wild boar, unfortunately you may soon discover that a training bond is quite common at overseas airlines, particularly if you are issued a type rating by the airline, and also any employer in the Gulf can make it difficult for you if you skip the bond..including travel ban...etc...etc...so running off to EK and ditching your GF bond is probably going to come back to haunt you...your word is your bond, and surely you were aware of the bond before you joined...

Bond issues and the big stick policy
 

Hi there,

It's their airline?

It is, so we have to adapt.
Just bear in mind, that 95% of the 320 FO corps are expats. A CP has to be clever enough to realize that and adapt towards us as well, like it or not. Applying the "big stick" policy, generates conflicts that cannot, or should not be resolved via the arab way.


Training Bond:

Both sides can resign a contract and if GF would go through a major restructuring, don't think they would spare you or me. It's business.
If a pilot wants to leave before the end of a training bond, he should go to the office and ask how much of it is left and the bank details for the payment.
Aviation is a very, very small world and if you leave, don't slam the door behind you.

LNB

IB

Point taken. I don't know anyone who came here with the intention of breaking their bond, personally I still find it disconcerting that this might be something I will have to consider. That said alll the pilots that have so far resigned have attempted to agree terms of payment as the amount of the bond is beyond the financial boundaries of a single payment. I would attempt to do the same, however precedence has now shown me that they are uninterested in any compromise. I do not know anyone amongst the ex-pats here who is that unethical, including myself, so this is not the real issue. The issue as I see it is that such contempt is shown to us that the ethics actually come into question! That's why these feelings are aired on this forum.

Sal-e? Their company? I suggest you look up the definition of company as in business law and what it means. I do not hold any shares in the company but I am still part of it!

Also guys if you come from somewhere in the world that does not give you the opportunities that you have with Gulfair, then good luck, I am not taking anything away from you, make your life here and be happy. If you have experience in working for different airlines, or as your experience grows you will find that it becomes oppressive, and that is why people complain, we do not all come from the same place, so I am not saying that you are wrong!

We came here on a contract. Is there any consultation before they want to modify/change our terms, benefits and duty times? In most places in the world, including quite a few third world countries, this would not be possible!

Wild Bore you are the kind of person who will complain no matter what job you have. Best of luck finding the perfect airline who will give you a free type rating with no bond, never change your roster and consult new join FO's on company policy. Do I really have to tell you such a job does not exist? In this age of low cost carriers you are lucky to be in a company that is a full service and is not EK or QR.

Think he's headed or trying to head to EK....in for a suprise no doubt...:=

quote..(wild boar) "If you have experience in working for different airlines, or as your experience grows you will find that it becomes oppressive, and that is why people complain, we do not all come from the same place, so I am not saying that you are wrong!"....

Well that said it all. Wildboar, I think if you haven't had the experience with several companies, you would actually be better of!!!
Time and time again, we hear of pilots moaning,..."back at X airlines, we had this and that" or ..."it was much better at Y airlines because of this pay and that perdiem".
In fact, all the pilots who complain are the ones who have bounced between airlines and contracts. They tend to compare the good, the bad and the uglies of airlines. Nothing wrong with that. The problem is with the ones who haven't had your experience. What might be atrocious conditions to you would be the best job in the world with the inexperienced in contract flying.
Therefore, negative comments give these guys the wrong impression percieved by the likes of you and in some cases, misleads the aspiring contract flyer.
So my advice to you guys new at this is.....just go out there.....ignore the complaints of others......make up your own mind and not base it on someone elses history and experience because you may well deprive yourself of the best experience and the best time of your life.

hello Wildboar,
GF is not a bad airline.Just as an advice, take whatever you will be offered.You are flying the 320, you will get the 330 or 340 in a while.
As far as I know, GF is the only airline in the world that will transfer you from the 320 to the long haul after two years.
Take the rating, the hours and the experience and if you are not happy, leave.
Just be advised that the day you will resign, if you still have a bond, your salary will not be paid for three months.Thanks to the management.It shows how they appreciate your hard work during this difficult time.

I know guys that have interviewed and taken the job on the 320 that are told 8 to 12 months for the 340.
Does this work out the way the say it does?
Have they been upgrading to the bigger airbuses recently?

8-12 months???
 

No, not anymore.

GF prefers to fill the 330 seats with new joiners.
Since the CCQ 330/340 is supposed to start in august, not only the direct entries will fly the 330, but the 340 as well.

LNB

Is that the offical company line now?
Sorry what is CCQ?

What was announced as an emergency solution to keep the 320 and the 330 fleet in the air last year, is becoming policy. :yuk:

You might understand the frustration of some of us here, who have been promised things and cannot see the arrival of the direct entries with good eyes. If you have joined 6 months ago, you don't really got affected.

CCQ means cross crew qualification, or you can call it MFF, mixed fleet flying.

LNB

Thanks for clearing that up for my Landing no blue.
I will certainly agree that it does indeed suck.
There was an airline in Canada that ran the 330 and 320 as a common type and crews went back and forth. Someone should suggest that to the powers that be.:E
Now there is some CCQ!;)

Techincally, CCQ is airbus term for very short crash course between various Airbus FBW types. Once qualified, you only fly one type.

MFF on the other hand is exactly what you describe and albeit it should be the ultimate crew/cost saver, suprisingly very little operators decide to do so across single aisle and widebody types. So there are obviously issues.

FD
(the un-real)

Along the same topic but a different angle.
If you are a 320 fo and the fleet plan may be to get rid of the 320's and 767's can you bid to a boeing from an airbus as an fo or is there any type of bid or way to show them your preference?
Just trying to see what the possibilities are.
:confused: :ok: