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Middle East Many expats still flying in Knoteetingham. Regional issues can be discussed here.

Gulf Air Developments

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Old 14th Aug 2011, 19:24
  #3321 (permalink)  
 
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@ Albergineman: Apart from -AL which was delivered, we are getting another 5 A320's - 3 this year and 2 next year. 6 A321 will start joining from February. We are also planning for one A319 in 2013 - Things are looking up a bit for Gulf Air.

Side note: I heard we will start flying to Tashkent (Turn around) and Rome (night stop) very soon
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Old 14th Aug 2011, 23:52
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Apart from -AL which was delivered, we are getting another 5 A320's - 3 this year and 2 next year. 6 A321 will start joining from February. We are also planning for one A319 in 2013 - Things are looking up a bit for Gulf Air.
This is what this thread is all about!

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Old 15th Aug 2011, 09:49
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Here here ! Loved the Rome/Milan stuff on the 767 & the Hotel club lounge at Rome (for, ostensibly, use of flight deck only) was a special treat. Enjoy chaps. Heaven knows you deserve it. ciao !
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Old 15th Aug 2011, 09:55
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Tashkent could be served initialliy with the Embraer. Test the waters a bit...
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Old 15th Aug 2011, 22:59
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Thanks slow j for thinking of us in bahrain.please try to get some more info about whats happening here . we were misled too in the beginning .
But now its different,i cant show you the truth but an international investigators which are recognized by the UN are here and will reveal everything in the near future.
We want the best for the place that we make our living from,i like bahrain very much and ALL the people there.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 13:39
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After the Hellenic Imperial deal broke down, the 2 A340's are coming back but they are painted in all white. LG & LH
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 16:57
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Can someone kindly post the monthly salary and benifit for Direct Entry Cap on A320?
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Old 17th Aug 2011, 10:53
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GF to work or not to work?

Most of them were bashing GF now most of them are defending GF!

Ok! C series Bombardier airplanes. The whole interview process information came first hand. Which airline says same day result then when u get to interview they change it saying 2 weeks. I mean whole idea is to get you to the interview then shaft you there. Those guys are a bunch of hooligans! Don't know where the airline is going?

The introduction to the airline was less than 10 minutes is what I was informed. Come on! you are introducing the airline here!

So, it is confirmed that C series are the airplanes that GF is considering!
This means they are downsizing!
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Old 17th Aug 2011, 12:04
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Snk596

- An airline that is taking 15 airframes over the next year is not 'downsizing'.
They have changed their strategy and are flying less long haul but more regional and mid range flights.

- re the interview, I thought you were supposed to sell yourself at the interview, not the other way around.

- Maybe you better look elsewhere, good luck with your interviews.
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 10:34
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@ SNK596.

Downsizing? Have you seen this: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZA..._leadership_position_in_the_region

More airbusses (A320 fam and A333) coming, more E-Jets coming, C-Series maybe, new destinations and a big increase in the number of flights. And they are still reqruiting.

Just because they are interested in the C-Series doesn't mean that they are downsizing. It's a different niche aircraft tapping into new/other markets that can't be done as efficient with the Airbus 320 fam. It's going to be flown side-by-side with the Airbusses. Just like the E-Jets now.

They're expanding...
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 10:35
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Thank you Che Guevara!

Guys don't misunderstand! GF was a great airline to fly for in early days but after all the Arab countries have pulled out, they are bleeding and merely surviving!

The information I received that they never gave any time to sell yourself at the interview. It was fast back to back. This is what I was informed easy interview some 4 tests based on spatial checking computer checking verbal comprehension etc.

My concern is where is the airline going with small / medium range airplanes? C series and E 190 type aircraft. This means that the first officers from A340, A330 A320 will upgrade to Captain on which type airplane? Airbus or C and E type aircraft.

Qatar is already upgrading B777 and A330 f.o to Captain on A320. which means you could have spend 6 years on big jets and now Captain on C and E series airplane.

GF is a flag carrier OK but is a FLAG CARRIER going to fly 100 seat jets and turn out to be Gulf Air Express? back home this is what is happening regional jets is the way of the future
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 10:41
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So A320 f.o. is now preparing himself for Captain on E 190 and C series after putting 3-4 years of service with Gulf Air?
Does GF have a strategy planned out for the F.O's?

Increasing destinations!
I don't think so. They are merely flying to the same destinations that they had to pull out in past years.
They are going to be fly there and back. This means low cost module overworked and underpaid!
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 10:56
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What low cost model are you referring to snk596?? Think your info and perspective of GF is a bit confused..
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 11:27
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SNK596. Expect more destinations to be announced soon, that's all I can tell. Don't forget they already started several new services during the past year. New IFE (Panasonic) to be rolled out on all aircraft as well, starting this SEP.
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 11:57
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All airlines over here I would suspect lose money in many markets, but recover it through connections to high value destinations, and yes snk596 does point out correctly, a few of the "new markets" GF is pursuing were in fact previously served by GF
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 12:03
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snk,
Do you know that in almost every airline in the world f.o.'s move up aircraft size then back down to the smallest when they become captains. Do you know that back in the day fo's in British Airways used to go from flying the Concorde to becoming captains on HS748 (thats a turboprop by the way). Thats Mach2.0 at 60,000ft to 250knots. at 16,000. I'm fairly sure they still have the same policy, 777/747 back down to the ERJ.

And btw SNK Qatar will probably be getting regional jets in the future, so go and join them by the time you get your command they'll probably throw you back down to the C series or something of similar size. I mean what kind of person comes on a website and says that I'm too good to go down to a regional jet (mind you a jet not even a turboprop, which is where some pilots go in some airlines). The only reason you go from a 777/340/330 to a 320 in QR is because thats the smallest aircraft they have, once they get smaller you'll be straight to that.

And the reason people are defending GF is because it is actually going in the right direction. For a long time it was a bit of a joke, but it really isn't anymore, for the first time in a while things are looking up.

As for flying there and back GF is pretty standard, go ask guys on QRs 320 how they work, or Air Arabia, or anyone else for that matter, everyone is complaining right now because everyone is short of pilots and guys are working their backsides off. And we're done with the days of 3 night layovers, its there and back for everyone, not just in the Gulf, but all over the world.

I don't know what world you are living in SNK.
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 13:19
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Good information!
I already know all this. Why would a F.O. fly the 320 in GF and then upgrade to Captain on a E or C series? These airplanes are dead end. Pilots from regional jets are desperate to fly 320. Yes! it makes sense to fly 320 Captain after flying F.O. on 777/ 340 / 330 but not Captain on regional jets after 320 F.O. It will make sense in an airline with union and seniority , etc British airways, Cathay Pacific , KLM.

Flying a Boeing series or Airbus series will land you a job some how!
With EMB and Bombardier your options are limited!

Lets compare British airways and GF destinations!

Did you say back in the days? No turboprops anymore neither concorde?

QR EY EK will never get regional jets! They will stick to 320 and have a low cost airline call fly dubai even that is B737. That is the smallest!

Flying back to back is acceptable on 320 and 737 but not a regional jet.

C and E are good for CPL holders. Regional jets are replacement for the turbo props.

Even Asia and middle east are recruiting CPL holders directly on 737 and A320.

If GF is doing so well then how come so many pilots left to join Qatar? QR being the dictatorship type airline!
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 13:25
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How many hours does a pilot work in GF? low cost operations are lots of hours and no vacation!

How many of you GF pilots were told their vacation is cancelled this year?

IFE Panasonic . seriously! you are excited about IFE!

I would be concerned with getting more 319's rather than E and C jets!

The E190 and A318 are almost the same seating capacity.
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 13:32
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Saudi Arabia is slowly allowing international airlines operate to domestic airports, they are also expected to allow these airlines operate domestically within Saudi, so the EMB and C-series will be perfectly suited for these markets. GF can establish niche markets bringing expats from the smaller industrial cities to Bahrain then wherever.

Mutt
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Old 18th Aug 2011, 13:57
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You're right GF is not BA or AC etc. But firstly let me start by saying the list of cariers flying the Ejets is growing everyday, and I know for a fact that there is a demand for Ejet pilots not a surplus.

As for working conditions and having leave cancelled its the same in QR so again, not something new. Pilots all over the GCC are complaining about working hours.

Yes, if you simply want to come to GF to advance in your career and to use it as a stepping stone to somewhere else, which I am assuming you do, then moving to an Regional jet probably isn't the best career move, especially if you want to be flying wide body jets within the next 5 years or so.

The reality is that GF have 4 Regional Jets and should have around 20 airbus narrow bodies by the end of the year. So the chances of you being upgraded to captain on an RJ is slim. I know of a few 330 FOs that are being upgraded to Captains directly on the 330.

Yes it is true that GFs promotions are not always honest and people are looked over for someone else because of wasta, so you might be stuck on these planes longer than you might be if the system was honest, but you are still getting paid well and its not something that you don't see happening in QR or in EY, not sure about EK, I hear they have their house pretty much in order.

I hope you realize that QR and EY are pretty much being run by Ex-GF folk.
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