Emirates to recruit 700 pilots next 18 months

[johnsonrod]

See story below. I've read good and bad things (the Middle East forum on www.pprune.org highlights the negatives) about Emirates. Dubai may not be your cup of tea - so visit first. Not sure if regional pilots (i.e., RJ experience) will get a fair shake with the many legacy pilots on furlough. I've heard that if you have Boeing time, you will "likely" get a 777 FO slot. If you have Airbus time, you will "likely" get an A330/A340 FO slot. Airbus pilots will most likely get bumped up to the A380 FO slot after 2-3 years of A330/A340 flying. Most future growth at EK is on the Airbus side with 50+ A380s on order and something like 100 A350s on order into the future. Not sure how many remaining 777 orders exist. Don't believe any direct entry captains.


Emirates to recruit 700 pilots in next 18 months
By Murdo Morrison


After largely closing its doors to new recruits during the 2009 downturn, Emirates plans to hire more than 700 pilots over the next 18 months to support new routes and aircraft.
The airline has embarked on a recruitment roadshow that will take in much of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. It kicked off on 4 June in Madrid, one of six new destinations this year. It has already begun services from Dubai to Tokyo and Amsterdam, with Prague, Baghdad and Dakar to follow.
Emirates - which has a 147-strong fleet with six aircraft due to arrive this year, part of 144 on order - traditionally recruits only first officers.
Capt Alan Stealey, divisional senior vice-president flight operations, says Emirates is recruiting at a time when much of the industry is cutting back. The airline recently took delivery of its ninth Airbus A380 and will accept number 10 within days.

 

[On Your Six]

Caveat Emptor. Make sure you fully investigate what life (both flying and nonflying) would be like before you apply. If you have no job and no prospects for getting a flying job in the US, well by all means apply if you meet the requirements. I have a few friends there - one on the 777 (he loves it) and one on the A340 (he doesn't care for it and he is looking to return to the US). Dubai can be a fun/exciting place but it is expensive and you must remember that it is a different culture - do not expect an "American" experience there. You will live in their country and play by their rules...

Here's some data about pay, etc. Keep in mind that housing is provided - need to look at the value of the TOTAL package provided (including free housing):

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/international/emirates.html

I am sure many Canadians, Europeans, Indians, Aussies and South Africans with Boeing and Airbus time will also be applying. Again, save yourself a lot of trouble and do a lot of due diligence before you apply (and take the Pprune website with a grain of salt because those Emirates pilots on that website do nothing but complain).

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

RJ only guys will have no problem being recruited, if not today, in a few months or so. When recruiting started in Sep? 2009, time over 55 tonnes was REQUIRED. Now there is NO MTOW limit, and the total time required was dropped from 4000 to 2500 jet. They will be getting more and more desperate every month, through probably about 2015.

cliff
LFW

 

[johnsonrod]

Hi!

RJ only guys will have no problem being recruited, if not today, in a few months or so. When recruiting started in Sep? 2009, time over 55 tonnes was REQUIRED. Now there is NO MTOW limit, and the total time required was dropped from 4000 to 2500 jet. They will be getting more and more desperate every month, through probably about 2015.

cliff
LFW

Cliff,

I just read on Pprune (may not be entirely accurate) that a US CR9 driver was emailed that his aircraft type did not fit their requirements even though he was told he was eligible for an interview just a few months prior. Sounds like the requirements change quite a bit depending upon attrition rates at Emirates (it was high a few months back). So, not sure if regional drivers are "persona non grata" or not. Flip a coin.

 

[Limeyflyer]

They do have a spot on the application for CRJ's when filling our the MEJet time

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I heard that some (Euro?) airline just ceased operations, so that has changed EK's short-term recruiting situation. If they sent that info to the RJ guy, it was VERY short-sighted, because they are going to need RJ guys very soon. A LOT of them!

cliff

LFW

 

[Flyer1015]

We just recently had 4 CAs leave our CRJ-200 regional airline to go to Emirates.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

The applications of experienced guys are drying out in the International market with the economy turning around, I would give it a few more months and you will see the flood gates open again for RJ drivers pretty much everywhere

 

[atpcliff]

EXACTLY what Dumb Pilot said: The floodgates are SLOWLY opening, and Qatar and EK, especially are behind the power curve. I would HATE to be an airline recruiter between now and 2015!

cliff
LFW

 

[fareview]

We just recently had 4 CAs leave our CRJ-200 regional airline to go to Emirates.

Challenge,

fv

 

[aviatormar]

Would an american major airline look down on someone who went there now, lets say at a young age (25) and tried to get back later in life? Right now I'm a 25 year old FO at a regional and wouldn't mind going over there for a bit, but I'd like to eventually come back to the States. Would most majors look down on it? Thanks for the advice.

 

[DC10]

Aviatormar,

The problem you'd face is not that a US major wouldn't want you, it's that you probably wouldn't want a US major after a few years at EK.

A new hire FO at EK earns somewhere in the region of US$7500/mo take home. In addition to that, health, life and loss of license insurance are paid in full by the company, as well as accommodation and (most) utilities.

How much would you need to earn in the US to have that amount in your pocket after paying taxes, mortgage, utilities and insurance? Think about it. Probably somewhere around US$12,000/mo. Once you get used to that lifestyle and rate of earning, what will your options be in a few years? Get hired by Jet Blue or similar, starting at $4,000/mo BEFORE tax if you're lucky?

EK knows this. The pay package is designed to keep you there once you've started. This isn't necessarily bad, but it's definitely something to think about. Don't kid yourself that you'll go there for a few years and return to the US to fly for a major. It's not really practical.

I don't fly for EK but I have researched it thoroughly. Maybe someone who currently works there can add their opinion.

 

[johnsonrod]

IF PIC time is a requirement at the US Legacies (I think all but Delta require PIC time to be considered - correct me if I am wrong), then you might want to stay in the US and get PIC time at your regional before heading to the ME. If you go to Emirates, the upgrade time could be 10+ years. So, if PIC time is important, you should probably remain at your regional and get that PIC time.

Good luck

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Most "big" airlines do not require PIC time, but there are jobs that do. At his age, I would say get your 1000 PIC jet, THEN go to EK. After 3-5 years at EK, especially with the situation now, I am SURE you would be eager to return to the US, either that or leave for a better overseas job, like DEC (Direct Entry Captain) somewhere else.

cliff
LFW

 

[tyuwerty]

Does Ek even accept people without PIC? I don't think that they do.

 

[chignutsak]

Don't underestimate the culture shock thing. You can read blogs, you can talk to folks who have been there, but you won't know if you like it until you and your family have lived there a while. Think long and hard about going to a place that can unilaterally change your working terms and conditions, just 'cuz.

 

[DHPFLYN]

Doesn't sound any different from the US airlines. They do what they want and let the unions file grievance's they could careless.

Once you get to Dubai and see the setup they have nothing in the US can touch their operation.

 

[aviatormar]

Does Ek even accept people without PIC? I don't think that they do.

This is a great point, would EK even look at me, I have about 3000 hours, 2000 in the CRJ-200 here at Air Wisconsin. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Flyer1015]

You need either 4000TT and 2000jet, or 2500 total time in a commercial, multi-engine airline jet equipment. If you only have 2000 hrs commercial airline and 3000 total, you don't meet either requirement (yet).

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Is TyphoonPilot here on FI???????????? EK MAY have PIC limits: All the CRJ guys I have heard of being interviewed were PICs. They DO have age limits, but they are NOT published on their hiring website...it is "secret". So they may also have "secret" PIC limits????

cliff
LFW