Amen 74

Bulls eye with your observations. EK in a nutshell.

74world

They haven't been lowered enought that you would get in.

Just had the interview last month, not as easy as you may think. Out of 8 of us, there was only 4 that made it to the second round. Not sure how many from there made it. All the guys I met were very experienced for the position.

The tech test was not that easy for myself and I even studied but of course they do not let you know what your mark was. There did not seem to be much weight to the test, there was one guy that had to do another small test since he did not pass. He still went onto the second round.

This guide I bought was very valuable for myself in getting through the interview, www.emiratesinterview.com

I also recommend getting the book called "Ace the technical pilot interview" You could search this on Google. I bought it from amazon books.

Hope this helps and good luck!

If you guys allow me to ask a side question in this discussion:

Can someone tell us (from experience) how long these days the average waiting time is between sending in the application and the first call from Emirates for an interview?
Thanks.

EK interviews are not so easy.....
On my day we were 5, many with command time and only 1 passed!

And most of the people who passed are not joining!!!

5star, I had my application in for 3 1/2 years. I was not pursuing the job for the whole period. I have heard, little as 3 months from submitting your CV till they contact you for the interview. Maybe others have been called sooner?

I was talking to one of the recruiter's while I was there for the interview and he said that pool is starting to dry up with guys that have good experience and as Bubair states "And most of the people who passed are not joining!!!". He mentioned 2000 pilots but most had no Boeing or Airbus time.

5Star ...

My case was different from A330guy. I sent my application in and did one update ( 6months total ) and got an interview date right away. I got the job offer about three weeks after the interview. I started two months later. Total 9 months

FB519

Does anyone know, if being A300-6 type rated or A330 type rated, would make you go straight forward to the A310 (A306 type rate) or to the A330, for A330 type rate, or if you would be elegible for the 777 too...

And if you pass the selection program, do they let you know right there what airplane you`ll fly????

Cheers

What fleet they offer!
 

Well, the fleet they are offering it's entirely up to their needs. At the moment Boeing experience is a big plus. You have probably heard that during the Dubai Airshow 2005 EK ordered additional 42 B777's to the top of all the others which are still undelivered.

I am at the moment on the B777 transition course, on the short transition course. I have had only Boeing experince and that is pretty obvious that they put me on Boeing. They are not having Airbus courses at the moment as far as I know. I might be wrong? They do have also longer Boeing courses coming up, but you never know what's happening. The situatioin changes daily.

EK is having a huge expansion going on, there is a new destinations coming up and when the B777-300ER's starts to arrive next year there will be many routes covered by Boeing rather than Airbus. I haven't mention anything about the B777-200LR's which are coming up too, then there will be another ball game to play.

About the interview, they are not looking for any specialist, you just have to be your self. They do have a scale where they want you to fit in. Think about all 60-70 nationalities only on the flightdeck! They are keen to see that you can fit your self in multinational enviroment. This doesn't fit to all. Simple.

Good luck.

airbus330guy and flyboy519 : thanks for your replies. (it was my first line in Pprune, after reading for several years...) :ok:
It might be time to get out those dusted ATPL schoolbooks.

And... I don't want to start again the discussion if it's wise or not to join Emirates. Everyone should make a sound decision for him (her?)self and his family.
And reading the middle-east forum gives us some insights in the EK life. Thank you, you EK-posters for sharing us your experiences. :cool:

But to all the guys with some down morale in the sandpit : the grass is not greener........

Boeing experience not a big plus. All experience is.
At least 2 Airbus 330 transition courses going on right now - and more on the way. Airbus fleet is short of crew and currently far busier than the 777.
Although, where possible, guys are placed on the same "manufacturer" type, ultimately people are put on courses as needs dictate, so you can have a Boeing guy transitioning on A330 and so on.
Basically it's irrelevant what type you're on now.
Recruitment usually say expect an answer within 6 weeks - if not send them an e-mail.

Picu

Latest EK selection news
 

Hi everyone! Salaam aleikum

I have got an interview coming up with EK as DEC. Does anyone here have some info which I cannot read on pprune yet, i.e. what are the latest developments regarding the selection process? What fleet are you likely to be assigned to? Any feedback is very much appreciated.

Happy new year for everyone

Cheers.

There'd be some, (not me of course), who'd say your user name is very apt for someone applying for EK.

"Salaam Aleikum" Who do you think you are talking to, a bunch of "rag heads"

You'll need some bloody luck with the interview if you walk in and say that!

I'd like to wish you luck but...............

Edited 'cos I misread the original post.

Apologies to the FOs.

HD

Hi Open Des, don't listen to the blah blah blah from some. You would be most welcome at EK as they are very needy of crews to keep EVERYONES PROFIT SHARE GOING! You would definitely be going to the 777 this year, even if you are bus qualified!! Money, expect from 27000AED / month divide by 3.65 for USD per month as the lowest possible start (DECs often given more). You would also get free acomm and kids education and other benefits, medical, provident scheme, transport to work and more. 737 guys have been put on the wides to help the DEC recriutment problems in the past, the biggest hurdle for the DEC seems to be a bit of manual flying which means the rest of the interview dont worry about. Hope that helps, and for the rest of the whingers, please, a new year = a new resolution, go forth and multiply (the cash), the Sheik needs it, he is broke, 4 x 747s to run you know!!

Ciao bellas.

Speak for yourself crtical whinge. The DEC will not be most welcome no matter how short we are of crews.
The FCI that came out was nothing more than a declaration to hire DECs and screw the current FOs. So the DECs will come in and make more money than most current captains even though they probably don't have the experience of the captains flying the line.
Why didn't the company learn from the last batch of DECs? How many problems have they had with them? Is this batch (and there are going to lot's of DEC let's face it) going to be any different?
Keep in mind when you apply and come here you are at the very least leap-frogging the FOs and at the worst taking the jobs of the FOs and delaying their commands. I am sure that bit of information won't effect your decision. Good luck to all of the DECs

Sorry, dear DEC on the move to the sandpit ....

But i have to emphasize once again, as previous stated,
No, You, or any other DEC, will definitively NOT be most welcome no matter how short we are of crews -ever!

'cause you're sitting on OUR seats, which we deserve to hold, after all that brutal flyin' over the last years, as there are enough suitable qualified F/Os waitin' -and overlooked, by -so called - management!!

And most of us (still F/O's-includes me) have had already a command on a nice medium sized Jet before moving to the sandpit, but the management just don't keep their promises!

and right stated: "The FCI that came out was nothing more than a declaration to hire DECs and screw the current FOs" :yuk:

Salaam aleikum.

Thank you all for the kind words and all the useful info.
I'd like to know one other thing though, what sort of medical criteria does the UAE CAA apply? I.e. is it similar to JAA/FAA or.....?
Thanks again.

Once again, happy new year!!

Airline is moving toward JAR OPS so along UK CAA or EASA medical guidelines is what we use

Thanks a lot JJF!!! But I would suppose you're still to undergo a full UAE medical even if you hold a valid JAA class1, right??

I am thinking of coming to Emirates as a DEC as well. Can anyone tell me a few things about the life there. First of all I don't want to take another pilots job but I guess that is what I would be doing. I can justify it the huge amount of upgrades they are going to have in the short future. Having said that I would never attempt to DEC in the states because of the repercussions that would occur.
How are DECs treated at Emirates?
What do the First Officers think about DECs?
What do other Captains think of DECs? I understand that DECs make more money than the average line pilot.
I suppose this will get my feet wet and get a feel for the atomsphere at Emirates. Just by judging by the above posts it is a lighting rod of a topic.
Thank you in advance and Happy New Year!

...What do we think about DEC's at EK???
Flight International is also advertising for DEC's at KAL:E
It's a great opportunity to commute from your home country and not taking somebody's else job:{
BTW..Happy new year everybody
:yuk:

By taking a job at KAL won't I be taking someone elses job? It just won't happen to be yours I realize that. I know this is a touchy issue. As I said in my last post the US does not even allow this kind of issue to be raised because of the emotion it causes.
I have taken a 47% pay cut in the last 18 months. It is not fun to come to work anymore. Duty credit and trip rigs are going out the window with the pension soon to follow thanks to US Air and United. I am looking for a fresh start but not if I am going to be treated like a strike breaker.
I would like your thoughts on the issue and how the line pilots treat the DECs.

sorry nothing here

KAL is different, because KAL local pilots are the only ones being disadvantaged by DECs. KAL local pilots should have known that DECs would be hired because KAL has done that for the last 25 years.

The current F.O.s at Emirates were lured here with promises of upgrades in 18 months. Some have now been here for over 2.5 years without an upgrade in sight. When these F.O.s were hired DECs had not been hired by Emirates for over 10 years, so it is very different. The rules were changed mid-stream and that has severely dis-advantaged those who chose to leave good jobs based on what now can be considered empty promises.

EK management have dropped the ball in regards to this issue and need to realize that a mass exodus is in the offing. They think that hiring DECs saves them money because bean counters don't calculate what it costs to train a new F.O. Nor do they calculate the lost efficiency from the ill will that it creates among those who stay. Hire 50 DECs, lose 100 F.O.s isn't a good bargain compared to upgrading those F.O.s and hiring new ones.

In the long run the better alternative is to upgrade the existing highly qualified F.O.s and scrap the DEC idea altogether. Unfortuantely EK management have backed themselves into a corner and will need to hire DECs just to man the expansion.

To answer your question though, DECs are generally not treated too bad. Only when they are clearly incompetent and unfit for the job do they get a lot of grief. EK have made the mistake of hiring some in that category, but I think the qualified ones like the job.


Typhoonpilot

New Tomcat

Don't worry. You definitely won't be considered a scab here. It's an entirely different deal. I don't particularly like the pheonomenon, but DECs are a fact of life at EK given the rapid rate of expansion. Everyone needs to feed his family. Don't be put off by malcontents like LHR Rain. He just joined EK yesterday and doesn't even qualify for upgrade by EK's criteria. When FO's actually start having their upgrades deleyed by DECs then I feel they will have something legitimate to complain about. Right now, it's the perception of a problem rather than an actual problem. "Normal" upgrades on the Boeing are running at 3 years at the moment, and the Airbus is about 3 years 3 months. I really don't see what the big deal is. You have a few very spoilt guys here who feel that the world owes them something, but by and large, you'll find the guys here are a great bunch to fly with, DEC or otherwise.

Yardman

Thanks for the answers. Typhoon you metion that only the incompetent pilots get grief at the airline and I assume that is from the mangement pilots. How do the line pilots treat or act around the DECs that are competent and buy the first round on layovers?
Say what you will about LHR guy but he does have a point and I realise that point. I saw first hand how the Continental pilots were treated in 1983 and it was not pleasant. No I was not one of those pilots that crossed the picket line but happened to be living in IAH at the time.
Thanks again

As I mentioned before all DEC`s are very welcome here in emirates. I joined EK 2,5 years ago and was treaded very warm and very welcome. 99% of all FO`s I was flying with were great guys and they dont blame you. Only a few guys with pyschol problems like LHR Rain are trying to spoil your fun but its ony a few out of 200.

I can recommend EK. Its a great company to work for. I am very happy.

:E Please don't get me wrong Tomcat.
If I was in Your position I'd do the same:ugh:
When I joined EK I knew about the possibility of DEC's,so I can't complain now.
I'm pretty sure You're a great guy to fly with and I really wish U all the best for the interview:ok:
Happy new year!

DEC, do not worry!
 

Gents,

DEC's need not worry about the effos. They are generally a very professional bunch with loads of experience. The experience they have is sometimes the root of the problem they have with DEC's. Imagine how frustrating it must be for a 2-3 year EK F/O to fill in the gaps from the Emirates training systems line training.Short courses for DEC's with regional experience only on A320's or even MD-80's doesn't work very well in the dark skies of Kenya or Pakistan... When the last bunch of DEC's came through on the Airbus many effos told me horror stories about their sudden upgrade to Line Training F/O...

Another problem was the obvious nepotism at work when some of the Arabic Brethren were hired from GF. Oh, you failed the sim... Don't worry here's another go! Shabang, you were successful my friend!

The recruitment itself was not very successful the last time we took DEC's;

One guy had to leave after it was discovered he had been flying airplanes for an individual named Os@ma Bin L.

Another one could never be released without a safety pilot. He just couldn't land an airplane... Well done recruiters.

A third guy was a training Captain for an African Airline with a good reputation. He couldn't pass the PPC, so EK made him an F/O...

The fourth had to go back to his Far Eastern country after being unable to pass the training.

A fifth guy from North America were telling people he was hired as a DEC because the F/O's in Emirates were not competent enough to be upgraded.

Anyway, an experienced DEC can expect to fly with excellent F/O's that operate in a professional manner.

HNY,

Pork:cool:

Not to mention more than a little bitter and twisted. Great for CRM eh!

OPEN DES

:mad:

TP
Are you suggesting that it's ok for KAL local pilots to be disadvantaged!!:confused:

I think DEC all along is WRONG! Period.. VERY WRONG

Hi fellows,

do you guys think that DEC´s are a problem? I don´t know, if this job has been offered to you I am pretty shure each of the most "crying" would have taken it without any problems, so why "opendes" should not???
By the way beeing promoted is not only a question of flight time, at my point of view...there should be matched some other factors too.
In my years as Cpt. I had some high experienced FO´s who where really dangerous, believe me.

But I do agree very much on the experience with you, flying a 737, A320 or an MD80 does not qualify you much for flying longhaul ops, but if the Sheik want to expand his business on this risk it must be a question of making millons...we are just the drivers.

Happy new year.

EK selection and interview prep.
 

Good morning and happy new year to all aviators and fellow pilots

I would greatly appreciate any recent info on EK pilot interview if anyone has gone through it recently, and if the information on the book that is published with emiratesinterview.com is the same as preparing for emirates interview by capt xyz.

Thanks for all the help.

Re: Latest EK selection news
 

Well not all of them were. Most were told the policy is a minimum of 3 yrs as FO. Some of the others were told they could leap-frog the 3yr FOs in only 18 months IF they had some command time.

Now these DECs are told they can leap-frog everyone else and the accelerated guys who are to be promoted in 18 months are not happy about it???? Tough sh!t.

With friends like pilots, who needs enemas.

Re: Latest EK selection news
 

Open desc and New Tomcat,
DO what is best for you,don't worry about some posts here,some guys don't have the experience needed to be DEC or capt so they start to complain a lot.
Iam a dec (not Emirates) and 99,99% of the f/o know the company's need for capt's.I repeat do what is best for you and your family.No f/o will have the nerve to disrespect you.
Best luck to you all.Fbwdude

Re: EK selection and interview prep.
 

flycaptain,

I bought both as I wanted all the information possible. They are equally good. They are different in that XYZ has more information on airline stats and emiratesinterview.com has some stats but focus's more on the specifics in the interview, like the scoring structure and how your interview questions are based on the pych test, etc. There is also more specific "contract offer" and information in great detail in the new book.

I am leaning more towards the recent emiratesinterview.com and I downloaded it instantly. There are also great tech books out their for the tech exam that I bought too.

Good luck, and PM me if you like,
AM

Re: Latest EK selection news
 

Till now I had no problems with FO`s at all. As I said they are very respecfull and we enjoy flying.

Only a few unhappy incompetent guys are trying to destroy the good reputation of EK.

So dont listen to these guys.

And all the others will get their upgrade very soon. BEcause they deserve it.