EK 40k $ bond for Captain Upgrades
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UAE
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Sops, “ have you gone a little loco?”
( sorry, I could not resist )
A great post for the guys who are hanging on to the shiny jet life.
There is life after.
Well written and heartening food for thought.👍
( sorry, I could not resist )
A great post for the guys who are hanging on to the shiny jet life.
There is life after.
Well written and heartening food for thought.👍
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Top of the World
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Why do US pilots always, always, neglect to mention the taxes due on their earnings? Income tax, state tax, housing tax etc.
Similary they ignore EK housing, education, medical etc.
Similary they ignore EK housing, education, medical etc.
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Yes, I left as well ( because I could afford to) and got my life back..no amount of money can replace your life..I sleep with my wife, see my kids and walk my dogs. Then a year ago, I saw a job ad that really got my life back. It said.." XXX State Rail Authority is looking for people to become Urban Railcar Drivers. Interested..we offer great conditions and a great place to work. You don't need train driving experience..just life experience..we recruit from a wide range of backgrounds"
I thought..what the hell..lets give it a go.
Then began the longest (12 months ) hardest recruitment process I have ever been through..( and I have worked for 3 airlines including EK).
My initial application was in March 2016..and the recruitment process was finalised in Feb 2017...in March I was advised I was selected to start my 30 week course in July.
And can I say..Im having a ball. I love it!!!. Firstly..it is such a lovely lovely place to work, everyone can not do enough for you.
On the first day of our course, the Head of Training came in and told us.."Guys we know you do not know anything about driving trains, Thats why the course is 30 weeks long.WE get thousands of applicants for this job when we advertise , we have selected 45 of you..we are here to train you and get you trough the course".
The whole training..11 weeks classroom and the 19 weeks "on track" training has been complete "no threat" training. I have 6 weeks left until my final check. I made a mistake today and was getting very pissed off with myself as I should have known better by now and my instructor said..."Relax Mate, stop being so hard on yourself..you have been driving trains for 10 weeks, I ave been driving 20 years and I have done the same error many times"
There are rules that need to be followed..many, just like flying..one rule is..you are issued with an "official" watch..it can be sync with the train clock and you are required to wear it while driving....you can wear 10 watches if you like as long as one of them s the Railcar Issue one.
The other day, I forgot to wear it..I realised s I got to work I had on my "normal" aviation watch. I straight away went into "EK mode" thinking, nasty emails, warning letters, meetings withe EGT. I went to see the Depot Master ( the FDM) and told him I did not have my watch...his response?...'Don't worry mate..you are not the first..you certainly won't be the last..thats why we have a box of spares..."
I could go on about the 10 weeks annual leave..the 6 week ahead rosters..
My point is..the Sandpit ain't everything no matter how much they pay..aviation ain't everything...what you need to evaluate is....when you are on our death bed will you be happy you spent that extra year in the Sandpit?
Sorry for the long post
Regards to all
SOPS
I thought..what the hell..lets give it a go.
Then began the longest (12 months ) hardest recruitment process I have ever been through..( and I have worked for 3 airlines including EK).
My initial application was in March 2016..and the recruitment process was finalised in Feb 2017...in March I was advised I was selected to start my 30 week course in July.
And can I say..Im having a ball. I love it!!!. Firstly..it is such a lovely lovely place to work, everyone can not do enough for you.
On the first day of our course, the Head of Training came in and told us.."Guys we know you do not know anything about driving trains, Thats why the course is 30 weeks long.WE get thousands of applicants for this job when we advertise , we have selected 45 of you..we are here to train you and get you trough the course".
The whole training..11 weeks classroom and the 19 weeks "on track" training has been complete "no threat" training. I have 6 weeks left until my final check. I made a mistake today and was getting very pissed off with myself as I should have known better by now and my instructor said..."Relax Mate, stop being so hard on yourself..you have been driving trains for 10 weeks, I ave been driving 20 years and I have done the same error many times"
There are rules that need to be followed..many, just like flying..one rule is..you are issued with an "official" watch..it can be sync with the train clock and you are required to wear it while driving....you can wear 10 watches if you like as long as one of them s the Railcar Issue one.
The other day, I forgot to wear it..I realised s I got to work I had on my "normal" aviation watch. I straight away went into "EK mode" thinking, nasty emails, warning letters, meetings withe EGT. I went to see the Depot Master ( the FDM) and told him I did not have my watch...his response?...'Don't worry mate..you are not the first..you certainly won't be the last..thats why we have a box of spares..."
I could go on about the 10 weeks annual leave..the 6 week ahead rosters..
My point is..the Sandpit ain't everything no matter how much they pay..aviation ain't everything...what you need to evaluate is....when you are on our death bed will you be happy you spent that extra year in the Sandpit?
Sorry for the long post
Regards to all
SOPS
With the most respect, I get that you love driving trains. But please also realize that many people here do not want to give up flying and this is why the vent their (endless) moans on here. They say they do, but the truth of the matter is if they're off for a couple of months for any reason, they miss it. Sure it depends on age, when I' anywhere within 15 yrs of retiring I will not fly multiple sectors or 800 hrs a year, that's for sure. There are options though, in many places around the world, and to be honest they are not usually discussed on here (the best sign). Usually options that require not counting on the stability of a permantent contract, or a stable airline. Good people quickly find the next job though. So there you have it, the hard truth, we can't have everything. Plenty of options, choose wisely.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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To each their own. I also make investments and offset my taxable income. I didn’t ignore the cost of housing and health ins when I factored my EK pay. If I was a 10yr Delta 777 captain, I’d still come home with more after taxes, especially if I was flying 90-105hrs a month
Now I am just a slow thinking country boy. Are you talking a Capt that has been in the company 10yrs, which seems to be the EK definition. Or are you talking a Capt that has been a Capt in Delta for 10yrs? Different animals right?
Join Date: May 2014
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I was referring to a 2nd year Captain at Delta because that is what I am. The pay numbers I referred to above would be $20-25 an hr higher if we were comaparing 10 yr captains and those rates are narrowbody rates. 777 rates would be considerably higher.
Xulu you can try and justify the shalacking you’re taking at Emirates but if I can let it be known at the end of the month after all the bills were paid I have more money in my pocket now then I did at Ek and feel so much better. But you like it so that is all that matters but don’t try and denigrate or put down my Airline when you have no idea what in the he11 your talking about.
Yes I pay taxes in the US but I paid taxes to the US while slaving for EK AND I paid taxes to the UAE at the same time and it’s going to get worse with the VAT coming. At least some of the taxes will be upfront now.
But you like it so that’s all that matters.
Xulu you can try and justify the shalacking you’re taking at Emirates but if I can let it be known at the end of the month after all the bills were paid I have more money in my pocket now then I did at Ek and feel so much better. But you like it so that is all that matters but don’t try and denigrate or put down my Airline when you have no idea what in the he11 your talking about.
Yes I pay taxes in the US but I paid taxes to the US while slaving for EK AND I paid taxes to the UAE at the same time and it’s going to get worse with the VAT coming. At least some of the taxes will be upfront now.
But you like it so that’s all that matters.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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I was referring to a 2nd year Captain at Delta because that is what I am. The pay numbers I referred to above would be $20-25 an hr higher if we were comaparing 10 yr captains and those rates are narrowbody rates. 777 rates would be considerably higher.
Xulu you can try and justify the shalacking you’re taking at Emirates but if I can let it be known at the end of the month after all the bills were paid I have more money in my pocket now then I did at Ek and feel so much better. But you like it so that is all that matters but don’t try and denigrate or put down my Airline when you have no idea what in the he11 your talking about.
Yes I pay taxes in the US but I paid taxes to the US while slaving for EK AND I paid taxes to the UAE at the same time and it’s going to get worse with the VAT coming. At least some of the taxes will be upfront now.
But you like it so that’s all that matters.
Xulu you can try and justify the shalacking you’re taking at Emirates but if I can let it be known at the end of the month after all the bills were paid I have more money in my pocket now then I did at Ek and feel so much better. But you like it so that is all that matters but don’t try and denigrate or put down my Airline when you have no idea what in the he11 your talking about.
Yes I pay taxes in the US but I paid taxes to the US while slaving for EK AND I paid taxes to the UAE at the same time and it’s going to get worse with the VAT coming. At least some of the taxes will be upfront now.
But you like it so that’s all that matters.
short flights long nights
With the most respect, I get that you love driving trains. But please also realize that many people here do not want to give up flying and this is why the vent their (endless) moans on here. They say they do, but the truth of the matter is if they're off for a couple of months for any reason, they miss it. Sure it depends on age, when I' anywhere within 15 yrs of retiring I will not fly multiple sectors or 800 hrs a year, that's for sure. There are options though, in many places around the world, and to be honest they are not usually discussed on here (the best sign). Usually options that require not counting on the stability of a permantent contract, or a stable airline. Good people quickly find the next job though. So there you have it, the hard truth, we can't have everything. Plenty of options, choose wisely.
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Maybe because it is not always easy to move from one place to another so distant from each other.
It is not like moving from one state to another in the USA...
And , for me at least , it is even more difficult to move from Dubai back to home for several reasons.
School for the kids , job for the wife , losing friends , starting back at the bottom of a seniority list , going from a heavy or a SUPER to a medium Aircraft , moving from left to right again , licence approval problem etc...
I know for sure many friends here that would like to leave BUT are not able to do it right now for different reasons BUT for sure they all regret that they came here and if they could go back in time they would decide not to come...
It is not like moving from one state to another in the USA...
And , for me at least , it is even more difficult to move from Dubai back to home for several reasons.
School for the kids , job for the wife , losing friends , starting back at the bottom of a seniority list , going from a heavy or a SUPER to a medium Aircraft , moving from left to right again , licence approval problem etc...
I know for sure many friends here that would like to leave BUT are not able to do it right now for different reasons BUT for sure they all regret that they came here and if they could go back in time they would decide not to come...
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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I think that the answer is quite easy and is also valid for some pilots coming from other countries like me.
When I left home , I had lost my job ( bankruptcy ) and was looking for another one anywhere ( not specifically in the Middle East )
I ended here but with almost no knowledge at all about the region , then I realised that a contract signed here means nothing and that conditions can be changed anytime without my approval.
I also quickly learned that every year things are getting worse and conditions almost always go down.
That you are not allowed to unify or even try to form a group of employee to just challenge the changes pushed in your terms and conditions.
Etc... so in short if I knew , I would not be here I would have choosen another position somewhere else.
So yes , you can say that it is my fault because I did not make enough research before coming BUT I did not really have any time to do it...
When I left home , I had lost my job ( bankruptcy ) and was looking for another one anywhere ( not specifically in the Middle East )
I ended here but with almost no knowledge at all about the region , then I realised that a contract signed here means nothing and that conditions can be changed anytime without my approval.
I also quickly learned that every year things are getting worse and conditions almost always go down.
That you are not allowed to unify or even try to form a group of employee to just challenge the changes pushed in your terms and conditions.
Etc... so in short if I knew , I would not be here I would have choosen another position somewhere else.
So yes , you can say that it is my fault because I did not make enough research before coming BUT I did not really have any time to do it...
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dubai
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I think most of the American pilots on here who have moved back to jobs in the US share their experience on pprune to encourage other American pilots to do the same. We realize it’s hard to get a green card so it isn’t to ‘rub it in’ to pilots from the UK, Oz, Europe, etc. but it’s to let fellow US pilots know that the industry has improved and retirements/movement are happening. It’s possible to return and enjoy an improved quality of life than what EK and Dubai can offer. It’s never going to be an easy move and getting the job is the tough part but it can be done. Once done, you’ll never look back.
Last edited by Buford; 5th Dec 2017 at 00:35.
Join Date: Dec 2016
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Typhoonpilot (if my memory is correct) is a former TRE who posted here under Tartan Guy and Cpt America.
A colleague alerted me to his identity sometime back, and yes Typoonpilot was ex US air hence the reason for protecting his former colleagues in his post.
This gentleman inflicted a lot of damage while he was here and I believe has tried to return as an SFE but thankfully the company turned him.
Enjoy your down time BM.................
A colleague alerted me to his identity sometime back, and yes Typoonpilot was ex US air hence the reason for protecting his former colleagues in his post.
This gentleman inflicted a lot of damage while he was here and I believe has tried to return as an SFE but thankfully the company turned him.
Enjoy your down time BM.................
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Typhoon is NOT Tartan Guy.
TG was a DEC who glorified Emirates to the Wall St Journal then tried to defend himself in the 3rd person on prune.
While the US Airways pilots often lacked skills both social and aeronautical Typhoon was not one of them. Plus he was one of the smart US Airways pilots, he got out!
TG was a DEC who glorified Emirates to the Wall St Journal then tried to defend himself in the 3rd person on prune.
While the US Airways pilots often lacked skills both social and aeronautical Typhoon was not one of them. Plus he was one of the smart US Airways pilots, he got out!
Typhoon pilot equals gentleman. Tartan guy/capt America equals buffoon. Noway near being the same people.
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Typhoon Pilot
[QUOTE=donpizmeov;997896"Typhoon pilot equals gentleman"
Don is absolutely correct. I had the pleasure of flying/simulating with Typhoon in EK many times. One of the best and most professional pilots/trainers you could wish to meet.
How anyone could claim he was either or even both of the other two 'gentlemen' beggars belief.
Don is absolutely correct. I had the pleasure of flying/simulating with Typhoon in EK many times. One of the best and most professional pilots/trainers you could wish to meet.
How anyone could claim he was either or even both of the other two 'gentlemen' beggars belief.