Etihad

[JFReservist]

Just curious about Etihad...

Saw a flight crew in Paris the other week and had a few questions:

The Captain looked VERY young, was lightly bearded and of ME descent, the FO was also young looking European. They had about 10-12 FA's with them. That evening, saw another crew at the hotel with an older, clean cut Euorpean Captain and FO, and another guy with pilot uniform with two stripes (I think it was two... there had been a few glasses of wine at that point) with same number of FA's. Everyone looked and acted very professional.

What does Etihad fly into Paris? and is there a pilot seniorty system or has the hiring just been that intense? Its just that the first captain looked reallllly young, but who knows. What was the two striper (surely not a PFE in that fleet), and no, I didn't think to ask them while I was running around...

Thanks, and fly safe

 

[johnsonrod]

Just curious about Etihad...

Saw a flight crew in Paris the other week and had a few questions:

The Captain looked VERY young, was lightly bearded and of ME descent, the FO was also young looking European. They had about 10-12 FA's with them. That evening, saw another crew at the hotel with an older, clean cut Euorpean Captain and FO, and another guy with pilot uniform with two stripes (I think it was two... there had been a few glasses of wine at that point) with same number of FA's. Everyone looked and acted very professional.

What does Etihad fly into Paris? and is there a pilot seniorty system or has the hiring just been that intense? Its just that the first captain looked reallllly young, but who knows. What was the two striper (surely not a PFE in that fleet), and no, I didn't think to ask them while I was running around...

Thanks, and fly safe

I believe they fly A330/A340s into CDG. Must be nice...

 

[tyuwerty]

In many of the ME airlines male cabin crew wear pilot "like" uniforms. Only difference being the color of the bars on the shoulder boards and the ties they wear. They start with 1 bar and go up to 4 bars.

That said, a citizen of their country could very well be hired at age of 20/21 and upgraded to wide body captain by the 30's or even earlier.

I don't know Etihad but I have seen at many other airlines in the region.

 

[johnsonrod]

Are there many US pilots who have left the States recently and been hired by Etihad? If so, how do they like it so far? Any stories about the transition? Have any US pilots been hired onto the widebodies (i.e., A330/340 or 777) in the last year or mainly onto the narrowbody Airbuses?

Can anyone provide an update of your experience at Etihad so far?

 

[iflysky]

We have several A330/340 CA's here with '78, '79 birth dates. Just at the right place and the right time. These guys started flying very early in life and just progressed up the ranks rapidly.
For the two stripper, it must have been a SO. Second officer (cadet), but we only have them on the A320 as of now and it does not fly to CDG, so maybe he was jumpseating or something.
As for US pilots, we have a few here on all fleets. ex - AMR, UAL, US, AW, NK, we are all here. Most of the guys are on A320 merely because EY looks for type rated folks and of course there is a flood of A320 rated guys at the moment in the States. However, there are a few on the 777 and the 330 fleet.
As for the happiness factor it depends to who you talk to. Some guys love it others not. But majority are very satisfied with their descision to come here. It all depends on what you are looking for in a career and your personal life.
Before comming here I was at a US low cost, so I can not really compare EY to my privious airline (apples to oranges), but thus I never looked back.

 

[Golden Falcon]

A "Junior first officer" typically one with less than 3 yrs service with the carrier will wear two stripes, a "second officer" cadet pilot will wear one stripe until his line training sectors are completed, then he/she will graduate to Junior first officer..two stripes

We have several A330/340 CA's here with '78, '79 birth dates. Just at the right place and the right time. These guys started flying very early in life and just progressed up the ranks rapidly.
For the two stripper, it must have been a SO. Second officer (cadet), but we only have them on the A320 as of now and it does not fly to CDG, so maybe he was jumpseating or something.
As for US pilots, we have a few here on all fleets. ex - AMR, UAL, US, AW, NK, we are all here. Most of the guys are on A320 merely because EY looks for type rated folks and of course there is a flood of A320 rated guys at the moment in the States. However, there are a few on the 777 and the 330 fleet.
As for the happiness factor it depends to who you talk to. Some guys love it others not. But majority are very satisfied with their descision to come here. It all depends on what you are looking for in a career and your personal life.
Before comming here I was at a US low cost, so I can not really compare EY to my privious airline (apples to oranges), but thus I never looked back.

 

[sat74]

Must be nice to 1. fly for an airline in a country where the profession is still prestigous and respected, 2. fly with cabin crew who are young and attractive and show the flight crew respect and understand what their purpose is, and 3. act and look professional at all times while showing some pride for what you do.

Show me an airline in the States where that happens! If you get the opportuntity to work overseas, DO IT!

 

[Sky Jet]

Be careful what you wish for. I get 1-2 & 3 where I am now and would trade it all to come back to the States if I could get a good job. Expat flying has many things going for it, but no matter where you are in the world you are still a "them", and not an "us". This applies to both the locals and the managment.

Jet

 

[NEDude]

So is Etihad going to be recruiting again anytime soon?

 

[RemoveB4Flght]

Doubtful... there is already a pool of guys who interviewed last year and are still waiting for classes that might not come to this fall... I wouldn't hold your breath, it's not like a few years ago when they couldn't find pilots