Flying in Indonesia, PNG and Africa

[mbc7]

Hey everyone I'm a Junior Pilot looking at working in Indonesia, PNG or Africa and am keen to find out more about what the living and flying is like. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated? :ok:

[Maxweight]

mbc7

Not sure of your experience level but i think Africa would be the preference !
You may have heard of Maun in Botswana they have many 206 and Bongos and the odd 208 now.
The season(Dry) is just about to begin which is the busiest.Have a look at the African thread.
Indo has not got a lot of GA although i have heard of a company that run 208s out of Medan advertising for pilots.
PNG has a busy GA scene but a bit on the dangerous side(have not been there only heard he stories)

Suggest u ring a few people up but if i were u i would be heading to Bots.
Good Luck

Maxweight:ok:

[Gooneybird]

Africa has been covered quite a bit lately.
This should get you started:

Jobs in Africa (2008 onwards) Part 2
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=310699

need entry level advice
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=310699

[black gun]

I can give you some insight into working in PNG, busy GA lots of flying. I personally do not believe it is dangerous....yes it is different (been flying there for ten years, then again I have never flown in Africa). Most companies will not realise you to line (even in a 206) flying in the highlands (coastal yes..and around New Britain) until you are comfortable and so is the training pilot. If you have just got your CPL then it is worth while to make a trip up there for a week or so knocking on doors, try North Coast or Tropicair. If you have some experience try Hevilift or Airlines PNG (APNG). Once you have a thousand hours in PNG(total time 3000hours), Hevilift and APNG offer tours that is month on and month off or something similar, it is not bad. If you have never been to PNG it is worth the effort to go there as living there is a little different. I have also heard the money is better in Africa for a young pilot starting off.

Hope this helps all the best

[HN1708]

Any info on Susi Air? Have started application process to fly as co-pilot on C208. Keen to get the lowdown on Ts+Cs, feel free to PM me if you don't want to post.

[chili peppered]

A mate of mine applied to susi air and they were quick to get back to him. apparently it was a good package overall but will be in quite remote places of indo if you dont mind roughing it for a year or so. pay was pretty good and good opportunity to really build hours.

[aseanaero]

Susi Air have some very nice caravans and porters , they actually bought new ones ! ! !

Average fleet age 1.65 yrs yes 18 mths , not 16.5 yrs

http://www.susiair.com/

[albatros19]

Ive visited susi air website but not much of info on their recruitment process n criteria..... any highlight on their requirements? also i heard Indonesian operators only accept FAA licence, how bout CAA?

[the wizard of auz]

Susi Air have some very nice caravans and porters , they actually bought new ones ! ! !

Average fleet age 1.65 yrs yes 18 mths , not 16.5 yrs


One of the few things they actually did get right.:ok:

[Basuki]

"they"?
the rights or wrongs depends on the way one does it,
:mad:

[the wizard of auz]

I was talking about operating a new fleet. Not how they got it.
or the cash that came with the purchases.

[Basuki]

Yes new aircraft are nice and safe if well maintained,
So the gin soaked mama must have quite a fat saving-pig then?:E

[Tee Emm]

but will be in quite remote places of indo if you dont mind roughing it for a year or so. pay was pretty good and good opportunity to really build hours.

You say pay is pretty good. With Batavia Air paying $22,000 US a year for first officer positions on 737 and A320 on 100 hours plus a month is this also "pretty good" by Indo standards?

[PK-KAR]

You say pay is pretty good. With Batavia Air paying $22,000 US a year for first officer positions on 737 and A320 on 100 hours plus a month is this also "pretty good" by Indo standards?
A lot of the 737 carriers pay more than that here! Batavia is however known to be stingy.
Eg: Citilink, they take home about US$40k based on 50 hours a month!!! Excluding 1 month's salary annual bonus.
For 100hrs a month, the Citilink FO will earn as much as the Batavia Capt @$4000 a month.
Batavia knows there are many pilots desperate for jobs out there and they're trying to milk it!

So the gin soaked mama must have quite a fat saving-pig then?
Hahahaha! I guess when she's done with the gin for the day, she starts dancing on top of the caravan wings ?

PK-KAR

[brasmelzuit]

so, is there any better option other than Batavia there? AFAIK, Citilink dont take expat pilot..I knew Garuda did, back in early 90s..

[Massey058]

I had read somewhere that Garuda had an application in with the Government to employ expat pilots. They are definitely going to have to with their expansion plans to double the fleet by 2013.

[PK-KAR]

Unfortunately, for mainline, only Batavia and Lion Air are recruiting expats here.
Both know there are loads of pilots willing to work for these 2 outrageous outfits, and they'll use that to squeeze whatever penny they can save from you in one way or another. Lion's pay is better than Batavia's, but despite new planes, don't expect it to be a clean run. Several lawsuits against pilots refusing to fly unairworthy aircraft is still running.

Now, there is one airline about to startup, the same owner (and reportedly a similar outfit) to the former notorious insult to air safety called Adam Air. I think the name of the next outfit will be "King and Queen Air", just heard today they're hiring from January, and dunno if they'll take expats. Now if that big nasty mama owner haven't learnt a thing, she'd be willing to hire your neighborhood postman as the chief pilot!

[captaintoocool]

Hey Guys im really interested in flying caravans in Indonesia. Can you inform me on what the best charter companies are and who is hiring at the moment?

Is it hard to convert my Australian license and also work visas?

I have about 1000 hours mainly single time.

Cheers!!!

[Trex wantok]

Send your cv to APNG they got Twin Otters and Dash-8 and every now and then they take guys straight outta of flying school for the F/Os slot on the DHC6, their last intake on DHC6 was from auss and ardmore guys with 200+hrs so try it you'll never know you might get lucky