QATAR AIRWAYS PILOT ROAD SHOW - YYZ

[Obbie]

QATAR AIRWAYS will be holding a pilot recruitment day in Toronto.

For those sick of what has become of Canadian aviation, it is a
opportunity to turn things around.

Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel
June 19 & 20, 2014
Two sessions,
10am start & 3pm start

Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter after start of session.

[av8ts]

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommuni ... rists.html

No yoga pants or Daisy Dukes, no thanks I'd rather live in my parents basement.

[Inverted2]

No thanks.

I'll stick with my modest paying job here where I can have a beer after work on a patio and watch the ladies walk by.

[Old fella]

No thanks.

I'll stick with my modest paying job here where I can have a beer after work on a patio and watch the ladies walk by.

And I would stick with my modest pension income, quaff classified French/Italian vintages and watch the older ladies walk by - some nice ones too.......

Was offered an ICAO assignment Mid-East but declined - no interest in that neck of woods.

[Obbie]

Well I guess we all have our priorities.

For those however, who put their career before voyeurism and alcohol,
I hope you manage to attend and have your questions answered.

By the way, I'm sitting by the pool with a beer as I type this, and the view is just fine.

[Eric Janson]

For some more perspective:-

http://www.qatarsucks.com/

Personally - I refuse to be part of this modern day slavery.

[Obbie]

That is a international problem my friend,
and Canada is not immune either.......

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ0ciYPGO04

[complexintentions]

People who think there is no alcohol and insanely hot women available in the Middle East...have never lived it.

They probably also think that everyone lives in a compound and all women wear burkas. Which actually more accurately describes...Toronto.

But I suppose stereotypes always die hard.

[Notta Simfalt]

I just came across this on PPrune:

http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearment/ ... -hard.html

Keep your eyes open, guys.

[Old fella]

Pardon my ignorance(and it probably is) but do mid-east airlines have female Capt/FO in their employ either expats of citizens of that particular airline country..

[vrefplus5]

Yes they do

[Eric Janson]

That is a international problem my friend,
and Canada is not immune either.......

You've missed the point of the video completely - in Canada there are people working to change things. There is a legal system that works and human rights.

You think there are human rights in Qatar? Watch the RT video on my link.

I hope they lose the 2022 World Cup - they should never have been awarded it in the first place imho.

[Eric Janson]

Pardon my ignorance(and it probably is) but do mid-east airlines have female Capt/FO in their employ either expats of citizens of that particular airline country..

My Airline has wet leases in one of the ME countries (not Qatar).

They would not approve the visa for one of our female Captains - she has had to change fleets as a result.

Some countries still have a long way to go.

[Obbie]

Many female FO and female Captains working in QATAR AIRWAYS.

[bmc]

Gulf Air has female captains that are locals.

Lived in the Gulf for three years. With our then young daughters. Safest place we have lived so far (onto our fourth country). We left for two years and have been gone for sixteen and counting.

Expat life is not for everyone.

[complexintentions]

Eric,

I share your disgust with much of how things are done in Qatar and the Middle East in general. But I can assure you there are people working to change things in Qatar as well. Did you yourself not work in the sub-continent for years? Places like Sri Lanka where massive war crimes are only now trying to see the light of day, India with it's rape culture and massive economic inequities, Pakistan with well, it's Pakistan, enough said. Asia is no better. Thailand? A political mess. China? Another bastion of democracy, not. Africa? I could go on. I mean no disrespect, but I find it odd that a fellow expat has such a highly defined hierarchy of locales that you single out Qatar. (Incidentally I too hope they lose the World Cup. It was bought and paid for, just like Expo 2020 in the UAE. Duh.)

Unfortunately, Canada is moving rapidly towards the culture in the ME, not the other way around. Using agencies to bring in temporary foreign workers to work menial jobs. Housing them in dormitory housing provided by the company. Holding the threat of deportation and lack of mobility (can't change jobs) to keep the wages low. Once the visa expires, back they go. Why, that sounds just like Dubai! Or many employers in Canada.

While many countries may have "a long way to go" - as those of us from so-called "civilized" countries have the luxury of judging - ruling out specific countries that you have never lived in is pretty shortsighted in my opinion. Obbie has attempted to present an option that obviously, is working for him or he wouldn't be there. No need to crap all over it.

And Emirates has many female FO's and captains as well. A small percentage of the total to be sure, but that is more of an industry thing than a ME thing.

[broompusher]

Life at QR....

This place is indeed far from perfect. Both the company and the country leave much to be desired. There is a lot of room for improvement, and some days it feels as though they are taking 1 step forward and two steps back.

That being said, there has been some improvement in the 3 years that I have been here, albeit slowly.

Career wise, if you know how to follow SOPs/NOPs, company rules and regs, go to work, do your job, and go home, you'll do well. For those who start on narrow body (320 fleet), you can expect about 2-2.5yrs to a widebody fleet if that is your aspiration. They have plenty of command upgrades, if you meet command req's (5,000hrs for 320 and 6,500hrs+2,000hrs wide body for 330/340/777/787) you'll go through the command process after 3yrs online. And just like EK and EY, QR has more aircraft on order than they know what to do with (and finding qualified pilots is quickly becoming an issue).

If staying home and being close to your family is important for you, then this probably isn't what you're looking for. Again, this place isn't for everybody. Doha is much more conservative then Dubai or Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, but not nearly as restrictive as Saudi.

If you are curious, or have questions, it certainly won't hurt to go to the roadshow. Best to make an informed decision.

[YYCDavid]

What's the alternative, Air Canada and all the super hot 65 year old FAs? Lol!!! I'd go in a heartbeat to save myself from this industry and what it's becoming in Canada.

[7thirtyseven]

Here is some info from a recruiting site on Qatar Airways. No thanks.




"Qatar Airways Pilot Jobs Situationlast updateCurrent Situation:  Hiring FO's (No payrise in over 3 years despite rocketing cost of living in Doha, no profit share in same period, insufficient housing allowance, disappointing and further deteriorating downroute hotels. Many assessing options and planning to leave. In the past most left to etihad. This is no longer possible... Beware there is now no intra gulf movement. If you join QR you have burnt your bridge to EY or EK.)5/May/14 "

[Obbie]

There is a no poaching agreement between the three airlines.
Although the one with Etihad is rumored to be no longer in play.

Your training bond is for 3 years, and after that command is a year away,
so why would you leave and go start at the bottom again ?

Command is 7 years plus at Emirates right now, with a bond of 5 years.

We are due for a contract pay adjustment, we receive 3% a year increases
right now but inflation is double that right now so it has fallen behind.

That said, my take home pay last month was north of $10,000 US, as a FO,
and half of it was free after family budget to put away for retirement.
I have saved in 3 years here what would take me 9 years flying in Canada.

As far as hotels, we stay in Hilton's, Crowne Plaza's, and other main stream
resorts. The only disappointing trend is that they seem to be getting closer
and closer to the airport. Same as with every airline.

[182driver]

I'll be there with bells on, Chappies! Due to some 'misunderstandings' and 'politics' combined with 'unresolvable CRM issues with certain taxi specialists' , I have been passed over for upgrade on the mighty-8!

I have no fear about my lack of jet time, gents. As soon as they get a load of me dressed up like an Arabian prince the contract will be produced with poised pen.

See you in ground school, chaps!

Henri

[A330]

Qatar need to pay up and compensate. It's no picnic. Single guys can manage things easier - maybe. At least the well behaved ones…. Financial benefits for sure, but at what cost??
With wives and kids in the mix. Huge sacrifice. Best leave your lululemon gear behind
And make sure you don't get caught doing this

Emirates and Dubai are much more progressive and liberal. Emirates command progression has and will slow considerably from 3-4 years but from what I understand from numerous sources, Dubai is a much better longer term option.

This FIFA fiasco is fascinating. I really hope the the truth comes out and this goes to a re-vote. Likely a devastating result for Qatar. And with this new campaign who would want to fly there and party?
What a mess.

Pass

[GRK]

DXB (EK for new hires) Be careful what you read here about Dubai being a better choice…the new housing compound (it is exactly that!) at Meydan Heights is open and ready…if you want to live in the company town, this is your chance! Row housing with
no schools, stores, health club or transit nearby…no yard or privacy, or landscaping. Every new hire will be put there…pop on over to Pprune and take a peek at the Meydan Heights thread, then think again about how great the place might be…now back to Doha and all it's delights! EY and Abu Dhabi might be an easier choice! Faster upgrades, a growing city with proper planning (compared to others) and a nice pace to it! Enjoy!

[Stu Pidasso]

From what I am seeing, the pay is not even close. Maybe there is an upside for lower time Pilots, I can't imagine them attracting existing Wide Body Captains.

Say what you like about AC and WJ, in my mind they are both a thousand times better than working for these guys. I would fly a Beaver for Harbour Air before I would work for these clowns.

[GRK]

Dear Stu,
Never say never sir…those DEC jobs have saved many a side of Canadian Bacon, especially after the AC wins at all costs fight that ended up causing huge number of wide body qualified pilots to lose their livelihood. Where did they all go? Where the jobs were, and I know for a fact they are waaaaay ahead career wise than if they had started at WJ or AC after the loss of their jobs. It may not be for some but it really works for most! The pay is pretty good with housing, schooling and travel tossed in as allowances. I don't work for any of them. I fly in a different part of the aviation world, but I rarely hear of major pay complaints from those who I know well and do work there. (The moving of the deck chairs is a different noise however…) As for flying a beaver at Harbour Air…leave that for the guys and girls who need a job to get ahead in their career…god knows they need a break, what with all the BS over the TFW job stealers getting in the way…if you want to bitch out anyone, have a go at the clowns who use that little ploy to lower the bar for pilots from this country who need the work! There's our problem...