BBC Middle East

[poohpooh1]

Hi there,

I’m a BBC broadcast journalist and I’m working on a story about the FTLs and the Middle East.

I was hoping to speak with pilots who have left the Middle East in the last year and a half.

My email address is orla.o’[email protected]

Many thanks,

Orla

[Ramones]

Why don’t you write about FTL’s in Europe ?

[Python27]

Originally Posted by poohpooh1

Hi there,

I’m a BBC broadcast journalist and I’m working on a story about the FTLs and the Middle East.

I was hoping to speak with pilots who have left the Middle East in the last year and a half.

My email address is orla.o’[email protected]

Many thanks,

Orla

Write down about the "EASA" FTL in the sandpit...

[WrldWide]

Originally Posted by Ramones

Why don’t you write about FTL’s in Europe ?

Do any aviation authorities in Europe allow flight time factoring?

[SOPS]

I thought you were working for EK, Aiminghigh? Anyway it won’t matter, your roster will still be about the same!!

[donpizmeov]

Aiminghigh, you seem to have all the answers . Why do you come to this site when you already know better than everyone else?

[Monarch Man]

AIMINGHIGH123 do yourself an enormous favour and actually take a little more notice of the people on here, as a recent leaver at EK I can categorically state that apart from most of your colleagues on the flightdeck the place is the most toxic, vindictive, uncaring excuse of an employer you will ever have the misfortune to be indebted too.
On the one hand you have expat management minions of all sorts spending the majority of their day ar$e covering their own incompetence whilst engaging in a b@stardised version of a sociopaths wet dream e.g. inventing new and idiotic edicts that rely on threats, punishment and financial consequences for the mildest infraction, inadvertent or otherwise.
All of this is directed by those from high above who view all staff as nothing more than replaceable and expendable and whom are their possessions to use and abuse as needed.
The palpable reality of no longer being under the heel of a despotic organisation is measurable, in my case my health and happiness. Anyone at EK who says they are even remotely happy and rested are either deluded, deceitful or have come from such beacons of freedom and joy like sub Saharan Africa, Central and South America or have been on the property for less than 5 minutes.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Am I missing something here. AimingHigh worked for Emirates and not happy. Now FlyBe and seemingly not happy?
I heard Qatar have introduced an EASA type FTL in the ME. Anyone else??

[Python27]

Originally Posted by SOPS

I thought you were working for EK, Aiminghigh? Anyway it won’t matter, your roster will still be about the same!!

​​​​​​
Check his posts, just click on the name : you guys are being trolled by a ntr kiddo desperate for Wizz air and another fantastic jobs in Europe ...

[in freedom]

I am assuming that at least part of the BBC's interest would be in the differences of how the FTLs are applied in the Middle East. That's the real difference to regulations in a functioning democracy. Since there are no division of power and no checks and balances, the government owned airlines in the Middle East can pretty much do whatever they want. Who would stop them ? Not the government.

I haven't seen systematically falsified documentation of check-in times and thereby flight duty times in Europe. What's written is one thing, what's applied in reality is quite another in the Middle East. Rules are bent and broken, exceptions are the standard and there is no legal relief available. Nor are there unions or the free press to turn to. Not even the medical department is independent.

The result of pilots being intimidated and overworked is no coincidence. It is as clearly intended as the exploitation of construction labourers and the suppression of dissidents and journalists.

I encourage you to contact Orla and make your contribution to letting the traveling public know, what they are really getting onboard with.

[ironbutt57]

Originally Posted by AIMINGHIGH123

If you hadn’t noticed Flybe had weeks left before it would have gone under yeah just sit back and let that happen. I reacted to that information. Can’t have all your eggs in one basket.
Most of you guys either seem stuck for some reason or are scared to leave. I hated my previous career walked in one day and handed my notice in. Best decision I ever made.
The industry as a whole is very different, read the BA thread. If you don’t believe them ask people. I know at least 40 odd people at BA, maybe 10 are happy. Others mixed. I know of some who have left and are at EK. Why? Same same but get more money at EK. That’s what they told me.
If I had the choice I would go CX. Not looking just at the airline but the opportunity to live in HK. My favourite city. Then Singapore. Dubai and EK will not be a magical world I get that but we have friends there which will help with socialising particularly for my misses. We are 100% city folk. We could never live outside of a city.
Misses can quit work and retrain while looking after little ones (nursery costs alone are £1.5k+ per child not full time), although she has been offered a very good job in Dubai if she wants it.
Our mortgage will be paid while away even if we spend all my salary we would still be benefiting from that.
Obviously I have back up plans. I’m not just coming out on a whim. You need that with anything.

you are full of Brown-25....

[MaverickPrime]

AIMINGHIGH123, IMHO; I'm not sure why you are all over this forum trying to convince bitter strangers, who will never agree with you, why your reasons for joining EK are valid. Maybe you are trying to convince yourself?

If you are really sure that EK is the right place for you then go for it; spend your time and effort making it work for you instead of wasting it on here.

[FlightDetent]

Originally Posted by AIMINGHIGH123

TFS-ARN-TFS anyone. That’s about 12-13 hrs flight time in a 737. Add in turnaround plus check in maybe a slot. 14+ hour day easily. EASA says that’s fine.

No they do not. 14 is the limit and you could only do 7 days like that in a month evenly distributed, and end up with 3 months of free time in a calendar year being maxed out at 900 hrs.

If you cannot grasp these simple home rules properly, are you sure your (distant) views on the sandpit pilot existence are accurate?

[donpizmeov]

Detent, be careful with him, he only has 2000hrs and is trying to catch up . But those 777s are very lage shiny . He knows it it all . We are wasting his time .

[Officer Kite]

This guy is so obviously taking the piss, the only mystery is how everyone has taken the bait. You are likely talking to some bored teen in his attic scratching himself for a living right now.

[givemewings]

I bet AH is the type who stops by the supermarket in uniform on his way home just to make sure the laydees know he is a pilot... don't forget the company ID 'casually' on the gym bag so the chicks working out can get a glimpse and go weak at the knees because a skygod is in their mere presence

He counts days off in base like you can actually DO anything with them 98% of the time... lol

[azhkman]

If nothing else, the BBC reporter certainly has a story in the mental state of pilots (or attic dwelling teens) that would terrify the flying public.

[poohpooh1]

Hi guys,

Thank you so much for all of your posts, they've been really helpful.

I fully understand the level of hesitation involved in contacting me.

If you do get in touch, it will be under anonymity.

As previously stated I’m keen to hear regarding people’s experiences with The FTLs, fatigue, and the Middle East.

Many thanks,

Orla

[fatbus]

You will find the FTL's more or less the same with most CAA's. Don't confuse union negotiated FTLs with CAA FTLs. Fatigue is subjective and very individual. Some of the ME boys and girls mistakenly think they are hard done by . There are plenty of options now on the market but they neglect to take advantage of them. Instead just complain and continually look for sympathy.

[crewmeal]

Thank you so much for all of your posts, they've been really helpful.

Now you have gleaned such info what do you intend to do with it? What sort of programme do you have in mind? With everything said above it sounds like you could have a 'Jeremy Kyle' type of show on your hands.