Air Serv International - Threads Merged
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I can only assume....
They pay people in the field crap because they do not want people to stay. If they stay, they learn too much. If they learn too much, they might figure out how to get a larger piece of the pie. Or worse, some inside AS might fear that others will learn how to set up a "Not for Profit" international aviation organization to directly compete with them for tax-payer Dollars. For me, it was quite telling when they moved from Redlands California to the Washington D.C. area. The majic of the Lobby Place.
As for their recruitment problem, there are three obvious reasons for it in my opinion. However there is still the security costs question: Is it that AS pays much more to insure security than commercial operators?
Only those in senior managment knows for sure, or, maybe the odd politician.
As for their recruitment problem, there are three obvious reasons for it in my opinion. However there is still the security costs question: Is it that AS pays much more to insure security than commercial operators?
Only those in senior managment knows for sure, or, maybe the odd politician.
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So for a young lad who's a little unfamiliar with the scene but none the less, looking at getting into a little tree hugging, leftist, pinko UN contract work sometime in the next few years, does anyone have details of other companies bidding for and doing Airserv-kinda-work, but with better conditions for those in the hot seat?
Cheers Boys
SC
Cheers Boys
SC
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SC....
Yes... just about every contract company operating out of South Africa...
On the down side you would have to have either an SA licence or an SA rating, something you're unlikely to get sponsored for... just too many SA pilots out there needing work... You could pay for it yourself but without a guarrantee of a job I wouldn't suggest it...
As for the tree hugging bit, you'll be disappointed... it's not taking food to the starving in refugee camps... at least thta's a miniscule part of it that the majority never experience... for the most part you'll be driving around grossly overpaid, self-important administrators on huge UN per-diems... some contracts are more rewarding than others ( in the humanitarian sense )... how much good any of it does and the reasons behind the international aid work by various countries will keep us arguing for the duration of the contract. Just accept that the private companies are there to make money and the NGO's..(not just Airserv) exist primarily just to continue existing.
If you have any church affiliations you could approach PACTEC or MAF... but you'll need to find sponsorship... no salaries involved.
One suggestion... you might reconsider the Pseudonym you've chosen..
Yes... just about every contract company operating out of South Africa...
On the down side you would have to have either an SA licence or an SA rating, something you're unlikely to get sponsored for... just too many SA pilots out there needing work... You could pay for it yourself but without a guarrantee of a job I wouldn't suggest it...
As for the tree hugging bit, you'll be disappointed... it's not taking food to the starving in refugee camps... at least thta's a miniscule part of it that the majority never experience... for the most part you'll be driving around grossly overpaid, self-important administrators on huge UN per-diems... some contracts are more rewarding than others ( in the humanitarian sense )... how much good any of it does and the reasons behind the international aid work by various countries will keep us arguing for the duration of the contract. Just accept that the private companies are there to make money and the NGO's..(not just Airserv) exist primarily just to continue existing.
If you have any church affiliations you could approach PACTEC or MAF... but you'll need to find sponsorship... no salaries involved.
One suggestion... you might reconsider the Pseudonym you've chosen..
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Oh there are Others...
There are other companies that have MUCH better pay, bennies, and conditions than South African companies. You don't have to worry about getting cheated out of you pay either. Many organizations have publicly documented their complaints and offered their reservations concerning several South African companies. SA jobs are by far not the "pnnacle" availible.
lol
lol
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Zimex has to be a good bet but you'll need a JAA licence and 500 on type... very good company... other than that people like Dyncorp, Blackwater etc pay extremely well but you need the Stars and Stripes tatooed on your soul to qualify
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Air Ser
Just turned away from a BE200 ASI gig in Kabul. All the prelim's were very professional and I was left with the impression this is a top notch outfit if you are interested in doing humanitarian work, Would go back and work for them in a minute if personal protection details were refined. All the crew I spoke with were very friendly and professional. Nothing but top marks from folks I spoke with.
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Was just my way of saying that to work for them you need to be a US citizen and preferably an ex-jarhead... pity as its interesting work... little if at all more risky than what we do with other outfits and pays mega-bucks ..
As for ASI... I think you're being a bit hard on them.... poor pay definately but no one is forced to work for them. I'm only back here short term but am hoping the new CEO will have a more realistic approach than the last one... at least he's a pilot... Pilots generally are much better at the admin side than admins are at understanding aviation... which IS what ASI is about irrespective of that pathetic speach made a couple of years back.
As for ASI... I think you're being a bit hard on them.... poor pay definately but no one is forced to work for them. I'm only back here short term but am hoping the new CEO will have a more realistic approach than the last one... at least he's a pilot... Pilots generally are much better at the admin side than admins are at understanding aviation... which IS what ASI is about irrespective of that pathetic speach made a couple of years back.
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Well MungoP....
I am both and I wouldn't spit on Blackwater if their guts were on fire. They are mercenaries, not patriots.
As for Air Serv, there is not now, nor has there ever been a legitimate reason for paying their people like crap. They are better on the co-jo pay, slightly better on the engineer and 1st officer pay, but basically they are paying people the field the same as fifteen years ago. Bet it ain't the same for people in the States after fifteen years.
However, you just do whatever you feel is best for you MungoP. My complaint revolves around the fact that generally ASI people do not know what most people make in this work until they sign a contract and end up in the field. In this, they use people in the worst way.
As for Air Serv, there is not now, nor has there ever been a legitimate reason for paying their people like crap. They are better on the co-jo pay, slightly better on the engineer and 1st officer pay, but basically they are paying people the field the same as fifteen years ago. Bet it ain't the same for people in the States after fifteen years.
However, you just do whatever you feel is best for you MungoP. My complaint revolves around the fact that generally ASI people do not know what most people make in this work until they sign a contract and end up in the field. In this, they use people in the worst way.
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Hey MungoP they are not making you fly enough in Kabul these days seems you like to post a lot, will have to talk to your CD. Is that GJ by chance??
Now on the issue of salaries I have to say that yes they pay you very little, you come out on the field, find people making more, but hey if it was not for ASI a lot of people in North America would not even know what contracts are all about.
Generally Americans are not keen on working contracts, they prefer working under the poverty level for companies like eagle at less than 19.00$ and hour. At that price I prefer working at Taco Hell.
Now on the issue of salaries I have to say that yes they pay you very little, you come out on the field, find people making more, but hey if it was not for ASI a lot of people in North America would not even know what contracts are all about.
Generally Americans are not keen on working contracts, they prefer working under the poverty level for companies like eagle at less than 19.00$ and hour. At that price I prefer working at Taco Hell.
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You're right... not too much flying right now plus it's a different crowd from last winter... we don't get up to the same sort of mischief... seems to be raining/snowing most days... mud mud mud, beginning to understand what trench life was like for the poor b*ggers during WW1. I seem to be spending half the day defending asi on pprune.. maybe I should become their PR man.....so... between orders for Tacos maybe you can slip me a clue as to who the fried frog is ..
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KABUL?!
Good Grief. Air Serv still pays CRAP even in a war zone? The arrogance of these people are just beyond me. I wish I could offer you all decent jobs so that you could all quit in mass and walk away with a brighter future. Good Luck.
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.....
MungoP, be careful, there is a camera in your keyboard....(only he and I would understand that).
Ahh, what can I begin to say about ASI.
The 500 time on type issue is absolutely insane. Not as ASI policy, but rather (from what ive been told) an old number set up on a former 737 contract, and applied to this gig for some reason, by the U.N. They wont even accept BE300/350, C90, B1900 time. ????? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THE PENCIL MONKEYS GET AHOLD OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE!!!!!
But on the salary issue, yes, we all know its pathetic. But, for starters, I do not make a big stink about it, because I KNEW WHAT IT WAS WHEN I SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE. And I have run the numbers, and ASI vs. NL actually isnt that big of a difference, if you factor in certain things. It seems most people just look at the base salary number and just go off that. You cant do that.
Lets put it this way----i am actually making/saving more money working here, flying my little kingair, than I was back in the states flying for a part 121 carrier. Thats how pathetic salaries are in the US right now. And its TPIC time to boot.
Most of the south africans I work with thought I was absolutely insane to leave that to come "downgrade" and fly a kingair. Let me tell you, there is more to life than being an "airline pilot" in this day and age. I imagine your going to get to your new airline gig, and after the honeymoon ends, youll be wishing you were back in the bush. The PanAm Clipper days are over my friends.
In the U.S, we dont have many companies at all doing this type of work. And I realize there are quite a few SA companies out there, but in our sheltered world in the U.S, we would never have a chance to run across that info (except on pprune). This is a way to break into this type of operation, etc. And I see people saying, well why not just get hired by a SA operator.? Like they are actualy going to want to put in the effort to hire some guy from the states, and all the monkey-motion that goes along with it, when there are guys in SA for the job. Get real.
The best part of this gig, aside from TPIC time, are the connections, let me just put it that way.
All in all, ive enjoyed my time here. Met some really great guys from SA, for some reason they have put up with me, flown with me, even pretended to laugh at my jokes, and my attempts to speak Afrikaans. (but for the love of god, do something about that music you all play!!!!!
) The next engineer is bringing me an afrikaans study guide, so ill be able to converse.
But in the end, there is A LOT airserv will have to work on to improve things. If they would just change a few basic things, the turnover rate would not be there, people would actually be staying, training costs would be lower, happier employees, etc. See----so simple and logical, that it actually makes sense. But, we'll leave the "important" decisions to the pencil monkeys.
But I figure, in the next year or two, not much will have changed. Only time will tell I suppose.
Ahh, what can I begin to say about ASI.
The 500 time on type issue is absolutely insane. Not as ASI policy, but rather (from what ive been told) an old number set up on a former 737 contract, and applied to this gig for some reason, by the U.N. They wont even accept BE300/350, C90, B1900 time. ????? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THE PENCIL MONKEYS GET AHOLD OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE!!!!!
But on the salary issue, yes, we all know its pathetic. But, for starters, I do not make a big stink about it, because I KNEW WHAT IT WAS WHEN I SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE. And I have run the numbers, and ASI vs. NL actually isnt that big of a difference, if you factor in certain things. It seems most people just look at the base salary number and just go off that. You cant do that.
Lets put it this way----i am actually making/saving more money working here, flying my little kingair, than I was back in the states flying for a part 121 carrier. Thats how pathetic salaries are in the US right now. And its TPIC time to boot.
Most of the south africans I work with thought I was absolutely insane to leave that to come "downgrade" and fly a kingair. Let me tell you, there is more to life than being an "airline pilot" in this day and age. I imagine your going to get to your new airline gig, and after the honeymoon ends, youll be wishing you were back in the bush. The PanAm Clipper days are over my friends.
In the U.S, we dont have many companies at all doing this type of work. And I realize there are quite a few SA companies out there, but in our sheltered world in the U.S, we would never have a chance to run across that info (except on pprune). This is a way to break into this type of operation, etc. And I see people saying, well why not just get hired by a SA operator.? Like they are actualy going to want to put in the effort to hire some guy from the states, and all the monkey-motion that goes along with it, when there are guys in SA for the job. Get real.
The best part of this gig, aside from TPIC time, are the connections, let me just put it that way.
All in all, ive enjoyed my time here. Met some really great guys from SA, for some reason they have put up with me, flown with me, even pretended to laugh at my jokes, and my attempts to speak Afrikaans. (but for the love of god, do something about that music you all play!!!!!
) The next engineer is bringing me an afrikaans study guide, so ill be able to converse.But in the end, there is A LOT airserv will have to work on to improve things. If they would just change a few basic things, the turnover rate would not be there, people would actually be staying, training costs would be lower, happier employees, etc. See----so simple and logical, that it actually makes sense. But, we'll leave the "important" decisions to the pencil monkeys.
But I figure, in the next year or two, not much will have changed. Only time will tell I suppose.
Tree....?
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Air Swerve Updates
Ok the latest I have is that the flamboyant ex CEO is now working in Afghanistan for a contractor. The new guy is a down to earth bloke who used to fly PACTEC (very religeous outfit = Kind of a MAF) in Afghanistan & was also an ex Policeman.
From the old crew very few are left and many will be happy to hear that SMcG "the stare you to death" Canadian has left
They have a whole new crop of CD's but the Peod
le that was in the "Boy Hugging" business is still working for Air Swerve
He is now considered to be the best in the business
As for there Gin Palace called Air Swerve Limited in Uganda, its still beautifully maintanined and has one large C130 tyre in the middle of the hangar floor. They hope to break into Contracts. Last I heard they were trying for UN clearance to direct bid UN work.
I dont think they will ever "go down" and they actually have bought some Aircraft and believe that NL has a Schweeeet deal for them on some 200's but they will definately become more "Conservative" & Smaller. Obviously as long as the Peodle still works for them and the ASI board that was made aware of these allegations, does nothing, then ASI will continue to go through a tough process. Especially if the press in the USA gets hold of it and the Donor ****s themself into a lawsuit mentality.
So if you want to work for them, love all, including Peodles willing to accept great flying, **** pay and good hour building then its a great outfit to be with.
One day we might see the Gin Palace actually turn and make money becasue its a pretty hard thing not to be able to do if you sit right next to South Sudan!
From the old crew very few are left and many will be happy to hear that SMcG "the stare you to death" Canadian has left
They have a whole new crop of CD's but the Peodle that was in the "Boy Hugging" business is still working for Air Swerve He is now considered to be the best in the business As for there Gin Palace called Air Swerve Limited in Uganda, its still beautifully maintanined and has one large C130 tyre in the middle of the hangar floor. They hope to break into Contracts. Last I heard they were trying for UN clearance to direct bid UN work.
I dont think they will ever "go down" and they actually have bought some Aircraft and believe that NL has a Schweeeet deal for them on some 200's but they will definately become more "Conservative" & Smaller. Obviously as long as the Peod
le still works for them and the ASI board that was made aware of these allegations, does nothing, then ASI will continue to go through a tough process. Especially if the press in the USA gets hold of it and the Donor ****s themself into a lawsuit mentality.So if you want to work for them, love all, including Peod
les willing to accept great flying, **** pay and good hour building then its a great outfit to be with.One day we might see the Gin Palace actually turn and make money becasue its a pretty hard thing not to be able to do if you sit right next to South Sudan!
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air serv intl
Hi
I don't know ASI's rules as of this moment, but a couple of years ago I tried to get on with them. I have around 26000 hours but no turbine time!!! NO DEAL...ps...any info on Blackwater????? thanks.
I don't know ASI's rules as of this moment, but a couple of years ago I tried to get on with them. I have around 26000 hours but no turbine time!!! NO DEAL...ps...any info on Blackwater????? thanks.
Last edited by dizzytinperson; 17th Jun 2007 at 18:36. Reason: add a question
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Air Serv International
A word of caution to future Air Serv International pilots.
I worked for Air serv in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They owe me a bunch of money and it looks like I will never get paid.
Ok. You have been warned.
Bottom line: Their employment contracts are only usefull in african toilets.
www.airserv.org
I worked for Air serv in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They owe me a bunch of money and it looks like I will never get paid.
Ok. You have been warned.
Bottom line: Their employment contracts are only usefull in african toilets.
www.airserv.org
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aime: Air Serv International
I've worked with them off and on for the past 4 years in both Africa and Afghanland and while accepting that the organisation is not perfect (anyone knowing one that is PLEASE PM me )... I have NEVER heard of anyone having trouble getting paid... I have NEVER heard of anyone not having their contract adhered to...
I'm willing to bet that there is a story lurking behind 'aimes's' post... maybe he/she would care to elaborate ?
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AIME's POST
My friend I worked for Air Serv in the "Pre Stu" and during "Stu" days and can assure you that I agree 100% with Mungo P that they are very far from perfect, BUT THEY DO PAY THERE salaries.
You say the Congo, you a new PPRUNER then, so maybe are you the guy that flew in that Otter that you all bent recently?
Because if so I would also not have paid you, I would have forgotten my parayer book and wrung your bloody neck, and after the last choke of breath was out of your body I would have cut your scrotum off with a very sharp knife so I can dry out the skin and make myself a tobacco pouch.
But off course I might be totally wrong, and if so accept my apologies, but I know, you know and every Air Serv Alumni knows that Air Serv actually pays there salaries.
You say the Congo, you a new PPRUNER then, so maybe are you the guy that flew in that Otter that you all bent recently?
Because if so I would also not have paid you, I would have forgotten my parayer book and wrung your bloody neck, and after the last choke of breath was out of your body I would have cut your scrotum off with a very sharp knife so I can dry out the skin and make myself a tobacco pouch.
But off course I might be totally wrong, and if so accept my apologies, but I know, you know and every Air Serv Alumni knows that Air Serv actually pays there salaries.