looks like they need more wide body jets so 332's are still in use. Maybe additional;787's would be announced in the coming airshow.

despite the current expansion plans they still have problems at their planning departments, Newbes are in line waiting for chance to get on the LH seat, they have been financed by Bahrain Labour scheme,around 100 of them where i see that they can fix their shortage on the other hand facing problems with their staff on employe's benefits ,

All leaves were canceled at least on A320 fleet as far as i am told, The 787s are flying to LHR daily on both flights, they have booked slots from Boeing so they cant cancel as they don't have enough pilots to spare from any fleet,They cancelled their Cseries order, what made it worse is starting new 8 destinations without being prepared !

When you continue to place numbskulls in charge, based on wasta , this is the inevitable result.Absolute joke but many people stopped laughing years ago.

work permits, relocating families...not as easy as just sliding over to Emirates...could be a reason...maybe the MBAs looked into that

They found it quite easy setting up "Traveler", remember ? Forced move, minimal time to re-locate , no work permit problems as I recall,& very little help from Admin,

Charles : Who's the new management ? Worse, any new management will find, like others before , that hands will be severely tied.Same old. Predictable outcome. It would be quite funny if it wasn't so sad.

As we all agree that as long as unqualified person getting a management job depending on his last name and his loyalty they will never go to their old golden time.
The company is full with corrupt and unqualified people ,and believe me when I tell you they are holding every one who is talented enough to manage this place.
I can see that some one came from the boy-cut neighboring country with high level management role, he was doing well there, ,deputy CEO who is calling all the shoots new position made so they fit him in, holds an MBA in aviation management from well known university in UK,on the other hand their new board members are very qualified people, all or most of them are respected business men in their country but they have ZERO aviation knowledge!
you can add that they have fired around six first officers and captains for various reasons.

their vacancy for DEC and DEFO have been on for years now, only few who have applied for both jobs, they don't have the ability to attract us fellow pilots.

In my little experience till today, they need to remove all cancer 'being corruption' before starting any expansion plans, the environment inside the company reminds me of GOT or the godfather , its like mob families are on war and depending on your alliance you will get better jobs.

John Evans - Gulf Air Rostering 1970/80's
 

Just heard the very sad news that my old mate John has passed away today in Brisbane. Blessed with a wicked sense of humour, a remarkable ability to party all night, and a prodigious capacity for cognac and a mysterious spirit he referred to as "CDP" which lurked menacingly at the back of his drinks cabinet, John will never be forgotten by those of us who were lucky enough to have known and partied with him.

I'd like to think that there will be one hell of a party somewhere tonight when he gets together with Macreadie!

RIP John, a toast tonight to you and all the great times we shared with you.

7B

(This also posted as a new thread on the "Where are they Now" Forum)

3rd 787 has arrived, will be used for CMN flights, they've opened online applications for Airbus first officer

There is now way on earth that they have! DEC position have been there since 2011 and very few people have applied for it!
I've been speaking with a friend last night about it, they are desperate for FO! its normal day to day operation to fly two captains on same flight deck!
New management are not getting ahead of things as the previous one did too! All of what's happening now is because of lack of planning and Wasta every where in this place.

How is your application going on AA?

Good luck mate

A320 NEO due to arrive on 18th .. and another A320 du to return to lessor !

DEC neither DEFO are unavailable now on their website.

They have posting on social media about Tamkeen's pilots, Tamkeen is funding organization supported by Gov.
They are due to receive 3 more 787's and A320neo by end of this year .

requirement is very slow

allatp ; It's a Flying Club. Not a "proper" airline. Stay with it. Get in. Fabbo people. You will do, on average, 30 years ! I did, only 17. Interview at LHR was for B767 DEC. I was phoned, same evening by CP 767 stating I was accepted. Next evening, he stated that DEC for 767 was no longer sanctioned." Sorrry. Welcome to GF", he said, Burt, I was offered DEC 737, burt only on one year contract. Why not join us, anyway for B767 RHS ? "OK" said desperado. " , because, as explained, this would be a "three" year contract. Better than "one", eh ? ". "How soon do you want me?", said desperado, "Tomorrow would really help" said, equally desperate CP. I joined, larfed an awful lot, flew with the most talented bunch I have ever known, got my Command back within 6 months. Despite being kicked in the ollies 17 years later, I still tear up at the fabbo memories. Allatp, stay with it. You will never look back..........well, maybe, except in anger ! L A R F ! Oh, I keep saying "Burt" because that was all the UK Northern birds used to say. Burt, that's another story ! Poolside, Gulf Hotel ? Thought I was at the Manchester Excelsior Hotel !

What I know that they are desperate for F/Os at the moment, Allatp , believe me when I tell you wait for it it will come, Bahrain as I remember it very nice place to live in and GF is better than any other airline in the region as you can tell from this threads.

I know it's not pilot related, but any words or thoughts about dispatcher for GF?

New Joiner as Chief Commercial Officer VC as per their statement

Still the worst employer in the Gulf region by faaaaarr!!!!! stay away by all means, leaves are cancelled until 2019, pay is less by 30 percent from rival airlines
and school allowances have been the same since 2012!!!
stay away, if you respect yourself as a pilot!!!!!!!

Gordomac
 

Gordo good to see you havnt lost your sense of humour. I was 1988 to 98 from the Antipides. It was a steep learning curve, but all in all they were the best company, I ever worked for and theres been a few . Not the money though. Just offended my last company im 71 so that could be it. My intolerance of stupidity hasn't improved. Do you keep in touch with any of the Arab boyos . Yaquoob Aliskari, Ismael Abdulla,Isa Abdullah, Suhail Ismael. Muhamad Al Mejeiny, Ali Alufy .I pulled an Aussie clanger being introduced to Yaquoobs wife, I shook her hand, at least I didn't try to kiss it. I realised straight away id done something wrong, he put his head in his hands . He was training me to be a Tristar captain. The sort of person most of those guys were they recognised an Aussie Yid was beyond manners and it was never discussed. He seemed to like me. I certainly did and had great respect for him.
I take it your in Cyprus. Had a great holiday there. Spent the most time in Pathos. Anyone ex GF, I may know also living there. GH living in UK, I speak to at times. I new poor Rad had passed away after being in a terrible state after a serious stroke. Your safe, multiple divorces there's nothing left for travel. Although much as I dislike travel, I have always yearned for Argentina . I knew a retired is it Aero lianas? cap and he described to me barbecuing the best steak you've ever had while your nectar is chilling in the icy stream as you bask in the barmy sunlight

Hi Greg. Not so much of a GF update but more of one for "Where Are They Now" so I won't bore others. I will PM you later today. Great memory jog though. You did a decade. I did nearly two & others three ! Some even retired to Bahrain . Glad you are Ok & managing a larf. Good Time to hang up the flying boots, poor yourself a cheeky one & surf through some of the old pics.

@allatp any updates about your application mate?

They have huge shortage on F/Os ,they have been doing assessments to local pilots, around 100 newbes waiting their turn to be hired! you can imagine how childish they are! they lack planning to be honest, what i know for sure that they are not renewing contracts for expats, so that may be the reason.
Better to try with QR ..
and if you have a job at home , stick with it

Cheers mate

Please elaborate on what you seem to know for sure regarding not renewing contracts for expats. As currently they need all hands on deck, they're already short, all annual leaves A320 fleet are cancelled possibly until the end of the year and to top it off a big fleet expansion coming.

Replacing the expats for sure is a long term goal, but I can't see it happening in the near future unless they reduce the fleet.

Ok mate, then that wa**er who is feeding me updates is useless, Cheers mate..

gf is again majorly short on pilots. Turnaround has been high and new aircraft coming in. Many 330 captains got upgraded to 787s so there is an imbalance right now.

Here a more valuable update... but bear in mind plans change, especially in aviation!

Positive:

• Fleet expansion (as by management) until 2023: all A330 and all A320 and A321 staying, total 28 airplanes. Adding 10x 787-900 (6 further options) by end of 2020: 3 delivered, 2 more by end 2018. 2 in 2019 and 3 in 2020. Further 12 A320Neo (2 this year) and 17 A321Neo over the next 5 years until end 2023. Total by 2023: 67 airframes. (Rumours of 330Neo or A350 being swapped for remaining 787 orders)
• Decent salary, although it could do with an update considering the rising costs and inflation. Locals, have been leaving in recent years but most stick around. Expats don't stick around for the salary, but for the lifestyle and life in Bahrain.
• Fleet transfers are on going, long term career perspective looks good at the moment.

Downside (room for improvement 😉):

• Gulf Air is never fully crewed, almost no standby cover, resolved with volunteers working days off and leave cancellations, unstable rosters with many changes as a result. Leave cancellations are the rule, not the exception especially during peak periods, therefore you can never plan a holiday with family.
• Work is to the max of FDP with absolute minimum days off as required by law 8 days off in 28 days on a rolling average. Schedules often not taking circadian rhythms into consideration, jumping between morning, night, day and evening flights. 3 long night turnaround flights followed by a next morning early morning start is not uncommon! As long as it is legal on paper. Expect no common sense, if it's legal you're expected to be able to do it and be well rested to operate to the maximum of the allowable FDP.
• You're a number in the scheduling game, there is hardly appreciation for Human Factors Performance and Limitations (Fatigue Risk Management System FRMS is not implemented, yet), as mentioned if it is legal on paper you're expected to be able to do it. Schedules are often extremely tough on A320 with lots of night flights and or 4 sector days.
• Massive expansion planned, more than doubling the fleet size in 5 years, without a proper recruitment drive. DEC stopped/not advertised for time being, focus on internal upgrade, DEFO (returning Bahraini) and Bahraini semi sponsored cadets through Tamkeen. However falling far short in training capacity at the moment.
• Command Upgrades are stalled due extreme shortage of First Officers, most are maxed out on hours and don't be surprised to see 2 and 3 Captains operating together.
• Contract is not respected by the company, leaves are cancelled at will and details like place of recruitment have been changed on renewal for expat pilots, be careful.
• Being sick is penalised by the company with planned/assigned days off being removed as per a pro-ration schedule.

If looking for a stable lifestyle and being able to plan and have quality time at home and with family on holidays, then Gulf Air is not the place to be and it doesn't look promising that it will change any time soon due to the shortages and expansion plans. Bahrain is a lovely place to live and Gulf Air potentialy an amazing company to work for, once they fill the seats, as the colleagues are great and the atmosphere good.

Happy landings,
Force

Nice post Aeroforce,
The not respecting the contract was the reason why I left in 2016 and most of
what you say was going on back then when I was there. Especially the leave cancellations and crew roster.
One example I did a flight one night and was told by the CM that one of the Cabin crew who was due to go back
for leave had arranged a big gathering and paid for Hotel etc and they cancel this person's Leave with 24 Hr notice.
Luckily we had 5 on that night so This person could sit quietly at the back.
When I joined they wanted me to start yesterday due to 20 odd Captains leaving
pretty much at once apparently for that as well.

I agree if you like living in bahrain etc as you say I guess you can make it work if not or
like my case think hard.

My 10 Pence worth that's all,

Regard's.

Sounds like a sh**e deal that even Gordo with his rose tinted spectacles on would not enjoy?:confused:

PS Expecting slowjet to jump in

Nah, fight my own battles and even Slow, plus a few others, are used to your constant prodding Gypo and are unlikely to jump into pure envy based vitreol. On thread though, horses for courses. Loved every second of GF for 17 years.I certainly would still enjoy the deal because I finally got used to the GF Flying Club . Even the final battle with NS was a lesson in itself and although my kick in the ollies was brutal, it was time to go. Now, time to go into my Lidle's inflateable, J&C in hand, at least three lengths of my lovely pool. Sorry Gypo, eat your troubled little heart out.