There are some airlines that want you pay for the cost up front of a type rating but over say a 3 year period they pay it back. Thats essentially a bond (with some airlines, not all).

MHN

Any luck yet, M.H.Nutcase?

Go to africa and you can get a job flying 208, 206, pilatus if you are lucky or planes like B1900, twin otter if you're very very lucky.
Maybe you can try Indonesia or Papua also.

You can find jobs out there without paying, maybe not in places as glamorous as Dubai or Abu Dhabi but without paying to steal the job to others that have been working hard and they couldnt pay like you.

Good luck.

I must say I admire your enthusiasm to go to a country to look for a job. Most of people send e-mails or call including myself! But unfornatutly all of my attempts ended up with failure! I am also willing to pay for the type rating if I find a job garanteed. I am tired of burning money without getting anything in return! This profession is so complicated and I kind of lost faith...Good luck with job hunting.

MHN, I don't think you get it yet, even after the first page of payouts.:ugh:

In the M.E., you don't just turn up at the front door of an airline like many do in Western societies. You need an invite! Full stop. That's how they operate AND they are very big on YOU respecting the way THEY do things IN THEIR COUNTRIES!

Try burning a bit of blood sweat and tears like many of us had to....the ability to follow protocol in job seeking is most important...apply online and wait your turn...

Get me a job in Africa and i would go right now. I tried all kind of big and small companies and no one gives a ****!! Even in Botswana they want you to go and wait there for couple of months out of work among many pilots who wait there like beggars for a job!! It feels humiliating somehow! I wouldn't say no if i got a job in any country in spite of whether it is bush flying or something else....That's why I would for sure pay for the type rating if i got this opportunity. By the way, no one makes something thinking of the whole market. Who gives a damn about what is happening in the market!!? You think of yourself first caus no one is thinking about you no matter how much you will be begging for a job! I know many people who bought a type rating and even line training without even getting a job. At least i am waiting to get a job first...I would change my plan when i become a millionaire! I'm wondering if in the future the pilot will also have to pay a salary for the company instead of getting paid:)

Popcorn ready!

Alfie,

Your rationalization sounds oh too familiar to much of the crying I heard from scabs I had the displeasure of working with in a previous life. Your F you, I've got mind attitude will make you best friends with scum bag managers. Either that or you're prime material for management.

I have a TT 1600 and 1050 on the CJ2 any chance for me in the sand pit ! ?

ME is NOT the place to be right now...
 

Sorry dingo's but lets stop right now. ME is not the place to look for flying jobs.\

The hype outweighs the reality by 10 - 1! I've been here years and as much as I want to leave the golden handcuffs are tight. However as things continue to drop, with T & C's, Safety, etc the handcuffs are becoming easier to ignore.

Do yourself a favor and stay in Europe, etc. You will thanks us later!

I'm in Dubai right now, everyone we spoke to so far has expressed nothing but gratitude for what we are doing. I'll give you all an update when I get back to the UK. Fingers crossed.

MHN

hahahahaha..... cool....

they are just such friendly people... hahahah

u guys really know nothing about that place....

I am sure u will find a job...

PLease keep us postet and not just when u found one.... maybe an update after a couple of weeks.....

Good to hear MHN,

Wishing you the best, lots of companies looking for pilots here. Show your motivation and you might get lucky.

I feel a lot of frustration on this thread, the last one to come for a jobhunt in Dubai is now FO with Flydubai and that was just a month ago. Anyone who has persevered has succeeded so far.

Keep us updated alright, cheers!

So here's some feedback from my job hunting trip to Dubai.

We spent 4 days out there visiting as many companies as possible, not only in Dubai but the whole country. RAK, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al AIn.

We met airline captains, FO's, Chief pilots, Directors of Flight Ops, Head of Trainings and even some CEO's. Although everyone was impressed with our dedication, it wasn't enough to be offered jobs mostly because of the following reasons:

1. Type ratings and experience on type - most companies wanted to take on people that already held a rating and had a fair number of hours on type. No company wanted to spend any time training employees. Caravan operators wanted 1000hrs on type. A number of prestigious Biz Jet operators ''advised'' us to go and buy type ratings and hours for the same reason.

2. Airlines are quite happy to take on the MPL program or they have requirements that we cannot achieve until we get our first airline job. Our experience or hours were of no use.

3. Flying schools were interested in us but lots of changes happening in some of them so waiting to see what happens.

In my personal opinion, the self improver route (which is what we are trying to do) is almost finished. There is no demand for people working up the ranks. quite sad really but it is what it is.

In conclusion, Learnt a lot about the industry in the middle east. Although it is a great place to be, its not easy to start there. In fact i found jobs for 3 of my friends that are already type rated and flying in Europe. Nothing for me as Non type rated.

Met a lot of people in the industry, made a lot of contacts, collected a ton of business cards. Even met some of the guys that gave us a lot of stick on this thread. One thing I will say though, People over there were very understanding and emphatic of us and genuinely wished us the best of luck.

All the guys we met that read this thread, just want to say thank you for taking the time to sit down with us and for all the advise you gave us. It was definitely a pleasure to have met you.

Going to carry on the search while doing what we're doing as flight instructors.

Still hoping and staying optimistic.

MHN

MHN,
There is no denying your dedication and stamina but are you absolutely sure you know what you are trying to let yourself in for. I am closer to the end of my career than the beginning. For that reason alone I will try to hang on until retirement. But I would do anything to dissuade anyone from embarking on a career in aviation today. If you love flying, go be a lawyer and hire a Cessna at the weekend. Sorry for being a crusty old fart but I guarantee that if you join this industry you will come to regret it.

BANANASBANANAS: Fwiw, I fully concur !

Bananas

Thanks for the advise, unfortunately I got into this industry 10 years ago. started flying when i was 20. got all my qualifications at 25.
spent the last 5 years trying to work my way up. Problem is i've come too far now to turn back.

MHN

MHN, it is not too late for you, at 30, to change careers. Realistically you could be 35 before any airline will look at you seriously. By then, terms and conditions will be worse than they are now. You will probably have to sign up to a 7 year bond and not make enough salary to do anything other than live and pay interest only payments on all the debt you will have accrued in pursuit of a dream job. And just when you think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the possibility to pay off your debts in your mid to late 40s, your company will make you redundant and you will have to start all over again at the bottom of a seniority list again, living away from your family and living off pot noodles in your bedsit. Think I am joking?

Mate, you should pack your bags and head down to Africa. Chances of securing a job there is fairly higher than in the Middle east. I started my career in Africa many years ago, never regretted it, gained valuable experience and hours which helped me to secure a jet job later in life. It will be tough if you decided to do it but you never know. I wish all the best in your llife.

@Banana it doesnt happen to everyone!!! too much negativity in here