re-interview
 

Mickey

I sent you an email to your private mail,did you get it?

Saudia Medical
 

Hi,

Does anyone know any details of the pre hire (Interview) Medical for Saudia? I heard GACA follows the FAA guidelines. Does Saudia accept a waiver for "Defective Color Vision" from the FAA????

Thanks,

TRVLN'

Your FAA medical and pre-hire medical are completely different things. Unfortunately the only way that you are going to find out if they accept the deficiency is to do the pre employment medical.

Assessment tips
 

Hi Mutt,

Do you have any tips for assessment and written test for FO B777.

Thx

Sign up to the Saudia section of Latest Pilot Jobs provides the latest aviation vacancies around the world.-Latest Pilot Jobs-Latest Pilot Jobs
Read Ace the pilot interview

Be friendly at the interview.

You will have no problem....

If you have an interview then they want to hire you.

Letting in the gals
 

Rumours have it that Saudia is opening the flightdeck to accomodate female pilots......any info???

When they will fixe this one first then all the best are opened

Anybody been called yet for the 19th-26th January interviews in Athens?I was shortlisted and asked if I can attend but have not heard anything yet from HR:ugh:

What is the payscale like for Saudi?

Depends upon the fleet. Saudia Aircraft are designated into 4 groups; A thru D.

Basically, most expats are hired into group "C" (A320) or "D" (Widebody). Everyone is paid in SAR, but the SAR/USD rates are fixed against each other. This means that the base salary for "C" is around $8500/month, and the base for "D" is $9500/month. Keep it in mind that these numbers are "Base Salary" only. There is additional money paid for virtually everything.

Saudi
 

Hi i am first officer at Boeing 777 . I wanted to work in Saudi but wanted to know about the overall working conditions and staff benefits
Thanks in advance

If you are already flying the B777, then stay where you are, at least that way you will become a Captain someday.

Are they currently hiring on the 777
 

Dear all,

I would like to know if Saudi Arabian Airlines is currently hiring on the 777. I am type rated and current and would like to know what is the actual pay scale for Capt and FO. Is it true that you can have up to 6 days off in a row every month? How is the accommodation provided? What is the school allowance, medical insurance, overtime, etc etc.
I went through the different posts but there is no updated information. Are there any opportunities for upgrade or transfer for expats. What are the destinations of the 777 fleet.
Any information would be highly appreciated . Thanks .

Yes..
base for "D" is $9500/month.... productivity, overtime and hourly allowance on top
5 days off... with duty travel ticket on network
Compound accommodation, free, with free utilities
school $8,000 per year, usually not enough for top schools
medical for you and family, higher level for you, if US national, then its done through US insurance company
Insurance for loss of license and life included
Domestic, Middle East, Asia, UK, Canada and JFK/IAD/LAX
Having a rating removes the bond.

hi Mutt
 

Hello,
Good to see you are still "on the job". Ive been retired 18 months and enjoying life, or trying too. in the US.
Any huge changes in the airline?

james

[email protected]

Hi all...
I am a Saudia retired pilot. I understand there is a new website where employees and retirees can get other airline non-rev tickets...I can get to the website, but can't figure out how to register and get a username/password. Can anyone out there help me with this info? Sam

Unfortunately Sam I don't believe that you can access it as it is linked to and accessed from an internal website tied to the employees personal information in the SAP system.
I would suggest that you contact HR LON and ask them if there is a generic access for retirees.

tickets
 

Hi Sam.
i think you retired before the SAP system. Mike Davids from SV-JFK , now retired, was trying to work it out. send him an email.
[email protected]

jim

Thanks to both of you! Sam

Just a word of caution for guys wishing to come into Saudia Non-type rated as Captain, the failure rate recently has been 100% or very near. The training system does not appear to be geared up to getting non-type rated guys up to the standard required by GACA.

F/O no problem.

Polax, what aircraft has this been on?

Mostly conversion from Boeing to A330 or A320.

Not a surprise, they were having decent success with type rated guys passing. The program is really not designed for a direct entry capt and a new type.

info on saudia
 

Hello
Currently I am flying 737ng as fo , I intend to apply as first officer in saudia 777 non type rated position, I hav some questions about the same, please if u guys help ans me
1) the contract offered would be permanent or temporary , do they extend the contract on regular basis.
2) whom to send the job application ?
3) how long does it transition from fo to capt
4) how's the work culture and salary(benefits)
5) life in saudia considerin if you are a muslim
Any advice frm you allwill be highly appreciated.
*Thank you*
Best regards

no reply yet
 

hello guys
no replies yet??????????
plz help

1) 1st time that they have offered FO positions on the B777, so unknown if they will be extended beyond initial contract, all depends on when local pilots trained in the USA start to return.
2) Its online
3) Ha ha ha.... never, not going to happen.
4) Interesting question as no one knows how the new FO's will be accepted. New hire Captain classes have a failure rate of about 50%, in some cases 100%
5) You might be in for a shock.

I'm sure it was asked earlier in the thread just can't remember the answer. How do fleet transitions occur in status?

For all extents and purposes , they DONT!

B747 Classic grounded, crew moved to A330 or B777.
MD11 grounded, crew moved to A330, B744 or B777.

Anyone joining would have a seniority number of around 1600, as fleet transfer is seniority based, it will take years for someone to be even considered.

thankyou mutt
 

Thankyou for the information mutt,
Much appreciated

So I've gone back and found another thread and read all 30 pages stretching from 2009 to 2013. I've gotten the impression that there has been a deterioration in working conditions and quality of life. This is due to comments like " days of the flying club over", SA "moving in the direction of the other ME airlines", roster changes etc. is there anyone willing to put this into perspective. Thanks.

Also, another poster remarked that the A320 conditions were the worst. Given that this is where I am qualified, could someone expand on this. Is it like the other ME carriers; lots of sectors, night turns around the gulf and turns to the sub-continent?

regarding saudia the failure rate almost 70% to 100% no upgrade to command for F/0 training takes 6 to 9 months

Lets give an accurate picture:

One particular group

8 starts end of last year; 3 currently checked to line, 1 awaiting completion, 4 training terminations.

The 3 passes were type rated experienced Captains on A330 and B744.

The 1 awaiting completion was a type rated experienced A320 Captain.

The 3 Failures were conversion from Boeing to A320/A330.

1 Resigned during Training.

Other earlier Groups were similar. It looks like guys experienced on type have a reasonable pass rate, but the moral is don't come to Saudia on a different type. They want you to fly like an experienced captain on type and there is no margin for error on that requirement.

Training does take 6 to 10 months. There is no history of significant upgrades of foreign F/O's, so don't expect that.

A slightly different perspective.

Training is the hardest part of Saudia, but it can also be quite fun. The training I had on the A330 was the best I've ever had in my career. The trainers had high expectation and as long as you are willing to learn and improve, they'll give you the time. Just don't BS them. If you don't know, just admit and try find the info for the the next session.

Over here, patience and respect brings you many benefits. If you are patient, you'll find many friends here. The Arabs love being a good host. They take pride in that. Just don't abuse it and they will try to accommodate as much as they can.

Mileage varies here. Some love it, some don't. If small things get to your nerve, there are plenty to prick your nerve. Big picture is you're in a foreign land with foreign culture. I looked at it as an adventure. Getting lost driving in the middle of Jeddah with lots of kamikaze drivers was an experience of a lifetime. Sort of missed that feeling.

The payoff is when they give you the star. After that life is beautiful. Saudis are respectful if you show them respect and with a star on the shoulder, they'll give you some latitude. That is as far as my experience so far...

Saudia
 

Absolutely spot on:ok:

Totally agree. Its getting through the first months that's tough.

Saudia
 

One thing you will learn in Saudi Arabia is patience. So many pilots arrived for training being used to the 500 knot lifestyle 'back home', of getting things done quickly. I was no different when i landed in JED in 1977. The pilot that met me at the airport was a 18 year veteran. He was a TWA pilot from Kansas City and told me to be patient and be satisfied to get one or two items accomplished on your list each day.
I'm certain the MUTT will concur with this statement. It was not an easy acceptance to the 'new' lifestyle for me but my door was always open to others and many friendships were created, that still exist today with the Saudi's.
I cannot tell you how many Saudi's have called or emailed me after my retirement from Saudia just to say hello and how is life being retired.
you can email me if you need information. Glad to help

james
[email protected]

Recruitment
 

Gentlemen hope you re all very fine,

Maybe an interview is coming up and any info about questions,simulator programs,tricks and tips would be very appreciated .....

Thanks to anybody will be helpful

Never gave Saudia a second thought...

curious, do they have foreign pilots as Captains there or are you stuck on the Right4life?

I came to Saudia a year later than jumbocpt (78)...I concur totally with his input. Many find the environment extremely frustrating...but, if you can take the long view, and not demand immediate results, the Saudis will respond positively. I have found the Saudis to be generous and forthcoming, some more honest than others, but they are not at all efficient (not a cultural strength). I said not efficient, I didn't say stupid, don't make that mistake! They, as we, realize our mutual strengths and weaknesses; once this is realized by expats, things tend to fall into place. One piece of advice...DO NOT put a Saudi on the spot for an immediate answer to a problem...they just DO NOT WORK THAT WAY. Small reminders over time will get the job done; confrontation will get counter-confrontation, and a shut door. As for the best source of advice on current situation (and history), one word: "MUTT".
Sam

Jumbocpt, Sam Unfortunately it has changed since your departures, the splitting of PSAA from FOT was a bad idea in hindsight, the synergies required to get people trained for the benefit of the airline are just not there anymore. We have seen 5/6 new hires (E170) fail a check ride on the FTD, followed by the 6th leaving line training before the check ride, this used to be unheard of.
The reality for any new hire is that he will be required to memorise everything from day one, without actually getting told what "everything" is!!
Training doesn't exist, check rides begin on day 1......
Some get through easily, for others its pure hell. But strangely enough once people get the star and the money kicks in, they appear to be generally happy :)

Hope you are enjoying retirement, new DG shows up after EID, so it will be interesting to see where the next 5 year plan brings us, but with a possible fleet expansion of 40 aircraft, the requirement for expats will continue for years to come.

Mutt