Single Expats in India (or other places)
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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Single Expats in India (or other places)
I was considering a contract in India and was curious what the lifestyle would be for a single pilot there? I know India is more conservative in some ways than other parts of Asia and certainly would not want to arrive and offend anyone in a new host country. I had a friend who is there flying at the moment tell me many of the cabin crew are somewhat cold... any information would be nice.
Also, if not India, what would you recommend?
Also, if not India, what would you recommend?
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India will be great for anyone who is "open" to the third world and is willing to give it a chance. India is a lot more progressive culturally in terms to the pop culture. Western stuff is quite popular. English is widely spoken and you can get almost anything that you could get in North America. Be prepared for the mass of humanity (you will notice this as you leave the terminal), traffic, pollution, poverty etc etc. After a while you will get used to it.
If you are single you should have a pretty good time. As far as the F/A's being cold. Hmm Could be a personality thing (isolated) or perhaps they have been told to behave a certain way with the pilots. Maybe a lot of contract guys have done some "touch & go's"
Remember, the F/A's in India vs North America--very different attitude. First off, in India and in Asia you are in a very elite category as a Capt/Pilot. You get treated very differently than in NA. You are always Capt. The F/A's jobs are very sought after and most gals are college graduates etc. However the average F/A makes between $500-1000/month tops. Whereas an average Capt makes $10,000-$15,000 per month. India is very class conscious and so you can get the picture. A F/A would be quite lucky to "bag" a pilot.
Indian girls can be quite attractive. But just like anywhere else you cant put them all in one basket. Some F/A's are from very good families and wealthy, just doing the F/A thing for adventure and travel. Kingfisher, Jet etc have some real hotties, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Good luck. I think India might not be too bad.
If you are single you should have a pretty good time. As far as the F/A's being cold. Hmm Could be a personality thing (isolated) or perhaps they have been told to behave a certain way with the pilots. Maybe a lot of contract guys have done some "touch & go's"
Remember, the F/A's in India vs North America--very different attitude. First off, in India and in Asia you are in a very elite category as a Capt/Pilot. You get treated very differently than in NA. You are always Capt. The F/A's jobs are very sought after and most gals are college graduates etc. However the average F/A makes between $500-1000/month tops. Whereas an average Capt makes $10,000-$15,000 per month. India is very class conscious and so you can get the picture. A F/A would be quite lucky to "bag" a pilot.
Indian girls can be quite attractive. But just like anywhere else you cant put them all in one basket. Some F/A's are from very good families and wealthy, just doing the F/A thing for adventure and travel. Kingfisher, Jet etc have some real hotties, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Good luck. I think India might not be too bad.
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CC,
In reality mate you will spend most of your time in whichever hotel they (the company) have placed you - on your lonesome!
I'm doing a couple of trips per month to Mumbai at the moment, I notice the same contractors without much to do on every trip (somewhat generalizing).
In my experience of Mumbai, it's a very inaccessible city to just go out and grab a coffee or find a nice bar to sip a drink (and meet people). Unlike Cape Town, Vancouver or Rio etc. One needs to battle through endless traffic first of all and there is no getting around the cultural differences of etiquette.
I get the impression that people do it just for the money.
I would suggest going there on a short holiday before signing a contract - you may in fact totally disagree with what I've said and love it!
L.
In reality mate you will spend most of your time in whichever hotel they (the company) have placed you - on your lonesome!
I'm doing a couple of trips per month to Mumbai at the moment, I notice the same contractors without much to do on every trip (somewhat generalizing).
In my experience of Mumbai, it's a very inaccessible city to just go out and grab a coffee or find a nice bar to sip a drink (and meet people). Unlike Cape Town, Vancouver or Rio etc. One needs to battle through endless traffic first of all and there is no getting around the cultural differences of etiquette.
I get the impression that people do it just for the money.
I would suggest going there on a short holiday before signing a contract - you may in fact totally disagree with what I've said and love it!
L.
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Honestly, as an Indian living in the US, there is definately a difference in what constitutes as "etiquette". Here in the US, if I walk past someone and smile, they'll smile back. If I do that in India, they'll probably just walk past me .. In fact, once I was smiling at someone walking past me in India, and the person was like "Are you smiling at me?"! I think they look at you with suspicion if you smile since its not the norm. Infact, I hardly smiled at someone who walked past me before coming to the US either. It was not because I did not want to be polite, but its probably because it was not the norm back home! This is a gross generalization ...
Ofcourse, that isnt to say that the US is exempt.. There some things that US lacks in etiquette ( from an Indian perspective ) but thats all part of the culture so can't do anythin about it.. Just need to adapt!
I don't think you will should have a problem adapting if you go with an open mind..
Ofcourse, that isnt to say that the US is exempt.. There some things that US lacks in etiquette ( from an Indian perspective ) but thats all part of the culture so can't do anythin about it.. Just need to adapt!
I don't think you will should have a problem adapting if you go with an open mind..
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Thank you !!
Great inputs, exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I appreciate your time. I think the suggestion for taking a holiday is one I will start looking into. Fly Safe..
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You guys seriously make me laugh...
All i can suggest is go and do some precision approaches before going to india.. cos i m sure most of you will get to Decision and be told go around a few times!
Jimmy... make up ur mind... u wanna eat noodles or pick up chicks... chicks dont want noodle eating subway sleeping wannabie pilots...
All i can suggest is go and do some precision approaches before going to india.. cos i m sure most of you will get to Decision and be told go around a few times!
Jimmy... make up ur mind... u wanna eat noodles or pick up chicks... chicks dont want noodle eating subway sleeping wannabie pilots...
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Ofcourse we l do a precision approach before going to India,a good pilot is always keeping up the skills!
I dont disagree with u,we might have to go around a couple of times,well thats a part of life,it will improve our technique and make us shoot a better approach the next time!
keep up the noodles Jim,techinique is the secret of the game,it doesnt matter what u eat!
I dont disagree with u,we might have to go around a couple of times,well thats a part of life,it will improve our technique and make us shoot a better approach the next time!
keep up the noodles Jim,techinique is the secret of the game,it doesnt matter what u eat!
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Children children, kids these days...........................
Pilots are pilots and Pu$$y is probably the most talked about subject in the cockpit even if the Captain is a woman
India is a contradiction of life, dreams and cultures. Such immense wealth, such abject poverty. It is the only place I have seen a turd ejected horizontally into a wall or stepped over a dead body on the way to the most luxurious brothel I have ever seen. Steak is a no go in general and if you see it on the menu it is usually buffalo as cows are sacred. Again such a contradiction. A devout Hindu would rather starve than eat a cow, and there are so many cows around. India has tremendous beauty especially in the north, the lake in Srinagar Kashmir and the back waters of Cochin and Calicut in the south. Man the house boats the on board cook & waiter the mysterious Indian FA babe dressed to kill and a gin tonic or kingfisher in hand. Wonderful I reckon you have to love it. But alas it is not for me long term I have visited many times both on night stops and on holidays. There are things I love and things I hate but alas I think I will stay just where I am.
Have fun in India to those that venture there and do tell us how you fare.
Pilots are pilots and Pu$$y is probably the most talked about subject in the cockpit even if the Captain is a woman
India is a contradiction of life, dreams and cultures. Such immense wealth, such abject poverty. It is the only place I have seen a turd ejected horizontally into a wall or stepped over a dead body on the way to the most luxurious brothel I have ever seen. Steak is a no go in general and if you see it on the menu it is usually buffalo as cows are sacred. Again such a contradiction. A devout Hindu would rather starve than eat a cow, and there are so many cows around. India has tremendous beauty especially in the north, the lake in Srinagar Kashmir and the back waters of Cochin and Calicut in the south. Man the house boats the on board cook & waiter the mysterious Indian FA babe dressed to kill and a gin tonic or kingfisher in hand. Wonderful I reckon you have to love it. But alas it is not for me long term I have visited many times both on night stops and on holidays. There are things I love and things I hate but alas I think I will stay just where I am.
Have fun in India to those that venture there and do tell us how you fare.
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The answer is easy... You wanna fly a jet? go to India and fly your bag off. If you don't like it, leave when your time is done. If your scared to live in India, stay where you are and fly turboprops. To see some of the poverty is unavoidable, but you will stay in good accomodations and have a driver to and from the airport every flight. What you do on your time off is up to you. Go out and experience the culture or lock yourself in your room. I was there for 3 months working for Jet and I loved every minute of it, wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Jet is a great company with great people working there. Go and experience it
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If you are one of those guys with low time and no jet experience then you really should not worry too much about pay etc. Just go there and get your experience. After that you can do whatever you want and be picky as to where you want to be. Here in the US, it used to be pretty hard to get a turboprop F/O job unless you had a minumum of 1500 hrs with 500 multi. Now things have changed somewhat, but you still need some time.
It seems that with Randhem etc guys are going in with less than 1,000 hrs and no real airline experience to speak of. Now, I'm not knocking the lack of experience--everyone has to start somwhere-all I am saying is don't sweat the pay etc--get your time and then you can be more picky.
It seems that with Randhem etc guys are going in with less than 1,000 hrs and no real airline experience to speak of. Now, I'm not knocking the lack of experience--everyone has to start somwhere-all I am saying is don't sweat the pay etc--get your time and then you can be more picky.
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Guys, I heard there's gonna be few nice and hot chicks on the Randhem scheme.
You might be able to shop BEFORE even getting to India!!
Good Luck.
And always remember: STAY OUT OF TREES!
You might be able to shop BEFORE even getting to India!!
Good Luck.
And always remember: STAY OUT OF TREES!
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I spent 7 years in Bombay from 1990 to 1997 went with 2 small cases and single came back with wife two kids and a shipping container. I would go back no problem. Thing with indian women of all ages you have to get past the family who will guard her against all, once past the mother treat with respect and you are home and dry.
Join your local h3 drinking club with a running problem and you will have a good time.
Join your local h3 drinking club with a running problem and you will have a good time.
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hi guys
im from montreal canada and i was considering tolook for a job in india, but what are my chances on landing one since i don't have any jet time, i only have a little over 400 hrs which includes 100 multi?
will it help if i was to to get a type rating before applying?
any help would be greatly appreciated
Franco
im from montreal canada and i was considering tolook for a job in india, but what are my chances on landing one since i don't have any jet time, i only have a little over 400 hrs which includes 100 multi?
will it help if i was to to get a type rating before applying?
any help would be greatly appreciated
Franco
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Lots of misconceptions about the food in many contributions above - much like the McDonald's simplified version of thought.
Just because a majority of Indians are Hindu, this does not mean that everyone else has to fall in line. In fact, Hindus in, for instance, Kerala, do eat beef.
You will find reasonably good local beef served in many 5-star hotels nationwide. Once you have settled in, you'll even find a good local supplier. For instance, there is a very unassuming meat shop near Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore, run by a Muslim. Excellent beef, available in various cuts, including steaks. He even ships India-wide in insulated containers chilled with dry ice.
Supposedly dry states such as Gujrat are drowining in alcohol - the prohibition is only in place to line the pockets of the local politicians.
Cheer up: in India, there's always a way around what appears to be an obstacle.
Just because a majority of Indians are Hindu, this does not mean that everyone else has to fall in line. In fact, Hindus in, for instance, Kerala, do eat beef.
You will find reasonably good local beef served in many 5-star hotels nationwide. Once you have settled in, you'll even find a good local supplier. For instance, there is a very unassuming meat shop near Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore, run by a Muslim. Excellent beef, available in various cuts, including steaks. He even ships India-wide in insulated containers chilled with dry ice.
Supposedly dry states such as Gujrat are drowining in alcohol - the prohibition is only in place to line the pockets of the local politicians.
Cheer up: in India, there's always a way around what appears to be an obstacle.
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The people in Kerala who do eat beef are the Christians not Hindhus. Ulsur Lake...brings back memories , remember siting in a rowing boat there about 15 yrs ago, stayed in Commercial st at my grandmas place during school holidays. Bangalore is an awsome place if you get to know where to go, and its the same with any place, seek and you shall find. But as the rest have said matey, go there, pull ya finger out and bite the bullet and it will treat you well at the end of the day, atleast from what i gather. Good luck!
oz_tb10
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CAPT WOOBLAH hit the turd right on the head. Just be prepared for your current standard of living to be brought down (way down) to theirs period.
As far as going to India as a low time pilot you better watch your tale because you WILL fly with pilots who have less time and possibly not even have an Inst rating or ME rating. DGCA allows this somehow.
As far as going to India as a low time pilot you better watch your tale because you WILL fly with pilots who have less time and possibly not even have an Inst rating or ME rating. DGCA allows this somehow.