more than happy to be here and surely don't want to rock the boat.
I wish you the best for your fight but I strongly suggest that you change your strategy if you want to achieve something positive...
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Dubai gong
Thank you for your strong suggestion. It's not about my self, and its not my fight since there will be many more pilots joining. Having a united pilot force is what I would like to see ( wouldn't you?) but this PBS with its current form makes it extremely difficult.
But I have to agree with what you said about pilots having different agendas. And for new joiners from the turboprop or DECs it's a great opportunity indeed. But at the end of the day people will be tired with flying bad rosters every month whilst others don't.
Question is would the company care if pilots leave? I guess we will have to wait and see.
Thank you for your strong suggestion. It's not about my self, and its not my fight since there will be many more pilots joining. Having a united pilot force is what I would like to see ( wouldn't you?) but this PBS with its current form makes it extremely difficult.
But I have to agree with what you said about pilots having different agendas. And for new joiners from the turboprop or DECs it's a great opportunity indeed. But at the end of the day people will be tired with flying bad rosters every month whilst others don't.
Question is would the company care if pilots leave? I guess we will have to wait and see.
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dubaigong: Bravo and well said!
pole shift: one roster does not an average make, so why not let PBS bed in for a couple of months, eh?
Wrt getting changes made to it, I would caution you to remember that the Senior Flight Ops Management within FZ have always been American and (if I've got this right?) where they come from seniority is EVERYTHING and, accordingly, their prior implementations of, and experience with, PBS are entirely 'seniority based' (with no concept of 'rolling months', etc).
Now given that we're creatures of habit, I would suspect that KG & JV also want a familiar implementation of PBS within FZ. I'm likewise certain that JV himself would tell you that the longer you stay within the company (and the faster the company grows) the quicker you will rise up the seniority list and then you won't be complaining about the PBS system being entirely seniority based (and I'm pretty much using his own words when I say that). So, to avoid disappointment, you might choose to pick your battles on this matter v.carefully.
pole shift: one roster does not an average make, so why not let PBS bed in for a couple of months, eh?
Wrt getting changes made to it, I would caution you to remember that the Senior Flight Ops Management within FZ have always been American and (if I've got this right?) where they come from seniority is EVERYTHING and, accordingly, their prior implementations of, and experience with, PBS are entirely 'seniority based' (with no concept of 'rolling months', etc).
Now given that we're creatures of habit, I would suspect that KG & JV also want a familiar implementation of PBS within FZ. I'm likewise certain that JV himself would tell you that the longer you stay within the company (and the faster the company grows) the quicker you will rise up the seniority list and then you won't be complaining about the PBS system being entirely seniority based (and I'm pretty much using his own words when I say that). So, to avoid disappointment, you might choose to pick your battles on this matter v.carefully.