Who's happy
Had a pilot returning home after ending his 3yr career at EK on a flight recently. He looked pretty happy.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Extremely happy as working my notice period. (EK) Each day the crew portal counts down the remaining days, much like a nativity calendar. Without exception colleagues have congratulated me & expressed the wish that their day would soon come- all, depending on their circumstance, have an exit plan. I hope my comments at the exit interview were not just filed away never worthy of consideration but I presume so. The only thing I will miss is the great fellowship I have enjoyed this past 20 years.
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Nearly 6 years over at T2 in DXB on the 737 (left seat) and very happy still. Things are definately improving and the only negative would be the decline of the financial package. (inflation vs no basic or allowance increase and no profident fund) Rosters are very good, home every day and 80% day time flying due seniority. No stress, no b*s. Great folk to fly with and well maintained material.
Yet if I compare it with airlines back home I just can't justify a move back both financially and life style wise. And I don't fancy China or long haul. Kids doing fantastic in a very good school that's not costing me a kidney or two and the wife's happy.
Working in this part of the world you have to be a 'chilled out, go with the flow and just do as you are told' kinda guy/girl. Otherwise you are gonna stress yourself out. Keep your head below the horizon and take from it what you need. Don't try and change the environment and ask too many questions. It just is what it is. Just my 0.02c.
This is my 3rd airline for reference.
Yet if I compare it with airlines back home I just can't justify a move back both financially and life style wise. And I don't fancy China or long haul. Kids doing fantastic in a very good school that's not costing me a kidney or two and the wife's happy.
Working in this part of the world you have to be a 'chilled out, go with the flow and just do as you are told' kinda guy/girl. Otherwise you are gonna stress yourself out. Keep your head below the horizon and take from it what you need. Don't try and change the environment and ask too many questions. It just is what it is. Just my 0.02c.
This is my 3rd airline for reference.
Last edited by High Energy; 15th Aug 2018 at 13:46.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I am generally happy here as are the family. Go to work, have fun with decent people and when get off the aircraft don’t really think of work again till the car pulls up next time outside the house. No plans as yet to leave but we review each year. Right, I’ll go put my tin hat on ��
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Well lets continue to big up the blue and orange massive!
Nine years done and everything still going really very well. Roster all requested. Days off before/after leave. Good airplanes, love the MAX! Decent route network, admittedly there are a few less desirable places but the approaches keep your skills sharp, its not RV ILS everywhere you know! Love my A380 biz class travel during leave, got a nice apartment that comes under allowance, a pimped up car, spend my days off at the beach or pool and nights out with the APC.
Of course its not a perfect world and there are issues which still need correcting but for me anyway its far better than not.
Sure I could make a few squillion in China but would I be happy?, I'm not convinced. Here i have pleasant flight deck company, the crew are a super bunch to fly with, yeah, I'll keep putting the time in here thank you
Nine years done and everything still going really very well. Roster all requested. Days off before/after leave. Good airplanes, love the MAX! Decent route network, admittedly there are a few less desirable places but the approaches keep your skills sharp, its not RV ILS everywhere you know! Love my A380 biz class travel during leave, got a nice apartment that comes under allowance, a pimped up car, spend my days off at the beach or pool and nights out with the APC.
Of course its not a perfect world and there are issues which still need correcting but for me anyway its far better than not.
Sure I could make a few squillion in China but would I be happy?, I'm not convinced. Here i have pleasant flight deck company, the crew are a super bunch to fly with, yeah, I'll keep putting the time in here thank you
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Post-Pit and Lovin' It.
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wtf?! Did I miss a memo? fatbus, you pulled the pin at EK?
Geezuz all we need now is for don and harry to resign and it'll just be WK muttering to himself on this place...
Last one out...
Geezuz all we need now is for don and harry to resign and it'll just be WK muttering to himself on this place...
Last one out...
Join Date: May 2003
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High energy
you cannot remain calm and go with the flow when you have roster instability, working flat out, arriving home fatigued and not having quality time with family. Pilots who are suffering being on their present circumstances need create opportunity for better life and only way to do it is escape from this ME mad house.
it's obvious that many are not happy in their present job and are envious when they hear about their colleagues leaving and wish they too can escape Alcatraz but are not able to do so for whatever reason.
I emphasize with my fellow aviators and recommend that sometimes you need close one door before another one opens. There are lots of jobs out there and start opening your own doors even if no job Available immediately you will not be unemployed for long!
you cannot remain calm and go with the flow when you have roster instability, working flat out, arriving home fatigued and not having quality time with family. Pilots who are suffering being on their present circumstances need create opportunity for better life and only way to do it is escape from this ME mad house.
it's obvious that many are not happy in their present job and are envious when they hear about their colleagues leaving and wish they too can escape Alcatraz but are not able to do so for whatever reason.
I emphasize with my fellow aviators and recommend that sometimes you need close one door before another one opens. There are lots of jobs out there and start opening your own doors even if no job Available immediately you will not be unemployed for long!
Join Date: Dec 2012
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High energy
you cannot remain calm and go with the flow when you have roster instability, working flat out, arriving home fatigued and not having quality time with family. Pilots who are suffering being on their present circumstances need create opportunity for better life and only way to do it is escape from this ME mad house.
it's obvious that many are not happy in their present job and are envious when they hear about their colleagues leaving and wish they too can escape Alcatraz but are not able to do so for whatever reason.
I emphasize with my fellow aviators and recommend that sometimes you need close one door before another one opens. There are lots of jobs out there and start opening your own doors even if no job Available immediately you will not be unemployed for long!
you cannot remain calm and go with the flow when you have roster instability, working flat out, arriving home fatigued and not having quality time with family. Pilots who are suffering being on their present circumstances need create opportunity for better life and only way to do it is escape from this ME mad house.
it's obvious that many are not happy in their present job and are envious when they hear about their colleagues leaving and wish they too can escape Alcatraz but are not able to do so for whatever reason.
I emphasize with my fellow aviators and recommend that sometimes you need close one door before another one opens. There are lots of jobs out there and start opening your own doors even if no job Available immediately you will not be unemployed for long!
Like I said, each to their own. I have plenty of options to choose from if I decide to leave. I just don't see a reason why as it's so chill here. My roster compared to other middle eastern flag carriers and european legacy airlines that I've flown for is stable, set in stone once published and virtually without layovers. On average I fly around 70-75hrs a month with the occasional 90+. I don't mind that. I am not tired and not even remotely fatigued and no swapping roster patterns anymore. It used to be different before the crash and my upgrade years back. If you want to see instability, tough rosters due to the set out rules by governing bodies, upgrade stress, job security stress and fatigue, ME maddness and family safety stress I'd say go and look at some of the other national carriers around the GCC. (outside of UAE I mean)
I guess here my seniority is working for me now and I've done my time. The occasional night flight comes with the territory I'm afraid so I don't complain. No different than doing a night UK-Turkey/Egypt night turn. And as far as family time, well that's my main argument to stay. Many of my friends at EK (and senior too) are jelous of the amount of time I spend at home compared to another continent or in a hotel. I can do either school drop of or pickup almost daily and spend time with the family. I'm not yet senior enough to pick/choose or build my own full roster so I'll get the occasional back-to-back night turn. But other than that it's pretty sweet. Around 80+% of my flights are requested flights. And that gives me the lifestyle I want and need.
It ain't perfect but I've seen enough hotels for now and I've been made redundant. I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time with molotov cocktails flying around whilst having my family in the car incl a newborn. Trust me it really ain't to bad at T2 and DXB but each to their own.
Join Date: Apr 2011
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That is the main problem with this website , you got both of the extreme point of view of a situation BUT not the average…
I am sure that High Energy's comment is genuine and that he really means what he is saying BUT I really doubt that it reflects the situation of the majority of the pilot at Flydubai.
Every day I hear about pilots leaving ( First Officers and Captains ) for different reasons.
What needs to be well understood is that in Flydubai ( for the time being ) everything is fully based on seniority ( roster , annual leave etc ) so if you are senior enough , YES you can have the level of satisfaction shown by High Energy BUT it would be foolish to think that by joining today you will be in the same situation.
To give you an actual situation , the most senior captains can ( if they bid smartly ) get easily 14 and up to 18 days off every months with no night flights BUT at the same time for the less senior pilots you can expect only 8 to 10 days off maximum with plenty of sub-continent night flight , four sector days and nice flight to Kabul , Kandahar , Bagram , Juba , Khartoum…
I am sure that High Energy's comment is genuine and that he really means what he is saying BUT I really doubt that it reflects the situation of the majority of the pilot at Flydubai.
Every day I hear about pilots leaving ( First Officers and Captains ) for different reasons.
What needs to be well understood is that in Flydubai ( for the time being ) everything is fully based on seniority ( roster , annual leave etc ) so if you are senior enough , YES you can have the level of satisfaction shown by High Energy BUT it would be foolish to think that by joining today you will be in the same situation.
To give you an actual situation , the most senior captains can ( if they bid smartly ) get easily 14 and up to 18 days off every months with no night flights BUT at the same time for the less senior pilots you can expect only 8 to 10 days off maximum with plenty of sub-continent night flight , four sector days and nice flight to Kabul , Kandahar , Bagram , Juba , Khartoum…
Join Date: Dec 2012
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That is the main problem with this website , you got both of the extreme point of view of a situation BUT not the average…
I am sure that High Energy's comment is genuine and that he really means what he is saying BUT I really doubt that it reflects the situation of the majority of the pilot at Flydubai.
Every day I hear about pilots leaving ( First Officers and Captains ) for different reasons.
What needs to be well understood is that in Flydubai ( for the time being ) everything is fully based on seniority ( roster , annual leave etc ) so if you are senior enough , YES you can have the level of satisfaction shown by High Energy BUT it would be foolish to think that by joining today you will be in the same situation.
To give you an actual situation , the most senior captains can ( if they bid smartly ) get easily 14 and up to 18 days off every months with no night flights BUT at the same time for the less senior pilots you can expect only 8 to 10 days off maximum with plenty of sub-continent night flight , four sector days and nice flight to Kabul , Kandahar , Bagram , Juba , Khartoum…
I am sure that High Energy's comment is genuine and that he really means what he is saying BUT I really doubt that it reflects the situation of the majority of the pilot at Flydubai.
Every day I hear about pilots leaving ( First Officers and Captains ) for different reasons.
What needs to be well understood is that in Flydubai ( for the time being ) everything is fully based on seniority ( roster , annual leave etc ) so if you are senior enough , YES you can have the level of satisfaction shown by High Energy BUT it would be foolish to think that by joining today you will be in the same situation.
To give you an actual situation , the most senior captains can ( if they bid smartly ) get easily 14 and up to 18 days off every months with no night flights BUT at the same time for the less senior pilots you can expect only 8 to 10 days off maximum with plenty of sub-continent night flight , four sector days and nice flight to Kabul , Kandahar , Bagram , Juba , Khartoum…
The big thing about flydubai is indeed the single seniority system. Any guy/girl joining now will have 850+ pilots ahead of them untill he/she leaves or people ahead resign. So unless you can/want to get into training (for more daytime flying I mean) you'll be working some tough line rosters for many years.
In August I had 12 OFF's, including a block of 4 I did not ask for and 4 rest days.The average is around 10-11 I think, excl rest days.
I'll leave the discussion at that. Do with it what you like.
Last edited by High Energy; 17th Aug 2018 at 15:34.
short flights long nights