Saudia
A330
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Egypt
Guys my joining date on the A330 as a FO is on 3rd of April and my travel date on 27th of March , anyone with me ?
and anyone has any idea what are the destinations and layovers of the A330, scheduling and hours per month ?
thanks .
and anyone has any idea what are the destinations and layovers of the A330, scheduling and hours per month ?
thanks .
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,552
Likes: 25
From: ME
What really is happening with B777 FO training?
As for the A330, draw a range circle of about 10 hours around Saudi, thats what the aircraft is capable of doing, so lots of nice potential layover destinations
However, in reality it goes to India and Tunisia. This is the slowest fleet in the airline, very little overtime if any and an average of 70-80 hours, unfortunately this doesn't translate into more time at home due to poor utilisation.
Enjoy!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Yonder !
Saudi Interview and Medical !!
Fly 77w,
Let me try and be be brief.
I did the SV screening about a year ago. It was done in Cairo.
Whist the written tests, sims and interview were conducted quite professionally, what really really sucked was the way in which the Medical,examination was conducted.
It's conducted in a civilian government hospital where you have absolutely no common language, patients from all over the country crowded before you and in appalling unhygienic and absolutely unsanitary conditions. We were a group of 4 and it took us from 7am until 4pm to simply go thru something that could have been a breeze.
The eye doctor probes into your eyes for anything between 1-2 hours. There is no dis infecting any instruments, then probes again for another 1 hour after putting some drops into your eyes which leave you nearly blinded for the rest of the day!
The toilets are full of bloody cotton swabs and women's sanitary pads lying out in the open or simply in the dustbin. You are expected to give your urine sample in a dingy cubicle with no washing water or even a flush for that matter. And to top it all there is this strange looking dwarf of man with shifty eyes who squeezes himself into the same 3ft/3ft cubicle while you pee...!!! Something to do with drug testing I think.
And I could swear that the lady who did the lung function test for the candidates was not changing the mouth piece where all others were blowing.
When I did my ECG and asked for cleaning up the gel from my body I was simply answered with 'no have'. 20 minutes of negotiations later I had to clean off all of the gook from my body with my own two socks!! Incidentally, my only handkerchief was being used for my eyes which simply didn't stop tearing after the drops and the 2 hours of invasive probing.
The nurse collecting my blood made 3 puncture wounds in my left arm before getting it right.
You are supposed to fast a day before but nobody tells you that. Why? Language issues.
Pathetic comes to mind. But I shall coin a personal adjective and then rewrite this para.
Im not kidding when I say this. But I spent over a month and a half post SV medical simply recovering. I had an infection in both my eyes, got some kind of a skin reaction which later developed into an allergy exactly on the spot where the nurse took the blood from.
The ENT specialist was another circus clown. He keypad saying 'suck it' when what he actually meant to say was 'blow it'. All this whilst probing another unchanged, un disinfected and completely unsanitary ear probe into my ears and then another one into my nostrils later. Believe it made my hair stand on end. And an ENT check that normally should take no more than 5 minutes ended up taking more than 45 minutes.
And then to think that I would be doing this every 6 months!!!!!!
No way.
In fact I got my joining letter just 2 weeks later but I simply didn't reply. At no,point was I going to even consider this job if every 6 months I have to go through this trauma. At best !
No amount of money in the world can compensate you for lost health acquired ironically from a place where health is to be regained!
The building itself is like a slum in Săo Paulo. It's a standing ruin which should ideally be situated next to the historical pyramids. It might look older.
The only thing that looks older are the instruments and machines they use to probe and check you with.
And then they come back with these weird out of this world results. Three of us including my partner had to re take the blood sample simply because their machine would not give any readout of his their RBC count. They were theoretically bloodless zombies. And again, no syringe change. I refused till he did it.
We had a healthy looking 45'year old pilot with us. As per the physician checking him this pilot's blood pressure was 210/110. Walking dead...!!
On rechecking it was perfectly normal.
Cut a long story short. Your life and Licence is in the hands of these maniacs. And that too every 6 months.
Beware. Be very very aware.
I didn't take the job. Am very happy in another ME carrier where I do a medical every year and if I can bend and tie my shoe lace I'm fit.
BTW I'm a regular jogger and gym met with no known medical problem.
On the bright side this was over a year ago.
Things could have changed. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Off now.
Let me try and be be brief.
I did the SV screening about a year ago. It was done in Cairo.
Whist the written tests, sims and interview were conducted quite professionally, what really really sucked was the way in which the Medical,examination was conducted.
It's conducted in a civilian government hospital where you have absolutely no common language, patients from all over the country crowded before you and in appalling unhygienic and absolutely unsanitary conditions. We were a group of 4 and it took us from 7am until 4pm to simply go thru something that could have been a breeze.
The eye doctor probes into your eyes for anything between 1-2 hours. There is no dis infecting any instruments, then probes again for another 1 hour after putting some drops into your eyes which leave you nearly blinded for the rest of the day!
The toilets are full of bloody cotton swabs and women's sanitary pads lying out in the open or simply in the dustbin. You are expected to give your urine sample in a dingy cubicle with no washing water or even a flush for that matter. And to top it all there is this strange looking dwarf of man with shifty eyes who squeezes himself into the same 3ft/3ft cubicle while you pee...!!! Something to do with drug testing I think.
And I could swear that the lady who did the lung function test for the candidates was not changing the mouth piece where all others were blowing.
When I did my ECG and asked for cleaning up the gel from my body I was simply answered with 'no have'. 20 minutes of negotiations later I had to clean off all of the gook from my body with my own two socks!! Incidentally, my only handkerchief was being used for my eyes which simply didn't stop tearing after the drops and the 2 hours of invasive probing.
The nurse collecting my blood made 3 puncture wounds in my left arm before getting it right.
You are supposed to fast a day before but nobody tells you that. Why? Language issues.
Pathetic comes to mind. But I shall coin a personal adjective and then rewrite this para.
Im not kidding when I say this. But I spent over a month and a half post SV medical simply recovering. I had an infection in both my eyes, got some kind of a skin reaction which later developed into an allergy exactly on the spot where the nurse took the blood from.
The ENT specialist was another circus clown. He keypad saying 'suck it' when what he actually meant to say was 'blow it'. All this whilst probing another unchanged, un disinfected and completely unsanitary ear probe into my ears and then another one into my nostrils later. Believe it made my hair stand on end. And an ENT check that normally should take no more than 5 minutes ended up taking more than 45 minutes.
And then to think that I would be doing this every 6 months!!!!!!
No way.
In fact I got my joining letter just 2 weeks later but I simply didn't reply. At no,point was I going to even consider this job if every 6 months I have to go through this trauma. At best !
No amount of money in the world can compensate you for lost health acquired ironically from a place where health is to be regained!
The building itself is like a slum in Săo Paulo. It's a standing ruin which should ideally be situated next to the historical pyramids. It might look older.
The only thing that looks older are the instruments and machines they use to probe and check you with.
And then they come back with these weird out of this world results. Three of us including my partner had to re take the blood sample simply because their machine would not give any readout of his their RBC count. They were theoretically bloodless zombies. And again, no syringe change. I refused till he did it.
We had a healthy looking 45'year old pilot with us. As per the physician checking him this pilot's blood pressure was 210/110. Walking dead...!!
On rechecking it was perfectly normal.
Cut a long story short. Your life and Licence is in the hands of these maniacs. And that too every 6 months.
Beware. Be very very aware.
I didn't take the job. Am very happy in another ME carrier where I do a medical every year and if I can bend and tie my shoe lace I'm fit.
BTW I'm a regular jogger and gym met with no known medical problem.
On the bright side this was over a year ago.
Things could have changed. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Off now.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: On a Wing!
Saudia take home salary
Hey guys,
Can anyone please advise me as to APPROXIMATELY how much would a B777 skipper make per month in USD if he flies say an average of 70 hrs on line. No overtime. Please factor in all per diems etc etc. House is looked after. And let's keep the kids education also out of the picture. So let's not factor those in either.
And whilst you're at it could you throw some light onto the tickets available for family and self too please.
Many thanks in advance for your replies.
Cheers.
Can anyone please advise me as to APPROXIMATELY how much would a B777 skipper make per month in USD if he flies say an average of 70 hrs on line. No overtime. Please factor in all per diems etc etc. House is looked after. And let's keep the kids education also out of the picture. So let's not factor those in either.
And whilst you're at it could you throw some light onto the tickets available for family and self too please.
Many thanks in advance for your replies.
Cheers.
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,552
Likes: 25
From: ME
Cut a long story short. Your life and Licence is in the hands of these maniacs.
Why would you go back to do your medical in Cairo? In fact why wouldn't you just go to an AME to do your annual medicals?
if he flies say an average of 70 hrs on line. No overtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between MSL and the Stratosphere
thanks top gun 797. This is something I couldn't have put better. Had a very similar scenario with my initial medicals in cairo. But I don't think I can blame Saudia for it. They seem not to know. Or maybe someone is making money on the side. One can never tell. Unlike you I didn't make it.
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: world
I've heard many things about it ! First, it was something related to the commuting. I believe it was a fair deal/sacrifice.
Now, a few guys told me something quite different. The new base would be mostly for expats… They haven't specified anything regarding the accommodation.
If the last option is true, you'll see tons of pilots leaving !
Now, a few guys told me something quite different. The new base would be mostly for expats… They haven't specified anything regarding the accommodation.
If the last option is true, you'll see tons of pilots leaving !
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: world
I meant Saudia. As far as I know, most of the expats were expecting/hoping for a commuting. Or a least be able to manage 6 or 7 days off in a row. However, the reality is a little different. 5 consecutive days is very nice..if your hometown is not too far from the Kingdom. If you spend one day to travel + one more day to travel back, you get 3 days home.
On top of that, if they plan on sending people to RUH ( which is a very strict city ), you will see a lot of unhappy people.
But again, I am just sharing what I've heard.
On top of that, if they plan on sending people to RUH ( which is a very strict city ), you will see a lot of unhappy people.
But again, I am just sharing what I've heard.
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,552
Likes: 25
From: ME
The new base would be mostly for expats…
It's a pity, they were onto a winner with 20/10.