Kudos To Our Compadres @ Acey...

[WalterSobchak]

After working with a big chunk of our "ASA CRJ2 Fiasco Coverage" flights in ATL today...just want to pass along a little kudos to our compadres at Acey. I know this thunderstorm mess is the norm for you guys...I had almost forgotten just how mentally exhausting summer storm season can be.

Considering the fact that my brain has been wrapped around winter ops for the last 6 months...I realized today that it's gonna be fun getting back into "Summer TSRA Mode".

How are things coming along with getting the CRJ2's back online after inspections?

 

[Pull To Guns]

I know it has been brutal in the Southeast lately. My old stomping grounds are flooded.

It's been kind of unusual here, too.

OMDB 031800Z 31017KT 9999 -RA FEW040CB 21/16 Q1014 TEMPO VRB30G45KT 1500 TSRA

OMDB 031652Z 0318/0424 33015KT 8000 SCT030
PROB30
TEMPO 0318/0412 VRB25G40KT 1500 TSRA SCT025CB
BECMG 0320/0322 06008KT
BECMG 0407/0409 30012KT
BECMG 0416/0418 09005KT

The locals are astonished and I hear flights holding overhead.

 

[WalterSobchak]

I know it has been brutal in the Southeast lately. My old stomping grounds are flooded.

It's been kind of unusual here, too.

OMDB 031800Z 31017KT 9999 -RA FEW040CB 21/16 Q1014 TEMPO VRB30G45KT 1500 TSRA

OMDB 031652Z 0318/0424 33015KT 8000 SCT030
PROB30
TEMPO 0318/0412 VRB25G40KT 1500 TSRA SCT025CB
BECMG 0320/0322 06008KT
BECMG 0407/0409 30012KT
BECMG 0416/0418 09005KT

The locals are astonished and I hear flights holding overhead.

That's my kinda WX, RP. Sounds almost tolerable!

What's the good word at Echo-Yankee?

 

[Pull To Guns]

Walt,

We had a couple of defections (you do and you clean it up!) this month so we are short staffed with no relief in sight. Heavy workload. Sound familiar?

It must be in the Dispatchers' Credo to take up the slack when, by no fault of our own, circumstances dictate a 33% increase in work without commensurate increase in pay.

But anyway, keep checking the career section for openings, there may be some near-future opportunities in the "Land of the Sand". It ain't all bad. We need some more 'Mericuns over here to do things right.

Mas Salaama,
Romeo Papa

 

[dispatchguy]

Question

Over in UAE-land, do you have true 121-style joint control, just generate and file flight plans, or something in between?

Just curious...

 

[flyjumpseat]

Romeo Papa, as you know they (EY) had their chance at me a while ago and lost. Maybe if they offered a bit more.... well... actually a lot more. :nuts:

 

[Pull To Guns]

Question

Over in UAE-land, do you have true 121-style joint control, just generate and file flight plans, or something in between?

Just curious...

No, joint control and responsibility are not practiced here. In the OpSpecs equivalent document, it says the captain can conduct a flight in "the absence of a dispatcher" after a "self briefing" and it says so right on the release.

The documents I produce are referred to as flight plans vs releases in the U. S. although the finished product looks the same except for the aforementioned disclaimer.

Dispatchers here do everything that U.S. 121 dispatchers do except flight following. We mostly crank out and file flight plans as fast as we can after reviewing WX, NOTAMS, restricted airspace and ETOPS requirements. Flight following is mainly done via ACARS or SITA by the Ops Controllers.

We have a group of pilots from all over the world and from many different cultures. Some are very receptive to my U.S. 121 style of personal pre-flight briefing and some seem annoyed at my brash "interference" in their business. The briefing room is right next to OPs so I know and interact with many flight crews personally. Some respect DX'ers and some don't.

The majority of my DX co-workers are from other countries too and are unfamiliar with the joint responsibility thing so I am kind of a "Maverick" in the office. Old habits die hard!

From where I sit, the U. S. is virtually alone with the joint control concept.

 

[Pull To Guns]

Romeo Papa, as you know they (EY) had their chance at me a while ago and lost. Maybe if they offered a bit more.... well... actually a lot more. :nuts:

Romeo Hotel,
(sounds like a place that rents rooms by the hour)

Many times I think you got the clean end of the stick. I know now why our interviewer refused to show us the ops office. It's a cramped old space in the airport although there are huge plate glass windows overlooking the ramp. The 12 hour shifts are no day at the beach, either. The workload is brutal.

As far as the renumeration, it seems weak at first look but when you factor in the free (nice!) housing, no income tax, Social Security, Medicaid or other paycheck deductions, free healthcare, no sales tax, cheap gasoline, cheap utilities ($18 last month) and all this working in a rich country with a high standard of living. Did I mention the almost 50 days off per year?

I figured I would have to make in the mid to high $70 in the U.S. for the equivalent. I am saving money now that I couldn't at OO. That being said, there are some negatives, you take the good with the bad.

 

[dispatchguy]

50 in a year???

Ouch

 

[propsarebest]

50 in a year???

Ouch

WOW! That sucks... I am scheduled to work only 184 this year...

 

[homerjdispatch]

I think thats 50 PAID days off..... Not including the weekends....

 

[Pull To Guns]

As usual, HJD is correctomundo. The paid leave is in addition to the normal non-duty off days.

Yep, 41 paid days off per calendar year and 1 free positive space round trip ticket back home upgradable to Biz Class if available. Plus, you get paid for the local holidays of which there are many. If you happen to be scheduled to work during a national holiday you get a comp day so it ends up near 50 or so.

I work 4 on and 4 off too but the shifts are 12 hours each. The workload is punitive and the way I look at it, the company gets a free 8 hrs a week since we are on salary and no overtime is paid. Yin and Yang.

That's the way it's done here. You are here to work and hopefully save some money. I am single with no kids so I can do that.

If you have a spouse and offspring, I don't think it would be a good move since it is hard for wives to get jobs and you will have to pay for the kids' schooling.

If that's the case. stay where you are. Also, many wives get bored here and can cause complications detrimental to your career and/or marital status. I have seen it happen.

Bottom line: not all bad and not all good. I AM getting valuable heavy international experience and that is cool, and the travel opportunities are great, but I don't see myself here much after 2 years as you are considered a "guest worker" and a long-term career is not as feasible as back in the States.

Walt, how was that for a thread hijack!

From a VPS native, you ASA guys rock!!!

 

[propsarebest]

From a VPS native, you ASA guys rock!!!

Ahh, the redneck riviera...

 

[dispatchguy]

I'll mess with it in the next few days if he hasnt done so already.

I have a 2-day mid line this week, but tonite is an AIRAC cycle database change, today is my monday and I still have to work thru 4 RAD annex changes (Croatia, and three other small countries in Euro-land) before we pull the trigger on the new worldwide database tonite;

I'll be busier than a one armed bandit on Social Security Check day

Edit: I created a page for ETD on WDFF, add what u want and I'll reformat it to WDFF standards (yeah right) within the week - but now its nap time for a 2000 start time this evening

 

[onewithwings]

PTG>>>> great write up on the action over in the sand.. We always heard about the way of life there, but never from first hand experience... thanks.. you shold add this to WDFF if you have not already done it..

PTG has blogged his experiences in "the sand box". Click on his link near his signature line. It's good reading....errrr entertainment!

 

[WalterSobchak]

PTG has blogged his experiences in "the sand box". Click on his link near his signature line. It's good reading....errrr entertainment!

RP is one entertaining sumbuck. He's also a helluva landlord. Now, if only I could convince him to sell me this place on the cheap.

 

[Pull To Guns]

RP is one entertaining sumbuck. He's also a helluva landlord. Now, if only I could convince him to sell me this place on the cheap.

It is against my very nature to consider myself a landlord considering the trouble I have had with the same in the past. They were always the enemy. I am ashamed, but I hope you are enjoying the place anyway.

That being said, due to the declining real estate market in our beloved town, I am probably down 5 figures on the property at present. But maybe we could still work a deal so you can continue to spy on the younguns in the park across the street, you sicko!

Also, you might need to redo the basement so it doesn't look so much as a 'Silence of the Lambs" set.

The dayglo paint and wall shackles are a bit much.

Get rid of the pit, lotion and basket and the value may stabilize.

Just a suggestion!

I look forward to seeing you this Summer.

I will contribute to WDFF