News about Saudia?
 

I left Saudia almost 4 years ago...any news, about S.City, changes in management, fleet changes, pay increases/decreases, general quality of life in Jeddah? I enjoyed my time there; not due to management, but to the people I worked and lived with...are the expats still decreasing? What happened to that typical cock-up with the L-1011 blowing up at Taif? Are the humvees still at the S.City gates? Just curious! S. Sam

Yikes where to begin :):) Humvees are still at the gates :)

SFS will take delivery of 6 Hawker 400s starting this month, and 2 Falcon 7X starting Sep. SRF will take delivery of A340 in June, SVA will start taking 50 x A320's starting in Sept, and A333 starting 2010, 787's in 2012..... PSAA in process of installing 2 x A320 sims....

Catering now private with outside investor, as is Cargo. Technical Services now renamed SAIE and seeking investor.

Lufthansa Consulting have recommended massive management changes, but still waiting for them.

Salary increased with 3 x 5% annual increases issued by the Goverment.

Hiring Flight Engineers as we speak.... and pilots, both for the line and SFS.

Housing for pilots getting changed, the same villas but new interiors with ALL FIXTURES, they are nice!

As for the L1011, ask the owners........

And finally, Capt JC is still here....... :):):)

Anything else?

Mutt

I am one of the new guys just invited to JED for sim and medical. I am in a position of moving there with my wife (westerner). Although I have spent time there, I dont know much about the expat life of the SV employee or their family. Could you give me your thoughts....thanks

What aircraft are you going to fly? Expat life is what you make it. When you come of for the medical/sim, have a look around, take pictures of the new style housing units, see if you get enough time to visit the beach resorts. Lots to do for wives.

Mutt

Any word about what happened with the L1011 exploding whilst undergoing breakup at Taif? Which tail number was it? Thanks for the update, Mutt!
Sam

Dont know the tailnumber, aircraft was sold to parts supplier/scrap merchant. In the process of doing something in the fuel tank, they ignited the vapours.

Mutt

Mutt,
Just out of curiosity,who's Capt.JC...??? Is this JC Choudhary,ex Gulf etc etc....?
Thx

Nope, this Capt JC arrived in Saudia about 40 years ago........

Mutt

Saudia is recruiting now, for vacant positions
check their website: Saudi Arabian Airlines - Career

L1011 at TAIF
 

The aircraft was owned by Regency Projects who had three Pakistani mechanics working on it to dismantle for parts.

All three were killed when the fuel tank blew up.