Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

Does any of you Ppruners currently work or has worked in the past for ADA?
If yes, could you give me details as to their work and pay schedule as well as any other relevant info like accomodation etc...
Thanks

Isn't there a very long thread about life in the Middle East? Should all be in there.

Phil

Hi Phil,

how can I find this thread?

Use the 'search' function.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=156157


:ok:

Mmmmmmm .........

Well the answers are easy enough eh chaps .....

1. ADA's primary work is supporting the AbuDhabi offshore oil industry with BH412/212 Helicopters and soon AW139.

2. Work schedule is a mix of 56/28 or 42/42 days on/off depending how much you argue.

3. Pay .... not enough!

4. Accomodation .... CRAP!

5. Fellow pilots/Engineers ..... F*****G EXCELLENT (by and large).

6. Management ....??????????? :ugh: :mad:

Cheers :E

ADA
 

ChopperGuy,

Check your PMs.

Advice?
 

Anyone currently working for ADA (seismic only) could advise life/conditions at the jobsite(s)

And currently how long to get checked out in Abu Dhabi before leaving for jobsite. What I gather from various sources, it seems the downside is being in Abu Dhabi but improves out in the field...

Pm or email if appropriate.....Appreciate some help on this. Thanks!

...Rog

Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

I am considering working for Abu Dhabi Aviation but am worried about all the bad press on the company.
What is it really like there?:uhoh:

I'd say the only real problem is the accommodation, but you spend some nights offshore anyway (it's really bad when a rig is better than your home!) :)

You probably won't see the real top management anyway, although ADACEO fhas been know to frequent this forum ;)

I'd say go for it, and look on the bright side - it's better than a lot of other companies out there! And the people you will be working with will make up for a lot.

But I thought a lot of their people were heading in your direction?

phil

Abu Dhabi Aviation
 

I have recently sent an application to ADA (online) and was doing some research when I came upon this forum. What is it like being employed by ADA? I have the email blocker turned off so you can email me direct if anyone can help

Thanks

Mmmmm ......

If you have read through this thread you will have gotten the gist of life in the Gulf.....

The ADA management attitude is very USA .... ie you are a resource to be used.

Do not expect too much and you will not be disappointed.

Do know your abilities .... so many come out thinking the job is easy (it certainly looks easy when you watch the way the senior pilots go about their tasks but they know all the tricks/traps).

"Big Heads" and "Prima Donna's" should not bother ... as you will not get though the indoctrination program .... you need to be level headed have a mature outlook and good skills and be able to play on a team.

You MUST be easily fluent in English to Level 4 but preferably Level 6 (Expert).

You must have plenty of Multi-Engine Helo time preferably in Bell 412 (or AW139).

You MUST have an Un-restricted ATPLH with reasonable IF experience (not just a rating obtained in an R22 trainer???).

Yes there is a turnover of pilots and engineers but there is also a lot of guys with in excess of 10yrs service there (and a few with 20+yrs of service).

The major enjoyment with working at ADA is the chance to work with a really good bunch of characters from whom you can learn quite a bit.

You make of it what you can ...... Pay is good!


:ok:

Despite its past reputation ADA has improved over the years from what I have seen. Professionalism was pretty poor but there's a wind of change blowing in the company with regard to that and at last everyone does recurrent simulator training at the Emirates/CAE facility up the road in Dubai.
The flying is the usual boring offshore stuff and anyone who's in Eket will find it little different from there, except it's hotter in the summer and there's a bit more underslung work. Accommodation is improving and at least we have our own bars and don't need to drink with the client. It's possible to go to the cinema or ice-skating our fishing and many other activities on days off. Transport to work doesn't involve going in armed convoys or getting ambushed and shot! There are many good supermarkets in town to get decent meals and internet and telephone connections are good (although Etisalat does censor many gambling and porn sites). You can even make mobile phone calls from offshore, though you'll need a mobile without a camera as they're paranoid about photos being taken offshore :ugh:
The pay isn't as good as Nigeria, but then there's far less stress and danger here too :). However, the dirham is linked to the $ and with the strength of that currency at the moment, depending where you live, the pay is really not bad. The company management is rubbish, but again, if you can cope with A$$lick in Nigeria it's certainly no worse :}. For anyone having strong reservations about staying in Nigeria after the Eket ambush last month, all I can say is, come on over - it's not so bad and a pretty good bunch of guys to work with. There's a shortage of qualified engineers, but again after what happened in Eket maybe that'll change too?
Friends still in Nigeria tell me that there are some changes happening soon and A$$lick will probably be gone in 6 months or so with Oni returning. I know that'll be 6 months too late for many, so why not come over here and have a look. You'll have nothing to lose as there will always be shortages in Nigeria and you can always go back if you don't like it here.

ADA
 

Chopperguy
I think the comments are all valid, but I would be very careful - read twice before you sign. Paco's comments about the management are absolutely spot on. Been there, done that :suspect:

I thought the accommodation was all sorted??? Did I not hear that they built new digs and bulldozed the vans?

Outwest ....

You heard WRONG!

New accommodation is in the process of being constructed but not yet completed ..... and though old, the vans are still preferred by the old hands who value the social network they foster.

New camp (in the middle of nowhere) will have to prove itself and may in fact prove to be very inconvenient!

Time will tell.

:E

Can anyone shed any light on the Dash-8 side of the operation there? I appreciate any info!

Previous experience in the ME.
3500hrs TT

Thanks!

ADA
 

The new pay rates are out for ADA $616 per day for A cat captains on a 6 and 6 rotation. The new accommodation is very nice indeed. Khalifa B and A are tops and the new ones at Madinat Zayed are very nice too.:ok:

So which is it?

This is just like our pilot meetings......put more than one pilot in a room and try and get them to agree to something :ugh:

Mmmmm ....

Outwest ....

If you are so knowledgeable about "our Pilot meetings" how come you are not up to speed with the truth about the accommodations ....

The Khalifa A & B villas mentioned are for "overflow" at the moment ... OR used to accommodate the SAR contract lads.

The NEW camp is still no where near habitable yet.

New "Pay rates" seem to be in force BUT also include (?) end of service benefit so may not be the great raise some were expecting.

In order to qualify for the $616/day particular specific qualifications and experience are required! .... limited slots available!

Don't expect too much ... you won't then be disappointed :eek:

:(

I am glad you quoted me correctly and that I did say "our" and not "your".

"our" meaning where I am working now, which is nowhere near ADA.........hence the questions and clarifications :ugh:

Anyway, thanks for the update, I'm sure all concerned appreciate it.

The accommodation in Abu Dhabi is worse than that in Eket - at the moment. However, here it's much easier to do your own cooking if you wish and with food bought from a decent supermarket at reasonable prices.. We have several bars on the camp where we can relax and we can travel out into town for other social life. This will undoubtedly be more difficult when the new camp is built, though the accommodation will be much nicer. More people will probably buy cars - they're relatively cheap out here, getting credit is easy and you can split the cost with your back to back. When on night standby you stay at the airfield in reasonable accommodation and on most of the offshore locations the rooms are good as is the food (there are even swimming pools offshore and you can still use your mobile phone and access the internet - often from your room). There are plenty of hospitals with good standards. As I've said, the only real difference is that the pay is less - but in my opinion it's well worth it just for the better quality of life and improved personal safety (which also makes for less worry for relatives at home). It gets unbearably hot in the summer, but it's a pleasant place for wives to visit during the winter with plenty to do. Things are improving, probably as a matter of necessity, but it's worth coming out here for even a few years as a break from the slog of Eket albeit with a management which is just as unsympathetic.

Thank you very much Bristowburnout, now that is an informative, factual post.

Is there any compensation if you choose to live in Abu Dhabi. I.E. will ADA pay anything towards housing?

Copilots
 

For the moment they're looking for copilots only or "Captains Cat C" :}

A friend who joined ADA last year says that a Class 1 Captain there on 8/4 can now earn more than $165000 per annum. OK, there are probably not a lot of pilots on that (I don't know what their requirements are to get classified as Class 1) but it's good money and something worth aspiring to.

Looking to go to the middle east
 

Quote from ExPatron, "For the moment they're looking for copilots only or "Captains Cat C"

Friend of mine is supposed to go to ADA in the spring. He used to work in Saudi and has contacts at ADA. I am wanting to follow him after he gets on. What exactly are they requiring for co-pilot jobs? I have 1000 hours of offshore time in U.S. and currently fly a measly 100 hours a year in EMS so my time hasn't built much the last 5 years of doing that. I have about 2500 hours mostly turbine. Really want to work in Oil and Gas again but not for what they pay in the U.S. and want to work internationally anyway. I haven't applied yet as I am waiting till he gets on but don't want to miss out if they need co-pilots now and I meet thier qualifications.

So do I have a shot or what?

You have a shot indeed
 

Hey Elvis, the requirements are 1000 hrs RW minimum, offshore and turbine time will help a lot, payment is around 300 bucks per day, PM for more info,
Cheers

Expatron

I put my app in a few days ago I am dual rated ATP do you know if they allow you to fly both. I have 9600 total 8000 heli 2000 multi 5500 turbine. I dont know if this is attractive for this company.

Thanks for any info

New pay raise
 

The new pay raise is in as promised...oh accept for you SAR guys. Bait and switch for you. vfr440 is spot on. Get everything in writing!:mad:

Check your messages
 

ExPatron PM sent.

$?
 

Bandit19 - Do you know what the new pay rate is for copilots?

Hey Phil
 

How's things at AeroGulf? With the Canadian $ taking a nose dive back to where it historically sits, CHC Global will I think lose a few of us who live in the States. We get no breaks on taxes like Canada and the EU countries.
Cheers

Lose a few??? Last I heard CHC had let go of over 75 people in the last 2 weeks. Sounds like CHC is losing its foothold. Rumour has it too, they may not have anymore Nigeria contracts and now they may lose the Thailand gigs. Not very prosperous times.

Pay and benefits
 

Hi to all my friends in ADA.

Please fellows, with the comments about pay to $616 per day, but only if you qualify, and of course the fact that the housing is still pretty much the lowest standard in the industry, then could someone explain why all of a sudden things look so grand in Abu Dhabi?

Is there a real sick leave benefits clause as yet? What about a descent death in service agreement? I take it Loss of License is still a non starter.... The gratuity deal for 6 and 6 was argued to the pilots detriment many years ago by the jingili mafia, so I guess will not have changed.

I like many argue our workover rate.... but at least for most we have the above benefits on top of it, plus an annual salary, not a daily rate.
As such, despite the fact ADA are not in West Africa or indeed Nigeria, why the sound of bells ringing? (I accept the USD situation, but hey for most expats that is the same worldwide excepting CHC international.).

Yes we all accept that it is lovely to have a large town nearby with good supermarkets. And, I may be wrong, hence would like to be corrected, I believe more has changed in other places than in ADA. So why the sudden buzz? Safe flying to all!

rileyemi

Aerogulf were fine last time I was there just before Xmas - was helping out for a couple of weeks while some training was going on, and catching up on the gossip. The dirham is definitely better against the dollar and pound and makes it a little more worth it.

Could do with being back in the warm right now! :)

Phil

Is the rumor true that ADA has had their entire fleet of 212s and 412s grounded by the GCAA due to regulatory non-compliance since 15 January??? Word is that only 2 or 3 139s are operating to carry the load!!??

Maybe their inspector got fed up with them thinking that handshakes would fix everything. I know the Chief Inspector was very concerned that ICAO requirements were to be strictly observed.


Phil

Mmmmm ....

"Is the rumor true that ADA has had their entire fleet of 212s and 412s grounded by the GCAA due to regulatory non-compliance"



I know notttthhhhhhink! (aka "The Schultz Defence) :eek:



:E

If they continue to treat the engineers like ****, the rest will leave as well. When will ADA and GHC get it..... You cannot operate safely without well qualified and happy ground crew :ugh:

More power to the Falcon's bow ?????

Age limitation..???
 

I worked ADA 25 years ago,best job I have ever had.. Been flying EMS for the last 15yrs. Because of the US economy the company I have been with is being sold and 16 pilots will be looking for work... ADA used to have a 55yr old limitation, I just turned 61 and am looking for the last big adventure..Is George Tucker still there? ThankZ

Age Limitation
 

Now the limitation is 59 for new pilots and 65 for pilots already hired,
Cheers