FlyDubai time to command
 

I am looking for an advice from fellow aviators. I am a current captain working for a small company which is not doing very well. 5000 TT, 2000 PIC. I am thinking of applying to FlyDubai as a NTR F/O. What is the realistic time to command? Is this a wise move?

transport jock, turbulence_fl360 thank you guys for your answers. 2 years is tolerable. What is the average take home pay for an F/O? Are the figures on ppjn accurate?

Yes Eric, the PPJN is pretty well spot on.

As F/O 11k USD averange. All alowances included. If you don’t have kids, you can live very well and save good money, for FO rosters are good right now.

I have one kid. Will I be able to save anything?

Average time to command is between 2 and 3 years. Some around 18 months, coming in NTR FO. Upgrade process here is a bit of a lotery with who you get for your sim check and how they feel that day. One wrong performance marker and you have to wait minimum 1 year. They prefer to upgrade their own FO's and from JUL18 have 1 aircraft coming in every month. From AUG19 two aircraft every month for many years. So many people needed. They try and upgrade 6 FO's per month. But this needs to go up, and will go up. Lifestyle is good as an FO. Junior guys have some amazing rosters. But it will be painfull when you upgrade. There is only 1 master seniority list. So everyone ahead of you will stay ahead of you untill they leave, irrespective of seat. It's a good company if you don't want long haul and prefer sleeping in your own bed without jetlag.

You are telling that a fly dubai fo gets the salary of an Emirates captain ( 75-80h + basic salary no allowance) Are you for real?

Happy days then

What is the TT minimum requirement to be considered for upgrade if joining as type rated but with less than 2000 hours total?
I understand at least 500 hours in FZ and 2 sim check with good grades or better are part of the requirements.

Granted, FZ is offering a good salary for a LCC.


But lets compare apples to apples. all things considered according to my calcs, Basic + allowances +flight pay


Emirates F.O. 44 450 from their website


Flydubai F.O. 31 600 + 9000 avg flight pay


So, not close to an Emirates Captain.


That being said, FZ seems to have a more favourable working environment for now. I am personally looking at leaving my current carrier. From what I've been reading FZ roster pattern would afford me more nights in my own bed. More vital than cash for me, I have a young family so time spent with them is vital. Or am I being overly optimistic? I don't mind working hard, as long as I get a salary that reflects this and get left alone on my off days.

And now you have to be a minimum of 28 years old. I thought I'd throw that in there too (just in case!!)

What staff travel benefits do you get at FlyDubai?

Also, can anyone share a roster. Obviously de-identified, 16-16th etc so that it cant be traced.

Thanks

@Britguy,

The age limit has been removed. Its no longer there on the OM D1.

ID90/50 on flydubai and you can nominate 5 buddies. No J class with kids though. ID90/50 with around 30 or so myidtravel airlines. Big ones being KL/LH/AF/DL/WN/B6/KQ/LX/QF/EY and EK. Around 5 of those also for parents/inlaws, incl EK in both J and Y class. No siblings anywhere. This all was only introduced 9 months ago so I'm sure more will follow and it's a massive improvement from what it was.

Basically FO rosters are pretty good. I hear many junior FO's are actually very content with their roster. Captains are a different story. Unless you're in the top 40% you get worked to the max and have a very tough roster. In the top 40% I think it's more manageable with less !!!!!. My biggest attraction as a Captain is the time with family at home without being tired whilst still getting paid a decent wage for a Hybrid carrier. (that's another seperate discussion...;-()

Thanks:ok:

Its in the ATO manual. (Yeah, another FZ speciality - manuals galore).

It was on the OM D for about 6 months, before it was removed in the last revision.

It is still a FZ prerequisite for command.

Thanks guys for the answers! I got my first command at the age of 28 and that was 5 years ago 😃

You can save good money with 1 kid. But, you need to manage how you spend your money, Dubai have lots of nice stuff to do and buy, there are many pilots who don’t save a dolar here, driving Porsches and Ferraris because loans are easy and cheap in UAE.

Personally in here to have a good life and improve my retirement plan. If you use o head instead your pocket you gonna be really fine in Dubai.

A lot of people complain about FZ. It s a nice job, everyday at home, layovers just if you want to. Around 10-12 days OFF (FO roster at this time). Cockpit environment is good, there is some FZ upgrade guys that think they are astronauts. Hahahah. But generally nice guys to work with. Most of the complains is about how company treat pilots, I give a !!!!! for that, it’s just a job, not a relationship 😃.