Flying in the Persian/Arabian Gulf
$300 per day seems rather low considering working coditions, and the fact that they do not pay days off on the 6/6 rotation. When will Mr ME realise what other operators have found recently:- Pay peanuts, get inexperienced crews!!
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Could someone explain to me why they are using Bell 230s for offshore work when the company already has 412s. Also if it is only a ten mile trip why didnt they consider using 407s etc or something in the single engine market. Just curious.
AB
AB
In response to "All Blacks" question!
"Could someone explain to me why they are using Bell 230s for offshore work when the company already has 412s. Also if it is only a ten mile trip why didnt they consider using 407s etc or something in the single engine market. Just curious."
The DOC cost of running a B-230 is only 50-60% of what the B-412 costs and if the job only requires B-222/230 size helicopter then they are just fine for the job. Although a B-222 is much more in its element on longer routes (more than 10 miles!) because of its speed.
If Gulf helicopters is operating in accordance with JAR requirements (which they do acoording to my info!) then a twin engine helicopter is required for operations to elevated landing pads such as offshore platforms. It may also be a requirement from the customer as well as the two pilot operation.
"Could someone explain to me why they are using Bell 230s for offshore work when the company already has 412s. Also if it is only a ten mile trip why didnt they consider using 407s etc or something in the single engine market. Just curious."
The DOC cost of running a B-230 is only 50-60% of what the B-412 costs and if the job only requires B-222/230 size helicopter then they are just fine for the job. Although a B-222 is much more in its element on longer routes (more than 10 miles!) because of its speed.
If Gulf helicopters is operating in accordance with JAR requirements (which they do acoording to my info!) then a twin engine helicopter is required for operations to elevated landing pads such as offshore platforms. It may also be a requirement from the customer as well as the two pilot operation.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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It's actually pretty much the same for all the companies out here. There are just minor differences as to whether you have to pay for your food (Gulf, ADA) or whether it's provided (Aramco).
In most of the countries booze is available if you want it and the cities and shopping facilities are good/excellent.
Housing standards vary tremendously. Gulf has very good accommodation but you'll need to buy a car as they don't provide transport to work for long. ADA has accommodation that's a health hazard, but at least there's a free bus service to work.
The flying is mostly standard boring offshore stuff, with Gulf mostly doing straight out and back crew changes and ADA doing a mixture of crew changes, wellhead hopping and slinging between wellheads.
Maintenance in all is pretty good and ADA does a lot of third party work, including overhauls for Gulf and Aramco as their engineering facility is excellent.
Managament in all is poor to lousy and as for the pay - the whole of the Middle East on the helicopter front is full of promises of the huge (up to 35%) rises that are impending as a ploy to keep us here, but so far none of the operators has been the first to break the lousy pay mold. It depends a bit on where you live, as most of the currencies are linked to the $US, so how that currency is likely to vary compared with your own is also a factor. In ADA, for instance, they may quote a rate in $US, but you'll actually have to open a local bank account and what you then do with the money is your responsibility.
Quite a few of us would like to be able to do the same as SASless, but it's not very many who can find good jobs in their own countries if they have spent many years overseas. The other problem out here is that there seem to be quite a lot of pilots who need to 'get a life'. The companies are actually short of crews, but there are always guys who have nothing better to do than volunteer for continual 'workovers' and as long as that happens there's no incentive for the companies to pay extra to recruit new crews.
However, if you're happy with the salary, Gulf is not a bad place to spend a few years in the sunshine.
In most of the countries booze is available if you want it and the cities and shopping facilities are good/excellent.
Housing standards vary tremendously. Gulf has very good accommodation but you'll need to buy a car as they don't provide transport to work for long. ADA has accommodation that's a health hazard, but at least there's a free bus service to work.
The flying is mostly standard boring offshore stuff, with Gulf mostly doing straight out and back crew changes and ADA doing a mixture of crew changes, wellhead hopping and slinging between wellheads.
Maintenance in all is pretty good and ADA does a lot of third party work, including overhauls for Gulf and Aramco as their engineering facility is excellent.
Managament in all is poor to lousy and as for the pay - the whole of the Middle East on the helicopter front is full of promises of the huge (up to 35%) rises that are impending as a ploy to keep us here, but so far none of the operators has been the first to break the lousy pay mold. It depends a bit on where you live, as most of the currencies are linked to the $US, so how that currency is likely to vary compared with your own is also a factor. In ADA, for instance, they may quote a rate in $US, but you'll actually have to open a local bank account and what you then do with the money is your responsibility.
Quite a few of us would like to be able to do the same as SASless, but it's not very many who can find good jobs in their own countries if they have spent many years overseas. The other problem out here is that there seem to be quite a lot of pilots who need to 'get a life'. The companies are actually short of crews, but there are always guys who have nothing better to do than volunteer for continual 'workovers' and as long as that happens there's no incentive for the companies to pay extra to recruit new crews.
However, if you're happy with the salary, Gulf is not a bad place to spend a few years in the sunshine.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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You could give Chris Brown or Barry Whitmore a call at Aerogulf Services Co....they're in the Dubai phone book (+9712 220157) ?? Pls check the number I'm not sure if I've remembered correctly.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Abu Dhabi Aviation
Could anyone please confirm hearing any rumors that they are now hiring pilots for the Gulf?
The rumor is rampant here with nothing or no one to confirm it.
The rumor is rampant here with nothing or no one to confirm it.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Are you joking! They're always recruiting 
As long as you have Bell 212/412 on your licence you'll find something will come up in a few months. It also helps if you know somebody here to put in a word on your behalf.
As long as you have Bell 212/412 on your licence you'll find something will come up in a few months. It also helps if you know somebody here to put in a word on your behalf.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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alrighty then, who has a number for Cal, nothing on the web site only a company e-mail address, and we all know were they end up.
someone got a number or e-mail for Cal himself?
someone got a number or e-mail for Cal himself?
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Middle East
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To Flungdung. Yeah you are 100% right there, on ADA's staff they do have a top class bunch of pilots. Its too bad that the company doesnt treat them as such. ie the accomodation is shocking and the pay is among the lower end of the world wide scale now. Added to the fact that a large amount of Indians run the administration, which Ive heard described as being from " the mumbai school of polite obstruction" I know a few of their more experienced drivers are now just holding in by the skin of their teeth, awaiting a long overdue payrise. Im not sure if it will be forthcoming soon, however, as was passed to me by a number of people who work for them. This aside, the line pilots I know there are both skilled operators, and decent guys. But is that enough to join a company that doesnt pay well or look after its people in a professional fashion?
Join Date: Jan 2003
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So do we have a definative answere yet? Are they recruiting and is it because they are going to a two pilot opertaion.
I've emailed ADAviation a few times know and not one reply!!
I've emailed ADAviation a few times know and not one reply!!
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Yes, ADA is always recruiting, but not due to going 2 pilot, that is on the never never. They are going to JAR OPS and need extra staff for that coupled with a high pilot turnover. 32 odd left in last 2 years. Normally they ask for 212 or 412 time. And a lot of recruits are from canada, with other nationalities included. ie you dont have to have a canadian passport to have increased opportuniy. I would like to be able to refute the downside comments on the company, but they are all true.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Low time Low money in the Gulf
Rumoured that Abu Dhabi have to go to two pilot operation and will be looking for 24 of you guys to get out there under the flack and work for peanuts (or coconuts) to build your hours to join us guys who work for cashews
