Abu Dhabi Aviation
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: USA
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Never having worked overseas in the civilian world I didn't really have much to go on. I did asked about travel to and from work and different options and other things that came to mind like training. I don't think an interviewer would have told me the bad things if they want me to join them would they? I wasn't even thinking of working overseas until I got the email to go interview. I interviewed and then came here and have been reading lots of information about the area.
I've been reading every thread and every post since 2001 a few months after 9/11 and it's interesting to see how things have evolved. This brought up questions that I hadn't thought of since wifi is everywhere here in the USA as are the other things I was asking about. Trust me if I had found anything about it I wouldn't have posted the questions. I've been a member of this forum for a few years now and I'm not the type to ask without doing a complete search. I hate it when someone pops up and asks a question that was just answered 2 pages back because he was too lazy to read the entire thread from the beginning and wanted instant gratification.
I'm looking for someone who is currently working there who has CURRENT knowledge. Things change in just a year. In just one year I went from flying a nice EMS configured SPIFR MD902, living 7 days at home then 7 days in a brand new company furnished apartment with my own room, wifi, Sat TV, utilities all paid for by the company, to being here looking for info on living conditions in UAE and living in Spain on my off time. BTW finding a honey to live with in UAE did cross my mind and is on my "to do" list, already found one in Spain just in case she's needed.
Anyone who knows what today's conditions are would be very helpful. Thanks.
I've been reading every thread and every post since 2001 a few months after 9/11 and it's interesting to see how things have evolved. This brought up questions that I hadn't thought of since wifi is everywhere here in the USA as are the other things I was asking about. Trust me if I had found anything about it I wouldn't have posted the questions. I've been a member of this forum for a few years now and I'm not the type to ask without doing a complete search. I hate it when someone pops up and asks a question that was just answered 2 pages back because he was too lazy to read the entire thread from the beginning and wanted instant gratification.
I'm looking for someone who is currently working there who has CURRENT knowledge. Things change in just a year. In just one year I went from flying a nice EMS configured SPIFR MD902, living 7 days at home then 7 days in a brand new company furnished apartment with my own room, wifi, Sat TV, utilities all paid for by the company, to being here looking for info on living conditions in UAE and living in Spain on my off time. BTW finding a honey to live with in UAE did cross my mind and is on my "to do" list, already found one in Spain just in case she's needed.
Anyone who knows what today's conditions are would be very helpful. Thanks.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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The new hires are staying in Abu Dhabi and current ADA pilots are going to the EMS contract first. After indoc and a couple of hitches in Abu Dhabi then there will be rotation so I guess I still need the info.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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HI
with all do respect. just some thoughts
I think its a little strange how some respond to questions that pops up at this forum. Because thats what it is.
I believe, the best would be to respond in a positive way, instead of using time and energy explaining how bad someone else`s question is.
I also read throug a complete thread in order to find what I am seeking.
sometimes i find it and sometimes I dont. And lots of times a find stuff that arent worth reading.
I would think, if the question applies, answer it and do it properly and with respect to the person who is asking, if not, just walk away. Its as simple as that.
alltough we all know the saying, there are no stupid questions, only bad answers.
good weekend from Greenland
with all do respect. just some thoughts
I think its a little strange how some respond to questions that pops up at this forum. Because thats what it is.
I believe, the best would be to respond in a positive way, instead of using time and energy explaining how bad someone else`s question is.
I also read throug a complete thread in order to find what I am seeking.
sometimes i find it and sometimes I dont. And lots of times a find stuff that arent worth reading.
I would think, if the question applies, answer it and do it properly and with respect to the person who is asking, if not, just walk away. Its as simple as that.
alltough we all know the saying, there are no stupid questions, only bad answers.
good weekend from Greenland
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Pilot135pd
Hello Pilot135pd
Some good questions and some not so good answers from some people
here are the GPS co-ordinates for tha ADA camp for Google earth
N 24°24'33.89" E 54°28'59.61" and zoom down to 500 feet you will see the full extent of the camp..
Its right next to the 3rd biggest Mosque in the world, so good luck on sleeping
Only about half the pilots are in that camp,,the rest are scattered around different other apartments and villa's around Abu Dhabi......
you will have to get your own internet connect ( you pay for it) in the camp and other villas..Unless you get some guy to share his connection,,
internet available at the main ada operations line office but only dial up..
you will get NOTHING for free from ada...apart from housing....
Would be very surprised if ADA puts new guys in the Zakim field and send experienced Zakim field pilots to KSA
Good luck on the new job Inshialla
Some good questions and some not so good answers from some people
here are the GPS co-ordinates for tha ADA camp for Google earth
N 24°24'33.89" E 54°28'59.61" and zoom down to 500 feet you will see the full extent of the camp..
Its right next to the 3rd biggest Mosque in the world, so good luck on sleeping
Only about half the pilots are in that camp,,the rest are scattered around different other apartments and villa's around Abu Dhabi......
you will have to get your own internet connect ( you pay for it) in the camp and other villas..Unless you get some guy to share his connection,,
internet available at the main ada operations line office but only dial up..
you will get NOTHING for free from ada...apart from housing....
Would be very surprised if ADA puts new guys in the Zakim field and send experienced Zakim field pilots to KSA
Good luck on the new job Inshialla
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Thank you very much. I interviewed and sent in my application. Now waiting for their packet to fill out required paperwork. I understand they don't officially offer a job until they have everything back and the local background investigation is passed so until then I don't have a job yet.
I just don't like leaving everything for the last minute so I'm researching as much as I can so there are less surprises.
I just don't like leaving everything for the last minute so I'm researching as much as I can so there are less surprises.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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.....Would be very surprised if ADA puts new guys in the Zakim field and send experienced Zakim field pilots to KSA
ADA doesn't operate on the Zakum field anymore that's FAS territory and 80% of the pilots there are new guys.
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Mmmmmm ... ...
Reefdog o'l darlin ... your a mite out of touch ....
Old hands are going to Saudi 'cos they know the conditions and what to expect ... perhaps they will only start the contract perhaps they will stay.
ADA's obligation in Zakum is no longer what it used to be .... emphasis is now on better things elsewhere ... and nobody is complaining about that ... Umm Shaif, Mubarraz and Bunduq ops now are used to get 'new chums' sorted and up to speed ... and then its up to an individuals abilities, personality etc etc to see what and where they end up!
The beloved (?) camp is on the way out .... BUT for some it will be sorely missed ... yes it has its problems but it also has many social advantages ... it all depends on who you are, what you expect and all of that .... the new setup may well be a better or worse ... time will tell ....
Certainly the Grand Mosque does not pose any more noise issues than would be normally be associated with normal life in an Islamic country ...
As 'Griffo' says .... those interested will get to fly with some really good blokes .....
Give it a try .....
Reefdog o'l darlin ... your a mite out of touch ....
Old hands are going to Saudi 'cos they know the conditions and what to expect ... perhaps they will only start the contract perhaps they will stay.
ADA's obligation in Zakum is no longer what it used to be .... emphasis is now on better things elsewhere ... and nobody is complaining about that ... Umm Shaif, Mubarraz and Bunduq ops now are used to get 'new chums' sorted and up to speed ... and then its up to an individuals abilities, personality etc etc to see what and where they end up!
The beloved (?) camp is on the way out .... BUT for some it will be sorely missed ... yes it has its problems but it also has many social advantages ... it all depends on who you are, what you expect and all of that .... the new setup may well be a better or worse ... time will tell ....
Certainly the Grand Mosque does not pose any more noise issues than would be normally be associated with normal life in an Islamic country ...
As 'Griffo' says .... those interested will get to fly with some really good blokes .....
Give it a try .....
Join Date: Oct 2007
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ADA
The camp can be party central from what I understand, I know that the SAR guys have 4 villas in khalifa (A) which are real good, Internet is at individual expense most of the guys share the costs.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Pilot135pd
As an SAR pilot you would be housed in a shared villa in Kalifa A, as Freestream has said. I am currently offshore and not SAR and live in Kalifa B, again in a shared 5 bedroom villa, the internet we purchase ourselves and we are paying approx $24 USD a month each. In Kalifa B there are 6 villas housing fixed wing pilots, offshore heli pilots and engineers, ADA also has villas in Musafa, the old camp is pretty much as you have heard others describe, there is a new camp under construction with about 50 villas, although rumour has it that ADA will never occupy this site and it will be leased to the new university under construction nearby.
ADA does provide transportation to and from work so you don't need to buy a car although I did, it's nice to have the freedom to go to the gym, downtown or the grocery store at my convenience and not have to wait for the company bus, gym memberships are very expensive here, I think the officer's club gym is about 6000 Dhrs, that's $1600 per year, the company will give you a little towards that, I think they will pay 2000 Dhrs but I'm not certain.
All in all ADA is a pretty good place to work and there's a great bunch of pilots, it's not perfect but where is? If you need any more info please send me a PM.
Good luck.
As an SAR pilot you would be housed in a shared villa in Kalifa A, as Freestream has said. I am currently offshore and not SAR and live in Kalifa B, again in a shared 5 bedroom villa, the internet we purchase ourselves and we are paying approx $24 USD a month each. In Kalifa B there are 6 villas housing fixed wing pilots, offshore heli pilots and engineers, ADA also has villas in Musafa, the old camp is pretty much as you have heard others describe, there is a new camp under construction with about 50 villas, although rumour has it that ADA will never occupy this site and it will be leased to the new university under construction nearby.
ADA does provide transportation to and from work so you don't need to buy a car although I did, it's nice to have the freedom to go to the gym, downtown or the grocery store at my convenience and not have to wait for the company bus, gym memberships are very expensive here, I think the officer's club gym is about 6000 Dhrs, that's $1600 per year, the company will give you a little towards that, I think they will pay 2000 Dhrs but I'm not certain.
All in all ADA is a pretty good place to work and there's a great bunch of pilots, it's not perfect but where is? If you need any more info please send me a PM.
Good luck.
Join Date: May 2010
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the truth about ADA
For anyone wondering about pay rates etc. at ADA:
I had been searching and emailing questions about ADA for quite some time (like for the last two years..), and it was not until today that I finally have the answer - so I will make it easy for anyone in my position, currently looking at the possibility of working there:
$278.25/onsite day (after a 4 month probation where you only get $210)
Based on TT and experience, I should have been offered a Pilot position (and was told this initially), but this rate is for a co-pilot, and is what I was offered today.
As someone had stated previously in this thread, this pay rate is a HUGE step-back for anyone who has been flying for any length of time!!!!
So, the rumours of ADA letting the high-time, experienced, and well paid pilots out to pasture - and then hiring lower time guys (I have 3000 hours) or those looking to get into the off-shore business for the first time, ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
If you are willing to work for this, you can take the offer of employment that I received and insert your name instead.
Thought there might be a few folks out there who would like this tidbit of info...I wish somone had told me the truth about ADA's pay a long time ago, it would have saved me an ulcer and a lot of frustration (and I haven't even mentioned how they told me that I was hired last year, only to go through all the paperwork, told I was accepted for a position, and then no official offer - as per the earlier threads, DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL IT'S ON PAPER, AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN ABU DHABI)
Life is good where I'm at all of a sudden.
I had been searching and emailing questions about ADA for quite some time (like for the last two years..), and it was not until today that I finally have the answer - so I will make it easy for anyone in my position, currently looking at the possibility of working there:
$278.25/onsite day (after a 4 month probation where you only get $210)
Based on TT and experience, I should have been offered a Pilot position (and was told this initially), but this rate is for a co-pilot, and is what I was offered today.
As someone had stated previously in this thread, this pay rate is a HUGE step-back for anyone who has been flying for any length of time!!!!
So, the rumours of ADA letting the high-time, experienced, and well paid pilots out to pasture - and then hiring lower time guys (I have 3000 hours) or those looking to get into the off-shore business for the first time, ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
If you are willing to work for this, you can take the offer of employment that I received and insert your name instead.
Thought there might be a few folks out there who would like this tidbit of info...I wish somone had told me the truth about ADA's pay a long time ago, it would have saved me an ulcer and a lot of frustration (and I haven't even mentioned how they told me that I was hired last year, only to go through all the paperwork, told I was accepted for a position, and then no official offer - as per the earlier threads, DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL IT'S ON PAPER, AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN ABU DHABI)
Life is good where I'm at all of a sudden.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Please help me understand this since I just received the application package this morning and I just interviewed less than 2 weeks ago. I'm also experienced (more than 3000 hrs) and taking a pay cut but I see it as the price to pay for the experience in international flying, O&G. and the BH412. I hope that with my previous experience I'll be moving quickly into EMS with them which pays a little more too. I'm very interested in flying for them so I really want to understand the entire process.
You say : they told me that I was hired last year, only to go through all the paperwork, told I was accepted for a position, and then no official offer
Could you give me approximate dates? Maybe just month and year since it all seems so far apart:
When did you interview with them ?
When did they tell you you were hired?
When did you fill out all the paperwork for the background investigation and UAE aeromedical stuff?
You got a job offer from them today May 31, 2010 ?
Thanks!
You say : they told me that I was hired last year, only to go through all the paperwork, told I was accepted for a position, and then no official offer
Could you give me approximate dates? Maybe just month and year since it all seems so far apart:
When did you interview with them ?
When did they tell you you were hired?
When did you fill out all the paperwork for the background investigation and UAE aeromedical stuff?
You got a job offer from them today May 31, 2010 ?
Thanks!
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Mmm ....
helo_aviator .... your quote ...
.... So, the rumours of ADA letting the high-time, experienced, and well paid pilots out to pasture - and then hiring lower time guys (I have 3000 hours) or those looking to get into the off-shore business for the first time, ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE. ....
... IS AN ABSOLUTE LOAD OF BOLLOCKS .....
If you ever get here and find yourself in one of their aircraft .... have a look at the bloke sharing the cockpit he will most likely be a grey haired veteran with perhaps 20+ thousand hours logged ... YES he may be a 'Silverback' but ADA won't like to see him go UNTIL he is forced to retire by regulations.
ADA may lose people slowly due to retirements and this will get worse 'cos now is the time the Viet Vets are 'timexing' this is not as you infer an ADA plan to get rid of the 'senior' guys just because they are high paid!
What ADA IS doing is training to cope with attrition ......
Come out here prove yourself ..... till then keep to the facts ....
helo_aviator .... your quote ...
.... So, the rumours of ADA letting the high-time, experienced, and well paid pilots out to pasture - and then hiring lower time guys (I have 3000 hours) or those looking to get into the off-shore business for the first time, ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE. ....
... IS AN ABSOLUTE LOAD OF BOLLOCKS .....
If you ever get here and find yourself in one of their aircraft .... have a look at the bloke sharing the cockpit he will most likely be a grey haired veteran with perhaps 20+ thousand hours logged ... YES he may be a 'Silverback' but ADA won't like to see him go UNTIL he is forced to retire by regulations.
ADA may lose people slowly due to retirements and this will get worse 'cos now is the time the Viet Vets are 'timexing' this is not as you infer an ADA plan to get rid of the 'senior' guys just because they are high paid!
What ADA IS doing is training to cope with attrition ......
Come out here prove yourself ..... till then keep to the facts ....
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This is his first post here although he's been emailing many people during the last 2 years and the dates he mentions don't sound right either so I asked him but he hasn't replied yet.
I get the feeling he's the same guy who bashes every company on the dark side that has come over here now to try to stir things up. I may be wrong and if I am I'll apologize but up to now that's the gut feeling I'm getting.
I get the feeling he's the same guy who bashes every company on the dark side that has come over here now to try to stir things up. I may be wrong and if I am I'll apologize but up to now that's the gut feeling I'm getting.
Join Date: May 2010
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Calm down...
Well then, as my father used to say, "please wind your necks in".
I apologise for assumption that the daily rates have been cut down extensively because the experienced guys are getting forced out.
However, it amazes me that I had been told to expect closer to $600/day, and then a year later be told that it would be less then half that.
I did not receive a PM from anyone, so please try again, and if you provide me your phone number, I will actually call you and share the story firsthand if you wish...and not likely put another post on here again due to the previous reaction.
The real item that I wanted to pass on was the pay, as I had been trying to find out for quite some time (and I already make more then they offer, so I'm quite disappointed).
I apologise for assumption that the daily rates have been cut down extensively because the experienced guys are getting forced out.
However, it amazes me that I had been told to expect closer to $600/day, and then a year later be told that it would be less then half that.
I did not receive a PM from anyone, so please try again, and if you provide me your phone number, I will actually call you and share the story firsthand if you wish...and not likely put another post on here again due to the previous reaction.
The real item that I wanted to pass on was the pay, as I had been trying to find out for quite some time (and I already make more then they offer, so I'm quite disappointed).