Emirates (EK) Interview - all you need to know about it (threads merged)
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Dubai - sand land.
Age: 55
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The max 14 days off a month has been - and gone!! Why else did I have 16 days off last month (not claiming LR3 - it's a FACT) and 14 this month?? Gosh - that's 30 XX days in TWO months (and 155 flying hours), a really hard life. Even in low bid I usually get 10 days off...
Oh yeah - and I'm on the 'Bus
Only retirements at the moment fattybus are the 3 310's, and those guys are being fairly quickly absorbed into the other fleets.....
Oh yeah - and I'm on the 'Bus
Only retirements at the moment fattybus are the 3 310's, and those guys are being fairly quickly absorbed into the other fleets.....
Join Date: May 2005
Location: dubai
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First off I think this is one of the better overall jobs in aviation. I also believe living in Dubai might prove less harmful than most other places in these economic times.
Job security has to be a big concern for most people and that is something that is a bonus at EK.
But there are some ominous clouds on the horizon at EK. The continual erosion of our T&C's is a concern.
-more work for less credit
-ridiculous crew rest policies and facilities on board
-accomodation issues which are particularly hard on new-joiners
-time to upgrade will increase (although its still pretty good by comparision to most other airlines)
-a complete lack of respect from management
I have noticed a change in attitude from management types recently. They have always somewhat despised our profession but now it has become pervasive. My neighbour is a 'Pro'-pilot management dude and even he is starting to express the point of view that pilots have it too good.
It is an attitude. Things such as no extra carry-on bags, no jumpseats, no more F class rest, less and less tolerance for individual needs of pilots (accomodation for example), a COC that was purposely designed to limit interaction amongst our colleagues etc. all give a clear indication that there is a concerted effort to reduce our quality of life. I do not understand this attitude because inevitably it reduces moral and costs money.
Once again, it is still a good job at EK but I have a suspicion that management will continue to chip away at things. It is sad really, because most negative changes to our job have cost the company in the long run and most potential positive changes would not cost anything to institute.
Job security has to be a big concern for most people and that is something that is a bonus at EK.
But there are some ominous clouds on the horizon at EK. The continual erosion of our T&C's is a concern.
-more work for less credit
-ridiculous crew rest policies and facilities on board
-accomodation issues which are particularly hard on new-joiners
-time to upgrade will increase (although its still pretty good by comparision to most other airlines)
-a complete lack of respect from management
I have noticed a change in attitude from management types recently. They have always somewhat despised our profession but now it has become pervasive. My neighbour is a 'Pro'-pilot management dude and even he is starting to express the point of view that pilots have it too good.
It is an attitude. Things such as no extra carry-on bags, no jumpseats, no more F class rest, less and less tolerance for individual needs of pilots (accomodation for example), a COC that was purposely designed to limit interaction amongst our colleagues etc. all give a clear indication that there is a concerted effort to reduce our quality of life. I do not understand this attitude because inevitably it reduces moral and costs money.
Once again, it is still a good job at EK but I have a suspicion that management will continue to chip away at things. It is sad really, because most negative changes to our job have cost the company in the long run and most potential positive changes would not cost anything to institute.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Earth
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I think we all make the mistake of thinking that the Management give a sh*t.... they couldn't care less, it's only when it affects their jobs that they might reconsider.
Sickness is always a good Morale Barometer and I think you will start to see SK days on the rise again, as the pilots treat the company with as much respect as it treats them.
......Feckers
Sickness is always a good Morale Barometer and I think you will start to see SK days on the rise again, as the pilots treat the company with as much respect as it treats them.
......Feckers
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: In Fresh Air
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Back to the original question. The likelyhood of a DEC coming from a domestic narrowbody job is very very slim. If DECs will be hired, they will have international (re, overwater) widebody training experience and Boeing or Airbus glass (at least that is what they were saying several months ago). But I agree with most of the posts above. Several f/os have had their upgrade courses delayed even after their passed interview with Sgt. Schultz (re, EGT).
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Europe
Age: 51
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Some really useful info you have given me, thanks.
Mensaboy, well said about crew morale and costs which all boils down to false economy, which seems to be more rule than exception nowadays. As far as the other EK comments, I feel I am in the same dilemma as I was 3 years ago when deciding to apply or not. A second visit to DXB and the traffic congestion at 1am and being lied to by the hotel staff all the time made me decide back then to postpone the application. Some ex-colleagues like it, others would not go back and do it again. One even quit after 6 months, and had difficulties getting his passport back. One of his friends even fled the desert from Qatar, but I am sure working for Qatar is a different story alltogether.
Anyhow, I suppose if I want to join it would be better sooner rather than later. The problems with company accomodation would worry me though. My wife would love the hot climate, the social life etc, but she would absolutely hate the prospect of moving again after living somewhere for only 6 months or so. Living on a FO salary for a prolonged time are also a concern to me. If only I would have bought a house some years ago in DXB and then all these problems, either working for EK or FlyDubai, would have been solved immediately. Why did no one buy property in DXB as soon as the law changed some years ago?
Last question, considering all the stories of DXB being dusty because of construction work, adding to that the amount of traffic and congestion, does that mean most people live in a perpetual state of pollution and smog, comparable to the likes of Seoul, China or Cairo?
Mensaboy, well said about crew morale and costs which all boils down to false economy, which seems to be more rule than exception nowadays. As far as the other EK comments, I feel I am in the same dilemma as I was 3 years ago when deciding to apply or not. A second visit to DXB and the traffic congestion at 1am and being lied to by the hotel staff all the time made me decide back then to postpone the application. Some ex-colleagues like it, others would not go back and do it again. One even quit after 6 months, and had difficulties getting his passport back. One of his friends even fled the desert from Qatar, but I am sure working for Qatar is a different story alltogether.
Anyhow, I suppose if I want to join it would be better sooner rather than later. The problems with company accomodation would worry me though. My wife would love the hot climate, the social life etc, but she would absolutely hate the prospect of moving again after living somewhere for only 6 months or so. Living on a FO salary for a prolonged time are also a concern to me. If only I would have bought a house some years ago in DXB and then all these problems, either working for EK or FlyDubai, would have been solved immediately. Why did no one buy property in DXB as soon as the law changed some years ago?
Last question, considering all the stories of DXB being dusty because of construction work, adding to that the amount of traffic and congestion, does that mean most people live in a perpetual state of pollution and smog, comparable to the likes of Seoul, China or Cairo?
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sandpit
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Hot weather?
Are you kidding? Your wife loves hot weather? This place is a f@#@ hell from May to September. And dust, yes lots of dust storms and killing humidity 
But the winters are nice (at least sometimes if no dust storms)
But the winters are nice (at least sometimes if no dust storms)
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Dubai - sand land.
Age: 55
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Well comanche, lots of people bought property here when the law changed a few years ago - including lots of EK pilots....
Summer's very hazy but the last 3 weeks or so the sky's cleared up and it's been mainly dust free, with blue skies - just right now
Summer's very hazy but the last 3 weeks or so the sky's cleared up and it's been mainly dust free, with blue skies - just right now
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Europe
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To those who are hoping to get in: 
During the come-n-have-a-look-at-our-planned-7bedroom-mansion-pilot-villas-who-are-almost-but-not-yet-completely-ready-maybe-2020- accomodation meeting, they gave an insight into their FC recruitment figures for FY 09/10. Well it certainly does NOT look very good. They revised the number of pilots needed for the next fiscal year to 150!!! Now....did we not take +500 in FY 07-08?
During the come-n-have-a-look-at-our-planned-7bedroom-mansion-pilot-villas-who-are-almost-but-not-yet-completely-ready-maybe-2020- accomodation meeting, they gave an insight into their FC recruitment figures for FY 09/10. Well it certainly does NOT look very good. They revised the number of pilots needed for the next fiscal year to 150!!! Now....did we not take +500 in FY 07-08?
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Europe
Age: 51
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Tomuchwork, are there still any corporate airlines in the ME with 14/14 or 15/15 rosters that are hiring (A320 or 737NG)?
Guess I will wait to apply for EK until they sort out their accomodation problems, regardless of DEC or not. Living out of suitcases in below standard housing in uncertainty with a family that may or may not even get into the school you desire sounds all a bit like too much sacrifice. I am really not that bothered about flying a big jet, just want some job stability, route variety and longer routes.
Guess I will wait to apply for EK until they sort out their accomodation problems, regardless of DEC or not. Living out of suitcases in below standard housing in uncertainty with a family that may or may not even get into the school you desire sounds all a bit like too much sacrifice. I am really not that bothered about flying a big jet, just want some job stability, route variety and longer routes.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: sunny land
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Tomuchwork,
'Open' SOP might work well on a mature operator with reasonably experience pilot coming from similar background. But airline like EK, QR or GF can't afford to do that. With pilots coming from every corner of the world and different aviation background, the SOP need to be more specific or detailed without leaving too much of grey area. The cadets intake has strenghten the need to do this.
Maybe it is a nuisance but necessary.
'Open' SOP might work well on a mature operator with reasonably experience pilot coming from similar background. But airline like EK, QR or GF can't afford to do that. With pilots coming from every corner of the world and different aviation background, the SOP need to be more specific or detailed without leaving too much of grey area. The cadets intake has strenghten the need to do this.
Maybe it is a nuisance but necessary.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: where ever crewing send me
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what i would add to this re the mid east, is this, very stronger SOP'S are good to a point, but airman ship, and sometimes having to think outside the box, well i find that just doesn't happen out here. (flying by numbers)all the time.
you try to pass on experience, but if that clashes with sop's or aircrew notices (fuel v wx considerations, or local area knowledge), then the whole notion of maybe doing something different, but legal, doesn't compute.
you try to pass on experience, but if that clashes with sop's or aircrew notices (fuel v wx considerations, or local area knowledge), then the whole notion of maybe doing something different, but legal, doesn't compute.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: On Earth
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Emirates Pilot Application (New Format!)
I have recently updated my pilot application using the new website and format.
Can some fellow applicants please help me with the following?
When you log on with user name and password, at the bottom of the page there is a section called 'My job applications'
Under status I have written 'Not successful'. Does this mean the update was not successful or my application was not successful?
Would appreciate if someone can tell me what they have written down under status.
Can some fellow applicants please help me with the following?
When you log on with user name and password, at the bottom of the page there is a section called 'My job applications'
Under status I have written 'Not successful'. Does this mean the update was not successful or my application was not successful?
Would appreciate if someone can tell me what they have written down under status.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in a van down by the river
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I believe it means that there was some type of computer error when you submitted your application.
I am just curious why you are applying to Emirates. Are they recruiting now? It was my understanding that the applicant pool was quite full.
I am just curious why you are applying to Emirates. Are they recruiting now? It was my understanding that the applicant pool was quite full.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: atlanta
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OMDB....I just submitted the new formatt a couple of days ago,, the status said pending or something like that for a couple of days, then I noticed today that it changed and now says shortlisted, not that it means anything anymore but hope it helps you out. good luck