Emirates Hiring?

[Smoove Ride]

Anyone here interview and/or get hired lately? Just wondering what is considered competitive times over there.... thanks, -Smoove.

 

[barbarian4]

Got called for an interview a while back; they want you to pay your own way to DXB. I think a lot of folks are bailing out of there.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Anyone here interview and/or get hired lately? Just wondering what is considered competitive times over there.... thanks, -Smoove.

Emirates is taking one new aircraft per month for the next 7 years. They are planning on at least doubling fleet size in that time to up to 150 aircraft. All widebody, by the way. So the short answer is, " yes, they are hiring ". The numbers seem to stay pretty consistent at around 200 per year. Competitive time would be at least 1000 hours in any of these types: 737-300 and higher, 747, 757, 767, 777, Airbus 310, 320, 330, 340, MD-80/90, Bae-146, and a few others. Unfortunately ( and I keep pulling my hair out over this ) they don't hire many people who only have RJ time. I'm hoping that will change, but as long as they get guys with the aforementioned types they will stay with that as the min qualification.

Got called for an interview a while back; they want you to pay your own way to DXB. I think a lot of folks are bailing out of there.

True, but they do pay for the hotel and your food for the entire time you are here. Six on one hand, half a dozen on the other. In the States airlines generally pay to get you there, but then you pay the rest. The reasoning Emirates uses is to see that you are serious about the job and not just looking around. For what it's worth, they start you on full pay from the day you leave the States to come to Dubai, even though your class might not start for a couple of days after your arrival.

Some guys are leaving to go back to the UK or elsewhere. Expat living isn't easy and EK did mislead some people on early commands so that has resulted in some unhappiness. The falling U.S. Dollar over the last few years has really hurt the projections some of the Europeans and Aussies made in deciding to come here. We just received an 8% pay raise, not enough to cover the fall in the Dollar, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

TP

 

[ForgedBlade]

I got contacted for an interview a couple weeks back. Haven't set it up yet, and not sure if I will since I have some other interviews coming up here. It sounds like a great deal, just not 100% sure I want to leave the US for good. My experience is there, especially with the int'l flying and the heavy type, I think that is what they want.

 

[naviator]

What are their crew bases (jr/sr)? How about schedules, benefits and pay?

 

[typhoonpilot]

I got contacted for an interview a couple weeks back. Haven't set it up yet, and not sure if I will since I have some other interviews coming up here. It sounds like a great deal, just not 100% sure I want to leave the US for good. My experience is there, especially with the int'l flying and the heavy type, I think that is what they want.

It's a big decision to move over here and spend any length of time. One very important point is that once you reside out of the USA you will not be qualified to work for Fedex and I think UPS since they are both now requiring 5 years of continuous residency in the USA as a prerequisite to getting hired. Honestly, if I was under 35 and had a shot at Fedex, UPS, jetBlue, Southwest, or a few others I would make those a higher priority. A lot depends on what your family wants as well. Contact Buford ( here on Flightinfo ), he is a fellow ATA guy who just started last month. He had lived here in Dubai before so knew a lot more than most about what he was getting into.

What are their crew bases (jr/sr)? How about schedules, benefits and pay?

Go to www.emiratesgroupcareers.com , most of the info you are seeking is on there. Dubai is the only crew base. No possible way to commute. Pay starts at close to $60,000 for a first year F.O. and goes up 3% per year plus any additional raise the company might make to the basic pay. That is tax free by the way. Medical and Dental cost about $37.50 per month for a couple. Haven't see the deduction from my pay yet with the baby, but I think it is a little more. No co-pay and no other fees for the most part. EK has their own medical clinic for Pilots, FAs., Mechanics, and Management. The standard of care is pretty good with doctors from Australia, Belgium, England, Zimbabwe ( she is the best in my opinion ), and a few other places. One dentist from the States is a good guy as well. Schooling is subsidized for up to three children. 42 days of vacation per year. Staff Travel includes one free firm round-trip to your home country every year. Otherwise they use an ID90 and ZED system for other carriers and a decent system internally. Housing is provided by the company ( 3 bedroom apartment for single or married no children and villa/townhome if you have children ). That is a lottery; some guys get good places and others ones that aren't so good. Electric, Water, etc all paid for by the company. You can also opt for a yearly payment and go buy or rent your own place. Furniture provided for you accomodation or you can opt for a one time payment of about $8000.

Hope that helps,

TP

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

EK called me for an interview about two months ago but I turned them down because I didn't want to pay my own way to DXB. My buddy got hired in the right seat and in his contract it actually states he will be upgraded in three years or else he'll be pay protected as a captain after three years.
I've spent some time in DXB on layovers, it's one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the middle east but it may not be for everyone. As an American it maybe tough to be in the middle east right now.

 

[typhoonpilot]

My buddy got hired in the right seat and in his contract it actually states he will be upgraded in three years or else he'll be pay protected as a captain after three years.

Have you seen this contract or did he tell you that ? To the best of my knowledge no written promises are made, only verbal projections that are subject to change.

I've spent some time in DXB on layovers, it's one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the middle east but it may not be for everyone. As an American it maybe tough to be in the middle east right now.

As an American I wouldn't go around waving the flag, but I haven't encountered any ill will among the people I come into daily contact with. A lot of our cabin crew are from Middle Eastern countries and it always surprises me when they say how much they like the USA or how they were just there on vacation, etc.

TP

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

I didn't actually see the contract with my own eyes, was only "told" by my friend who was recently hired.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

This may be of some help with employment in that part of the world

http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=44

 

[typhoonpilot]

I agree, you'll find more information on Pprune than here on Flightinfo. Do however, realize that the perspective of some of the negtive posters is skewed by where they are coming from and what their expectations were when joining Emirates.

TP

 

[ricj41]

Hey Typhoon I am real interested in working overseas. I looked at Emirates requirements and they want 2000 jet. I have 2000 turbine pic and about 1100 jet pic. All at a regional. Am I out of luck till I get to something bigger?

 

[Buford]

I agree with typhoonpilot that Emirates generally only hires guys with previous Boeing/Airbus experience. I'm not aware of anyone getting hired without time in planes bigger than RJ's. I'm not aware of any official company policy at Emirates prohibiting RJ guys, but I think HR has so many applications right now that they can afford to be choosy. I don't think you'd be wasting your time in filling out an online application with just RJ time but I wouldn't expect a call any time soon. Emirates is undergoing massive expansion right now so I'd be surprised if the company could fill all of their recruitment requirements without starting to take RJ people at some point.

Living in Dubai takes a special kind of personality type and Emirates seems to do a reasonably good job of finding people that can fit in over here. Highlighting any international experience that you have or demonstrating any previous expatriate experience would go a long way on an Emirates app.

Good luck!

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

Most of the guys getting called at EK had previous int'l heavy time; I think that's the key. Int'l carriers don't put as much emphasis on turbo prop or RJ time as much as large turbo jet time. Having time in type is very helpful but not required. EK called me for an interview when I had no time in B777, A300/330/340. I've got time in A320/B767/MD11 as far as large jets are concerned. Doing expat work is not for everyone. It can be very rewarding but for some it feels like an exile. Singapore Airlines is hiring direct entry captains as well. They all want int'l heavy jet glass PIC time.

 

[propjob27]

As far as the 2000 'jet' goes, I've had mixed results with this. I applied 6-8 months ago with about 650 PIC jet (RJ) and 500 SIC jet (757) and about 1300 PIC turbro prop. In other words, my total pure jet time was about 1150. They sent me a polite automated letter that said I did not meet their minimum requirements. I can only assume this was regarding the 2000 jet requirement.

However, about 2 months ago, they invited me to interview in June. And I had not updated the application once since the first time I applied! So either they made a mistake, or they are now letting the 2000 jet requirement slide (I still only have about 1650 Jet time)

Good luck. By the way, you have to buy your own ticket to Dubai. On travelocity, JFK to DXB direct on Emirates is about $1500 round trip. I dont think Im going to be able to do it (Im furloughed). I would love to go the interview if they offered free/discounted tickets on an Emirates flight, but they won't budge on that aspect.

 

[ETOPS-787]

Hey Guys

How is everyone doing?
Bill, got your email and will be in touch soon.
Tim, thank you for your info.

Please keep us posted....can't wait for my visit to the M.E.

See you all very soon.

 

[Herculeus]

Typhoon what is your opnion on working there.Over a PPrune it doesn't sound to good.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Hey Typhoon I am real interested in working overseas. I looked at Emirates requirements and they want 2000 jet. I have 2000 turbine pic and about 1100 jet pic. All at a regional. Am I out of luck till I get to something bigger?

The website does state 2000 jet, but in the past they have hired guys with slightly less. I would try to get the other 900 jet but still apply now, as you never know if/when the requirements might change.


Chronic Jetlag said:

Most of the guys getting called at EK had previous int'l heavy time

True to a certain extent, but don't let that put anybody off from applying. I had no widebody time when hired and many others I know didn't either. They hired a lot of Bae-146 drivers out of Oz and New Zealand in 2001 and 2002. That was the biggest thing they had ever flown and they never took it International.

Typhoon what is your opnion on working there.Over a PPrune it doesn't sound to good.

As I said a little earlier, it all depends on your perspective. If you are a glass half full type of guy and enjoy a multicultural environment then you will probably like it. It isn't easy to leave your native country, move half-way around the world, and integrate into a different culture. A lot of the guys on Pprune left Europe and came to Dubai with very high expectations. With the falling Dollar effectively decreasing their earnings and reality of expat living overseas hitting them they have begun to re-think their idea of leaving a national carrier in Europe. Others just complain all the time as a matter of habit.

EK isn't for everyone and it isn't perfect by any means. Just ask Buford about his Villa . Overall though, they do offer a decent job with a decent standard of living.


TP

 

[iluvetops]

TP

What's wrong with the villa Buford is in?? Just checked my June roster, **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**!!!!!! In the 3rd group of bidding and still being awarded with 10 days of RSV.

 

[RoyalAviation2]

My dad flew there from 89 on the 727 till 98 on the 300/310. He was hired as a direct entry captain on the 72. Then when they phased those out they put him in the Airbus. Since it was just before the 777 were there he had to go to the bus. When they finally got the 777's, they wouldnt let him transition because they told him he only had another 5 years of productivity in him(60). He was promised progression thru aircraft based on seniority when they hired him. But when time came, they turned him down. He's kinda stubborn so he quit.(Big mistake). I thoroughly enjoyed visiting him during winters and summers(hot). Dubai is a great place to live, but if I were alone, it might be a little more difficult.

I'd love to fly for them, but seeing that they don't consider Turboprop/RJ time anything significant, I won't be flying for them anytime soon.

Those F/A's are pretty hot too!