EK Time to command A310 ?
 

Just been informed i have passed the selection process, must admit after reading posts here, am now concerned about joining EK. Forgot to ask about the A310 at interview ( i am A300 rated ). What is happening with the 310 ? Anyone out there with any info?Also is there anyone who enjoys working for EK- there must be someone with something positive to say !!?

Bill B: Not sure if this will help but..

The 310 positions were initially offered 'in house' to those who wanted a change in 'life style' - the definition of which was not given but the life style of a vampire would no doubt continue.

The response was not, as you would expect, very good as those already on 777/330 types would lose their medicals on the grounds of insanity if they opted for the change.

'Rumour', and it must be stressed that it is only that, has it that the UAE cadets might be offered accelerated commands on the 310. Not sure if that will happen but the hours will be reduced in their favour to do so.

Rumour 2 is that the fuel prices may have scuppered the idea of the 310s completely anyway... nothing official has been mentioned.

Now here's the good bit, the EK 'Catch 22': If you have A300 command experience then you may qualify for a direct entry command if it were on offer...BUT once you join you would not be eligible for a command on anything for at least 2 - 3 years even if the commands are subsequently offered. Yep, as crazy as it sounds it's been done already as Boeing and Airbus qualified F/Os watched as the Ts & Cs changed to their detriment and in came the DECs who, in many cases, were not even qualified on type.

Fair? This is Emirates, and as good as an example as you will get as to the way they do business.

Good luck with your decision but please be careful and take as much advice as you can before you jump.

I think you would have to assume that if you were to start on the 310, you would be unlikely to get off it until it is retired. Given that it was to be retired years ago, and we have just firmed up on the order for 5 freighters (as I understand it) then i would suggest you would need to be prepared to be stuck on it for quite some time.

My advice would be don't accept the 310 unless it was a DEC position.

I would guess that sometime next year 330 F/O's will be offered upgrades, out of seniority, to go to the 310. At present Airbus F/O's are looking at 4 years to command (that's the senior ones), who knows for the junior F/O's.

:cool: Here is the latest.
3 x 310F on the way, confirmed 27/11.
No cross fleet upgrades at present.
No qiuck command for local F/O's at present.
All commands filled by DEC's (+/- 16 accepted by EK awaiting letters, only +/-2 type-rated )
Remaining command to present 310 F/O's
Routes - Gulf and sub-continent.
No layovers.
7 crews/ a/c.
+/- 240 hrs/ a/c /mnth (excluding charters)
One crew on leave/sick/sim leaves +/- 40hrs/crew/mnth
That's the lifestyle they refer to.
I hear morale is high on 310.
They tell me no one goes sick unless serious.
Rumour has it they meet regularly for beer& cigars.

Dubbel nul bultril

Good on them :O

hey Bill B check your pm

00bultril, what do you mean by "confirmed" regarding the 3 x 310F? As far as I know there is not even a date set for the meeting on the final decission. It's supposed to be sometimes in December...

:cool: nixisfix
You obviously are not in the know.
Why don't you pick up the phone and check with your bosses, instead of living the mushroom life.

Dubbel nul

00

while I don't like your arrogant style I have to admit that you are well informed. I did make the call and found your info more or less correct.

So let it be known that even a double-null can be right sometimes...