Emirates (EK) Interview - all you need to know about it (threads merged)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UAE
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Hello Rudolf
The bidding system doesn't really work. In theory there are five bid groups which rotate so seniortiy isn't really a factor. In practice there aren't enough pilots and the company likes it that way so the roster computer can't do its job. Hence there appear to be lots of last minute insertions after roster build as the computer desperately tries to fill flights. A junior (or senior) pilot can expect very little control over their schecule and swapping is very difficult because of many company "rules" that aren't written down anywhere. Lack of satisfaction with rosters is a major reason for people leaving. Bidding closes on 5th and rosters are usually produced between 16th and 18th of the month before but it can be as late as the 23rd. On the plus side, rosters are generally fairly stable- they are usually so busy it is difficult for the company to mess with them after publication.
You will get 35 days of reserve every 10 months regardless of time in the company. Some reserve months are very busy, some not at all. You don't find out what you are doing until 1800 the day before and don't know when your days off will be until the night before either.
Hope that helps. Nobody joins Emirates for the quiality of the rosters!
The bidding system doesn't really work. In theory there are five bid groups which rotate so seniortiy isn't really a factor. In practice there aren't enough pilots and the company likes it that way so the roster computer can't do its job. Hence there appear to be lots of last minute insertions after roster build as the computer desperately tries to fill flights. A junior (or senior) pilot can expect very little control over their schecule and swapping is very difficult because of many company "rules" that aren't written down anywhere. Lack of satisfaction with rosters is a major reason for people leaving. Bidding closes on 5th and rosters are usually produced between 16th and 18th of the month before but it can be as late as the 23rd. On the plus side, rosters are generally fairly stable- they are usually so busy it is difficult for the company to mess with them after publication.
You will get 35 days of reserve every 10 months regardless of time in the company. Some reserve months are very busy, some not at all. You don't find out what you are doing until 1800 the day before and don't know when your days off will be until the night before either.
Hope that helps. Nobody joins Emirates for the quiality of the rosters!
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
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Are there any Canadian pilots on here? I was wondering what you think about EK compared to working for an airline in Canada.
I thought EK should be considered as a last resort because of all of the negative stuff I’ve read about on here, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized that it isn’t really that different than what it’s like for the typical Canadian pilot (in terms of fatigue rules, rosters, upgrade times, etc).
I’m not blind to what’s going on there. It’s definitely not what it used to be, but it does seem like more of the same problems you get here in Canada, but you get paid almost 3 times the starting salary at Air Canada with housing (tax free too) and you don’t have to put up with winter from October to April. Almost sounds worth giving up a bit of freedom to get ahead financially and to see more of the world. I do have to pay back those student loans eventually...
As a young and single Canadian guy, would doing 5-7 years at EK and then returning home with some savings be a terrible idea? Or would I be better off staying here in my parents’ basement until I have a few years of seniority at a major in Canada?
I thought EK should be considered as a last resort because of all of the negative stuff I’ve read about on here, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized that it isn’t really that different than what it’s like for the typical Canadian pilot (in terms of fatigue rules, rosters, upgrade times, etc).
I’m not blind to what’s going on there. It’s definitely not what it used to be, but it does seem like more of the same problems you get here in Canada, but you get paid almost 3 times the starting salary at Air Canada with housing (tax free too) and you don’t have to put up with winter from October to April. Almost sounds worth giving up a bit of freedom to get ahead financially and to see more of the world. I do have to pay back those student loans eventually...
As a young and single Canadian guy, would doing 5-7 years at EK and then returning home with some savings be a terrible idea? Or would I be better off staying here in my parents’ basement until I have a few years of seniority at a major in Canada?
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UAE
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Emirates can work for the young, the single and the desperate. However, it is very difficult to save money in Dubai on an FO salary and you are now stuck with company accommodation so you can't top up your salary from the living out allowance. You will save a lot less in the first 5-7 years than you imagine and it is worth bearing in mind that up to 7 years the company takes back what it has paid into your retirement fund.
If you are planning on going back to Canada after that time I would say you are better off staying put and building some seniority at a Canadian airline, especially one of the majors. It is a lot of seniority to give up. There certainly don't appear to be many Canadian pilots joining now compared to 15 years ago. I'm not Canadian by the way, but the same thoughts would apply to anybody coming from Europe, Australia or America.
If you are planning on going back to Canada after that time I would say you are better off staying put and building some seniority at a Canadian airline, especially one of the majors. It is a lot of seniority to give up. There certainly don't appear to be many Canadian pilots joining now compared to 15 years ago. I'm not Canadian by the way, but the same thoughts would apply to anybody coming from Europe, Australia or America.
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: ME
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I am from the region and i believe ek is one of the best around so if you can could you share HR contact? please.
You don’t have to look far on their recruitment portal and you’ll find the email address, considering that and why they maybe have not replied to you makes me think the vetting process is still intact......
You can also visit them at the HQ if close by .
[QUOTE] you don’t have to put up with winter from October to April/QUOTE]
No you just have to suffer through summer* instead
* the weather apps aren't lying when they say "f*ck*g hot as Hades"...
No you just have to suffer through summer* instead
* the weather apps aren't lying when they say "f*ck*g hot as Hades"...
Join Date: Feb 2018
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Thanks BigGeordie for the info!
Some further follow ups on reserve, What do you do for the whole 35 days? Are you always on standby at the airport or do you get dayoffs in reserve months too? Can you plan any dayoffs in advance? What if the my reserve duty falls into the month that my bid group is on the top, do I get to bid anything?
Some further follow ups on reserve, What do you do for the whole 35 days? Are you always on standby at the airport or do you get dayoffs in reserve months too? Can you plan any dayoffs in advance? What if the my reserve duty falls into the month that my bid group is on the top, do I get to bid anything?
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Thanks BigGeordie for the info!
Some further follow ups on reserve, What do you do for the whole 35 days? Are you always on standby at the airport or do you get dayoffs in reserve months too? Can you plan any dayoffs in advance? What if the my reserve duty falls into the month that my bid group is on the top, do I get to bid anything?
Some further follow ups on reserve, What do you do for the whole 35 days? Are you always on standby at the airport or do you get dayoffs in reserve months too? Can you plan any dayoffs in advance? What if the my reserve duty falls into the month that my bid group is on the top, do I get to bid anything?
- No airport standby. A period of 10 hours on call to be ready for pick up within 30 minutes from home.
- Duties as well as off days are usually assigned the day before at 1800.
- No planning ahead of days off.
- Reserve months fall into lowest or second lowest bid month.
short flights long nights
I once had nine days off in a row on reserve..could have gone home...but you only know day by day...it sucks
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Emirates interview (ATPL questions)
Hi, there Let me ask some questions about ATPL questions.
1: Are the ATPL questions one of compass tests? If so, How we would answer them? ( we would choose one in some-choice answers or type the answer? )
2: According to the LPJ, There are also ATPL questions in Panel Interview. They would ask you about ATPL knowledges duirng the interview too?
Im glad if you give me the answers. Thanks alot!
1: Are the ATPL questions one of compass tests? If so, How we would answer them? ( we would choose one in some-choice answers or type the answer? )
2: According to the LPJ, There are also ATPL questions in Panel Interview. They would ask you about ATPL knowledges duirng the interview too?
Im glad if you give me the answers. Thanks alot!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: FL075
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Hi, there Let me ask some questions about ATPL questions.
1: Are the ATPL questions one of compass tests? If so, How we would answer them? ( we would choose one in some-choice answers or type the answer? )
2: According to the LPJ, There are also ATPL questions in Panel Interview. They would ask you about ATPL knowledges duirng the interview too?
Im glad if you give me the answers. Thanks alot!
1: Are the ATPL questions one of compass tests? If so, How we would answer them? ( we would choose one in some-choice answers or type the answer? )
2: According to the LPJ, There are also ATPL questions in Panel Interview. They would ask you about ATPL knowledges duirng the interview too?
Im glad if you give me the answers. Thanks alot!
2. I went for the processes in July and wasn’t asked any ATPL questions in my panel interview
Anyone else starting on the 4th of November for the T7?
Join Date: May 2013
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Hey guys i am going for an assessment on 10th December ? If any one is going during that time please contact me.
Is preparing from latest pilot jobs enough ?
Please contact me with information.
Is preparing from latest pilot jobs enough ?
Please contact me with information.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UAE
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Is preparing from latest pilot jobs enough ?
Turning up is enough. Having a pulse helps but is no longer essential.
(I'm in a cynical mood today. Seems to happen a lot recently, especially when the rosters come out.)
Turning up is enough. Having a pulse helps but is no longer essential.
(I'm in a cynical mood today. Seems to happen a lot recently, especially when the rosters come out.)
Ek have been using leave days in lieu of days after ULR flights for some years . Now they are using leave in lieu of days off before ULR flights . The OMA states you will be non acclimatised after leave and will be given three local nights off prior to any ULR flight . This use to mean three days off after leave, allowing you to return to dxb on your last day of leave. This has now been adjusted, to only two days off . As your leave finishes at 2359hrs, it is considered that the period between 0000hrs and 0800hrs will be your first local night. So, the majority of pilots at this mostly Expat airline, travel will need to start on the second last day of leave to achieve feet on ground prior to midnight on the last day of leave. Several pilots have been caught out by this recently . They have been asked to explain why they were not acclimatised after leave, and are now awaiting sentencing . The funny thing is they were contacted after the trip, not in the days before .
Leave has been already restricted to only 30 days instead of the contracted 42 . With this new move, leave has been artificially reduced again .
The OMA use to state that a travel day off would be applied after leave . Oh how those days have disappeared .
This should help stem the flow of pilots leaving, and should be a great shot in the arm for recruiting . Great work DM and team .
Leave has been already restricted to only 30 days instead of the contracted 42 . With this new move, leave has been artificially reduced again .
The OMA use to state that a travel day off would be applied after leave . Oh how those days have disappeared .
This should help stem the flow of pilots leaving, and should be a great shot in the arm for recruiting . Great work DM and team .
short flights long nights
What I always found strange, was the fact you had to be acclimatised leaving Dubai on a ULR.. but on the return trip , there is no such requirement. So for example, you need 3 local nights before you go to New York, but you can have 24 hours in NY and your fine to fly home. I would love someone to explain that to me.