filejw

Serious Flyer,
I could see that if English is not someones first language a psychometric test could be a problem.I just did 3 free ones on line and got 3 different answers.LOL

serious flyer

Filejw,
I think that the issue on these tests is not that if you speak good english you get through it or not, but that it gives a wide field for the company to fail you on unknown grounds (as they do not inform you why you fail).
Anyway, when my time comes I will decide on going or not.

LeadingEdge

Hi guys

I went for an interview in march.First day out of a group of 12 individuals 5 didnīt make the sim.Two DEC were sent home.We were six people till the end and four got the call to join emirates.One of them as DEC.I got the "no thank you"letter approx. six to seven days after the last interview day.
For me it was a great experience,fly the 777 sim and do the group excercises the second day,then do the psycho tests the third day.I found the psycho tests kinda unpredictable.BTW you can have the tests in many different languages,i.e. english,german,french,italian,czech,etc etc. so donīt worry too much about comprehension issues,if you are not sure just ask the psychologist...
Too bad I didnīt get the nice call to join....and am curious if one can reapply or not?I had a colleague who got the "no thanks" letter but got called six months later and asked if he can join....

Good luck with your interview...great experience and really nice people there,although I am not sure if they should put too much emphasis on the psycho tests....

cheers LE

serious flyer

Sorry to hear that LeadingEdge, but your post corroborates what has been said here. Only a very small amount of DEC are hired.
They should not be in a great need of DECs.

LeadingEdge

To clarify;They hired three FOīs and one DEC from my group.I have seen other groups being there and out of six only one made it trough the sim,so the poor guy was alone the next day for his "group excercise"...

Good luck...

Spike from Flyi

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am traveling to DXB next month for an interview with EK. I have 5 small children (Yes, five), and my wife prefers to homeschool them. I cannot afford to bring my wife to DXB, so any advice from the wives or from a family perspective is greatly apprciated. I have read some posts that indicate that the pay vs. cost of living is challenging for F.O.s. I am paticularly interested in views regarding that (Giving up my life in the US should come with some financial reward.). Additionally, I am soliciting advice to make me successful at the interview process ( I have the Emirates Interview book [written by a team of chimpanzees with typewriters] and the Ace the Tech Interview book.). If you wish to email me your advice or opinion, please send me a message [email protected] . Or, if you prefer, post a response here. I am soliciting good and bad, but mostly frank opinions and view points. Thanks for your help.

Spike

cyclops camel

Spike,
I still like it here after 7 years. Airline much the same but Dubai going downhill fast. Money is ok from an Oz point of view. Having said that, let me say this. YOU WILL NOT MAKE ENDS MEET WITH 5 KIDS HERE. Home schooling is not allowed here. To accept a job here without your wife seeing the place first is ludicrous. Any more questions?
CC.

Spike from Flyi

I have definitive testimony to the contrary from the wife of an EK pilot who has done it.

I specialize in the ludicrous.

Many.

critical winge

Spike, if you specialise in the rediculous you will fit in well here. You had better start applying for 10 credit cards now, as all will be full and then you will have to sell your overseas house to pay them off, and the other 2 childrens education and medical etc etc, oh yeah, you can pay the credit cards off when you are a Captain in about 8 years time, because the cards will be full again, even though you sold your house to pay them off previously. , , , , , , ,it goes on

Dubai is all about money, THEY WANT YOURS!! They pay it to you and you will NOT be able to send a dime home, especially with 5 kids.

cyclops camel

Spike - she may have done it but was it legal?

SecurID

Just to confirm, home schooling is NOT allowed here in Dubai. As for bringing your wife and five kids over, the you should know that EK only support up to three kids. Therefore travel and schooling for two of the kids is at your own expense. I am not sure about medical cover, but very few pilots have more than three children. Also there are very few villas that would be suitable for a family of seven. But I am of course assuming that you are not financially independant, however you cannot afford to bring your wife to Dubai...

With regards to the interview, just be honest, fly the sim like any other plane, react positively with everyone that you come into conatct with and convince them that you are a great guy and will easily fit in. It really is that easy now.

max AB

Spike.
My info is 3 years old, but home schooling, like many things here is tolerated but technically not allowed. The same as having someone else's maid work in your house a few days a week, or living with your girlfriend. It will be an issue only if the authorities get involved somehow and have to make a decision. I know of home schoolers in Dubai, we have a maid who is not ours and plenty of couples live unmarried. As CC said, it is very important that your wife likes it here, it will be cheaper to bring her here than to send her home after 6 months because she hates it. It is a lot harder on them than us. Get her to look at http://www.expatwoman.com she can ask Qs on the forum there. 5 kids..you stud! you will want to home school them as EK pays for the first 3 only (or is it 2?) any way the ones they don't pay school fees for will cost you a month's sallary each per year.!!!

filejw

Seeing as you guys are talking about money, are expats allowed to run business in Dubai? Say a franchisee or import business.Can I buy and sell property?

donpizmeov

Spike,

EK pay for three kids education at any time. So when the older kids turn 19, or no longer need to be paid for, the younger ones can join the system. This can help if the ages are spread, not much help if all close together I guess.

The medical insurance is a set premium for a family of Mum, Dad and three kids. To add extra kids to this (and its compulsary even if you have another health fund up and running), you pay extra per extra child. The extra amount per extra child, is about 3/4 of the family rate, and the amount of benefit for the extra children is also reduced. By this I mean the amount they will pay per year for dental, number of nights hospital cover they will pay etc etc. Best you ask when interviewed about this, as they will give you all the details you need. Once again as the older kids no longer need this the younger ones take their place in the scheme.

You also get a free ticket home once a year for a family. Once again this is for Mum, Dad and three kids. As you have more than three kids you will be able to buy an ID50 ticket (firm ticket, discounted 50% from the full price fare) for the remaining 2 kids to ensure everyone can travel together. You will find out that flights over here are always full, and the chance of getting on with an ID90 in economy class, during holiday time is zero. They normally do not offer ID 50 tickets on a lot of flights, but make an exception when its for extra kids etc. It takes a few phone calls, emails etc to organise, but not too hard to do. Also, remember that when joining you will have to buy the 2 ID 50 tickets as well, as the rules are the same as above. And again once the older kids fall out the top of this scheme, the younger ones are then covered. Might be an idea to ask someone you know over here to let you know how much one of these ID50s is going to cost.

As stated above, it is hard to get by with a bunch of kids over here on an FOs salary. I wold probably ask how many FOs are already in the company, and how many more aircraft are expected at the interview as well, to get some guess at how long the seat change will take.

Also if you know any of the new joined DECs over here, ask them how they all got summer leave this year. Might be a good thing to add to the contract as well. I know quite a few 777 crews that were here already that missed out on any of their leave bids are also interested.

Don

Spike from Flyi

Y'all have some very good points. I suppose I could bring the wife, but There's the logistics of finding care for the kids. My oldest is 9, by the way. With no mortgage, no taxes and no rent, is it still hard to get by on $60K American?

Thanks again, guys. I do not discount your input.

iflyg4

I got an email the other day from Emirates saying that I've been invited for an interview next month in Dubai. I was really excited about it, but after doing some research, I found a lot of people that aren't happy with Emirates. It seems like a lot of people are leaving to go elsewhere. The Emirates presentation that I went to in Atlanta really impressed me, so I'm pretty confused as to the truth about Emirates. I have several questions that I'd like answered from someone with an open mind. My current position isn't that bad because I'm at a regional airline in the US as a IP/checkairman. I'm making about 95K right now, so I'm not in a rush to get out. I just don't have any heavy time and I want to see what else is out there. The majors in the US are crap and I expect there to be many liquidations or mergers to come. Hell, I don't think any of them are going to hire for years and years to come. Continental is hiring, but I see them furloughing in the near future. They are just reacting to retirements. Anyhow, I'm looking for some advice, so anyone's opinion is well worth it. Please, just the facts, I have some important decisions to make.

1. Why is everyone wanting to leave Emirates?
2. What are the schedules like at Emirates? I read on Emirates's website about 8 days off. But I saw a post that said 15 days off.
3. What's training like? Is it like Cathay? As in "do or die" attitude?
4. What's upgrade time? I've heard 3 years, but read 7-9 years. I think Emirates upgrades whoever they want without regards to seniority. True?
5. I heard you guys are worked like dogs? Any truth to the matter? I read many posts about fatigue and lack of infrastructure.
6. I need help with the interview. What books do I need to get? I've looked for the Cathay Interview book, but can't find it!! I've also looked for the Technical Pilot Interview by Gary Bristow and can't find anything. So I need some fast help there.
7. Is Dubai safe? What's it really like? Can you live on FO's pay out there? Is my wife safe while I'm gone?
8. The housing.....I'm really confused about this. If you're a captain.....you're given a villa? And if you're an FO......you're given an apartment in a highrise? I've heard some are crap and others nicer.
9. How do you all think I should get to Dubai? I looked and there's an Emirates flight out of JFK direct to Dubai for 1250 bucks!! Yikes!! Any solutions?

Anyhow, I appreciate some help from you guys or gals that I've experienced all this. Thanks...

Shake

Hi flyg, hope this will help a little. Before you read on bear in mind that I am someone who is leaving.

1. Your first question is why? There are various reasons why guys are leaving and our management use the generic phrase 'personal reasons' to cover the resignations . Essentially Emirates has changed great deal over the past few years and in their quest for expansion they have left their main asset behind; their staff. Our salaries have remained static despite massive inflation and the managements attititude has been one of arrogance and disrespect. For the European drivers the demise of the dollar has also had a major effect on income to the point where EK is no longer viable. Emirates is a work in progress and crisis managment is the order of the day. At some point they will have to start putting money back into the company if it is to keep going... and they do at least have the money when they are forced to use it.

2. Days off vary. You should get 8 days off per month but it is not rare to get more. Unfortunately due to the lack of forward planning we are very short of pilots so those that are here are taking up the slack. So days off or not you wil be working hard.

3. Training is generally good, thorough, but good. It tends towards the pedantic and 'checking' rather than training and be prepared to be patronised but there are mostly good guys doing the job and shouldn't be an issue.

4. Upgrades are a hot topic at the moment. Due to the aforementioned lack of planning, DECs are now being employed. This has a major effect on upgrades for those already in the RHS. Past assurances of from the management with regard upgrades from within have boardered on lies. 3 years would be very optimistic and 5-7 could be nearer the mark at your point of joining.

5. Guys are working very hard. The Airbus fleet are working up to their maximum hours (100/month, 900/years). Boeing are follwing suit. East - west patterns compound the fatigue issue but the medical support is good.

6. There are a few other threads on this forum which cover the interviews. They are not that bad and the best advice is to be yourself. The sim is where most people come unstuck, continuing an unstable approach instead of going around for example. Fly safe.

7. Apart form the traffic Dubai is generally safe and your wife should have no problems. Hide the credit card, one thing we are not short of is malls!

8. As an F/O married with no kids you will be offered an apartment. Once upgraded you are entitled to a villa. The accomodation is a mixed bag, some good some not so good. The problem is you will not know where you are going to live until you get off the plane in Dubai.

9. Good luck with getting to Dubai. Another option may be via London with Virgin. They fly from Newark and JFK to London then on to Dubai. Perhaps it might be cheaper and if not the view should be pleasant enough.

Good luck with any decision you make. I don't know exactley what you would be leaving to come to EK but I realise that it is a tough time at the moment and it is difficult too see the wood for the trees. If you can be prepared and come to EK with your eyes open then there is no reason why it shouldn't work out for you either in the short or long term.

Cheers.

iflyg4

Thanks for your response. I'm coming from a regional airline in the US as a checkairman. I'm making descent money, but I have no international or heavy experience. With the way the US carriers are doing, I'm looking overseas. I'm just excited to hear from ANYONE and Emirates has always intrigued me. So I was shocked to get an email since I was told that no RJ pilots will EVER come to Emirates. So, again.....excited, but nervous about the decision if given the chance. I'll come to DXB for the interview and ask lots of questions and take pictures. I'm hoping i"ll do well, but I haven't been given alot of time to prepare. Emirates only sent me an email on Monday and I have my interview next month near the middle. So I'm scrambling to figure out what to study. I hope it turns out well....

Bugcrusher

Nothing ventured=nothing gained. The ME has done me a geat deal of good in my life, and I guess there are folks who have had the opposite. I have never felt any more under threat in the Emirates than anywhere else, in fact felt a lot safer than certain area's of western cities. It will mostly depend on how you interact with your overall situation as to how you get on. The Arabs are generally a kind and generous people, they suffer, as we do, with exceptions. I would think you, and your wife, are under no more risk there than where you are now and maybe even less.

Scooter Rassmussin

Schools cost about $10kusd per child per year , you will get back about $26,000 us from EK
.
Staff travel will kill you on holidays full fare ............

Why not look at Cathay Pacific much better pay deal and i think you would get staff travel for 5 kids.
They also have a US base and as an F/o there you will earn more than an EK Captain.....................

Unless you commute to DXB ,you will survive but have zero cash no savings for many years.