Saudia
Join Date: Aug 2015
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And the unemployment rate in this group is above 25%. So "Saudiization" does make sense. If this is the case for the airline business is another question.
Last edited by ExDubai; 5th Sep 2016 at 07:55.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Here in lies the problem to the answer.
Creating the jobs is all well and good. Getting the Saudis to actually do the work is a completely different issue.
I remember a few years back an edict that all taxis would be driven by Saudis. I think it had a lead in of 3 months. Never happened.
I remember a few years back an edict that all taxis would be driven by Saudis. I think it had a lead in of 3 months. Never happened.
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I think the expat cabin crew are safe.
Igig: 2020 is possibly realistic if Saudi Arabia operated an EASA style operation but in fact the Saudi system is experience based and follows the FAA model. The Saudia management may have targets but currently don't have the power to force significant change on GACA. The flow of cadets in to Saudia will be relatively slow especially compared to companies in Europe like Easyjet or Ryanair, they will always want to keep average experience levels comparable with equivalent part 121 FAA Airlines. So of course you have vested interests in Saudi Arabia; GACA being one, Saudi management being another (and even differing factions within), the government a third, and they all have their power and priority which often conflicts.
No question though Saudiization is important to them and it will come at some point, especially if there is a period of stagnation in growth of the airline.
Igig: 2020 is possibly realistic if Saudi Arabia operated an EASA style operation but in fact the Saudi system is experience based and follows the FAA model. The Saudia management may have targets but currently don't have the power to force significant change on GACA. The flow of cadets in to Saudia will be relatively slow especially compared to companies in Europe like Easyjet or Ryanair, they will always want to keep average experience levels comparable with equivalent part 121 FAA Airlines. So of course you have vested interests in Saudi Arabia; GACA being one, Saudi management being another (and even differing factions within), the government a third, and they all have their power and priority which often conflicts.
No question though Saudiization is important to them and it will come at some point, especially if there is a period of stagnation in growth of the airline.
Join Date: Aug 2015
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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Quick question. This block of 5 days that keeps getting mentioned. I take it you actually have more off a month in total? 1-2 days off between trips? I don't know the GACA regs but take it it's not 25 days of work with pure min rest between and one set of 5 days off?
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Plenty of changes happening in the airline. They really have to ramp up the training. With 6-12 months of transition or initial training, Saudiization seems like a mirage.
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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Words fail me !
Batch of 8 FO's and 8 Captains.
Last month of training, and my mate tells me as of yesterday only ONE Captain left and 3 FO's struggling.
That's a 25% survival rate now
Batch of 8 FO's and 8 Captains.
Last month of training, and my mate tells me as of yesterday only ONE Captain left and 3 FO's struggling.
That's a 25% survival rate now
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I believe it's on all fleets now.
About 25-50% of the candidates joining are still in the country by the end of the training...!
Either terminated or left of their own will or ( in a couple of cases ) completed training AND THEN left for home. Simply didn't like it.
Either way, I think it's insane.
Huge failure/departure rate.
About 25-50% of the candidates joining are still in the country by the end of the training...!
Either terminated or left of their own will or ( in a couple of cases ) completed training AND THEN left for home. Simply didn't like it.
Either way, I think it's insane.
Huge failure/departure rate.
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What stage of training king ?
Yes, Training is ridiculous now. They hired too many pilots and don't know what to do with them. The training department absolutely has no clue as to which training should get priority. No sim slots, No IPs and so on. They never hired so many pilots in the past it seems. Correct me if I'm wrong.
New IPs wait for months together for GACA observation, then few more months for observation flights by current IPs. Looks like even a IP training takes 6-12 months.
MAS pilots have spoilt the whole equation.
Almost all first officers in my batch are frustrated. With the slow training, endless Second officer flights, non stop orals, unnecessary paper work etc and the system as such.
What else can you expect ?! Attrition obviously! But cases of termination are very rare. They give 3 chances unless someone has a serious attitude problem.
Only the Captain training is on right pace. That too not upto the industry standards.
Yes, Training is ridiculous now. They hired too many pilots and don't know what to do with them. The training department absolutely has no clue as to which training should get priority. No sim slots, No IPs and so on. They never hired so many pilots in the past it seems. Correct me if I'm wrong.
New IPs wait for months together for GACA observation, then few more months for observation flights by current IPs. Looks like even a IP training takes 6-12 months.
MAS pilots have spoilt the whole equation.
Almost all first officers in my batch are frustrated. With the slow training, endless Second officer flights, non stop orals, unnecessary paper work etc and the system as such.
What else can you expect ?! Attrition obviously! But cases of termination are very rare. They give 3 chances unless someone has a serious attitude problem.
Only the Captain training is on right pace. That too not upto the industry standards.
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Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Minister of Transportation Sulaiman Al-Hamdan announced the addition of 63 new aircraft to Saudi Arabian Airlines’ existing fleet. Al-Hamdan made the announcement on the Kingdom’s National Day.
“The new airplanes will be used for passenger transport. The ministry has a strategic plan to expand its services and improve the quality of these services.
The airplanes will be used on national and international routes. The ministry has also contracted with several partners through the General Authority of Civil Aviation to expand and grow in order to achieve its goals under its strategic plan,” said the source.
Saudia’s Director General Saleh Al-Jasser said the new agreements of the General Authority of Civil Aviation enlisted the ownership of 63 new airplanes.
“We have obtained 15 Boeing 777-300ER, 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 35 Airbus New Generation A320/A321-neo planes.
The airlines signed an agreement last year with Airbus to purchase 50 A330 regional and A320 aircraft.
The agreement was signed last year in Paris in the presence of Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Muhammad Bin Salman,” said Al-Jasser.
He said the airline received the airplanes last month.
“The airline signed agreements this year and the year before for the purchase of a total of 113 new airplanes with advanced technological features.
The airline will receive four airplanes of model B787-9 in 2017,” said Al-Jasser.
RIYADH — Minister of Transportation Sulaiman Al-Hamdan announced the addition of 63 new aircraft to Saudi Arabian Airlines’ existing fleet. Al-Hamdan made the announcement on the Kingdom’s National Day.
“The new airplanes will be used for passenger transport. The ministry has a strategic plan to expand its services and improve the quality of these services.
The airplanes will be used on national and international routes. The ministry has also contracted with several partners through the General Authority of Civil Aviation to expand and grow in order to achieve its goals under its strategic plan,” said the source.
Saudia’s Director General Saleh Al-Jasser said the new agreements of the General Authority of Civil Aviation enlisted the ownership of 63 new airplanes.
“We have obtained 15 Boeing 777-300ER, 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 35 Airbus New Generation A320/A321-neo planes.
The airlines signed an agreement last year with Airbus to purchase 50 A330 regional and A320 aircraft.
The agreement was signed last year in Paris in the presence of Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Muhammad Bin Salman,” said Al-Jasser.
He said the airline received the airplanes last month.
“The airline signed agreements this year and the year before for the purchase of a total of 113 new airplanes with advanced technological features.
The airline will receive four airplanes of model B787-9 in 2017,” said Al-Jasser.
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Apparently these orders represent the filling out of 200 aircraft by 2020.
But, will any of them end up at flyadeal?
Aviation Tribune provides a little more clarity:
Sure sounds like a lot of aircraft to crew within a short amount of tme.
But, will any of them end up at flyadeal?
Aviation Tribune provides a little more clarity:
Saudi Arabian Airlines will acquire 63 aircraft as part of a fleet expansion and modernization program.
His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Chairman of the Board of General Authority of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Mr. Sulaiman Alhamdan announced the approval by Saudia’s Board of Directors of Saudia’s fleet plan.
Alhamdan further stated:
“It is my pleasure to announce that the national carrier has acquired 63 new aircraft as part of its fleet expansion and modernization plan reflecting the strength of our national economy.”
He stressed that this new acquisition will support the national carrier’s operating plans for domestic and international markets and its ambitious transformation program that was approved and supported by the Board as many of its initiatives and the objectives of its strategic plan are being carried out.
Saudia’s Director General Engineer Saleh Aljasser elaborated that this new acquisition includes 15 Boeing 777-300ER’s, 13 Boeing 787’s and 35 Airbus A320/A321neo.
These aircraft are in addition to the 50 Airbus aircraft (A330 Regional and A320) that Saudia signed for last year in Paris.
He further added:
“Saudia within two years has signed agreements to acquire 113 aircraft, in line with its fleet renewal and expansion initiative which is part of the Transformation Program that was launched last year to double in seven years what has been achieved in 70 years, and includes several other initiatives starting with investment in our people, upgrade operational efficiency and effectiveness, focus on total customer experience, optimize the network and creating distinctive products for our guests. Several of the initiatives have already been executed and some are in the process so that by 2020 we will reach our targets of a fleet of 200 aircraft, 1000 daily flights and 45 million annual passengers.”
Next year will witness the delivery of thirty aircraft, the highest number in the history of the airline, 22 of which are wide-body aircraft (777-300ER, 787-9 and A330R), while within the last 4 months of this year 2016 Saudia is receiving 25 aircraft, 21 of which are wide-body in addition to the four aircraft it received earlier this year bringing the total deliveries in 2016 to 29 aircraft.
He further added that as part of the fleet renewal, several aircraft will be taken out of service according to a phase-out plan that takes in consideration the delivery of new aircraft.
Four 747-400 aircraft have been phased-out this year, and the phase-out of the Embraer 170 fleet of 15 aircraft is ongoing and will be completed by the end of this year.
Additionally, Saudia will phase-out five units from its Boeing 777-200 fleet of 23 aircraft, with the remaining 18 scheduled to be phased-out before the end of 2017.
The airline’s early generation of A320 aircraft will be phased-out over the next two years.
Mr. Aljasser emphasized that these agreements to acquire new aircraft was being accompanied by other initiatives to train and prepare its national manpower to operate and maintain this fleet. This is reflected in the agreement Saudia signed with the Ministry of Education for 5000 scholarships to send Saudi students to study abroad aviation sciences and maintenance.
His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Chairman of the Board of General Authority of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Mr. Sulaiman Alhamdan announced the approval by Saudia’s Board of Directors of Saudia’s fleet plan.
Alhamdan further stated:
“It is my pleasure to announce that the national carrier has acquired 63 new aircraft as part of its fleet expansion and modernization plan reflecting the strength of our national economy.”
He stressed that this new acquisition will support the national carrier’s operating plans for domestic and international markets and its ambitious transformation program that was approved and supported by the Board as many of its initiatives and the objectives of its strategic plan are being carried out.
Saudia’s Director General Engineer Saleh Aljasser elaborated that this new acquisition includes 15 Boeing 777-300ER’s, 13 Boeing 787’s and 35 Airbus A320/A321neo.
These aircraft are in addition to the 50 Airbus aircraft (A330 Regional and A320) that Saudia signed for last year in Paris.
He further added:
“Saudia within two years has signed agreements to acquire 113 aircraft, in line with its fleet renewal and expansion initiative which is part of the Transformation Program that was launched last year to double in seven years what has been achieved in 70 years, and includes several other initiatives starting with investment in our people, upgrade operational efficiency and effectiveness, focus on total customer experience, optimize the network and creating distinctive products for our guests. Several of the initiatives have already been executed and some are in the process so that by 2020 we will reach our targets of a fleet of 200 aircraft, 1000 daily flights and 45 million annual passengers.”
Next year will witness the delivery of thirty aircraft, the highest number in the history of the airline, 22 of which are wide-body aircraft (777-300ER, 787-9 and A330R), while within the last 4 months of this year 2016 Saudia is receiving 25 aircraft, 21 of which are wide-body in addition to the four aircraft it received earlier this year bringing the total deliveries in 2016 to 29 aircraft.
He further added that as part of the fleet renewal, several aircraft will be taken out of service according to a phase-out plan that takes in consideration the delivery of new aircraft.
Four 747-400 aircraft have been phased-out this year, and the phase-out of the Embraer 170 fleet of 15 aircraft is ongoing and will be completed by the end of this year.
Additionally, Saudia will phase-out five units from its Boeing 777-200 fleet of 23 aircraft, with the remaining 18 scheduled to be phased-out before the end of 2017.
The airline’s early generation of A320 aircraft will be phased-out over the next two years.
Mr. Aljasser emphasized that these agreements to acquire new aircraft was being accompanied by other initiatives to train and prepare its national manpower to operate and maintain this fleet. This is reflected in the agreement Saudia signed with the Ministry of Education for 5000 scholarships to send Saudi students to study abroad aviation sciences and maintenance.
