Air Serv International - Threads Merged
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I wish I could shed some positive light on working for airsev, In my experience working for them, all that I can say is stay away!!
Sure they pay their pilots on time, and the flying is great, that is when you fly. The maintenance is so shoddy that you spend about sixty percent of you time waiting around for aircraft to be fixed. As for the chief pilots', some of the worst "ding bats" i've had the the pleasure of working with.
As for it being a non-profit organisation, I wish somebody had informed the powers in charge who seem to be milking the system for all that it's worth.
Sure they pay their pilots on time, and the flying is great, that is when you fly. The maintenance is so shoddy that you spend about sixty percent of you time waiting around for aircraft to be fixed. As for the chief pilots', some of the worst "ding bats" i've had the the pleasure of working with.
As for it being a non-profit organisation, I wish somebody had informed the powers in charge who seem to be milking the system for all that it's worth.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: South Africa
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Air Serv operate aircraft on humanitarian ops for MSF, WFP, US AID etc. They have bases in Amman(Jordan), Kabul, Banda Aiche, Entebbe and Beira. The aircraft operate on Air Serv AoC's and contrary to previuos(sp) posts maintenace are of as high a standard as can be expected concidering the conditions they operate under.
They lease quite a large number of aircraft and crew from Naturelink, a South African operator, the types vary from EMB120's, most of the BE series to the C208B.
All in all not a bad operation, although the areas they operate in could not be discribed as ideal. As in all things in life its what you make of it.
They lease quite a large number of aircraft and crew from Naturelink, a South African operator, the types vary from EMB120's, most of the BE series to the C208B.
All in all not a bad operation, although the areas they operate in could not be discribed as ideal. As in all things in life its what you make of it.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: A very Dark Place
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c_kraig...I think you are being a little unfair to Cenrifugel. He has no problem that I can see. He has worked for Air Serv and has given his opinion - valuable since he has actual experience. You are about to work for them, I assume? and give your opinion from more limited experience.... presumably an orientation visit to them in Virginia. I wish you every success when you arrive in Africa. I am not sure what Evergreen has to do with the issue or your poor choice of best man. I know people who work for Evergreen who are quite happy.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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i have not worked for airserv, but when we had bases in the congo, the airserv guys were always round because their accomodation was so bad they would rather watch satellite tv at our place than spend time in their sh)t hole!
like i said i have never worked for them, but i have heard they are part ot the CIA?
legend/rumour/rubbush, call it what you like, but are exactly the kind of outfit for such a role?
hello gerund!
like i said i have never worked for them, but i have heard they are part ot the CIA?
legend/rumour/rubbush, call it what you like, but are exactly the kind of outfit for such a role?
hello gerund!
Gatvol
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"As for it being a non-profit organisation, I wish somebody had informed the powers in charge who seem to be milking the system for all that it's worth."
Centrifugal, You seem to be saying its a no profit........but thats so true with just about any organization we have in the states. Hell the head of the Red Cross makes $3-400k a year as CEO. The excuse is that its like any big Organization, you need talent to get the job done. That usually translates to someone with a Politician in their pocket to get sh1t passed through the Government. Its just the way things are done....
No doubt many of their Non-Profit Missions are funded by Uncle Sugar, why else would they be in Africa, Afghanistan etc. Its also where the most Aid is needed.
I emailed them a couple days ago regarding employment. I was told new hires have to jump on at a minimum of a one years contract, short term work was for their "Alumni". Certainly smells like Air America back in the days of that place called Viet-nam.
Im sure its liike any other Government contractor, if you know some of the "Good Old Boys" you could walk in tomorrow. We have them all over the place, Dyn-Corp, Blackwater, ya-da yada......all have offices within walking distance of Georges Office.
Centrifugal, You seem to be saying its a no profit........but thats so true with just about any organization we have in the states. Hell the head of the Red Cross makes $3-400k a year as CEO. The excuse is that its like any big Organization, you need talent to get the job done. That usually translates to someone with a Politician in their pocket to get sh1t passed through the Government. Its just the way things are done....
No doubt many of their Non-Profit Missions are funded by Uncle Sugar, why else would they be in Africa, Afghanistan etc. Its also where the most Aid is needed.
I emailed them a couple days ago regarding employment. I was told new hires have to jump on at a minimum of a one years contract, short term work was for their "Alumni". Certainly smells like Air America back in the days of that place called Viet-nam.
Im sure its liike any other Government contractor, if you know some of the "Good Old Boys" you could walk in tomorrow. We have them all over the place, Dyn-Corp, Blackwater, ya-da yada......all have offices within walking distance of Georges Office.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Think again
Defeniatly a non-profit(unless you are main dingbat), you should see the descisions they make.They got dudes called country directors( that hate pilots)that have deciding powers over matters they know nothing of(aviation).
Used to be a good outfit, but they loosing it.Double standards.
If they would only listen to the pilots,but pilots are stupid and can only fly-meantime some off us have more managing exp. than the dingbats.
But i ques there's always hope!!
Used to be a good outfit, but they loosing it.Double standards.
If they would only listen to the pilots,but pilots are stupid and can only fly-meantime some off us have more managing exp. than the dingbats.
But i ques there's always hope!!
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camel trader,
I am afraid that you are doing much to enhance the 'nice but naive' image of Candadians here.
'they have no affilliation to the CIA or any arm of any government - other than working with people like USAID who fund them...'
Wake up and smell the Colombian ! Where do you think USAID get their money from ? You obviously didn't look too closely at the 'strange' passengers you will have flown now and then. That's your choice.
By all means express your opinion but don't try to pass off these statements as fact. It's not like they are going to walk up to your aircraft with 'CIA agent' badges on their anoraks and ask you if you wouldn't mind keeping their 9mms in the cockpit, are they ?
You really think that the US (lack of) intelligence agencies are just going to leave an American aviation company flying in Baghdad, Afghanistan and various warring African countries, just to get on with their own thing all by themselves ? Come on !
As for 'you would be a rare person to be able to "make it" as an Air Server...' you are absolutely right. From my experience, I doubt that I would ever even consider using an ex AirServ permanent pilot in our company.
Brainwashed, patronsing and technically incompetent pilots tend to upset the other guys who know what they are doing and would rather just get on with it.
(By the latter, I mean the guys working on contracts through their own companies. These pilots are different and those who can tolerate working under AirServ's particular, peculiar regime are special people indeed. Always welcome as pilots and diplomats. But those who can handle AirServ are quickly able to find themselves something better and move on so the situation perpetuates.)
AirServ's humanitarian, Christian, tree hugging image will attract naive, optimistic and well meaning people to fly for them, but anyone involved with them should not blind themselves to the rest of what is inevitably involved.
I am afraid that you are doing much to enhance the 'nice but naive' image of Candadians here.
'they have no affilliation to the CIA or any arm of any government - other than working with people like USAID who fund them...'
Wake up and smell the Colombian ! Where do you think USAID get their money from ? You obviously didn't look too closely at the 'strange' passengers you will have flown now and then. That's your choice.
By all means express your opinion but don't try to pass off these statements as fact. It's not like they are going to walk up to your aircraft with 'CIA agent' badges on their anoraks and ask you if you wouldn't mind keeping their 9mms in the cockpit, are they ?
You really think that the US (lack of) intelligence agencies are just going to leave an American aviation company flying in Baghdad, Afghanistan and various warring African countries, just to get on with their own thing all by themselves ? Come on !
As for 'you would be a rare person to be able to "make it" as an Air Server...' you are absolutely right. From my experience, I doubt that I would ever even consider using an ex AirServ permanent pilot in our company.
Brainwashed, patronsing and technically incompetent pilots tend to upset the other guys who know what they are doing and would rather just get on with it.
(By the latter, I mean the guys working on contracts through their own companies. These pilots are different and those who can tolerate working under AirServ's particular, peculiar regime are special people indeed. Always welcome as pilots and diplomats. But those who can handle AirServ are quickly able to find themselves something better and move on so the situation perpetuates.)
AirServ's humanitarian, Christian, tree hugging image will attract naive, optimistic and well meaning people to fly for them, but anyone involved with them should not blind themselves to the rest of what is inevitably involved.
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Kurt Neuwanschwander is the international chief pilot. Send him your resume at the Virginia address on the web site.
Really terrific people over there. But be warned if you are coming from a part 121/135 operation. Despite being an American organisation they fall far short of all safety and maintenence standards that most north American/ European pilots are used to.
Really terrific people over there. But be warned if you are coming from a part 121/135 operation. Despite being an American organisation they fall far short of all safety and maintenence standards that most north American/ European pilots are used to.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Cameltrader, hear what you say, you prob been there many moons ago, thats what so sad, they aint the same anymore.One off the good things remaining-screw up and you get promoted!
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R 8 - 12k pcm basic plus US$ 75 a day S&T from Naturelink and US$ 25 a day from AirServ.
Basic salary guideline only ; varies with experience.
6 weeks on; 6 weeks off unless you are permanent and do charters, ferries or money runs when you are back in RSA.
Basic salary guideline only ; varies with experience.
6 weeks on; 6 weeks off unless you are permanent and do charters, ferries or money runs when you are back in RSA.
Join Date: May 2005
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goaround7
thanks for the quick reply and info, i was a bit unsure as to who to contact (Naturelink/Airserv) so thanks for that info to.
R-8 ? would apprieciate contact details if you have them, PM if you wish.
Regards
Warmfront
thanks for the quick reply and info, i was a bit unsure as to who to contact (Naturelink/Airserv) so thanks for that info to.R-8 ? would apprieciate contact details if you have them, PM if you wish.
Regards
Warmfront
Last edited by warmfront; 15th Aug 2005 at 18:43.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Much has been written on ASI in previous posts.... some quite recently... suggest you do a search if not yet done so....
Some of the posts cause me to think of the mad hatters tea party...On the whole I'd say that they are well intentioned.... safety conscious at least as much as the average Part 135 operator (technically they are part 91 with a dispensation from the FAA)...
Was a very altruistic operation originally started by some ex MAF types....under their current CEO are becoming more hardnosed re: profit/non Profit status... probably necessary in order to survive... Money sounds poor on paper but everything pretty much all found and no tax to pay means you will bank whatever your paid... Attracts a wide variety of pilots most of which are pretty capable....You have to be content to put up with sharing a house with maybe 5 other people... Most postings are in places where it's not really advisable to walk the streets, drive a car or ride a bicycle so a feeling of being imprisoned can overtake you after a while as transport will depend on the Country Director's willingness to provide cars and drivers out of their precious budget...Unfortunately there is among the hierarchy a disdain for pilots which ramifies downwards through the company...this starts with the boss Stuart Willcuts.... and country directors, who almost without exception have no professional knowledge of aviation have been more than willing to follow his lead.
The flying is pretty much OK and more interesting than much developed world flying.... don't believe cr*p about it being CIA or NSA it's just a humanitarian NGO... if someone from some shady organisation needed to travel through an area flown by ASI then they no doubt will try to hop a plane but then they will also travel with US Air or AA as well....
If you fancy something different it's worth trying.... salaries are paid efficiently... health care schemes are in place... if you suffer some sort of injury/sickness you will get 1st class attention probably involving a medivac... In short as with any company ( I've worked with other companies who's management don't care for pilots ) Pluses and minuses...
You'll need to push... push again and then push harder to make something happen with HQ.... good people but a bit disorganised on the recruiting front....
Try to speak to Tina Schaefer and /or Wendy Irmischer...regularly.
For the most part I enjoyed my time there ....
just watch out for those ' !§$£#µ Country Directors.... ! they are probably responsible for most pilots leaving or changing their minds about joining ASI.
Some of the posts cause me to think of the mad hatters tea party...On the whole I'd say that they are well intentioned.... safety conscious at least as much as the average Part 135 operator (technically they are part 91 with a dispensation from the FAA)...
Was a very altruistic operation originally started by some ex MAF types....under their current CEO are becoming more hardnosed re: profit/non Profit status... probably necessary in order to survive... Money sounds poor on paper but everything pretty much all found and no tax to pay means you will bank whatever your paid... Attracts a wide variety of pilots most of which are pretty capable....You have to be content to put up with sharing a house with maybe 5 other people... Most postings are in places where it's not really advisable to walk the streets, drive a car or ride a bicycle so a feeling of being imprisoned can overtake you after a while as transport will depend on the Country Director's willingness to provide cars and drivers out of their precious budget...Unfortunately there is among the hierarchy a disdain for pilots which ramifies downwards through the company...this starts with the boss Stuart Willcuts.... and country directors, who almost without exception have no professional knowledge of aviation have been more than willing to follow his lead.
The flying is pretty much OK and more interesting than much developed world flying.... don't believe cr*p about it being CIA or NSA it's just a humanitarian NGO... if someone from some shady organisation needed to travel through an area flown by ASI then they no doubt will try to hop a plane but then they will also travel with US Air or AA as well....
If you fancy something different it's worth trying.... salaries are paid efficiently... health care schemes are in place... if you suffer some sort of injury/sickness you will get 1st class attention probably involving a medivac... In short as with any company ( I've worked with other companies who's management don't care for pilots ) Pluses and minuses...
You'll need to push... push again and then push harder to make something happen with HQ.... good people but a bit disorganised on the recruiting front....
Try to speak to Tina Schaefer and /or Wendy Irmischer...regularly.
For the most part I enjoyed my time there ....
just watch out for those ' !§$£#µ Country Directors.... ! they are probably responsible for most pilots leaving or changing their minds about joining ASI.