Moving to the Middle East to become a pilot?

Bigey

Bigey

Well-Known Member
I was reading some requirements for instance; Bahrain Air, Kuwait Airlines, and i think Emirates and i was amazed.

You can jump onto the A32x series for bahrain with like 700 TT time with 100 ME and such.

It seems req. for middle eastern airlines are very low and they're in need of pilots? True?

If so, would it be a feasonable option to move to one of the middle eastern countries to fly for them when the time is right?

They seem to pay you AWESOME, cover expenses, and the move out there from what i hear.

My pop thinks that when i start sending apps. out for the regionals i should send some out to there too. I wouldnt really mind the move to Middle east, as i myself am from Iran so nothing too out of the ordinary.

Opinions please!

EDIT: Ok, i lie, i found out you need at least 1500 for gulf and 500 of ME turboprop.

But i have read where some of these cadets will have under 500 hours and become F/O's and such.
 
SuprSonicSig said:
Give up the American way of life? Not for me.
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Whats so different about the way the life is out there?

UAE, Kuwait, and Syria and such are very liberated countries.

Only difference is it's extremely hot, and there country isnt in debt.
 
aloft said:
If you think those are the only differences, maybe you should look into it!
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Well as everyone knows, UAE is an exact america.

It should be called the Arab Republic of America.

Care to share of some the differences you think exist?
 
Bigey said:
I was reading some requirements for instance; Bahrain Air, Kuwait Airlines, and i think Emirates and i was amazed.

You can jump onto the A32x series for bahrain with like 700 TT time with 100 ME and such.

It seems req. for middle eastern airlines are very low and they're in need of pilots? True?

If so, would it be a feasonable option to move to one of the middle eastern countries to fly for them when the time is right?

They seem to pay you AWESOME, cover expenses, and the move out there from what i hear.

My pop thinks that when i start sending apps. out for the regionals i should send some out to there too. I wouldnt really mind the move to Middle east, as i myself am from Iran so nothing too out of the ordinary.

Opinions please!

EDIT: Ok, i lie, i found out you need at least 1500 for gulf and 500 of ME turboprop.

But i have read where some of these cadets will have under 500 hours and become F/O's and such.
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There is no Bahrain Air. There is a Gulf Air, based in Bahrain (and supported by the countries of Bahrain and Oman). On top of the 1500TT/500ME turboprop/jet, Gulf Air required that those who have FAA ATPs MUST be type rated on one of their fleet types.

Emirates: Require a minimum of 4000TT and 2000ME jet time. And as far as I know, they don't take pilots with RJ time.

Etihad: Requires a type rating and time on type for their fleets

Qatar: For non-type rated on their fleet, ATPL, 2000 airline time, 1000 hours on "medium/heavy" jets.

And those cadets are usually their own countrys' nationals. Expat F/Os are almost always direct entry only.

There is a member here, Typhoonpilot, who flies for Emirates.

Maybe he'll leave an opinion.

As far as living in the Middle East goes, I think UAE, from what I've heard, is liberal (esp. Dubai). I wouldn't say the same for Syria or Kuwait.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
There is no Bahrain Air. There is a Gulf Air, based in Bahrain (and supported by the countries of Bahrain and Oman). On top of the 1500TT/500ME turboprop/jet, Gulf Air required that those who have FAA ATPs MUST be type rated on one of their fleet types.

Emirates: Require a minimum of 4000TT and 2000ME jet time. And as far as I know, they don't take pilots with RJ time.

Etihad: Requires a type rating and time on type for their fleets

Qatar: For non-type rated on their fleet, ATPL, 2000 airline time, 1000 hours on "medium/heavy" jets.

And those cadets are usually their own countrys' nationals. Expat F/Os are almost always direct entry only.

There is a member here, Typhoonpilot, who flies for Emirates.

Maybe he'll leave an opinion.

As far as living in the Middle East goes, I think UAE, from what I've heard, is liberal (esp. Dubai). I wouldn't say the same for Syria or Kuwait.
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Yeah sorry, i meant to say Gulf Air.

And yes, UAE is beyond liberal. Its honest to god, like living in the US just with some restrictions i believe based on religion (in terms of alcohol and such)

Besides that, i was thinking more along the lines of the cadet program.

From what i understand, you have to be a national, meaning you can apply for citizenship and then may you apply? How does that work?
 
Bigey said:
From what i understand, you have to be a national, meaning you can apply for citizenship and then may you apply? How does that work?
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Just how will you apply for UAE citizenship? Who will sponsor you (airline won't)?

And even then, it is EXTREMELY competitive. They have so many stages to go through, many get weeded out.

The cadet program is for the Nationals of the country itself (Gulf Air taking Bahrain nationals, for example, or Emirates taking UAE nationals). It is not for citizens of other countries.
 
Man I have been to Bahrain before and IT IS HOT!!!!!!!! I can't imagine living there if I haven't all my life. It takes real men or women to withstand those 130 degree summers. More power to you if you choose that path. One of the things that you find out about a lot of people is that they don't have an international picture of the world. All they have is just America. Well sorry guys, America is not the only country on this planet.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
Just how will you apply for UAE citizenship? Who will sponsor you (airline won't)?

And even then, it is EXTREMELY competitive. They have so many stages to go through, many get weeded out.

The cadet program is for the Nationals of the country itself (Gulf Air taking Bahrain nationals, for example, or Emirates taking UAE nationals). It is not for citizens of other countries.
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I have to be sponsored to get a citizenship? Say what?

Why cant i just apply for it? If it makes any difference im a Persian citizen too...

From what it sounds like you're saying only people of that ONE particular country can participate, when in wouldnt make sense, if you already have 2 citizenships.

I doubt they will be like "oh bahrain citizen, oh and a Persian and US citizen, not applicable."

BTW, yeah..alot of people do have a narrow view of the rest of the world.

Just FYI, for anyone that didnt know, the middle east is not just sand dunes and camels...we do have modern civilizations and such.:insane:
 
Bigey said:
I have to be sponsored to get a citizenship? Say what?

Why cant i just apply for it?
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You can't just randomly apply for citizenship like that. If that was the case, then pretty much everyone would rush into first world countries like the USA, England, and Australia.




If it makes any difference im a Persian citizen too...

From what it sounds like you're saying only people of that ONE particular country can participate, when in wouldnt make sense, if you already have 2 citizenships.

I doubt they will be like "oh bahrain citizen, oh and a Persian and US citizen, not applicable."

BTW, yeah..alot of people do have a narrow view of the rest of the world.

Just FYI, for anyone that didnt know, the middle east is not just sand dunes and camels...we do have modern civilizations and such.:insane:
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Excuse my ignorance (sorry!), but when you say Persian citizen, then what country exactly is that for ?
 
LOL, yes please tell us where on the map Persia is. Wait, I found it... Persia
Click it^
Too bad Persia doesn't exist any longer, we might have more stability in the region. Maybe not.
I have worked with Iranian immigrants to the US and they have never expressed any desire to return after they have lived here. One of which fought in the Iranian Army (unwillingly) against Iraq. I may have a somewhat narrow view of why I feel this is one of the best countries to live. I am a patriot of the US. If you see the grass as greener somewhere else, by all means rush there and report back.
 
Just to clarify on my previous post, you need to get sponsored somehow to get citizenship, or some way to get a green card (which establishes a permanent residency and right to work in the USA, and then later you can apply for citizenship).

For example, I'm a US Citizen. I cannot just go to England, and then apply for British citizenship. Now, if I work for a company here that stations me in England, then the company will get a work visa equivalent so I can live and work in England for that company.

But to get British citizenship, somebody/someone would have to sponsor me.

Here in the US, if I marry a foreign, non-US-citizen, from another country, I can then sponsor her for US citizenship on the basis that she is my wife. This process takes quite some time. There were some recent changes, and I believe now, the spouse gets a green card for three years, must stay married, and then finally after that she can apply for US citizenship. Apparently, people were trying to beat the system by getting married,to foreigners, letting them come here, getting them citizenship, divorcing, and then repeating the process.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
You can't just randomly apply for citizenship like that. If that was the case, then pretty much everyone would rush into first world countries like the USA, England, and Australia.







Excuse my ignorance (sorry!), but when you say Persian citizen, then what country exactly is that for ?
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Persian citizen meaning i am a citizen of Iran.

Im sure you guys are very aware of what persia is, and how it is now iran.

Im not saying i would like to move to Iran, trust me on that.

I am talking about the other countries though in the middle east. UAE, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain.

I like the US, but it's not a terrible change for instance moving to UAE from America except the heat problems.
 
Okay, then in that case, you are an Iranian citizen, and would not be accepted for the cadet program for Bahrain or UAE. The cadet program is for the nationals of that country only.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
Just to clarify on my previous post, you need to get sponsored somehow to get citizenship, or some way to get a green card (which establishes a permanent residency and right to work in the USA, and then later you can apply for citizenship).

For example, I'm a US Citizen. I cannot just go to England, and then apply for British citizenship. Now, if I work for a company here that stations me in England, then the company will get a work visa equivalent so I can live and work in England for that company.

But to get British citizenship, somebody/someone would have to sponsor me.

Here in the US, if I marry a foreign, non-US-citizen, from another country, I can then sponsor her for US citizenship on the basis that she is my wife. This process takes quite some time. There were some recent changes, and I believe now, the spouse gets a green card for three years, must stay married, and then finally after that she can apply for US citizenship. Apparently, people were trying to beat the system by getting married,to foreigners, letting them come here, getting them citizenship, divorcing, and then repeating the process.
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AH yes, that cleared it up alot, thanks!:rawk:

SO that means im pretty much out of options then huh?

Any foreign carriers i can fly for?

I mean i love US and its carriers, but they're broke and in deep do do. And besides, i've always liked to try new and different places!:nana2:
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
Okay, then in that case, you are an Iranian citizen, and would not be accepted for the cadet program for Bahrain or UAE. The cadet program is for the nationals of that country only.
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Again, appreciate it for explaining it.

Have any alternatives for me?:confused:
 
You can apply for (and be hired) for Emirates, Gulf Air, and Qatar, as all of them have taken US expatriate pilots before (and still do so). You'd come in as a direct-entry pilot.

What I'm saying is that you cannot apply for the cadet pilot program that they offer (that's reserved for the nationals of their country).
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
You can apply for (and be hired) for Emirates, Gulf Air, and Qatar, as all of them have taken US expatriate pilots before (and still do so). You'd come in as a direct-entry pilot.

What I'm saying is that you cannot apply for the cadet pilot program that they offer (that's reserved for the nationals of their country).
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I see.

Well i guess i have to get me a job flying US before that then!

Oh well.

I still have the passion lit and have nothing against it. Was just looking for a quick way to make good money and get valuable time.:insane:
 
Bigey said:
Was just looking for a quick way to make good money and get valuable time.:insane:
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Cadets don't just start off as an F/O. It's a very intensive program. They go for training for quite some time, and then return as "Second Officers" for their airline. After spending some time as a S/O (no offense, it's more or less baby sitting the plane), they finally become F/Os.

The cadet pay while in training is pretty abysmal for the most part.

Here's a quote from a Gulf Air press release regarding a new class of cadet hires:

“If they successfully complete the initial 18 month flying programme, they will be employed as Second Officers thus commencing careers as commercial airline Pilots,” said Gulf Air vice President Human Resources Tariq Sultan.

18 months to become S/O, and then more time to finally become an F/O for that airline. It's a long, hard road to get there!
 
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