Fly Dubai - The missing info.

[Artisan]

FlyDubai planned launch schedule;

2009; 2 aircraft
2010; 7
2011; 9
2012; 10
2013; 9
2014; 9
2015; 8

Total 54 by 2015.

(Source: Middle East Aviation Outlook 2009)

[Old King Coal]

in FACT is - Well I'm sitting in FlyDubai's office (presently located on the 9th floor EK HQ building - but soon to move to it's own building over at terminal 2) and the place is full of staff; Many are working on the finishing touches on the manuals; several Captains are going through OCC (sim) this week; another group (me included) will do sim next week, and more every week after that for several weeks; the aircraft delivery dates have seemingly been agreed (there are even real-life pics of our first B737-800, painted in FlyDubai's colours.... of which I'm surprised that the spotters haven't seen it yet?!)... So it certainly seems real enough from where I'm sitting right now... or am I just imagining it?

[FMC OVERHEAT]

Flydubai 1st Aircraft

If you look closely, you can see it painted on winglets.



Copyright photographer Drewski2112.

[in FACT is]

Is This Company Really Excist

artisan, Old King Coal, FMC OVERHEAT, it's good to hear that, hope you will airborne soon, then let's see what happen to WY some expats there think FD will never get airborne, myself is not flying for FD or WY I'm not type rated on the NG

[Old King Coal]

Moving nicely along....

FMC OVERHEAT - I suspect that pic is of aircraft #1 on its way to the paint shop, wherein we now have a much newer pic than that, i.e. one with the whole aircraft fully painted in it's final colour scheme... and I gotta say that it looks gorgeous!

All we need now is a professional photographer (or a 'spotter') to take some really hot shots!

Artisan - I think you'll find that FD's planned a/c delivery, for 2009, is not 2 aicraft, but 5.

[air-runner]

Old King Coal, when do you think FD will be open for new pilot assessments or when will they receive new CV's I want to send mine over.

[Old King Coal]

air-runner - After speaking with my boss over lunch (earlier today), we hatched a plan to put a link on this thread to the new (revised) FD on-line application form... but, what with one thing and another (read: 'all as busy as heck!' ), the day rather got away from us and therein this slipped through the net (so to speak)... but I'll try to put something on here for you all during the next day (or so).... Uhm, I must make a knot in my tie so I don't forget (err, doh, now where did I put my tie?!)

[Old King Coal]

Form an orderly queue please....

Ok, I found my tie, put a knot in it (remembered to speak to the boss) and here goes wrt that link for those looking to apply to FD:

https://flydubai.valuemanage.com/PilotApplication.aspx

Nb. The criteria we're looking for is as follows:

Captains:

• B737-300-900 Type Rating is required
• A minimum of 5,000 hours total flying time
• A minimum of 500 hours in command in B737 type aircraft - with preference given to B737NG command time
• A minimum of 1,500 hours in command of a multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft (jet or turboprop) in excess of 10 tonnes
• ICAO ATPL
• 1st Class Medical
• English language fluency ICAO level 4 or above
• Actively seeking Captains with training experience, i.e., B737NG TRI/TRE/Standards Captain. A solid background in B737NG training would be highly advantageous
• Actively seeking Captains with airline senior management experience

First Officers:

• A minimum of 2,500 hours total flying time
• 500 or greater hours in command of a multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft (jet or turboprop) in excess of 10 tonnes
• Significant experience in B737EFIS/NG may be considered in lieu of 500 hours PIC requirement
• ICAO ATPL
• 1st Class Medical
• English language fluency ICAO level 4 or above
• Preference given to pilots with B737-300-900 Type rating

Aside - We were waiting for FD's IT/Systems department to put this link on the main company website but, in the interim - as we're only too well aware that it's tough times out there for many and being keen to help - we've decided to put-up this link so that those wishing to apply may do so (wherein, behind the scenes, it all points at the same database regardless of the URL you get to it via).

[Artisan]

Thanks King Coal, you merry old soul. You seem very happy with your new job. Congratulations. I'm Happy to stand corrected on the delivery schedule.

Any word on when the next intake of pilots might be starting?

[long-gonner]

King Coal,

Is the plan to hire more Captains direct entry or to upgrade first officers as the fleet grows?

[skyflyer737]

Old King Coal - thanks a lot for all the useful info. I have a question about the FO requirements of 500 or more hours in command. On the application form it asks for PIC time.....is PICUS acceptable or not? ie. if I'm an FO who meets the total hours requirements and am rated on the 737NG but with zero time in the left hand seat, does that completely rule me out, or can I use PICUS time from the right hand seat?

Many thanks
SF737

[Old King Coal]

SNAM - Thanks... that's what I was going to respond with too.

long-gonner & skyflyer737 - It seems very much the case that the 'initial' tranche of pilots are:

1. Captains (indeed I'm seemingly surrounded by folks with substantial experience in all the aforementioned areas... and a nicer bunch you'd be hard pressed to find!) - that said, given the timescales, there is likely to be more direct entry LHS (which of course is why it's being advertised) but I do know that the boss is very keen on promoting from within, when / where possible.
2. F/O's with substantial experience already (including previous Command / LHS experience, albeit on perhaps a small jet / turboprop), almost certainly being picked with a view to 'fast-track' them into the LHS. But also that "Significant experience in B737EFIS/NG may be considered in lieu of 500 hours PIC requirement".

With the envisaged level of growth at FD, it would seem prudent to get ones name down asap, on the basis that (sooner or later) the pool of experienced people will dry-up (plus first come, first served)... and there's always the chance one might just get lucky?!

Nb. It' almost certainly the case that the selection criteria is not just about how many hours one has on this or that aircraft... it's the whole person that's being looked for.... so gawd only knows how I slipped through?!

[Firbolgs]

54 a/c by 2015 !!

Just one question....where is the $$$ coming from

[Old King Coal]

Firbolgs - wrt "where is the $$$ coming from" ?

Probably the same place that funded the startup of the, now +120 wide-body aircraft, 'Emirates Airline' ?.... albeit that FD will probably require a lower (relative) investment (what with being a narrow-body fleet and a "low-cost" start-up / operation).

Nb. If you want to understand aircraft financing, have a look here and follow its associated links.

[noflare]

And if all else fails they can go with the begging bowl to AD

[air-runner]

Old King Coal Thank you very much for all the information and the best of luck in your new job.

[ICARUS1971]

Flydubai assessment

Hi guys;

I´ve been emailed to attend the assessment on the 26-27th of April,...I´ve seen Sunking´s great brief of the process,but,any wise advise from those who have allready been there..?,any thing to focus on...is the sim session compilcated (7 months without flying...),any special thing to prepare with the psychometrics in these three weeks...any tricks in the interview...what profile do you think they are looking for.. thanks!

[Panama Jack]

What is a "FCRS-- Flight Crew Resourcing . . . "?

[USMI]

King Coal,

I read your conversations and thought that you maybe could help me.. I have a client who is interested in extending Fly Dubai in terms of being responsable for its flight to the Khartoum (Sudan) and Cairo (Egypt).

He will be accountable for all the costs, catering and everything else.

Could you be so nice and give me the name of a contact person who is in charge of this as well as his/her contact information.

Where exactly is the office of Fly Dubai? Terminal 2? Can I go there and talk to them??

Awaiting your earliest reply.

Thanks :-)

[williewalsh]

Old king coal WAS a merry old soul.