Riggwelter

It's true, we've had a few people leave over the last 24 months. To be honest the contract jobs in India, while much harder work, pay more, and as far as I know every expat contractor (No full timers have left for new jobs) that has left was a co-pilot here making 8K US per month and is now a skipper in India making 12K per month, albiet with double the workload.
Theres been a few Saudi's that have left recently, but it's for a myriad of reasons, pay being one of them(Ironically, the Saudi's in Aramco are the lowest paid pilots, especially the F/O's) , and to varying degrees, morale issues.
I can't help but feel a little annoyed when someone takes a broad brush and paints most Saudis as useless gits. I have found excellence and stupidity equally represented by all racial groups, and to sit and make crass generalizations about a nationality, no matter how dumb one representative may be, to be incorrect. I'd like to balance these negative comments by saying that there are some really excellent pilots and engineers over here, both Saudi and Expat.

Pay, by the way, has not changed much since the previous posts.

Fullboat2

Hello all,

I've read and reread this whole thread dating back to 2000! Can anyone elaborate a little more on the process of 'upgrading' to employee status? There seems to be no guarantees on that ever occurring but is there a general rule of thumb?

I've heard three different scenarios really and I'm unsure as to which one, if any, is correct. The first is that everyone puts in a year and then pretty much gets the call up to the majors. Second scenario is two years and then you're off the farm team. Last scenario is that you're just in limbo the whole time, if it happens it happens!

Could those in the know shed a little light on how it seems to work right now? Assuming a guy can find his way around an airplane and doesn't have an attitude malfunction, what is reasonable in terms of making employee?

Thanks a ton!

Panama Jack

Seemingly, they make "permanent" the guys who are at greatest risk of leaving. Then there is the legendary case of the one-eyed pilot with a poor record who became locally known as "Mohammed bin Drinkin'" after he converted to Islam (he was offered "permanent status"-- but screwed it up in the end too); which proves that you only real criteria is be liked by the management to get a permanent offer.

Spread da Aloha

if Saudis can fly half way as good as these Saudis drive then i'll be OK. just no loop de loops or barrel rolls in the air please.

Fullboat2

Ok, I laughed pretty hard at that one Panama Jack!

Seriously though, if you're a decent guy that can fly an airplane, are you gonna get the employee offer after a year or so? Or is it a total crapshoot?

Riggwelter

Fullboat,
Unfortunately there is no defined or even deciferable, for that matter, method to who gets hired and when, and who does not. This is a constant source of frustration among the contractors and probably the primary reason contractors leave us in the end.
The story of Mohamed Bin Drinkin is pretty spot on (He was an expat who converted to Islam and changed his name to Mohamed so he could marry a moslem girl, unfortunately he did not change his epic drinking habits), he was the least likely of candidates and was hired over the heads of many more qualified (imho, at least) other pilots.
All I can say is that if our management likes you, you will have a spot in the sun.
As for a time frame of when you'd get full time, I can say that in general don't expect to be offered a job in less than a year, and expect several months to pass before all the t's are crossed and I's dotted before you've finished the hiring rain dance.
If you do make it through all the heartache, and you are a western expat, you will enjoy one of the best paying, best working condition (if you like part 91 psuedo commuter work or VIP flights) jobs in the region. For a family guy, it's pretty much our opinion there isn't a better place anywhere, period.

Fullboat2

Riggwelter,

Thank you very much for your reply. I have been in touch with a few of the guys flying over there now and everyone has been simply wonderful with information!

It seems like the answer about employees is not shorter than a year, not longer than two, and when you get the nod it takes you a few months to jump through all the hoops.

Curious, what happens to the guys that management doesn't like, do they stay on as permanent contractors or get shipped out?

From what I have been able to tell, the family life over there is EXACTLY what family life should be. One of your guys equated it to where Ward and June Cleaver moved to after their show cancelled :0)

A few of us applying for Aramco have been told that story you mentioned. Simply amazing!

Again, thanks for all your help! Aloha!

Fullboat2

ScubaPilot77

My wife, a Registered Nurse, and I (an ATP Helo, S/MEL/S) are very interested in Aramco employment. Is there anyone on PPRuNe knowledgeable about Aramco helicopter operations who would be willing to answer some specific questions?

1. I have seen Aramco helo job advertisements listing 3500 helo PIC as a "requirement". Is this a true, bedrock minimum PIC hour requirement, or is this like many companies -- they advertise for what they would like, but given the worldwide helicopter pilot shortage, will take someone otherwise qualified but with less hours than ideal?

2. What is the current Aramco helicopter fleet composition? I read recently that the Bell BH-206 aircraft were being replaced with Augusta AW-109s. Has the replacement been completed?

3. Is it possible to be hired as a husband and wife team as "permanent" employees, instead of as "contractors"? Any opinion on whether a pilot and nurse, husband and wife team would be considered an attractive combination to the company and more likely to get hired?

4. Any general information on the current compensation and retirement package? Not looking for proprietary information but a general sense of the compensation for a US-expat helicopter pilot and how many years are required to earn a retirement.

Thank you!

Desert Diner

Simply amazing will sum it all up. Pity its only a view through rose colored glasses.

Its a nice place to live, but don't kid yourselves.

chandlers dad

There is a reason why they are paying salaries like they are, supplying housing and so on. Its not a "country club" over there everywhere you look. There is good and not so good with every job, this one included.

Lived and worked in Riyadh years ago (10+ ago) and the country has really changed a lot, and most of it for the good. That said we did not have to worry about being kidnapped either. Go there with open eyes and you should do ok.

Spread da Aloha

There have been no kidnappings in Saudi in many years either that I know of. However I can tell you of various shootings, stabbings and robberys yesterday alone in Los Angeles.

I hold an American passport and I walk around just about anywhere I like out here. While I am not running around wearing a stars and stripes bandana or a born in the USA tee shirt or anything, I don't know much arabic either.

Of course coming from Hawaii most likely gives me a slight advantage over most other Americans. I wouldn't recommend most people walk around Makaha or Kalihi alone either (back in Hawaii), and I love those towns.

You've got to share a little and give a little Hawaiian Style. Spread a little Aloha out there in the world.

NGFellow

Is ARAMCO just hiring contract NG guys or full-timers as well. The website says they need Capts and F/O's. How many NG's do they have? What are the competive requirements? Are Saudi's leaving for NAS? It seems like they have ads for jobs that are not available.

icarus sun

As a contractor it is like living in a POW camp or Club FED. I escaped after 1 month. See the movie The Great Escape ,my bike made it over the wire fence to BAH.

ScubaPilot77

Both PPRuNe an the Aramco website have information for the fixed wing types. Are there any helicopter pilots who have worked for Saudi Aramco willing to converse on what it is like working for Aramco?

JSMacKayII @ gmail.com if you would like to respond privately.

ironbutt57

Geez PJ i knew that fellow you mentioned for the better part or 20 years..and no he hasn't, nor will he ever change...

ubaid123

Any one knows how can i contact the operational control of aramco , im a licensed dispatcher and wana work for them.

When i did the dispatcher course i had 3 dudes from aramco in my class and they unfortunately didnt make it!!!

Any body got any info or contacts?

will appreciate it a lot

wonder

anyone from aramco know where Y. Alshingaiti is? is he still there. PM please if you know

Nevrekar

ARAMCO is usually hiring for the B737. They are hiring contractors and after 1 year as a contractor you can be considered for a full-time position.
Schedule is 10 weeks/3 weeks off. Pay is around $8000/month plus $3000 for travel every 10 weeks. Housing is provided. Website is [email protected]. They don't usually hire over 60 guys.

Riggwelter

As far as I am aware we are not hiring for PIC positions, especially in the B737. We have many full time expats with the appropriate level of experience who are looking for the upgrade, as well as up and coming locals. Having said that it wouldn't hurt to drop an email to the site you saw the advert and ask for clarification.

Nevekrar is pretty spot on for the T&C for contractors.

ubaid123

hI GUYS

Can some one Please help me get in touch with aramco flight operations department, flight dispatch supervisor or operations manager?/Head of dispatch? or Operations control center OCC??

im a dispatcher trying to get into aramco.

i am trying to contact them but cant find the right people to contact.