Flight deck positions at FlyDubai Master Thread - Merged
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Spain
They are different companies in all aspects, so don't follow same rules. Just the chairman is the same for both. Don't expect policies being changed in one to affect the other. They just adjust independently to adapt to market needs to attract people.
I doubt the numbers of 250 pilots resigning after bonus was received to be true. There are constant resignations, however to my knowledge numbers were far from those.
At the moment, it is not possible to move from FZ to EK. FZ pilots are banned.
I doubt the numbers of 250 pilots resigning after bonus was received to be true. There are constant resignations, however to my knowledge numbers were far from those.
At the moment, it is not possible to move from FZ to EK. FZ pilots are banned.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Spain
QR and EK are better in some aspects, not all. It's a very personal aspect depending on what your priorities are.
If. money is the main concern, EK is far better than FZ, specially long term. Regarding QR, I have not updated information so I am not sure how things stand as of today, but they were better in the past. I'll try get an update.
If. money is the main concern, EK is far better than FZ, specially long term. Regarding QR, I have not updated information so I am not sure how things stand as of today, but they were better in the past. I'll try get an update.
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Asia
They are different companies in all aspects, so don't follow same rules. Just the chairman is the same for both. Don't expect policies being changed in one to affect the other. They just adjust independently to adapt to market needs to attract people.
I doubt the numbers of 250 pilots resigning after bonus was received to be true. There are constant resignations, however to my knowledge numbers were far from those.
At the moment, it is not possible to move from FZ to EK. FZ pilots are banned.
I doubt the numbers of 250 pilots resigning after bonus was received to be true. There are constant resignations, however to my knowledge numbers were far from those.
At the moment, it is not possible to move from FZ to EK. FZ pilots are banned.
Wow.. FZ pilot can't move to EK..
But be a capt is much faster in FZ.
That's the better point! I think...
I heard that command is command... Can go anywhere if 737 or 320 PIC..
FZ operate 787 from 2026, they move senior f.o to 787 f.o or just volunteer?
Just like almost FSC use narrow body f.o > wide body f.o > narrow body Capt > wide body capt.
It's really interesting FZ operate 787 soon..
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Spain
Thank you..
Wow.. FZ pilot can't move to EK..
But be a capt is much faster in FZ.
That's the better point! I think...
I heard that command is command... Can go anywhere if 737 or 320 PIC..
FZ operate 787 from 2026, they move senior f.o to 787 f.o or just volunteer?
Just like almost FSC use narrow body f.o > wide body f.o > narrow body Capt > wide body capt.
It's really interesting FZ operate 787 soon..
Wow.. FZ pilot can't move to EK..
But be a capt is much faster in FZ.
That's the better point! I think...
I heard that command is command... Can go anywhere if 737 or 320 PIC..
FZ operate 787 from 2026, they move senior f.o to 787 f.o or just volunteer?
Just like almost FSC use narrow body f.o > wide body f.o > narrow body Capt > wide body capt.
It's really interesting FZ operate 787 soon..
Just to summarize, I wouldn’t say faster command is the better point necessarily. Time to command depends on many factors, mainly growth. Recently, time to command has been extended at FZ too, it’s not the 1,5 years that it used to be. Command is not guaranteed in any of the two companies.
I see the better points of FZ the work environment and returning home pretty much every day (personal preference, hotels can be very lonely in the medium long term). Also I would say it’s better in terms of feeling backed up by Flight Ops/training. Stress at EK is pretty high. A380 fleet has more blocks of days off at home, however 777 fleet has crazy rosters. Lifestyles are very different.
FZ does have fatiguing rosters too, just different format. It would depend on what you can handle better. I would suggest you try to do your own research on these to make sure you’re not stuck with a lifestyle you can’t handle well. Lack of sleep is one of the worst things you can do to your body.
Regarding B787s at FZ, there is no info as of now on how the transfer will be handled. It’s still far away.
There was a slight pay increase announced yesterday 10% in housing allowance and 4% in transport. This means an overall increase of a 3% in the salary.
Good luck
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 7
From: UAE
FZ Experience
I have been following this thread for about 3-4 years, since I started considering joining FZ. I will now spend some time to write my honest and simple personal review/feedback of my experience in the company, after being employed by FZ for almost 3 years.
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Last edited by Jet_Flyer; 12th August 2024 at 14:05.
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Berlin
Discussion is broader regarding all the aspects you mention.
Just to summarize, I wouldn’t say faster command is the better point necessarily. Time to command depends on many factors, mainly growth. Recently, time to command has been extended at FZ too, it’s not the 1,5 years that it used to be. Command is not guaranteed in any of the two companies.
I see the better points of FZ the work environment and returning home pretty much every day (personal preference, hotels can be very lonely in the medium long term). Also I would say it’s better in terms of feeling backed up by Flight Ops/training. Stress at EK is pretty high. A380 fleet has more blocks of days off at home, however 777 fleet has crazy rosters. Lifestyles are very different.
FZ does have fatiguing rosters too, just different format. It would depend on what you can handle better. I would suggest you try to do your own research on these to make sure you’re not stuck with a lifestyle you can’t handle well. Lack of sleep is one of the worst things you can do to your body.
Regarding B787s at FZ, there is no info as of now on how the transfer will be handled. It’s still far away.
There was a slight pay increase announced yesterday 10% in housing allowance and 4% in transport. This means an overall increase of a 3% in the salary.
Good luck
Just to summarize, I wouldn’t say faster command is the better point necessarily. Time to command depends on many factors, mainly growth. Recently, time to command has been extended at FZ too, it’s not the 1,5 years that it used to be. Command is not guaranteed in any of the two companies.
I see the better points of FZ the work environment and returning home pretty much every day (personal preference, hotels can be very lonely in the medium long term). Also I would say it’s better in terms of feeling backed up by Flight Ops/training. Stress at EK is pretty high. A380 fleet has more blocks of days off at home, however 777 fleet has crazy rosters. Lifestyles are very different.
FZ does have fatiguing rosters too, just different format. It would depend on what you can handle better. I would suggest you try to do your own research on these to make sure you’re not stuck with a lifestyle you can’t handle well. Lack of sleep is one of the worst things you can do to your body.
Regarding B787s at FZ, there is no info as of now on how the transfer will be handled. It’s still far away.
There was a slight pay increase announced yesterday 10% in housing allowance and 4% in transport. This means an overall increase of a 3% in the salary.
Good luck
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 442
Likes: 25
From: Below the tropopause
I have been following this thread for about 3-4 years, since I started considering joining FZ. I will now spend some time to write my honest and simple personal review/feedback of my experience in the company, after being employed by FZ for almost 3 years.
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
There are 127 more MAX’s coming before 2030, maybe some 787’s and let see what they order as DAS25. They already stated the next phase of growth will be ordered and it’s going to be bigger that the 175+50 B737’s they ordered in 2017. DWC is now official from 2034 onwards and they will plan accordingly as they need aggressive growth to fuel the local GDP in the next decade and counter competition. A split fleet with narrow and widebody, perhaps even different manufacturers is a real possibility. For future career planning that is very pleasant if you ask me. As they say, inshallah…nothing is ever certain in life. Especially in the ME.
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 4
From: UAE
I have been following this thread for about 3-4 years, since I started considering joining FZ. I will now spend some time to write my honest and simple personal review/feedback of my experience in the company, after being employed by FZ for almost 3 years.
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Flights can be requested, and depending on seniority, not granted. So creating unreal expectations is not the right way either.
Flying in the ME involves night flying, and FZ is no exception, be ready for tiring rosters. And it’s cumulative.
I have been in the company for 10 years too, and I am happy and grateful for the majority of it. However, roster is pretty much the one reason I am looking at going back home. Harder to cope with as we get older.
I would probably never leave FZ to go to EK or other ME carrier with current offers. Maybe RIA? Who
Having said that, FZ is a good place to work, and I support the rest of the points mentioned!
Blue skies!
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Dubai
Great honest reviews guys. Thanks for it.
It's a big holding pool of successful candidates and possible start dates are scheduled on 1/2 quarter of 2025.
Can someone share information about hiring and onboarding FOs in this year as well? Any join dates received recently?
It's a big holding pool of successful candidates and possible start dates are scheduled on 1/2 quarter of 2025.
Can someone share information about hiring and onboarding FOs in this year as well? Any join dates received recently?
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
From: Rome
Great honest reviews guys. Thanks for it.
It's a big holding pool of successful candidates and possible start dates are scheduled on 1/2 quarter of 2025.
Can someone share information about hiring and onboarding FOs in this year as well? Any join dates received recently?
It's a big holding pool of successful candidates and possible start dates are scheduled on 1/2 quarter of 2025.
Can someone share information about hiring and onboarding FOs in this year as well? Any join dates received recently?
It’s valuable to have honest reviews by people on the inside.
On the last point, it would be appreciated if anybody had news on starting dates for successful candidates.
In my case the assessment was passed in March. Expected starting date Q1 or Q2 2025.
Any other updates on starting dates and/or Boeing deliveries after Flydubai’s CEO complained in July about not receiving a single aircraft from Boeing in 2024?
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Mumbai Radio
Last thing I heard is that they're setting up an order of 200+ aircraft, likely to be 321XLRs and 330-800neos (these last to be received first as there's far more availability). Operations are to be moved from DXB to DWC along with Emirates by the end of 2030.
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
From: Anchorage
I have been following this thread for about 3-4 years, since I started considering joining FZ. I will now spend some time to write my honest and simple personal review/feedback of my experience in the company, after being employed by FZ for almost 3 years.
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Planted recruitment message. FZ are struggling to fill jobs,that is the reality. It’s 5-6th choice behind all the other Middle Eastern carriers. You say 4 years but you posted questions about working there a lot less. You joined the forum less that 3 years ago. HR bot. same names same agenda.
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 185
Likes: 39
From: on root
I have been following this thread for about 3-4 years, since I started considering joining FZ. I will now spend some time to write my honest and simple personal review/feedback of my experience in the company, after being employed by FZ for almost 3 years.
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Before I start, remind yourself that: ''The happiest people are not the ones with the best or the most things, or with zero problems, but those who most appreciate what they have and those who have the right attitude towards what life brings to them, either positive or negative''.
Short background:
I joined FZ the beginning of 2022 as type-rated F/O with 3.000 total hours and about 2.700 on type. I was flying for a pretty big European airline which was my first company. Although it was a really nice company, the reason I wanted to leave was due to the fact that during COVID the company was not paying on time, or not at all, and we were barely flying. The company was not looking good financially and apparently I did the right move joining FZ, as they shut down less than a year later. At exactly 2 years in FZ (company minimum for upgrade application), I applied for the command upgrade, passed everything and 2 months later I was already a Captain.
My FZ experience:
Since my very first interaction with FZ staff for my assessment, down to this day, I am super impressed with the friendliness, the simplicity, and the human touch that all people have. It is a very relaxed environment in the airline that starts from the offices, all the way to the cockpit.
There are many reasons for that I believe. The main is that the people feel stable and safe. There are no negative talks or misery about a company that is not doing well financially, and might shut down. The company is doing great, it is always expanding, it promotes its people, it pays very well, and it has many benefits that most employees never had in their previous environments.
Also the fact that 99% of the employees are expats (162 nationalities), creates a kind of a vibe that we are all here for a reason, and it creates empathy and teamwork, instead of a huge competitive feeling. At least that’s how it is between pilots. In my 2 years as a FO here, always flying with different captains, I must say that almost every single day I made new friends. There are so many amazing people working here. Flying here is a relaxed vibe (unlike other ME carriers), but at a very high standard.
Another great thing is the roster. There is a bidding system where you can bid your preferred flights before the roster comes out every month, and according to a rotational priority you get what you ask for. I didn’t even know that there are companies that have systems like that in my previous life. I thought we all fly IFR (I Fly Roster).
In the past it used to be very tough rostering in FZ, as the bidding was only about seniority, and there were no rotational groups. Now all pilots are divided into 5 groups, which they rotate every month and the roster comes out accordingly. You can request exactly the flights you want, and up to 3 days continuously OFF. Also you can giveaway flights and swap with other pilots. That’s how pilots end up having many days OFF continuously a month, I often see 10 days+ from swaps.
Personally I try getting the longest turnaround flights, logging 8-10 hours block in a day, and then having many days OFF between flights, instead of having too many short flights. Others like to bid for short flights, or for layovers, etc. The flexibility is great and I really love the roster. The only downside is that there are a lot of night flights, but with the bidding it is easier to avoid them. I have done very few of them in my time here. I would say average 2 a month. Some people complain that their rosters suck, but they have no clue how to bid properly. They place 10 bids and they expect to have amazing rosters.
For those who like layovers, we have a big variety of them. 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs. Asia (e.g Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia etc), Europe ( Many in Italy, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Salszburg etc), Africa (Tanzania, Kenya etc).
My first year in the company I did 550 hours, second year I did 655, and Jan- Aug 2024 I have done 300 hours. So its not bad at all.
Also the annual leave is 42 days a year. 3 years of being here I always got what i bid for, summer holidays.
Salary wise:
F/O basic package without flight hours is about 9.000$, and its another 3.000$ if you fly 70 hours a month (44$ per hour).
CPT basic package is 13.300$ and 70 hours of flying would add another 4.300$ (63$ per hour).
The salary is not the best compared to the other ME carriers, but everything in life has a balance, I love working in a nice and relaxed environment and make a bit less, instead of making little more but working in a toxic environment that you are constantly worried about everything, and flying with a stick in your arse. You know very well what I am talking about.
There is also a provident fund that the company puts aside and invests every month a % of your basic salary. It's 10% of the basic part of the salary which is about 2.600aed CPT and 1.800aed FO. The % increases in increments after the 5th year in the company if I am not mistaken. It is not anything huge and does not compare to EKs fund but it is something the accumulates over time.
There are also a lot of benefits that we get here. The Emirates/Flydubai platinum card gives you discounts to thousands of restaurants, bars, services, etc in Dubai. Anything you can imagine. Also the APC card for pilots gives us access to so many gyms, beach clubs, hotels around Dubai.
Travelling is also super easy with MyID Travel. Especially living in Dubai you can travel the whole world very easy, on business class standby tickets.
FZ Training is also great, I hear that in the past it used to be super tough and sometimes unfair, but nowadays it is just on point. FZ uses the EBT system, which makes sim sessions super beneficial and realistic. TREs/TRIs are very experienced and looking at the big picture in a very fair and nice environment. I have learned much more during my 2.5 years in FZ compared to 6 years in my previous company. Brazilians have taken over FZ training which is amazing since they are very open minded aviators looking at training in a positive and relaxed manner. The company has been using CAE simulators in Dubai, making it super easy to just drive your car there and get it done (instead of flying out for sims like I did before). Now flydubai is just finishing building its own facility with its own simulators, in the company campus HQ.
Experience wise I would say that it is probably close to the best short/medium haul experience in the world a pilot can get. We fly the B737 at every edge of its operating envelope. We operate at: hot temperatures in the gulf, high elevation airports 7.000ft+, cold weather ops in Russia and Central Asia in the winter, monsoon weather systems avoidances in India, airports with zero facilities in Africa, then flying to the super organized European main airports, or the challenging Greek islands etc. There is literally a bit of everything, using all kind of supplementary procedures. After flydubai, one can easily fly anywhere else in the world very confidently.
Now living in Dubai:
It is an amazing place away from home. The weather is super awesome for 8-9 months a year. Sunny and nice beach weather. The other 3-4 months during the summer are tough, primarily due to the high humidity and heat. But you can’t have it all right?
You get a top quality of life, it is super safe, everything is clean, brand new, organised, digitalised online, customer service is top etc. It is an easy life. I am coming from Europe, so it is a great choice. I think it is much better than living in China, Africa, other parts of Asia etc. Also personally I wouldn’t want to live in the U.S. Yes there are negatives here like anywhere else in the world, like the air quality or some difficult cultures to deal with, but there is no perfection anywhere. It’s all about attitude.
Also, people say that it is expensive. Well yes and no. It is one of the best cities in the world, and yet it is not even in the top 30 most expensive. Due to the huge number of cultures here, you can do things even cheaper than Europe if you look at the right places. You don’t need to dine at the expensive 100th floor restaurants all the time. And about housing, you can get a brand new 100 square meters beautiful apartment with swimming pool, underground parking, gym, and all the amenities for less than 2.000$ a month. Would you get that in any of the biggest cities in the world right now for this budget? Probably not. So it’s still not that bad. Do your own research. BTW it is one of the best places in the world to start your online business, so many opportunities.
I felt the need to write this post because I saw a lot of inaccurate previous replies in the forum about FZ or Dubai. Remember that most happy people do not go and write posts in forums, it is usually the unhappy and negative ones that sit and spend time to write all their hate. Those who do not like it should just go where they think the grass is greener, and leave the space open for others to come, instead of crying all day. After flying with so many different people here, the vast majority of pilots are super happy and I can only count the ''crying'' ones in the fingers of one hand, and guess what. These are the ones that are here for 10 years+. Why dont they leave then?
All in all it is an amazing place to work nowadays, offering a great package, job security, and relaxed environment while living in one of the best cities in the world. I am super happy here and planning for at least 10 years.
P.S Once again, it is all about attitude!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
From: Rome
Climb150 JG1 Desertboki
If you have a different opinion, it would be appreciated if you expressed it rather than trolling pointlessly.
For those, like me and others, who are on the verge of joining the company, that would be more helpful in order to make an informed decision.
Right now, the only substantiated opinion was the one expressed by Jet_Flyer and few others.
If you have a different opinion, it would be appreciated if you expressed it rather than trolling pointlessly.
For those, like me and others, who are on the verge of joining the company, that would be more helpful in order to make an informed decision.
Right now, the only substantiated opinion was the one expressed by Jet_Flyer and few others.
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 442
Likes: 25
From: Below the tropopause
Climb150 JG1 Desertboki
If you have a different opinion, it would be appreciated if you expressed it rather than trolling pointlessly.
For those, like me and others, who are on the verge of joining the company, that would be more helpful in order to make an informed decision.
Right now, the only substantiated opinion was the one expressed by Jet_Flyer and few others.
If you have a different opinion, it would be appreciated if you expressed it rather than trolling pointlessly.
For those, like me and others, who are on the verge of joining the company, that would be more helpful in order to make an informed decision.
Right now, the only substantiated opinion was the one expressed by Jet_Flyer and few others.
JetFlyer’s post is spot on. I have flown with many new FO’s that have joined in the past 12-24 months. The story is the same every time. Awesome place and awesome rosters. (New joiners eh…and yes I have seen their rosters!) Nothing fake about this post.
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 23
From: UAE
The positive review is genuine, there were 6 FO’s with Jan 2022 start dates that have now been promoted to CA. The timeline checks out.
the old flydubai 2012-2019 was a challenging place
the new flydubai 2020 - onwards is very different and pretty much as per the review.
the only thing I would disagree with is that EK get way more in terms of compensation, yes they get more but not significantly more, me and my neighbor hold the same rank as CA and he earned around 4,000 AED more than me with similar hrs.
for day to day net pay, it’s neither here nor there.
The EK provident fund has higher contributions. we worked out around 35% more goes in to his pot compared to FZ.
the old flydubai 2012-2019 was a challenging place
the new flydubai 2020 - onwards is very different and pretty much as per the review.
the only thing I would disagree with is that EK get way more in terms of compensation, yes they get more but not significantly more, me and my neighbor hold the same rank as CA and he earned around 4,000 AED more than me with similar hrs.
for day to day net pay, it’s neither here nor there.
The EK provident fund has higher contributions. we worked out around 35% more goes in to his pot compared to FZ.
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Europe
The people you work with in the cockpit and cabin are amazing, a good atmosphere. The office staff is something else, I never managed to get the promised school allowance, they will only pay this to local UAE schools, for me it was never an option to drag the kids out to Dubai.
Dubai has never been for me. You are standing in front of a red light and an Arab rearends you and totals your car. Guess what; the next two days you are spending at the police station trying to sort things out. Unavailable for duty and penalized in your salary and in the end it is all your fault because if you would not have been in the country you could not have been hit. You get a hefty police fine and your insurance rates just quadrupled.
Traffic is horrendous, locals in White Nissan Patrols are a real danger and don’t get into an argument, they threat you right away you will be deported, lovely.
At random you get traffic fines for places you have not even been like Abu Dhabi or at the time of the violation you were on an overnight; no use fighting this.
Yes FO’s do upgrade but not easy or guaranteed, the stories they told me, not easy. You need to have good marks for your simulator sessions. Doable. If you are unlucky your grading session is with a close to retirement American and he just fails everyone, tough luck.
Trainers are ok, mostly Brazilians who take care of each other of course but in general good people.
Bidding doesn’t work, maybe for FO”s, not if you are a 3 year captain, The first 10 years you will never be off during summer or Christmas an new years.You get randomly assigned leave in march or May, never when my kids had vacation. And trip bids, well if you are top bid and bid on 15 trips you might get one, the rest just at random.
Exception are the Indians, amazing how they can get 10 days off duty.... The Indian ground ops manager has been fired at Qatar and Ethiad for taking bribes in return for schedules to your liking, it's a rumour website right and it's the Middle East
Lot’s of Russian/ Moscow flights. Since I am European this is a nightmare, Russians interrogate you asking why FD hires Ukrainian pilots and they confiscate your smartphone and laptop and look at your visited websites and picture, log into you Facebook account, incredible. The company does nothing. When the rebels were 80 kilometers away and Emirates canceled the Moscow flights, FD kept going and sent the usual copy and paste manual from security, after three day s "we are monitoring the situation". Same memo for Tel Aviv, Kabul, Beirut and the other lovely destinations you fly to, no back up here.
There are nice destinations as well.
The medical is another thing, medicine is big business in Dubai, the slightest thing wrong and you end up in the specialist circuit. The insurance is not so great and doesn’t cover everything
I heard many stories of guys whos BMI ws too high and had to lose 10% of their body weight within 3 months and don’t ever tell you snore, they force you into an sleep apnea program , silly expensive. And blood pressure and blood checks are high on the list.
Anyways?At a sudden moment I didn’t see my kidsfor four months and I resigned, Dubai is just not for everybody, there are many good jobs out there for captains which pay much better and are rotational, sometimes you just have to be home.
Been home for a couple of months now, got a 20/10 job for a better package and my blood pressure is much lower. Again great colleagues and for FO’s there is potential but it is lifestyle
Dubai has never been for me. You are standing in front of a red light and an Arab rearends you and totals your car. Guess what; the next two days you are spending at the police station trying to sort things out. Unavailable for duty and penalized in your salary and in the end it is all your fault because if you would not have been in the country you could not have been hit. You get a hefty police fine and your insurance rates just quadrupled.
Traffic is horrendous, locals in White Nissan Patrols are a real danger and don’t get into an argument, they threat you right away you will be deported, lovely.
At random you get traffic fines for places you have not even been like Abu Dhabi or at the time of the violation you were on an overnight; no use fighting this.
Yes FO’s do upgrade but not easy or guaranteed, the stories they told me, not easy. You need to have good marks for your simulator sessions. Doable. If you are unlucky your grading session is with a close to retirement American and he just fails everyone, tough luck.
Trainers are ok, mostly Brazilians who take care of each other of course but in general good people.
Bidding doesn’t work, maybe for FO”s, not if you are a 3 year captain, The first 10 years you will never be off during summer or Christmas an new years.You get randomly assigned leave in march or May, never when my kids had vacation. And trip bids, well if you are top bid and bid on 15 trips you might get one, the rest just at random.
Exception are the Indians, amazing how they can get 10 days off duty.... The Indian ground ops manager has been fired at Qatar and Ethiad for taking bribes in return for schedules to your liking, it's a rumour website right and it's the Middle East
Lot’s of Russian/ Moscow flights. Since I am European this is a nightmare, Russians interrogate you asking why FD hires Ukrainian pilots and they confiscate your smartphone and laptop and look at your visited websites and picture, log into you Facebook account, incredible. The company does nothing. When the rebels were 80 kilometers away and Emirates canceled the Moscow flights, FD kept going and sent the usual copy and paste manual from security, after three day s "we are monitoring the situation". Same memo for Tel Aviv, Kabul, Beirut and the other lovely destinations you fly to, no back up here.
There are nice destinations as well.
The medical is another thing, medicine is big business in Dubai, the slightest thing wrong and you end up in the specialist circuit. The insurance is not so great and doesn’t cover everything
I heard many stories of guys whos BMI ws too high and had to lose 10% of their body weight within 3 months and don’t ever tell you snore, they force you into an sleep apnea program , silly expensive. And blood pressure and blood checks are high on the list.
Anyways?At a sudden moment I didn’t see my kidsfor four months and I resigned, Dubai is just not for everybody, there are many good jobs out there for captains which pay much better and are rotational, sometimes you just have to be home.
Been home for a couple of months now, got a 20/10 job for a better package and my blood pressure is much lower. Again great colleagues and for FO’s there is potential but it is lifestyle
Last edited by Captain Kaboom; 13th September 2024 at 17:11.