Saudi Airlines

[flyboyike]

It seems I don't qualify for any of their heavies, but qualify just fine for their Falcon/Hawker program. Anyone flying for them on the corporate side willing to share their impressions? I'm single, so family life (or lack thereof) is not important, but is the pay what they say it is, do they treat you half-way decent, how are the other pilots etc?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[cmrflyer]

Ike, why dont you just stay where you are? oh, thats right, because of those morons in atl.
anyway take care dude, good luck

 

[flyboyike]

Ike, why dont you just stay where you are? oh, thats right, because of those morons in atl.
anyway take care dude, good luck

Yeah, no ******************** about the morons. Truth be told, though, I've been thinking about jumping ship for a while. As much as I still actually like this place, the slave wages and poor perspectives are starting to wear on me.

Saudis seem to be serious about hiring. They just revamped their application system (it's all online now), have vacancies in just about all their types and the numbers are certainly attractive. I figure how bad can the sandpit be compared to the dungeon at JFK?

We'll see what happens.

 

[FreightGod]

I figure how bad can the sandpit be compared to the dungeon at JFK?

Saudi Arabia can be really bad..If nothing else you get bored to death.

Make sure you like Arabs and their way of living before you move there..

 

[Green]

As long as you're not interested in women, booze, or greenery you should be fine....

 

[flyboyike]

As long as you're not interested in women, booze, or greenery you should be fine....

Never been much for booze or greenery, but a girl would be nice every now and then.

 

[JohnnyP]

.....

As long as you're not interested in women, booze, or greenery you should be fine....

Oh those items are around, just have to know where to go/who to ask.....When was the last time you tasted home-brewed grain alcohol?...

 

[avbug]

You really ought to think twice before looking at Saudia as your future.

 

[flyboyike]

You really ought to think twice before looking at Saudia as your future.

Oh, I'm thinking about it continuosly. Trouble is I really don't see much of anything else out there.

 

[tyuwerty]

Been here 3.5 years, I work on the Airline side.

Booze, women, greenery are all available.

Cash is good. Cost of living is VERY low.

Treatment is quite decent on the airline side, no idea about the Special Flight Department.

Culture is very different than in the USA. Never had a problem with any of the people. For the most part, they are very friendly and accommodating.

It is all what you make of it. I renewed my contract for another 3 year term, so I am happy. I have seen people throw their arms up and leave after a few weeks.

It is a Captain's airline. Life is much easier for the Captains than the FO's. If you are thinking of going over as an FO, get the upgrade idea out of your head. It would realistically take a decade or more to upgrade with them. Even then, it is not guaranteed.

 

[flyboyike]

Been here 3.5 years, I work on the Airline side.

Booze, women, greenery are all available.

Cash is good. Cost of living is VERY low.

Treatment is quite decent on the airline side, no idea about the Special Flight Department.

Culture is very different than in the USA. Never had a problem with any of the people. For the most part, they are very friendly and accommodating.

It is all what you make of it. I renewed my contract for another 3 year term, so I am happy. I have seen people throw their arms up and leave after a few weeks.

It is a Captain's airline. Life is much easier for the Captains than the FO's. If you are thinking of going over as an FO, get the upgrade idea out of your head. It would realistically take a decade or more to upgrade with them. Even then, it is not guaranteed.

Thank you for your input. Unfortunately, I don't qualify for any of their advertised CA slots. Bummer about the upgrade, but then it's not like it's anywhere on the horizon for me as it is. I might as well make some decent money, if I'm going to be stuck in the right seat.

I only applied yesterday, any idea on how long they usually take to respond?

 

[Bad-Andy]

I might as well make some decent money, if I'm going to be stuck in the right seat.

I only applied yesterday, any idea on how long they usually take to respond?

I know a couple of guys that heard from them within a day of applying, and even one guy that got called for an interview three hours after submitting his stuff. Other people never heard a peep for three months, then got a call asking them to be in Cairo in a week. So, who knows...

I can tell you from first-hand experience that the hiring process is rather chaotic right now. The head (and only) guy there is absolutely the nicest Pilot HR guy on the planet. But, he is swamped. They finally got him an assistant this week, and the mountains of paperwork on his desk were finally starting to shrink. Anyways, he is out of town for the week for a wedding, so I wouldn't get upset if you don't hear anything this week...

I do know there are interviews July 28-Aug 6 in Jeddah, and a friend of mine will be there for a Special Flight interview... A lot of hiring on both sides of the house...

As for what everyone is saying about living in Saudi, it is what it is -- a job when no one else is hiring. It's all what you make of it. And, if you Dive, some of the better SCUBA in the world is right there in the Red Sea. That alone will keep you occupied for a while...

 

[flyboyike]

I can tell you from first-hand experience that the hiring process is rather chaotic right now. The head (and only) guy there is absolutely the nicest Pilot HR guy on the planet. But, he is swamped. They finally got him an assistant this week, and the mountains of paperwork on his desk were finally starting to shrink. Anyways, he is out of town for the week for a wedding, so I wouldn't get upset if you don't hear anything this week...

I do know there are interviews July 28-Aug 6 in Jeddah, and a friend of mine will be there for a Special Flight interview... A lot of hiring on both sides of the house...

Thank you for the info. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[saviboy]

dont know anything about Saudi but for having dealt with hiring process with a ME airline, I can tell you a phone call goes a long way sometimes. I heard that its not unusual that the organizational level is pretty low in ME airlines.
Try to get a good phone number and give them a call.
good luck.