Flying in the Persian/Arabian Gulf
The question that comes to mind.....there is a shortage or lack of local pilots to man the operation thus requiring the use of expatriate pilots.
Why is housing considered a part of the wage packet? I see such costs as being part of an operating expense. The reason "touring" companies do so is usually to cut down on housing costs and capital expenditure and thus save money by that practice.
So what am I missing here.....
Also heard via the sandbox grapevine.....that Gulf Heli's holds back several hundred dollars from your initial pay check and does not put the money into an interest bearing escrow account. The report said that the money is usually paid several months after termination of the employee without benefit of interest or any kind of appreciation on the account. I assume that is in anticipation of someone doing a Keller and running up large telephone bills to the spouse half way around the world....and leaving the company to pay the bills.
Seem like a funny way of doing business with people you entrust an aircraft and lots of people with.....
Why is housing considered a part of the wage packet? I see such costs as being part of an operating expense. The reason "touring" companies do so is usually to cut down on housing costs and capital expenditure and thus save money by that practice.
So what am I missing here.....
Also heard via the sandbox grapevine.....that Gulf Heli's holds back several hundred dollars from your initial pay check and does not put the money into an interest bearing escrow account. The report said that the money is usually paid several months after termination of the employee without benefit of interest or any kind of appreciation on the account. I assume that is in anticipation of someone doing a Keller and running up large telephone bills to the spouse half way around the world....and leaving the company to pay the bills.
Seem like a funny way of doing business with people you entrust an aircraft and lots of people with.....
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The only reason it is possible to trust a pilot with and aircraft and passengers is the fact that his sorry ass is strapped into the aircraft along with the passengers.
Pilots are notorious for pissing off without paying their bills. (Generally Kiwi).
Before you all get up in arms, I have proof in the form of a huge phone bill.
If I was in charge of GHC I would not pay the Pilots at all. There is always someone out there that will fly for nothing. I have proof of this also.
But keep on telling yourself that you are indispensable. Somebody will believe you. Or you could just leave and then the whole Middle East oil industry would collapse I am sure.
Pilots are notorious for pissing off without paying their bills. (Generally Kiwi).
Before you all get up in arms, I have proof in the form of a huge phone bill.
If I was in charge of GHC I would not pay the Pilots at all. There is always someone out there that will fly for nothing. I have proof of this also.
But keep on telling yourself that you are indispensable. Somebody will believe you. Or you could just leave and then the whole Middle East oil industry would collapse I am sure.
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I don't work for Aerogulf either. Their housing isn't that great (OK it's better than ADA's, but so is a Bedouin's tent 
). However, there's no getting away from the fact that they pay less than any other helicopter company in the Gulf. Oil is at an all time high and the companies in the Gulf are paying, relatively, an all time low, and Aerogulf is the lowest of the low 
ADA pays for their guys on married accompanied to live in decent housing, but they treat their staff like poo. I wouldn't work for any of them again until they learn to treat their expat staff like human beings, provide decent housing and pay a proper salary
). However, there's no getting away from the fact that they pay less than any other helicopter company in the Gulf. Oil is at an all time high and the companies in the Gulf are paying, relatively, an all time low, and Aerogulf is the lowest of the low ADA pays for their guys on married accompanied to live in decent housing, but they treat their staff like poo. I wouldn't work for any of them again until they learn to treat their expat staff like human beings, provide decent housing and pay a proper salary
Now Gimble Stop.....
You miss the point....if your pilots were not moving on...thus happy in their situation...would there be any unpaid bills left owing to begin with.
You miss the point....if your pilots were not moving on...thus happy in their situation...would there be any unpaid bills left owing to begin with.
Guest
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Pilots move on. That’s a fact of life.
We except the pay and conditions offered. When we are no longer satisfied we move on.
How does that justify leaving with unpaid bills?
How does it reflect badly on a company like GHC for withholding funds to protect themselves from a known and common problem? We Pilots made the bed. Now those who choose to follow must lay in it.
If you don’t like your pay and conditions, pay your bills and leave. Or are you hanging on because there might be a pay rise in the wind and you might miss out? You never know it might be just around the corner.
How about instead of winging and bitching, you spend some time thinking of ways you can improve your working environment for yourself and your colleges. You obviously have plenty of time on your hands.
No one is holding a gun to your head! You are being detained by your own greed!
We except the pay and conditions offered. When we are no longer satisfied we move on.
How does that justify leaving with unpaid bills?
How does it reflect badly on a company like GHC for withholding funds to protect themselves from a known and common problem? We Pilots made the bed. Now those who choose to follow must lay in it.
If you don’t like your pay and conditions, pay your bills and leave. Or are you hanging on because there might be a pay rise in the wind and you might miss out? You never know it might be just around the corner.
How about instead of winging and bitching, you spend some time thinking of ways you can improve your working environment for yourself and your colleges. You obviously have plenty of time on your hands.
No one is holding a gun to your head! You are being detained by your own greed!
Gimble,
Why is it you are so emotional about this topic? One would think you made the decision to withhold those funds yourself.....it would appear. Rather than the old vote with yer feet attitude....I hold with the work for a better tomorrow concept. Yes there will be turnover in pilots at any company. The pilots that die, retire, become disabled, and those that leave for any other reason.....all contribute to a turnover rate. Those leavings are generally well planned for, easy to calculate in advance and are very few in number if one excludes the "leave for other reasons" catagory. I would submit the unpaid bills are a symptom of a deeper problem within the company than being mere misconduct by the pilots that stiff the company.
Loyalty is a two way street....if one is happy in his employ then there is no need to depart in an untimely fashion. Could it be the guys just wake up one day and decide "enough of this" and pack their bongo's? I dare say....anyone that is as adamant about the old "love it or leave" attitude as you are....just might be part of the problem and not part of the cure.
Integrity is not conditional....either you have it or you do not....to leave with bills unpaid is not an honorable thing. Running a crappy helicopter company isn't an honorable thing either.
Being a free market economy out there....I reckon then the company that gets stiffed for unpaid bills gets what they paid for.
Find a way to identify, recruit, and retain quality staff and you will not have that problem....and thus have no need for such a practice as GHC apparantly does. Is there a message in all that for you?
Why is it you are so emotional about this topic? One would think you made the decision to withhold those funds yourself.....it would appear. Rather than the old vote with yer feet attitude....I hold with the work for a better tomorrow concept. Yes there will be turnover in pilots at any company. The pilots that die, retire, become disabled, and those that leave for any other reason.....all contribute to a turnover rate. Those leavings are generally well planned for, easy to calculate in advance and are very few in number if one excludes the "leave for other reasons" catagory. I would submit the unpaid bills are a symptom of a deeper problem within the company than being mere misconduct by the pilots that stiff the company.
Loyalty is a two way street....if one is happy in his employ then there is no need to depart in an untimely fashion. Could it be the guys just wake up one day and decide "enough of this" and pack their bongo's? I dare say....anyone that is as adamant about the old "love it or leave" attitude as you are....just might be part of the problem and not part of the cure.
Integrity is not conditional....either you have it or you do not....to leave with bills unpaid is not an honorable thing. Running a crappy helicopter company isn't an honorable thing either.
Being a free market economy out there....I reckon then the company that gets stiffed for unpaid bills gets what they paid for.
Find a way to identify, recruit, and retain quality staff and you will not have that problem....and thus have no need for such a practice as GHC apparantly does. Is there a message in all that for you?
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Gimblestop
Interesting comment regarding pilots being indispensible and the likelihood of finding pilots who will do the job for free.
Maybe you ought to think about the customers who entrust their lives to the pilots (and engineers) working for any operator. Sure, you could find any idiot willing to fly your helicopters for very little reward, but I wouldn't want to be in one with them.
You also mentioned "voting with your feet". This is something that customers are doing more of when they become unhappy with the quality and, more importantly, the safety of the service being offered to them.
While I don't condone anybody walking out on a job and leaving unpaid bills behind, if the company concerned rewards its workers suitably for their capability and dedication it would prevent the rot which is setting in at the moment.
Interesting comment regarding pilots being indispensible and the likelihood of finding pilots who will do the job for free.
Maybe you ought to think about the customers who entrust their lives to the pilots (and engineers) working for any operator. Sure, you could find any idiot willing to fly your helicopters for very little reward, but I wouldn't want to be in one with them.
You also mentioned "voting with your feet". This is something that customers are doing more of when they become unhappy with the quality and, more importantly, the safety of the service being offered to them.
While I don't condone anybody walking out on a job and leaving unpaid bills behind, if the company concerned rewards its workers suitably for their capability and dedication it would prevent the rot which is setting in at the moment.
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Hoi guys,
found in Flight international,posted January 4th
Doha, Qatar
Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) operate a fleet of modern Bell 412/212 helicopters primarily in support of the Offshore Oil and Gas industry in the Arabian Gulf and has immediate requirements for the following positions with the qualifications listed below:
Offshore experience
Current ICAO ATPL(H) licence with Instrument Rating
Valid Class 1 Medical
Minimum of 2500 hours on helicopters
1500 hours as Pilot in Command
1000 hours multi engine
500 hours as Pilot in Command multi engine
Prefer Bell 412/212 Type Rated with minimum 100 hours on type
Recently Enhanced Tax Free remuneration package includes:
Positions available on Unaccompanied Status (four weeks on/four weeks off or 6:6 or 8:4 cycles) ......
any idea about the recently enhanced tax free salary??
payment remains only for the days on tour??
found in Flight international,posted January 4th
Doha, Qatar
Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) operate a fleet of modern Bell 412/212 helicopters primarily in support of the Offshore Oil and Gas industry in the Arabian Gulf and has immediate requirements for the following positions with the qualifications listed below:
Offshore experience
Current ICAO ATPL(H) licence with Instrument Rating
Valid Class 1 Medical
Minimum of 2500 hours on helicopters
1500 hours as Pilot in Command
1000 hours multi engine
500 hours as Pilot in Command multi engine
Prefer Bell 412/212 Type Rated with minimum 100 hours on type
Recently Enhanced Tax Free remuneration package includes:
Positions available on Unaccompanied Status (four weeks on/four weeks off or 6:6 or 8:4 cycles) ......
any idea about the recently enhanced tax free salary??
payment remains only for the days on tour??
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Flying with a PPLH in Dubai or UAE
Hi
Does anyone know of any organisations which will allow me to fly in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates on a JAA PPL(H)? I don't necessarily want to fly solo or with passengers, just a couple of hours here and there with an instructor or CPL(H) would be great.
I'm going out there for a few weeks in February and would love to do some flying. Any info much appreciated.
Thanks
rba194
Does anyone know of any organisations which will allow me to fly in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates on a JAA PPL(H)? I don't necessarily want to fly solo or with passengers, just a couple of hours here and there with an instructor or CPL(H) would be great.
I'm going out there for a few weeks in February and would love to do some flying. Any info much appreciated.
Thanks
rba194
I was out there a couple of years ago and it wasn't possible then. However, the CFI at Um Al Quwain Flying Club (1.5 hrs drive up the coast from Dubai), a chap called Mohammed somethingorother was very helpful when I paid them a visit. I recommend you give him a call. The No is in the ubiquitous 'Dubai Explorer' book available all over Dubai.
You might find things have changed for the better by now (but I doubt it!).
J
You might find things have changed for the better by now (but I doubt it!).
J
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I have just left Dubai after a number of years there. Um Al Quwain had a R44 the last time I heard. I wanted to fly also as I was doing my PPL but it was still not allowed, in Dubai that is.
Things do happen and change quick there so its worth looking into.
Things do happen and change quick there so its worth looking into.
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S-92 Keeps Rolling
Qatar's Gulf Helicopters Selects S-92 for VVIP Mission
Tuesday January 25, 2:44 pm ET
STRATFORD, Conn., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gulf Helicopters of Doha, Qatar has signed a contract to purchase an S-92 aircraft to serve VVIP missions. Delivery is scheduled for 2006.
"We are excited to add Gulf Helicopters to the growing list of S-92 customers across the world," said Joseph Gigantelli, Regional Vice President for Sikorsky.
Previously, Turkey and Turkmenistan selected the S-92 for head-of-state missions. Turkey has contracted for one and Turkmenistan for two S-92s.
In November 2004 Canada signed a contract to purchase 28 H-92s, the military variant of the S-92, for its Maritime Helicopter Program. The H-92 is also under consideration as the next helicopter for the President of the United States.
Sikorsky has 89 orders to date, including options, for the S-92 and H-92.
The S-92 was the first helicopter in the world certified by the FAA to FAR Part 29 Transport Rotorcraft, Amendment 47, the latest US safety regulations, as well as the equivalent European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) standards.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing and service. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX - News), of Hartford, Conn., which provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Tuesday January 25, 2:44 pm ET
STRATFORD, Conn., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gulf Helicopters of Doha, Qatar has signed a contract to purchase an S-92 aircraft to serve VVIP missions. Delivery is scheduled for 2006.
"We are excited to add Gulf Helicopters to the growing list of S-92 customers across the world," said Joseph Gigantelli, Regional Vice President for Sikorsky.
Previously, Turkey and Turkmenistan selected the S-92 for head-of-state missions. Turkey has contracted for one and Turkmenistan for two S-92s.
In November 2004 Canada signed a contract to purchase 28 H-92s, the military variant of the S-92, for its Maritime Helicopter Program. The H-92 is also under consideration as the next helicopter for the President of the United States.
Sikorsky has 89 orders to date, including options, for the S-92 and H-92.
The S-92 was the first helicopter in the world certified by the FAA to FAR Part 29 Transport Rotorcraft, Amendment 47, the latest US safety regulations, as well as the equivalent European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) standards.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing and service. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX - News), of Hartford, Conn., which provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Ah now that did it....it will have to be the 101 now....can't be riding around in just any old helicopter!
If one is to profile....by golly...profile!
Reckon Bell has an old Agusta Whale they will try to sneak into the contest at the last minute! Agusta had one hiddent away in the hangar at Gallarate not so long ago.
If one is to profile....by golly...profile!
Reckon Bell has an old Agusta Whale they will try to sneak into the contest at the last minute! Agusta had one hiddent away in the hangar at Gallarate not so long ago.
Iconoclast
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Birds in the hand Vs Birds in the bush.
To: SASless
I believe that the whale you refer to is the Agusta 101. It was built in order to get Vertol to sign a contract for Agusta to build and market the CH-47. Agusta said that if Vertol did not give them a license they would put the 101 into production thus stifling Vertols' ability to market the CH-47 in Europe and Africa and the Middle East.
The rotorhead was a French design similar to that used on the Allouette. I don't know how much French influence was in the design but it looks a lot like a Super Frelon.
I believe that the whale you refer to is the Agusta 101. It was built in order to get Vertol to sign a contract for Agusta to build and market the CH-47. Agusta said that if Vertol did not give them a license they would put the 101 into production thus stifling Vertols' ability to market the CH-47 in Europe and Africa and the Middle East.
The rotorhead was a French design similar to that used on the Allouette. I don't know how much French influence was in the design but it looks a lot like a Super Frelon.
Lu,
I think you could put them side by side and the difference would no matter. When I was there the poor old thing was covered in dust and looked awfully neglected. Not a bad looking helicopter.
I think you could put them side by side and the difference would no matter. When I was there the poor old thing was covered in dust and looked awfully neglected. Not a bad looking helicopter.
Iconoclast
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The Italian mindset.
To: SASless
When I was there it was outside exposed to all of the elements. At least they had the good sense to bring it inside and try to preserve a one-off helicopter for posterity.
When I was there it was outside exposed to all of the elements. At least they had the good sense to bring it inside and try to preserve a one-off helicopter for posterity.
Anybody left in Doha??
Just wondering if anyone is left at Doha and able to shed some light as to what is happening at the moment. Have heard that 12 Licenced Engineers have left in the last few months, can't be too many of them left on the floor. Have also heard that maintenance is falling behind (surprise surprise), and that pilot training has stopped. Surely not. Oh yeah, and what about the promised payrise?? Has it surfaced yet, or is that going to be held over till a quiet period 
Would be good to hear from anybody still left or recently left.
Iceberg dead ahead!!
noooby
Would be good to hear from anybody still left or recently left.
Iceberg dead ahead!!
noooby
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Horizon (Al Ain)
Things are no better at Horizon - if anything they are worse now than a few months ago.
Rumours re the hotel booking are true.
Horizon currently has 70 students enrolled, 37 of which are just about to finish a cpl course after nearly two years - 10 aircraft of which usually only 6 are serviceable, 8 unhappy instructors and a *********** off CFI who is looking elsewhere.
Management seem to refuse to listen to common sense, are late paying both company bills and personal allowances, try to add their own interpretation to contracts as they see fit.
For the moment, my best advise would be to avoid it like the plague - it's not a happy place!!!
Rumours re the hotel booking are true.
Horizon currently has 70 students enrolled, 37 of which are just about to finish a cpl course after nearly two years - 10 aircraft of which usually only 6 are serviceable, 8 unhappy instructors and a *********** off CFI who is looking elsewhere.
Management seem to refuse to listen to common sense, are late paying both company bills and personal allowances, try to add their own interpretation to contracts as they see fit.
For the moment, my best advise would be to avoid it like the plague - it's not a happy place!!!
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Is there any truth in the rumour that The Deputy GM, after promising it wouldn't be a problem is now refusing to give people that leave an letter that will allow them to work for a different company in the UAE?
It sounds to me like that guy is a proper T*AT!
It sounds to me like that guy is a proper T*AT!