Flying in the Persian/Arabian Gulf

[Foggy Bottom]

Actually I think "Bob" was crusing the pipeline. He had just taken off, but he was not in the process of taking off...least thats how I remember it..

[Zipper104]

Any job is what you make of it. It all depends on your expectations. Spent many great years in the ME. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Always had a few whiners around the watering holes, can't recall that any of them ever did anything to improve anyones lot. The good guys still talk of the great times we had.

Originally Posted by Yarba

OK, whatever. Wonder why ADA asked me to stay on after I quit (which I did for a few months to help them out) and why they gave me the letter I still have saying I would be welcome back any time.
It's awaste of time talking about workovers if that's what you have to do to make money. The reason they always need workovers is because they're always short of pilots.
Wow, $80,000 for a pilot - almost what a senior co-pilot makes on the North Sea, but it's okay, the salary is so good you have to bring your wife over to work (if she's professional!) to make good money. SASless wouldn't agree with you about greenbacks in Aramco.
If you remember one of the ADA pilots was shot when he was near the deck - oh yes, he was taking off!
You pretty much summed it up when you said what I've said all along:

Glad to see we're totally in agreement

[Oracle]

FALCON START-UP IN AD/Evergreen SAR

Hi Guys,

Any of you cool dudes got a contact for FALCON recruiting drivers for their new start-up in AD? I know there is movement from ADA that way. Please advise if you are able!

Evergreen proved to be non-negotiable on their offers for the SAR flight at AD, by the way - $380 p.d. for 412 drivers, $400 for AB139 (with huge bond) - nothing else. 8/4 seems to now be continuous work until further notice - so maybe they haven't the numbers. The daily rate puts them below par for the region now and certainly below ADA who is about to FINALLY intro their new pay rise at......15 to 20% ??? New accommodation due in 2008!!
Any better rumours? Realistically Ageless and Evergreen (CIA) need to get real and field $450 per day with extras and annual bonus to get quality aircrew - but do not seem at all interested. 6 days on 1 off looks like sucking too!

I can see why they have a bad rep!
Salaams

[cougar77]

Arabian Gulf vs Nigeria

Hi to all,
am new here and contemplating working either at the Gulf or Nigeria. Have been reading all the threads and would like to summarise details of available companies for benefit for those like me. Would appreciate more details and opinions (good and bad). The folowing is what i have gathered and understand from reading so far....kindly correct me if i am wrong.

My general opinions so far is pay is low, housing depends on company, cost of living high, safe place to stay and work...reservations on GHC.

* = Bold accordingly

Saudi Aramco:
Chief pilot - Adel A. Al-Aboud
Email - [email protected]
Website - http://jobs.saudiaramco.com/index.jsp
Salary - ???
Housing - abv ave/hi ave/ave/lo ave/marginal* Looks pretty decent on website
Perks/Benefits - medical/dental/kids education
Roster - Yes/No* Accompanied terms avail
Any other info - "Aramco....probably the best of the pick...but an "interesting" place to be. Nice living and recreational facility...excellent library. Decent but boring food. Ask them what is not in the contract before you sign including health insurance and things like that.
"(SASLESS)
Recommended/Not recommended*

Aerogulf:
Director of Operations - Rob Denehy
Chief pilot - Dave Butler
Email - [email protected]
Website - http://www.aerogulfservices.com/
Salary -???
Housing - abv ave/hi ave/ave/lo ave/marginal*
Perks/Benefits - Kid's education
Roster - Yes/No* Accompanied terms avail
Any other info - "AEROGULF is probably the best employer,but the pay is a joke"( ), "Aerogulf....nice place and people...but poor pay."(SASLESS)
Recommended/Not recommended*

Abu Dhabi Aviation:
Chief pilot - John Hanley
Email - apply thru website
Website - http://www.adaviation.com/
Salary -???
Housing - abv ave/hi ave/ave/lo ave/marginal*
Perks/Benefits - ???
Roster - Yes/No*
Any other info - "ADA....truely crappy housing....good engineering."(SASLESS), "Second best is Abu Dhabi. Best pay hands down but accomadation is shocking"(Delaminator),"ADA is a good company with the exception of their disgusting housing site. Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING can prepare you for that dump"(Munchkins)
Recommended/Not recommended

Gulf Helicopters:
Ops Manager - Fred Layton
Chief pilot - John Toon
Email - [email protected]
Website - http://www.gulfhelicopters.com/GHC/english/index.asp
Salary -???
Housing - abv ave/hi ave/ave/lo ave/marginal* Looks pretty decent on website
Perks/Benefits - ??? Accompanied terms avail
Roster - Yes/No*
Any other info - "Gulf...now that is turning into a real joke"(SASLESS),"Best guys to work but worst money is Aerogulf in Dubai"(Delaminator), "The future? Wow! - What a dreamer you are! Right now the company's survival is limited to a little over spitting distance. Some folks just need to experience total meltdown and abject company failure (or a major accident) before they finally bloody realize that SAFETY and INTEGRITY are the only acceptable foundation stones and essential concerns of any professional (and formerly renowned) International Helicopter company"(Oracle)-this really worries me
Recommended/Not recommended

Heli-dubai:
Chief pilot -
Email - [email protected]
Website - http://www.helidubai.com/
Salary -???
Housing - abv ave/hi ave/ave/lo ave/marginal*
Perks/Benefits -???
Roster - Yes/No* accompanied terms avail
Any other info -
Recommended/Not recommended

Would also appreciate more info on West Africa (Nigeria) thread for some comparision to assist my decision... kindly leave out the abductions and shootings which was posted recently. Photos on housing conditions would be much appreciated.

[paco]

cougar77 - the Aerogulf accommodation is definitely not low average - I have a very nice 2 bed apartment in the heart of town. Some are better than others, of course, but nothing is as bad as that of the other companies I have heard about (I have no direct experience of them, but other guys who work here have). The standard of construction, however, is the same as any other building round here - pretty poor!

The pay is lowish, but while there's a queue to join the company, that ain't gonna change much. However, the money in my pocket at the end of the month is higher than a 50K salary in UK as I simply don't have the same expenses (petrol, etc). Granted, buck for buck, it doesn't compare, but the big picture warrants further investigation (note that the local ISP has blocked Skype with their new multi-million dollar software, so phone bills should be considered. Saying the pay is a "joke" is going too far, I think). And yes, I know that all Chief Pilots have "queues" in the shape of a large pile of resumes, but there is a genuine one here.

Bear in mind that the new pilot exams are now JAR-compliant, so allow a long lead time while you study to convert your licence to a UAE one on top of the usual paperwork. The old one that is 5 years out of date has now gone.

Phil

[cougar77]

Arabian Gulf vs Nigeria

Paco - Thanks for the info.

Its basically info and more info for those in similar situations who are considering working between the Arabian Gulf and Nigeria taking into consideration individuals needs and requirements. (Did not mention other locations as most would require 'the right to work' or resident in most cases.)

Other than companies which do not give much info on there websites, i can only derive my opinion on issues from this rather useful and information forum with lots of helpful people. As for Aramco and Gulf, the housing seems pretty decent and i believe it cant be that far off with the other companies. Anyway, collective info of sorts whether positive or negative will assist towards final decision.

What does it take to convert a FAA ATP to a UAE equivalent, how many papers etc?

[paco]

You should only need to take the law exam, do the medical, take a flight test, etc, but the law exam is now the same as JAR-FCL, so you need to swot up on the chicago convention, etc

Phil

[Aer Maritz]

Check out
www.helidubai.com
Starting small, thinking big!

[gulliBell]

Originally Posted by cougar77

As for Aramco and Gulf, the housing seems pretty decent and i believe it cant be that far off with the other companies.

Aramco housing is good if you're an ARAMCON, but if you're a "consultant pilot" you live in a single room in a remote bachelor camp.

[Oracle]

Gulf Helicopters

For Cougar 77:

Just to correct your Gulf Helis contacts:

The Ops Manager is Fred Leyton

The Chief Pilot is John Toon.

Best regards,

O

[LowTime]

Hi Guys, Have been watching this thread for a while now. My question is. How does an aussie bloke get a job as cojoe on one of these? Wouldn't mind a change of scenery for a few years.

Cheers and beers to all.

[gulliBell]

Originally Posted by LowTime

How does an aussie bloke get a job as cojoe on one of these?

That's easy, if you have an FAA ATPL(H), 3000 hrs helicopter flight time, 500 hours offshore, 250 hours on B212/412, 100 hours night, and pass a background check etc, you might make it to the cojoe start line. If you don't, you won't.

[helopat]

Originally Posted by LowTime

Hi Guys, Have been watching this thread for a while now. My question is. How does an aussie bloke get a job as cojoe on one of these? Wouldn't mind a change of scenery for a few years.
Cheers and beers to all.

Gentlemen all,

I just got some first hand, genuine, no shiite info from a bud of mine who is flying in the gulf...so as not to OVERTLY betray the unwritten rule of revealing wages, if you'd like info, PM me.

Low time...might have some info for you on employment or maybe I can put you in touch with the guy I know...perhaps he can give you further guidance.

HP

[cougar77]

Originally Posted by Oracle

For Cougar 77:

Just to correct your Gulf Helis contacts:

The Ops Manager is Fred Leyton

The Chief Pilot is John Toon.

Best regards,

O

Thanks Oracle - ammended already

[aquila105]

Guld Helicopters Doha

Hello,

I am considering the possibility of working for GH and moving with my family to Doha.
The Company specific postings are kind of outdated and I was wandering if anybody in this forum is actually working for the company and can answer a few questions.

What's pay for a 412 Capt.?
How many hours do you average annually?
Medical/Dental/Prescription plans?
401 K/ Retirement plans?
Living conditions in Doha for the Family?
Actual cost of living examples?
Job itself (frantic/boring)?
Interaction with the locals?
Quality of maintenance?
General Impressions?

I understand it is a lot of info, that's why I will trow in a dinner w/ lots of beer in restaurant of choice in Doha (it's beer even allowed?).

Thank you and Cheers!

Aquila

[spinwing]

We assume the thread is meant to refer to Gulf Helicopters, Doha, Qatar.

[aquila105]

GULF

That would be a very smart assumption sherlock!

[aquila105]

Flungdung

Thanks, and like I said, dinner&beer..you never know.

Cheers.

[singlecut]

Pay is around $320 USD per day touring and $80k for a line pilot on a 6/1 contract. Includes housing plus utilities.

[aquila105]

Gulf

One thing I forgot to include in my laundry list...What's the average salary pay increase?
I am asking that because believe it or not, there are companies out there that while offering a reasonable start pay, they will increase about 2.5/2.8% per year.
10 Years down the road, you'll have to move from a single family house to an appartment.

Thanks again,

Aquila