Ayla Aaa Jordan
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Truthful you are NOT!
Ayla 2020, you may welcome Truthful's return but as one who has tried to keep this thread free from inaccuracy and vitriol, I do not! We will no doubt descend back into the BS that caused the previous thread to be removed. There are at least 5 inaccuracies in his posts and this is the one time I will react, from now on I will just ignore his sciolism.
PS. Truthfool, do not use names, it leaves you open to a lawsuit for libel.
PS. Truthfool, do not use names, it leaves you open to a lawsuit for libel.
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Truthful
"Two out of the three instructors had already worked in Qatar and Al Fujairah without licences but the Civil Aviation Authorities there failed to catch them"
what about the 3rd one , does he has a license ?
"Two out of the three instructors had already worked in Qatar and Al Fujairah without licences but the Civil Aviation Authorities there failed to catch them"
what about the 3rd one , does he has a license ?
Join Date: Jun 2008
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The CEO was and is aware of the Ground Instructor Licencing requirements. Before his direct intervention, Instructors from outside Jordan who were preparing to take their GI/AGI/INST Exams at CARC, did not teach on any of the CARC approved Courses. This was described by the CEO as a "Perverse" interpretation of the rules and it seems from then on the CARC rules were open to his interpretation!
Truthful, GCAA and Qatar Licencing requirements for Ground Instructors are different than in Jordan which operates a FAA system. There is no formal issue of Licence in these countries.
Truthful, GCAA and Qatar Licencing requirements for Ground Instructors are different than in Jordan which operates a FAA system. There is no formal issue of Licence in these countries.
Last edited by gilderoy lockhart; 26th Oct 2008 at 11:01.
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Gilderoy,
Yes. I was at that meeting in January, where the CEO brushed aside the CARC rules as "stupid" when told the licencing aspect. The whole point of the meeting seemed to be to try to shoe horn more paying customers (students) through the door, without increasing staffing numbers (I seem to remember that Instructor/student ratios and instructor contact hours were dismissed as "ridiculous" too)..
It was obvious at the time and caused open dissent.
It didnt matter that several guys informed him of the rules. However it was highly irregular that he chose to have that meeting (egged on by a lapdog or two), while the CGI was away on company business, whereas if he had waited a mere 24 hours, he would have received the facts and direct references to the rules first hand. However, the shoot the messanger mentality was running rife.
Chickens, roost..home (rearrange as required). It would be funny if it wasnt tragic and affects peoples lives and careers. Ill never understand what drives the guy. Surely he wants the place to succeed? perhaps he's just a bit Upton Park. ( 2 Stops short of Barking
)
Yes. I was at that meeting in January, where the CEO brushed aside the CARC rules as "stupid" when told the licencing aspect. The whole point of the meeting seemed to be to try to shoe horn more paying customers (students) through the door, without increasing staffing numbers (I seem to remember that Instructor/student ratios and instructor contact hours were dismissed as "ridiculous" too)..
It was obvious at the time and caused open dissent.
It didnt matter that several guys informed him of the rules. However it was highly irregular that he chose to have that meeting (egged on by a lapdog or two), while the CGI was away on company business, whereas if he had waited a mere 24 hours, he would have received the facts and direct references to the rules first hand. However, the shoot the messanger mentality was running rife.
Chickens, roost..home (rearrange as required). It would be funny if it wasnt tragic and affects peoples lives and careers. Ill never understand what drives the guy. Surely he wants the place to succeed? perhaps he's just a bit Upton Park. ( 2 Stops short of Barking
)
with that nomber of studets left/leaving?Join Date: Jan 2008
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Thanks goneeast, you have made my whole day!!!!!
"just a bit Upton Park. ( 2 Stops short of Barking
)"
PS. Have you seen the "You know you have been in the Middle East too long when..." thread? It is hilarious!
"just a bit Upton Park. ( 2 Stops short of Barking
)"PS. Have you seen the "You know you have been in the Middle East too long when..." thread? It is hilarious!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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`makhemukh
OK i am wrong and you are right but please tell the readers the causes of the fall of AYLA ACADEMY? AFTER ALL PUTTING THE WHOLE BLAME ON CEO is not justified because he was paying you a lot of money for the improvement of his Academy. What all did you do in this regards? Please enlighten us.
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The main reason for the collapse of Ayla is typified by the January meeting. Despite plenty of freely offered advice and help, the CEO chose to ignore those that he had brought in to improve the academy.
'You can lead a horse to water .........'
In addition, the meeting was called for one reason, and then something entirely different was 'discussed' by the CEO. Clearly, he had his own agenda and wasn't going to let a few facts or regulations get in the way!
'What's a boy to do?........'
'You can lead a horse to water .........'
In addition, the meeting was called for one reason, and then something entirely different was 'discussed' by the CEO. Clearly, he had his own agenda and wasn't going to let a few facts or regulations get in the way!
'What's a boy to do?........'
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Truthful,
Advice can be ignored, no matter how much an individual expert is paid for giving it! The CEO by his own admission is a Micro-Manager and as such ALL final decisions are his! There in a nut shell is Ayla's problem!
Advice can be ignored, no matter how much an individual expert is paid for giving it! The CEO by his own admission is a Micro-Manager and as such ALL final decisions are his! There in a nut shell is Ayla's problem!
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Truthful,
At the beginning of this year I was not even an Ayla employee. I had been the Quality Manager and Deputy CGI (on less than half the salary figure you suggested). The academy had had its fair share of problems before I left in December, 2007, but it was growing and in pretty good shape; certainly, it was audited throughout 2007 to JAA FTO standards and passed easily. Then in Feb, 2008, the trouble really started!
I was paid (although not the figure you suggested, nor with the additional benefits you mentioned - I lived in the Rae'd Suites with the Oman Air students, hardly 5-star!), and brought back from Atlantic Flight Training in England where I was just settling in as COO, a reasonably highly paid job, to deal with some essential projects:
I was not directly responsible for running the training system at Ayla until I became Head of Training, which was 2 days before I quit, and that all happened when I was in Michigan = I did not spend 1 second at Aqaba as HOT.
In truth, I would have loved the opportunity to turn AAA around, I have a lot of emotional attachment to it, and especially to the fine groups of young people we attracted to the school; however, and without pointing the finger directly, you will get a flavor of the conditions under which we operated by reading and understanding the opinions of my former colleagues contained in the posts before this one. In fact, I offered to return as HOT to try to turn the academy around but my offer was declined, albeit politely, it must be said.
Those are the facts, habibe, you will find this thread full of regretful instructors and department managers who would have loved the opportunity to help AAA realize its true potential - it could have been the best in the region, at least! However...
At the beginning of this year I was not even an Ayla employee. I had been the Quality Manager and Deputy CGI (on less than half the salary figure you suggested). The academy had had its fair share of problems before I left in December, 2007, but it was growing and in pretty good shape; certainly, it was audited throughout 2007 to JAA FTO standards and passed easily. Then in Feb, 2008, the trouble really started!
I was paid (although not the figure you suggested, nor with the additional benefits you mentioned - I lived in the Rae'd Suites with the Oman Air students, hardly 5-star!), and brought back from Atlantic Flight Training in England where I was just settling in as COO, a reasonably highly paid job, to deal with some essential projects:
- Stabilize the Ground School after the (enforced) departure of the founding CGI, a poor decision that started the rot (3 very fine ex-pat GI's followed shortly after), and until a replacement could be found.
- The GF Approval, especially writing the Ops and Training Manuals after the guy tasked with the job (my replacement as Quality Manager) departed.
- The MPL syllabus
I was not directly responsible for running the training system at Ayla until I became Head of Training, which was 2 days before I quit, and that all happened when I was in Michigan = I did not spend 1 second at Aqaba as HOT.
In truth, I would have loved the opportunity to turn AAA around, I have a lot of emotional attachment to it, and especially to the fine groups of young people we attracted to the school; however, and without pointing the finger directly, you will get a flavor of the conditions under which we operated by reading and understanding the opinions of my former colleagues contained in the posts before this one. In fact, I offered to return as HOT to try to turn the academy around but my offer was declined, albeit politely, it must be said.
Those are the facts, habibe, you will find this thread full of regretful instructors and department managers who would have loved the opportunity to help AAA realize its true potential - it could have been the best in the region, at least! However...
Last edited by mafemukh; 26th Oct 2008 at 15:01.
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Libel
Aim Hi,
I understand your desire for plain speaking but you must remember that even by using a nickname it does not exempt you from the international libel laws. Full names MUST NOT be used, I believe I know the true identities of Gilderoy, goneeast, Klubman and Truthful; however, I will not name them nor will I point the finger directly at any individual. All I can do is present what I believe to be the facts. It is your job to judge fact from fiction and who, what and when.
I understand your desire for plain speaking but you must remember that even by using a nickname it does not exempt you from the international libel laws. Full names MUST NOT be used, I believe I know the true identities of Gilderoy, goneeast, Klubman and Truthful; however, I will not name them nor will I point the finger directly at any individual. All I can do is present what I believe to be the facts. It is your job to judge fact from fiction and who, what and when.
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I'll think you will find that the big boys are not fighting. We worked hard to convince the CEO the error of his ways and failed. Because he would not listen..end of. When you are inputting good advice and continue to be ignored, you leave, that is exactly what happened..There was no ex-pat versus local agenda. No "I am leaving because I want more money". No tensions between instructors that I am aware of.
In fact the only instructor that left because of problems with locals did so because of high levels of racial abuse (In town, not at work). I was firmly able to look after myself on that front (if you know what i mean
).
Im pretty sure that many posters on here would have stayed gladly if they were listened to..there were plenty of meetings, but why bother with meetings if you are not going to bother listening to your management/staff? We all got on very well thank you!
As for advice to the students, firstly, good luck. You need to formulate a plan of action, you need to speak to the CEO directly. Be prepared for him to offer you platitudes and he will say what you want to hear. But stay strong and demand results.. You are paying for this after all. There is no point in moaning on here if you are not airing your concerns to the CEO (And NOT to student welfare/instructors/other students or the teaboy)...the CEO is a micro manager and he is the ONLY one to talk to..as a student body.
Do it sooner rather than later, but have FACTS to hand to challenge him with.
In fact the only instructor that left because of problems with locals did so because of high levels of racial abuse (In town, not at work). I was firmly able to look after myself on that front (if you know what i mean
).Im pretty sure that many posters on here would have stayed gladly if they were listened to..there were plenty of meetings, but why bother with meetings if you are not going to bother listening to your management/staff? We all got on very well thank you!
As for advice to the students, firstly, good luck. You need to formulate a plan of action, you need to speak to the CEO directly. Be prepared for him to offer you platitudes and he will say what you want to hear. But stay strong and demand results.. You are paying for this after all. There is no point in moaning on here if you are not airing your concerns to the CEO (And NOT to student welfare/instructors/other students or the teaboy)...the CEO is a micro manager and he is the ONLY one to talk to..as a student body.
Do it sooner rather than later, but have FACTS to hand to challenge him with.
Last edited by goneeast; 27th Oct 2008 at 08:02.
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Instructor Harmony
Aim Hi,
Yep, goneeast has got it about right. I enjoyed my time with my instructor colleagues at Ayla, and the students were/still are fab! And let's not forget the -
Administrators
N. was a wonderful HR person, highly respected by instructors and students alike - she was fired by text message!
V. was doing a great job in groundschool, again admired and respected by instructors and students, balancing her work life with that of being a new mother - she was hounded out!
There is a "cult of personality" issue at Ayla; when you surround yourself with pretty little things that tell you how wonderful you are, you will probably believe them after a while.
Advice
I have already been in contact with students privately to offer them advice based upon their particular stage in training. I am still happy to do so and they can email me at [email protected]
For those members of AAA management who monitor this thread, my advice is unbiased and objective, offering options and a recommendation based only upon my experience in this industry.
Yep, goneeast has got it about right. I enjoyed my time with my instructor colleagues at Ayla, and the students were/still are fab! And let's not forget the -
Administrators
N. was a wonderful HR person, highly respected by instructors and students alike - she was fired by text message!
V. was doing a great job in groundschool, again admired and respected by instructors and students, balancing her work life with that of being a new mother - she was hounded out!
There is a "cult of personality" issue at Ayla; when you surround yourself with pretty little things that tell you how wonderful you are, you will probably believe them after a while.
Advice
I have already been in contact with students privately to offer them advice based upon their particular stage in training. I am still happy to do so and they can email me at [email protected]
For those members of AAA management who monitor this thread, my advice is unbiased and objective, offering options and a recommendation based only upon my experience in this industry.
Last edited by mafemukh; 27th Oct 2008 at 11:19.
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Truthful
(Two out of the three instructors had already worked in Qatar and Al Fujairah)
Truthful Do you mean they are traviling to the collapsed Academies,or to collapse Academies??????????????????????????
Truthful Do you mean they are traviling to the collapsed Academies,or to collapse Academies??????????????????????????
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Aim Hi
Let's be clear about this.
As instructors we didn't travel thousands of miles from our homes and families with the intention of destroying that which paid our salaries (which, incidentally, were OK but not fabulously high).
Speaking personally, and I think I speak for the others as well, I took the position because it was an opportunity to do what I love after a long career in the military. It was also an opportunity to travel, meet new people, experience different cultures, etc.
It was with great regret that I left Aqaba. I enjoyed the company of fellow instructors, enjoyed teaching the students, and generally felt that (nearly) everyone got along together.
But, and its a big but, there were aspects of AAA that made me feel insecure and, after the enforced departure of the CGI, I felt that I was next to get the chop.
So, No, we didn't set out to destroy AAA. It managed that by him/itself.
As instructors we didn't travel thousands of miles from our homes and families with the intention of destroying that which paid our salaries (which, incidentally, were OK but not fabulously high).
Speaking personally, and I think I speak for the others as well, I took the position because it was an opportunity to do what I love after a long career in the military. It was also an opportunity to travel, meet new people, experience different cultures, etc.
It was with great regret that I left Aqaba. I enjoyed the company of fellow instructors, enjoyed teaching the students, and generally felt that (nearly) everyone got along together.
But, and its a big but, there were aspects of AAA that made me feel insecure and, after the enforced departure of the CGI, I felt that I was next to get the chop.
So, No, we didn't set out to destroy AAA. It managed that by him/itself.
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Just for the record the facts of my departure are as follows;
I requested a meeting with the CEO after the January meeting (held in my abscence), after complaints about what had happened from my Instructors. After a frustrating discussion I asked the CEO if he had confidence in my decision making, he said he did not and I informed him then I could not carry on as CGI.
I was subsequently offered a role in MPL development (deemed a promotion) but like Klubman I felt that there was no security at Ayla with the Owner/CEO in charge. I tendered my resignation after being offered employment by 2 companies in the UAE.
I take no pleasure in seeing a school that I put a huge amount of effort into failing. I feel especially sad for the students who were promised quality training and have not received it!
Regards,
Mick
I requested a meeting with the CEO after the January meeting (held in my abscence), after complaints about what had happened from my Instructors. After a frustrating discussion I asked the CEO if he had confidence in my decision making, he said he did not and I informed him then I could not carry on as CGI.
I was subsequently offered a role in MPL development (deemed a promotion) but like Klubman I felt that there was no security at Ayla with the Owner/CEO in charge. I tendered my resignation after being offered employment by 2 companies in the UAE.
I take no pleasure in seeing a school that I put a huge amount of effort into failing. I feel especially sad for the students who were promised quality training and have not received it!
Regards,
Mick
Last edited by gilderoy lockhart; 27th Oct 2008 at 13:21.
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Training elsewhere
Unhappy students + unhappy staff = a wobly stage that might just collapse.
I truly believe allot of self-sponsored students have been taken for a ride here and haven't gotten their money's worth, especially now as the pound has slipped against the dollar - your Bahraini dinar now buys you allot more in the UK and Europe.
JAA Integrated fATPL courses in the UK now cost a little more than what Ayla charges, and if the pound slips any more, they will continue to get cheaper. Is it true Ayla have actually increased their fees?????
Sabena Flight Academy - 37,000 Dinars
Oxford Aviation Academy - 38,000 Dinars
Cabair - 36,000 Dinars
The best advice is to probably take your money elsewhere, and leave whilst you can.
I truly believe allot of self-sponsored students have been taken for a ride here and haven't gotten their money's worth, especially now as the pound has slipped against the dollar - your Bahraini dinar now buys you allot more in the UK and Europe.
JAA Integrated fATPL courses in the UK now cost a little more than what Ayla charges, and if the pound slips any more, they will continue to get cheaper. Is it true Ayla have actually increased their fees?????
Sabena Flight Academy - 37,000 Dinars
Oxford Aviation Academy - 38,000 Dinars
Cabair - 36,000 Dinars
The best advice is to probably take your money elsewhere, and leave whilst you can.