EK - how long for upgrade to command?

[CautionShortRunway]

Airline set to shift over to DWC in 2025 when annual capacity touches 120 million passengers. Emirates fleet will be between 280 and 300 widebody aircraft by the time it shifts to DWC, Clark said.

Emirates eyes 100 new destinations from Dubai World Central | GulfNews.com

Fleet growth of 30 airplanes from current 250 to 280 in 2025. 4 Years to upgrade? With current resignation rate the earliest upgrade for anyone who joins now is minimum 8 years.

[Wingsoffury]

Someone said it on the previous page come to QR. Its at around 3-4 years for upgrade and is likely to reduce. Although, Doha whilst safe and family friendly, just isn't Dubai, regarding other activities. I have worked for both.

[SOPS]

I suggest you ask ( which you can't) how the crew on the Emirates crash are feeling. And then think to yourself.....it could be me. In this par of the world, you are only as good as your last sector....

[TineeTim]

More food for thought if you haven't heard enough: I think EK have had something like 45 guys come from QF on leave, another 5 came from NZ, at least 10 that I know of came from airlines in the U.S.= a total of at least 60 guys have joined EK on loan from other airlines (I know there are more but these are ones I know of for sure). Each of those guys had the option to stay at EK or go back to their previous airline. I believe 1 guy stayed from NZ. The QF guys have some more time to go but I believe only a handful of them are considering staying and all the Americans I know of have left. So out of that total of 60 guys, maybe 5 will stay at EK. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

[Geebz]

I'm a captain as a US Legacy. I would have no problem downgrading to FO just to eliminate 90% of the bs that a captain has to deal with. But for now they don't fly me much so I tolerate it. LHS isn't all it painted to be. I would stick with your home airline over a foreign one any day and if LHS is really what you want, ask for a leave of absence, one where you retain your seniority, then go fly in Japan or China. Find a month on, month off gig out there.

I have a lot of friends flying for ME carriers. Not one of them is happy.

[WB1900]

How long to command

certain facts;


EK has delayed all 330/340 pilots for a fleettransfer to A380. FOs having the required hours on 330 did not get their upgrade with the excuse that thez won't reach the required 3000hr command on 330 to be eligible for a direct 380 command transfer. These guys have been replaced with DECs.
Now all the 330/340 will disappear and everybody will be transfered. Effectivly all 330 FO (even they have way enough hours accoring to the book) starting at 0 again because they need to do 2000hr on 380 for command (means a plus of 2 to 3 years), while joiners with approx 2,5 years A380 time are nominated for the training.
there is another point raising on the horizion. according to the Road to Command programm there will be training of 30 month before you will be considered for the real command course. this means presently no matter how many years and hours you spent in EK it will take another 3 years to get the command. this is a longterm FO programm showing u the light at the end but to keep u in the right seat.
so don't expect a short path to go there, beside the fact they have 3 years to reset you to zero in your training progress.


have fun joining EK

[flyinthesky]

I am sure that the details you post regarding the 330 guys being disadvantaged is true, however your text concerning the road to command staying upgrades by 30months is well wide of the mark.

Yes the RtC course is 30months long but it is not mandatory to do it all before upgrade if you have less then 30months to go. I myself have started the upgrade process and been to one forum and done no other part of the RtCcourse.

Doesn't mean that time to upgrade is shortening though!

[fatbus]

Some 330 CCQ FO will be fast tracked onto the RtC and as stated not required to take full 30 months . Stand by for upgrade requirements being changed

[BobDole]

The only constant at this place is change... The "rules" mean absolutely nothing.

[clear to land]

I really hope they do look after the 330/340 F/O's-it was complete joke that they took in DEC's from 320 only, who have minimal EK experience and they go to 380 Command within 6 months, but pilots from within, who have done their time with known and proven records are considered not qualified for upgrade-a huge kick in the nuts, demonstrating appalling personnel management and complete lack of awareness of the importance of morale-not just to the few directly affected but the whole pilot population who observe their colleagues being treated in such a manner.

[Rather Be Skiing]

I really hope they do look after the 330/340 F/O's-it was complete joke that they took in DEC's from 320 only, who have minimal EK experience and they go to 380 Command within 6 months, but pilots from within, who have done their time with known and proven records are considered not qualified for upgrade-a huge kick in the nuts, demonstrating appalling personnel management and complete lack of awareness of the importance of morale-not just to the few directly affected but the whole pilot population who observe their colleagues being treated in such a manner.

And there, in a nutshell, you have a description of what one is in for if they choose to join. Employees last.

[A320CaptDav]

Originally Posted by Rather Be Skiing

And there, in a nutshell, you have a description of what one is in for if they choose to join. Employees last.

This sights the reality of working in the Middle East , no one has real control of their career path

[kungfu panda]

The moral of the story is; get your command in your own country before going expat.

You have no right to expect a contracting nation to upgrade you.

[tcas123]

It's seems like long way to command in EK , QR is much quicker ,3 years max , once process starts its will take 3 month to be cleared on the line , got many colleagues left to QR from UK in 2012 , guess what now are captains on 330/777/787 and some became LTC. wages are quite good , but the only thing to consider is the Doha life style , nothing much to do but good for family life .

[fatbus]

Tcas123/tata - who are you ? I think you need to get a life.

[Flyboy_SG]

Don't my friend ! Dont make the biggest mistake of your career. Look at it, this way. Hiring minimums is just few 1000 hrs and not even Jet rating is required. Meaning, someone who has joined few months back, with 2-3000 turbo time will be your junior. At EK it's all about date of joining. Stay where you are or look for something better. EK is not the best bet for sure, you will regret. Now at least you are home. At EK you wont even get more than 2-3 days block off. Plus a 5 year Bond for even the rated Pilots !

A big No.

[iamanaussiemavrick]

But it still happens in 5-6 years rite ? That's what I heard from people in Ek in 380 fleet ..

Also i saw the roster of a friend on 380 and found it really kool ...

It has much more off days than any 320 Job u can get !!!

[ExDubai]

Any guarantee that you'll join the A380 fleet? BTW a couple of years ago the traktor rosters didn't look that bad. Change is the only constant.....

[120feet]

Change change change

As more 380's come online they will be able to make the rosters more efficient. I have my friend who is middle bid 97 hours 8 days off 380 CA. I think this is a rarity, but it could become common. 8 days off on a 380 appears hard to schedule consistently. Do not join any airline based on todays rosters, upgrade times etc. Those are not constants. I would urge you to look for deeper qualities. IMHO

[Flyboy_SG]

My friend who joined in 2011 just got released as 777PIC. He had total 5000 and 2000+ pic in narrow body jet at the time of joining.