Maldives Anyone ?

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:43 am

Tintin, all of the pilots are on contract. All are here for different amounts of time. Some will stay a few years, some like myself are only here for 3 months. Captains work 2 months in and 1 month and co-pilots initially are here for a minimum of 5 months and them get 3 months on and 1 month off. A guys just arrived yesterday from Aussie and has signed a 1 year contract and another guy arrived today who worked here for 3 1/2 years. Quit last February and go back to Canada and is now back again for 3 months. Another Captain just quit because his wife is having a baby so he will go home for that and then come back. He claims it is easier to quit and get hired back than it is to fight with them for additional leave.

The obviously want float time and the new copilot that arrived yesterday has no Twin Otter time. Neither did I and the same is for a few others here. If you have both that is great but they look at your overall experience and a recommendation from within really helps.

tintin42 · Post by **tintin42** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:03 am

thanks a lot Clguy appreciate

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:19 am

Both companies are very short of pilots right now. For what I see, anyone thinking about the Maldives, the time is right to get a job.

tailwind · Post by **tailwind** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:08 am

what kind of hours are they looking for?

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:11 am

The hours required seems to vary. There have been a few young guys hired lately with very minimal twin time but had some float time on singles. It seems to be more related to how long are you willing to commit to working here.

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:21 pm

Count me in

I'd love to get down there and enjoy the heat and twotters!

rightseatwonder · Post by **rightseatwonder** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:47 pm

For anyone who really doesnt know about the job, I say ask people who have been there for at least a year. Nothing against pilots just trying it out for the first time, but you need to be there for a while to get the full perspective.

The biggest key to success and survival in the dives IMHO is learning to play "the game". If you dont figure out the rules, and how to score very quickly, you will lose, or be ejected from the game. The best part is that the rules are always changing! And the players and coaches and most importantly the referees are changing too.

Talk to the vets down there, or those who have moved on. If you arent sure, and have nothing to lose .... GO! the first tour (2-3months) is unabashedly amazing. Sun fun flying hrs in the book cash money new things and people and places.

I loved almost all my 3 years there, but in the long term, it wasnt getting me anywhere so i came back to try to catch the upswing of this wave in Canada. I left on good terms and Ive been invited back. If anything happens here in Canada that allows me to take off for a couple months...id go back in a heartbeat. I think the way to get the most out of the Maldives is to go for a winter. 2 mnths in 1 month out, 2 months in 1 month out. Perfect.

ive posted some threads about details in the past if you are interested.

Like I said....GO and even if its not to your liking....man the stories you'll tell!

Some similar to my "other" dhc-6 thread!

2024 · Post by **2024** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:42 am

sounds great! does anyone know how they are doing for maintenance engineer's, who to contact? pm me if you have info you would like to pass on. thanks.

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:41 am

Rightseat you have some good points! From my perspective though, if my choices were hauling pop and chips north from bumf**k Ontario in the middle of January or any time for that matter or building time driving a Twotter in Maldives the answer would be pretty simple. As for learning the game, that game is being played in every aviation job around the world. Either you fit in or you don't. If you fit in, be easy going and get along with people, life is good but if you don't well, you lose. Remember you are in their country and you live by their rules. Don't come here with the attitude that you know it all or you will quickly find yourself outside looking it. I wouldn't recommend this job for life, but for a job to build time and move on, so far I would highly recommend it. I know a few guys personally who didn't work out here and I certainly wasn't surprised. They are also the guys who ended up here because they didn't work out in Canada. Male is a shit whole city, as is every Southeast Asia city I have been to, but the overnights at the resorts certainly make up for it. Where I work we now have 3 guys flying for us who cut their teeth in the Maldives. Use a job like this to get you somewhere else and have a great time while doing it.

rightseatwonder · Post by **rightseatwonder** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:16 pm

Good luck down there CL Guy,

I think you are in a different position than those whom I was posting for though.

To go down there as winter contractor is the easiest thing to do...you have a career job waiting for you back home...that makes everything different. I know contractors who just get up and leave rather than put up with what you have to down there sometimes....that isn't always an option if you were going down there as a time builder trying to get your career on the move...things are VERY different in that case.

That being said, a lucky few go down there for a contract and never have anything but the greatest expereince...I know of a couple. Like any job there are the pros and cons....the game i was talking about is learning to deal with the Maldives specific cons...cause they ain't the same down there as they are in Canada. If you are prepared and knowledgable, then its fine..like you seem to be CLGuy. Ive just seen a lot of folks come down with very different ideas about it, and ruin what could be a great experience by being disappointed and unprepared.

Like I said...2in 1 out 2 in 1 out...the best. Thats the way to enjoy the Maldives. There are still things to be careful about though. But if you are going down there on a year contract or longer...talk to those who have done it first.

all the best,
RSW

PS seriously though, but id love to read a post of yours after your tour down there to see if anything has changed or if its the same old stories.

Blown Juggs · Post by **Blown Juggs** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:25 am

Well, the only way to find out is to give it a try.
I'll see you next week CLguy I get in to Male on the 30th at 10:00 pm

Cheers

oates76 · Post by **oates76** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:28 am

I was just browsing TMA's website and looking at the requirements. Wondering what the difference between Sr and Jr first officer is?

Also, 250tt for jr first officer... but do people ever get on fresh out of school like that?

Thanks for all the info guys,

Oates

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:21 am

I believe they hire Maldivian nationals for the junior FO spots...

manchip · Post by **manchip** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:11 pm

rightseatwonder wrote:

When did TMA start painting their planes to look like MAT/Borek?

rightseatwonder · Post by **rightseatwonder** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:09 am

that was actually the old paint job 2002-2003 1/2

the new one has all the pretty dolphins on the floats! lol

Otter envy · Post by **Otter envy** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 12:13 pm

I'm just wondering how the heck to get noticed by MAT. I apply every week and receive no reply. Even like a scratch and win ticket a "better luck next time!" would be nice. Just joking around. I am really interested in working for borek, any advise?

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 12:18 pm

Does TMA running strictly the twotters?

kookaburra · Post by **kookaburra** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:32 pm

how many hours can a first officer log in, in either companies in the maldives?

kookaburra · Post by **kookaburra** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:39 pm

bcguy2004 · Post by **bcguy2004** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:28 am

Nice!!! Is that Kuredu up above? Sure looks like it. There certainly are days when I miss that place. Like today in the rain and 3C.

bcguy2004 · Post by **bcguy2004** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:30 am

Otter envy wrote:I'm just wondering how the heck to get noticed by MAT. I apply every week and receive no reply. Even like a scratch and win ticket a "better luck next time!" would be nice. Just joking around. I am really interested in working for borek, any advise?

The only real way to get on at MAT is for Sean to hire you at Borek, do the groundschool and a ride in Calgary and get sent down.

As far as I know no one has gotten on directly @MAT in quite some time.

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 7:14 am

Rowdy, yes TMA runs only Twin Otters. Sixteen of them to be exact. All 300 Series except one. They are in the process of purchasing a couple of ATR-42's.

MAT will not hire anyone without the approval of Borek in Calgary so you may as well apply to Borek and not MAT.

Madonna arrived in the Maldives and flew out to one of the resorts with TMA. I didn't get to fly her out but I am a little pissed that she didn't call and let me know she was coming. I just hate when they show up unexpected!!

Blown Juggs · Post by **Blown Juggs** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:11 am

bcguy is correct. I went to Calgary before X-mas did a week of ground school and a ride. Im currently in the terminal in Singapore waiting for my flight over to Mali. Ill tell you that 19hrs on an airplane from Vancouver is just not fun, but at least it was Singapore Air...great company and first class service.

2milefinal · Post by **2milefinal** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:04 am

Blown Juggs wrote: Ill tell you that 19hrs on an airplane from Vancouver is just not fun,

....quit whin-en

bcguy2004 · Post by **bcguy2004** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:26 pm

Yeah but the Singapore stewardesses are HOT!!!

On my layover I had 23hrs and a Hotel, checked out the town and had a blast then carried on.

The first few days in Male are a little surreal, its defintely a different world over there, I hope your apartment isnt right next to a temple like mine was.

You'll sleep through prayer call eventually...

Maldives Anyone ?

3 yrs in the Dives and plenty of opinions