Is it true the 900 block hour limit of BCAA ANTR has gone up to 1000 ala EASA FTL??

950hrs extension by BCAA till 31oct19, but looks like it is a transition to 1000hr rule for next year.

BA are adding Dammam via the daily BA LHR-BAH-LHR flight.

British Airways - DIRECT TO DAMMAM AS BRITISH AIRWAYS LAUNCHES THIRD ROUTE TO SAUDI ARABIA

That 950 HRS extension is due to expire on June, heard some gossip from local guys about a plan to merge GF with BAS,BAC,and Bahrain Duty free to break even the losses!

Recruitment is going slow with little or no applications!

believe it or not they sent people to Florida and Mexico to recruit but they did not do the proper paperwork, forgot to advertise and skipped out on some procedures so they had to finish it half way.
also, flights to IAH hinted
https://www.rigzone.com/news/bahrain...d-onSX6fDDZ80A

And of course we all know who "hand-picked" themselves for the nice little jolly. Of course it would be inept and unsuccessful. Does GF stand for Gulf Farce ? Laughable but tinged with a little sadness as it could have been so good.

they have a good chance in the US market with QR not having access to the saudi market and EY breaking apart. Coupled with the expansion in the SE asia, they have a good oppertunity

Only if they got their Sh*** together, the way they are going is catastrophic !
Pilot Shortage, useless recruitment trips, packages that are not attracting anyone to apply!
in my opinion they brought it to them self when they moved 320 CAP and FO to 78!!

There is a good chance for GF, but the problem is that they can not even fulfill their current plan for new destinations planned this year, due shortage. The worst thing, people up do not realize this, or not want to realize

Flew out of BAH a few days ago, there is an aircraft parked on some reclaimed land to the east of the airport, is this a restaurant or something?

GF offering 3year renewable contracts
 

It looks like they are offering their DECs a 3 year renewable contract, instead of permenant positions..now that's not particularly encouraging for an airline in the ME..wondering what's up their sleeve?? .. any updates??

That's a step up from the 2 years contract which were on offer till a month back. 5200 bds or around 13500 usd a month, non commuting, night flying with no credit block for it, and leaves getting cancelled every year, it does not seem lucrative enough. And yes, bahrain is a great place to live, but it is not UAE. don't get me wrong, it's just a personal preference for UAE over bahrain.

Leaves would continue to get cancelled with the unforseen pilot shortage and their expansion plans in the pipeline. Clearly renewable contracts is not the way ahead. They would have to go back to permenant positions to say the least.
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I am not aware that any company in Bahrain offer more than 2 years contract for expats, contract usually for 2 years renewable.
3 years contract in GF is a first.
Leave cancellation will remain as long as they are not able to recruit.

So do they honour the "renewable" contract and religiously extend the contract every 3 years?.would the DECs be eligible to training positions and management positions in the long run??
​​​​​Or is the contract more like an interim strategy to cater to the shortfall till the locals get in??

in the good old days, one completed a 3 year contract, then signed an open-ended one..

It's all a bit meaningless when in most cases a contract or permanent post has a three month notice period on either side. You are, kinda, safe for three months. When I was in GF for a short time as DE FO on the 767, there were one year contracts as DEC LHS on the 737, three year FO contracts on the 767. None of the 737 contracts were renewed. None of the 737 guys went to 767. If you went for FO 767, there was a good chance of upgrade within the three year period if you had previous Command experience. I left after 6 months (giving three month's notice ) but there was a period where, after much pressure from rank & file, to go "permanent". But, permanent still had three months notice on either side .

Following the 767 demise & very messed up handling , expats over the age of 60 were transferred to A340 on one year contracts (honestly) .

I don't know what Arab expat contracts were, Remember, they had non-Bahraini Arab expats in great numbers.

Boils down to the whole thing being very liquid and, of course, favouring management manipulation to their advantage. No change in Aviation management there then, eh ?