Saudia
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Saudi
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This is my first posting on your site. I've been a Saudia pilot for several years so I can provide some real answers.
All the non-saudi pilot live on a compound called Saudi City. Most of the people here are Lebonese, Bangladesh or Indian. The compound is not clean like you would see in Dubia, but is livable. The water often does not work well in the day time, but the electricity is always on so the A/C works all the time.
There is a lot of flying, but also a lot of schedule changes. You bid from an very old system of pre-printed lines (not a modern system of preferencial bidding). Most of the lines have 5 days off, but you finish flying late before the first day, and are always scheduled very early the day following so if you commute anywhere, you will only have 3 days off. If you're very lucky you can beg for an extra day, but they will keep you in suspense until the last minute, so it's quite frustrating.
The schedulers do this intentionally. They feel a need to control everyone and are jealous that pilots can come and go from Saudi Arabia, while they are stuck in an office.
With a few exceptions, the career of a new non-saudi pilot is from months to a few short years. It doesn't take a long time until one grows tired of the scheduling nonsense.
Aside from the scheduling problem the company is generally nice to work for. Everybody at least pretends to be friendly and genuine, so it's an easy place to work.
if anyone wants specific answers, just post and I'll do my best to answer.
All the non-saudi pilot live on a compound called Saudi City. Most of the people here are Lebonese, Bangladesh or Indian. The compound is not clean like you would see in Dubia, but is livable. The water often does not work well in the day time, but the electricity is always on so the A/C works all the time.
There is a lot of flying, but also a lot of schedule changes. You bid from an very old system of pre-printed lines (not a modern system of preferencial bidding). Most of the lines have 5 days off, but you finish flying late before the first day, and are always scheduled very early the day following so if you commute anywhere, you will only have 3 days off. If you're very lucky you can beg for an extra day, but they will keep you in suspense until the last minute, so it's quite frustrating.
The schedulers do this intentionally. They feel a need to control everyone and are jealous that pilots can come and go from Saudi Arabia, while they are stuck in an office.
With a few exceptions, the career of a new non-saudi pilot is from months to a few short years. It doesn't take a long time until one grows tired of the scheduling nonsense.
Aside from the scheduling problem the company is generally nice to work for. Everybody at least pretends to be friendly and genuine, so it's an easy place to work.
if anyone wants specific answers, just post and I'll do my best to answer.
Join Date: May 2015
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There are no differences courses at Saudia. Training for a type-rated pilot joining the company, or a pilot transitioning from one fleet to another can last from 4 months, to over a year.
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Europe
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Hello Saudia Expat,
Thank you for the explanations. Which aircraft do you fly ? What about the long haul roster compared with short/medium ? It is said that we could expect more off days in a row on 777/330.
What about CRM ?
Is everything available in the compound, like supermarket.. ? Or do we need to go outside ? How do you feel going outside the compound ?
Many thanks
Thank you for the explanations. Which aircraft do you fly ? What about the long haul roster compared with short/medium ? It is said that we could expect more off days in a row on 777/330.
What about CRM ?
Is everything available in the compound, like supermarket.. ? Or do we need to go outside ? How do you feel going outside the compound ?
Many thanks
Join Date: Aug 2005
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This is my first posting on your site. I've been a Saudia pilot for several years so I can provide some real answers.
All the non-saudi pilot live on a compound called Saudi City. Most of the people here are Lebonese, Bangladesh or Indian. The compound is not clean like you would see in Dubia, but is livable. The water often does not work well in the day time, but the electricity is always on so the A/C works all the time.
There is a lot of flying, but also a lot of schedule changes. You bid from an very old system of pre-printed lines (not a modern system of preferencial bidding). Most of the lines have 5 days off, but you finish flying late before the first day, and are always scheduled very early the day following so if you commute anywhere, you will only have 3 days off. If you're very lucky you can beg for an extra day, but they will keep you in suspense until the last minute, so it's quite frustrating.
The schedulers do this intentionally. They feel a need to control everyone and are jealous that pilots can come and go from Saudi Arabia, while they are stuck in an office.
With a few exceptions, the career of a new non-saudi pilot is from months to a few short years. It doesn't take a long time until one grows tired of the scheduling nonsense.
Aside from the scheduling problem the company is generally nice to work for. Everybody at least pretends to be friendly and genuine, so it's an easy place to work.
if anyone wants specific answers, just post and I'll do my best to answer.
All the non-saudi pilot live on a compound called Saudi City. Most of the people here are Lebonese, Bangladesh or Indian. The compound is not clean like you would see in Dubia, but is livable. The water often does not work well in the day time, but the electricity is always on so the A/C works all the time.
There is a lot of flying, but also a lot of schedule changes. You bid from an very old system of pre-printed lines (not a modern system of preferencial bidding). Most of the lines have 5 days off, but you finish flying late before the first day, and are always scheduled very early the day following so if you commute anywhere, you will only have 3 days off. If you're very lucky you can beg for an extra day, but they will keep you in suspense until the last minute, so it's quite frustrating.
The schedulers do this intentionally. They feel a need to control everyone and are jealous that pilots can come and go from Saudi Arabia, while they are stuck in an office.
With a few exceptions, the career of a new non-saudi pilot is from months to a few short years. It doesn't take a long time until one grows tired of the scheduling nonsense.
Aside from the scheduling problem the company is generally nice to work for. Everybody at least pretends to be friendly and genuine, so it's an easy place to work.
if anyone wants specific answers, just post and I'll do my best to answer.
Most of the people stay here until they are forced to leave by age or personal reasons. With few exceptions
. As time passes by it's more and more difficult to leave. Increasing salary, benefits, school for kids... Once you get used to this life it's easy. And relations with planners entirely depend on you. Just respect them and you you will be treated accordingly. Withing scheduling limits, of course.
Scheduling problems is a part of a job description and compensated in the end of the month with SMS from the bank.
Join Date: Aug 2005
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It's 5 days in a row only. Whatever you make of it. Europe - 3 days at home. US/Canada - 2. Plus jet lag. No fun.
To make it back to back you need seniority. On 777 it will probably never happen to new hires.
To make it back to back you need seniority. On 777 it will probably never happen to new hires.
Last edited by Romasik; 17th May 2015 at 20:18.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Tropopause FL350
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5 years plan
Next week the company will present the 5 year plan in a press conference.that will be interesting. I wish i could attend but the keep me busy all the time.
will be front page next day on the newspapers without any doubt.
will be front page next day on the newspapers without any doubt.
Join Date: Jan 2009
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If it's not clear yet please read my text "IT IS NOT A COMMUTING OR COMMUTABLE CONTRACT".
If you understand that and are happy to live in Jeddah then it's a good contract.
If you understand that and are happy to live in Jeddah then it's a good contract.
Saudia City
I lived in the very first block to open in Saudia City. That was about March of 1977. There were no gates on any entrance. No telephones either. A TWA mechanic wired the place for video and ran a cable network using betmax machines for years.
Those blocks have been demolished, but Google Maps still show that the rest has not changed much.
They used the same type paper bid/line schedule systems, but most lines had 8 days off.
They would always schedule a 1 day trip at the end or beginning of a line if your days off were next to the beginning or the end of a month. Lost of sick call ins from the locals for those lines.
The place was decent back then.
Those blocks have been demolished, but Google Maps still show that the rest has not changed much.
They used the same type paper bid/line schedule systems, but most lines had 8 days off.
They would always schedule a 1 day trip at the end or beginning of a line if your days off were next to the beginning or the end of a month. Lost of sick call ins from the locals for those lines.
The place was decent back then.
Last edited by Old Boeing Driver; 19th May 2015 at 00:56. Reason: Spelling
Join Date: Sep 1999
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Next week the company will present the 5 year plan in a press conference.that will be interesting
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Saudia will double its fleet in 5 years.
More competition to the ME3
Saudi national carrier to double fleet: media
More competition to the ME3
Saudi national carrier to double fleet: media
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And who is going to fly them?
Lets say an average of 5 sets of crew per aircraft (as types unknown), 80 aircraft means 800 crews or 160 new hires a year, thats not including retirements/resignations, so about 200 a year.
Should be interesting.
Lets say an average of 5 sets of crew per aircraft (as types unknown), 80 aircraft means 800 crews or 160 new hires a year, thats not including retirements/resignations, so about 200 a year.
Should be interesting
.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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And who is going to fly them?
Lets say an average of 5 sets of crew per aircraft (as types unknown), 80 aircraft means 800 crews or 160 new hires a year, thats not including retirements/resignations, so about 200 a year.
Should be interesting.
5 sets is not achievable especially on the T7. Ppl from the HR are talking for minimum 350 pilots/year for the next 5 years plus the local cadets. Next month the PSAA will receive a second B777 ftd from AZ because they are expecting more than 35 expats per month from September . Last week they had 48 candidates on the Cairo assessment and again another 48 next week. Even EK with the most efficient HR department can handle 32 per week. In addition only some details are yet to be confirmed so that SVA will secure slots for the B777 in Air France sims in Paris ,because CAI DXB and JED are not enough. I think the press conference next week will be quite interesting
Lets say an average of 5 sets of crew per aircraft (as types unknown), 80 aircraft means 800 crews or 160 new hires a year, thats not including retirements/resignations, so about 200 a year.
Should be interesting.
5 sets is not achievable especially on the T7. Ppl from the HR are talking for minimum 350 pilots/year for the next 5 years plus the local cadets. Next month the PSAA will receive a second B777 ftd from AZ because they are expecting more than 35 expats per month from September . Last week they had 48 candidates on the Cairo assessment and again another 48 next week. Even EK with the most efficient HR department can handle 32 per week. In addition only some details are yet to be confirmed so that SVA will secure slots for the B777 in Air France sims in Paris ,because CAI DXB and JED are not enough. I think the press conference next week will be quite interesting
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Unless a lot changes; it is absolutely not achievable. Currently the Academy can not take a throughput of more than 150 new hires per year. Even using the training capacity of other companies to meet t7 requirements, it's not that those companies don't need their own training capacity in the coming years. Add to that; currently the HR department is as efficient as Greek government. There is no way they can cope with 48 interviews per month, and they can not get 48 GACA qualified people to each interview in any case. People who are that qualified have a lot of options.
Even if they did manage to get the required number of candidates into the training center the attrition rate is still high. People decide Jeddah is not for them. Lifestyle for A320 new hire Captains is not particularly good. GACA are not going to lower their standards.
Let's say 800-1000 Pilots in 5 years would be an absolutely remarkable achievement.
Even if they did manage to get the required number of candidates into the training center the attrition rate is still high. People decide Jeddah is not for them. Lifestyle for A320 new hire Captains is not particularly good. GACA are not going to lower their standards.
Let's say 800-1000 Pilots in 5 years would be an absolutely remarkable achievement.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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@polax52. They had 48 the previous week and they will have 48 next week as well. The training centers that they get are not for free. And this is why they look for extra slots and locations. The only real problem (and i have already mentioned it) is the GACA examiners.but guess what!! Gaca asked from all the senior instructors in the PSAA to submit their resumes . I got my doupts that they will meet the objective target but i am pretty sure that they will try as much as possible.
Join Date: May 2004
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The problem can be simply resolved by creating a level of Senior Instructors who automatically become GACA examiners when appointed as such by the airline.
i.e. they train, check, and licence on behalf of the company, and GACA.
i.e. they train, check, and licence on behalf of the company, and GACA.