I actually had to look up that issue of Hello Kitty, uh, I mean Hello Gulf Air. I don't interpret it as a ban, so much as a reminder of "mind your manners" and "think before you talk." Sometimes, I get uncomfortable about the mindless banter about all sorts of issues where more discretion should be exercised that goes on between crews in all sorts of public places: airline terminals, aircraft cabins, bars or restaurants. On the PPRuNe forum during the recent month, there are some that have tried hard to create divisions and conflicts that, and perhaps I am living inside a shell, I just don't see anywhere in the Company on a day to day basis. I think you know what I mean.

Likewise on these forums. I think it is healthy to discuss issues and I am happy to live in a country and work in a Company where there aren't witch hunts about people who don't tow the Company line. Doesn't mean that I every day at work for me is a good day, or that I think everything is wonderful or perfect at Gulf Air. However, it seems to me that some people seemingly go out of their way to aire dirty laundry, and some of it is inflamatory or even worse, completely false. I wonder if these individuals also go around talking badly about their families?

As PPRuNe warns, this forum may be monitored by the unscrupulous, or the media.

Prop,

Other than changing hats, business cards, door signs and upgrading their respective gin cabinets, are they expanding or contracting the scope of the management teams with this reshuffle?

They look like they've got their act together vis the restructuring to get GF on the front foot, but (Capt Nutcase not withstanding), there's quite a bit of "i'm not quite sure where it going" comments running around

I'm thinking about moving over.The current ships a bit dull but floating along nicely, not quite sure about changing hats and picking a lemon with a few too many leaks below the visible waterline... any info would be appreciated

Chuck Y,

I know for a fact that GF have been offered four BRAND NEW A320's in the last three weeks, 1 for immediate delivery, three for Q4 2008. All straight off the production line! Zero mileage!

However, it unfortunately appears that the company cannot turn around a decision quick enough to take advantage of the offers and they either have or are about to be, snapped up by others who can make a decision within 24-72 hours!

What makes this worse is that there was a plan to return the current 320 fleet to the lessors this year and early 2009 as the leases ran out - that was ditched because they couldn't find any replacements; now they are being offered aircraft the opportunities are being lost because of the lack of decision making at the top.

I guess sometimes in business companies fail due to this sort of behaviour and inefficiency... so, where is GF heading?

Pretty discouraging to hear things like this. I thought I remember being told at a meeting that GF was also looking at getting some more Airbus' (probably narrowbodies of the A320 line); but it seems like decisions cannot be made without involving the Board, the Parliament, etc., and this takes weeks if not months. In the meantime Airbus has raised prices of it's aircraft (so anything we order now will cost a few million more per unit) and (and of course I have heard of instances like this before including the planned aquisition of A321's last summer) that winning opportunities are lost if it takes endless dinners and navel gazing to make a decision.

Where is GF heading? I think long term it will still be around, and with a renewed fleet and more destinations, but (failing some kind of major revolution in the way business is done, decisions are made, etc.) mostly due to the Government taking great interest in "its" airline project. Not the brightest star in the skies, but if you are asking from an employee career perspective, rewarding and stable enough.

Flatfoot,
The decision to stay or leave GF is always a personal one, and don't let any of the rumours from the Pink Palace (of PPRUNE, for that matter) affect you.
GF has and will always be a friendly company to work for - the pilots are, by and large, quite professional in their work, the girls are friendly, and there is no telling of tales.
The bosses of GF will continue to play games to suit themselves and to fool the owners that something serious is afoot. The current lot has returned the airline to losses of nearly $ 1 million a day, but have not stopped themselves from upgrading the furniture and furnishings in the Pink Palace. Similarly, a lot of money is being spent on refurbishing the cabins, but the technical maintenence is lacking.
Should this affect you - the answer is yours (and your family's) alone.
If you are a FO waiting for your command, then another carrier would be a quicker and safer bet for the left seat. The next in line for a Command upgrade in GF has spend over 9 years here! On the other hand, if you are a Capt., then the lifestyle of GF would be better than the one that you would encounter in the other carriers around. The family life, type of housing, schooling and traffic, would all come into consideration.
So, weigh all this and decide - there is no right or wrong, and no debrief at the end!
This airline will stay, and almost the way it is. The expat jobs will stay, irrespective of the 'Fatals' simply because they do not have locals with adequate motivation, education or training. Retirements will be officially at 60, but all will get the extensions (and have their (billiard) balls examined by the frustrated female heading the GF clinic).
So, like it or leave it.
What more?
And remember, tossing a coin will give you a 50% chance of getting the correct answer.

Ocasionally (not terribly often), some well thought-out words of wisdom are shared here in the Middle East forum. Seems to me that Propellor has just done that. :D :D :D

Why is it in GF that we are always trying to justify our reasons for being here? Lets face it the company is a shambles, and will never really go anywhere thanks to reasons previously stated, but the crews are on the whole good, which makes it a fairly decent place to work, end of...

Thanks, Panama Jack (can't use the abbreviations in your case).

Actually, the entire thread is now slightly out of context as Mr. Kooheji has been moved to ALBA and Mr. Kanoo (Air Arabia, Mazda, etc.) has taken the chair. He seems to have a better handle on business matters than his predecessor.

Shouldn't really affect us.

Browning's 'God's in his Heaven, All's right with the world' could be used in the GF term, 'The salary's in the Bank, All's right with Gulf Air'.

Try this one of mine: If the bosses are playing Musical Chairs, just stand back and enjoy the music.

Propeller - is this the same Mr Kanoo who was Chairman before Kooheji?

I believe Andre Dose had the right idea in moving the company forward, and that was to treat every decision as a purely business decision. Of course some toes were trod on and a few egos busted, but THAT is the reason why GF is missing opportunities. The bureacracy we are SUFFERING is SUFFOCATING due progress. Airlines in the real world are NOT shackled with our type of modus operandi. In fact, these are the same airlines that are snatching new aircraft right from under our noses.
If the new chairman is anything like the last, only titles changed and nothing else.
MR KANOO, don't let GF MISS-DA-CANOE.

The legacy of Dose is that no one in upper management will point a finger to corruption or misdemeanor, and sycophancy will rule. The lessons taught by this management is keep pleasing the Bahrain parliament, appoint Bahrain nationals in all possible positions, to retain the management top spot.

Left to First Class, I don't know which one of the Kanoo clan that he is, but I do hope he is a 'CAN-DO' and not a 'CAN-NOT-DO'.

Again, the Bored's changing and it is possible that it may be someone entirely different that takes the chair. Let’s wait and watch.

Like I posted earlier – the salary’s in the bank and all’s right with Gulf Air.
Yes, that’s true – the salary’s in today, and it’s looking good with all the overtime!

The problem with most of you here is that you worry far too much for nothing. Go enjoy yourselves, play golf, go fishing, sh@g the wife (all in that order) but dont waste your time concerning yourselves about GF. It will never change and it will never go under either.

It's been like that for years and it will remain probably long after we're gone so sod it and have fun lads

Cheers
Fluffies

Weekend Daily Telegraph etc from the aircraft,.... go direct.. Dairy Queen...Coffe... chocolate icecream cone...home...sleep...enter black book data base to see which lovely lady is in town... bliss.
The wild dogs may bark but the GF camel train moves slowly (very) across
the desert.
P.S. Anyone died waiting on a ticket in staff travel lately?
When I was terminated at 60 I only missed the people I flew with in GF...certainly not the management, not the roster boys or the night flights or the stress.

Good advice hairy and 40-80, while it's fun to muse about the goings on at the HQ and other places, it surely does one no good to dwell on it..sign in, make your contribution you're paid to make, the get on with life, the whole industry is in turmoil, our problems here are minor compared to...say the USA at the present..GF will go on...as long as we do our small part..