Air Astana

[AlR]

Air Astana in Astana Kazakstan. Fairly new Airline, not much background info on them. Have any of you heard anything about them. Considering a year long stint with them, but would like a little more substance on their operation.

[Woodwrecker]

There was just a write-up about Air Astana in I believe Airliners magazine. It was either that magazine or the British magazine that usually sits next to Airlines. I saw it at Barnes & Noble. In any case, they operate 757s, 737s, and at the time of the article, 1 A320.

Formerly Kazakhstan Air, it is part owned by the Government and BAE with a 51% share going to the Government. I believe the country is highly Muslim and of course is former Soviet Bloc. I assume you've seen their website at www.airastana.com but if you haven't check it out.

From what I recall, the pay for a DEC A320 wasn't good enough to even consider, in my opinion.

WW

[troioi01]

Air Astana has 4 B757's, 3 B737 NG's, 3 A320's, 5 F50's they are shortly taking delivery of more A320/21's and are actively looking for new wide bodies.
They are not formerly Kazakhstan Air, but were formed when that airline went into liquidation to service the vacant slots.
Kazakhstan and Almaty itself are beautiful, populated by fun loving well off people, you will see more Hummers and BMW's than Lada's on the wide tree lined streets. The climate is great, sunny and warm (36) in the summer and snowy and cold in the winter (-40). 20 mins from the city of Almaty are mountains with good ski slopes.
The country is not highly Muslim, for instance at the moment it is the holy month of Ramadan, the clubs are full of people drinking and dancing into the wee hours and no one is fasting, Mosques are few and far between (there are just as many churches).
The airline is run to European standards and is profitable and expanding fast. They fly to London, Dubai, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Thailand, Beijing, Delhi to name a few, plus many internal routes (the country is vast).
I say do it, and do it quick, before all the people who think otherwise find out the truth.

[slingsby]

4 x B757-200 / B737NG leaving us soon / 4 x A320 / 4x F50
Ordered 2x A321 plus 2 B767-300 ex Canadian. Later next year 2x A330 but this is to be confirmed. Also talking about a freighter service with A300F or B767F.

Routes with nice long layovers, apart from London and Amsterdam where you will be thrown occassionally into the sweat boxes.. Hanover 1 week layover, very lucrative. FRA/AMS very nice. PVG/BKK/DXB/DEL/IST/MOW plus a whole host of domestic flights (don't forget that it takes nearly 3 hours for some domestic flights in KZ)

Lifestyle fantastic, people superb to live and work with. Clubs really good, scenery outstanding, a chance to work and fly in some of the most interesting neighbourhoods.... yes ok the weather can be hard going in the winter, but think of all those clear ski slopes. Summers, hot n dry but u get a great tan.

[proflyer9]

www.airastana.com

I dont know about you guys, but is anyone able to access the air astana website? cant seem to go through.

[152wiseguy]

Works for me but it is a bit slow. Here's what it says in their careers section:

Air Astana is looking for motivated pilots with a high degree of integrity to staff its B757-200, B737NG and Fokker-50 aircraft

Applicants shall meet all criteria below:

Requirements for Captains B757 and B737NG:

* Current and valid Kazakhstan or ICAO ATPL;
* Minimum of hours PIC as follows:
a. minimum of 500 hours on class 1 aircraft or
b. minimum of 1000 hours on class 2 aircraft
* Minimum of 2000 hours multi-engine;
* Minimum of 2000 hours multi-crew;
* Maximum of 50 years of age;
* Command of conversational English;
* International flights qualification.

Requirements for First Officers B757 and B737NG:

* Current Kazakhstan ATPL;
* Minimum of 2000 hours total time;
* Minimum of 1000 hours multi-engine, multi-crew time;
* Maximum of 45 years of age;
* Command of conversational English;
* International flights qualification.


Requirements for Captains Fokker-50:

* Current Kazakhstan or ICAO ATPL;
* Minimum of 1500 hours total time;
* Minimum of 1000 hours multi – engine;
* Command of conversational English;
* Minimum of 1000 hours PIC;
* Maximum 50 years of age;

Requirements for First Officers Fokker-50:

* Current Kazakhstan ATPL;
* Minimum of 500 hours total time;
* Minimum of 400 hours multi – engine;
* Command of conversational English;
* Minimum of 100 hours PIC;
* Maximum 45 years of age.

[proflyer9]

Thanks wise guy..

[alexb757]

Originally Posted by 152wiseguy

Works for me but it is a bit slow. Here's what it says in their careers section:
Air Astana is looking for motivated pilots with a high degree of integrity to staff its B757-200, B737NG and Fokker-50 aircraft
Applicants shall meet all criteria below:
Requirements for Captains B757 and B737NG:
* Current and valid Kazakhstan or ICAO ATPL;
* Minimum of hours PIC as follows:
a. minimum of 500 hours on class 1 aircraft or
b. minimum of 1000 hours on class 2 aircraft
* Minimum of 2000 hours multi-engine;
* Minimum of 2000 hours multi-crew;
* Maximum of 50 years of age;
* Command of conversational English;
* International flights qualification.
Requirements for First Officers B757 and B737NG:
* Current Kazakhstan ATPL;
* Minimum of 2000 hours total time;
* Minimum of 1000 hours multi-engine, multi-crew time;
* Maximum of 45 years of age;
* Command of conversational English;
* International flights qualification.
Requirements for Captains Fokker-50:
* Current Kazakhstan or ICAO ATPL;
* Minimum of 1500 hours total time;
* Minimum of 1000 hours multi – engine;
* Command of conversational English;
* Minimum of 1000 hours PIC;
* Maximum 50 years of age;
Requirements for First Officers Fokker-50:
* Current Kazakhstan ATPL;
* Minimum of 500 hours total time;
* Minimum of 400 hours multi – engine;
* Command of conversational English;
* Minimum of 100 hours PIC;
* Maximum 45 years of age.

I heard a few months ago that they had INCREASED their age limits by as much as 10 years in the hope that they could attract more, experienced folks. Not sure about the money side though!

[NG_Kaptain]

How much?

Anybody know what they are paying?

[Capt Chambo]

Via an agency I was offered Euro 5500 per month plus Euro 50 per diem, with a December start for one/two month contract.
Needless to say I turned it down.

[NG_Kaptain]

Should have been at least $10000 US.

[BANANASBANANAS]

Is the CEO the same guy that ripped the guts out of Royal Brunei? If it is, you will never be paid what you are worth.

[typhoonpilot]

I've heard 6500 Euros per month plus 50 Euros per day per diem. That does equal $USD10,000 per month. Contracts are through Direct Personnel. Contact them for further info.

TP

[Capt Chambo]

I wasn't going to mention the agency in my previous post for fear of it being seen as "advertising".
Direct personnel are indeed the agents, and the salary for a Captain is as per my previous post. F/O are being offered Euro 3700 per month and a Euro 50 per diem.
Not enough IMHO.

[Iron Duke]

Air Astana sounds very interesting however are they based in Almaty or Astana ... the latter being a purpose built capital, and the former being a great city with a good buzz and the skislopes/mountains on the doorstep ...?
This site reports that it is a cosmopolitan place with potentially a good lifestyle with relatively good time off.
The money is of course important (Tax?) as I believe tht it is not cheap out there ... Do they provide accomodation/ any other allowances ?
I would be grateful for any replies, referenced particularly to the 757 ..
Many thanks

I. Duke

[alexb757]

Borat would want you to try this national airline..

Originally Posted by Capt Chambo

I wasn't going to mention the agency in my previous post for fear of it being seen as "advertising".
Direct personnel are indeed the agents, and the salary for a Captain is as per my previous post. F/O are being offered Euro 3700 per month and a Euro 50 per diem.
Not enough IMHO.

Have to agree with previous comments and yes, Direct have been advertising these openings for over 1 year now.....on and off and occasionally with the sidebar "new and improved terms and conditions"! That can only mean one thing and usually I avoid contracts like that with a large barge pole.
In the military there used to be a term for extra payment for folks being posted to out-of-ordinary places that were not the best and therefore not very popular with the troops. It was called hard-lying money and offered as an incentive to take the posting or make it easier once you got there.
I'm sure Kazahkstan is a nice, developing country and there are opportunities there and other parts of Central Asia. However, you DO need to do your research carefully and ask LOTS of questions. The rate at which these are answered (whether by agency or airline itslef) will provide a valuable clue on what you can expect once you have signed and are there.
This job was not for me nor for many of my fellow colleagues as the remuneration package was no where near what would represent the sacrifice in leaving one position to an unknown environment with limited benefits and relatively isolated part of the world.
There is some truth to the Borat stories.....go find out if you want. Really depends on indivdual circumstances and if you are young and hungry for hours, it's probably a good place to build experience. Career move? I don't think so.
Good luck to those that go, enjoy!

[slingsby]

Bananas, yes it is the one in the same. Strange when you work for the same guy again, outside of RBA, you learn the truth what was going on.

alexb757, dangerous comment re borat, I hope you never divert or work here, idiotic comments like that are most unwelcome and immature

B757 and A320 main fleet, just purchased 2x A321 for Dec, 2x B767-300 for Jan/Mar, August is 2x A330. See RP, this is how fleet procurement goes when the board doesn't tie you down.
Main fleet base UAAA/ALA, second base UACC/TSE

[alexb757]

Originally Posted by slingsby

Bananas, yes it is the one in the same. Strange when you work for the same guy again, outside of RBA, you learn the truth what was going on.
alexb757, dangerous comment re borat, I hope you never divert or work here, idiotic comments like that are most unwelcome and immature
B757 and A320 main fleet, just purchased 2x A321 for Dec, 2x B767-300 for Jan/Mar, August is 2x A330. See RP, this is how fleet procurement goes when the board doesn't tie you down.
Main fleet base UAAA/ALA, second base UACC/TSE

Well, slingers, I see that you are not even a professional pilot (this is a professional pilot rumour network, is it not?) but senior airline management! Enough said......................

Dangerous? Why is that?
You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. I have no interest in this company, nor the country and certainly the remuneration package deal I saw a year ago was a joke by any international standards (as did several of my colleagues - all of whom turned down the Direct offer).
If you think my comments are dangerous, then you, Sir, have no sense of humour and you are the idiot!
For the record, I have been to ALA several times in the past year on stopovers and that's as far as I want to go, thanks.
Just accept that what is one man's delight might very well be someone else's nightmare.
And don't be so sensitive, I thought all management had thick skins

[FlyTester]

Originally Posted by 152wiseguy

Requirements for First Officers Fokker-50:

* Current Kazakhstan ATPL;
* Minimum of 500 hours total time;

So am I to understand a Kazakhstan ATP can be had with less than 501 hrs?

Anyone have any info on how to get one?

[Blacksheep]

...you learn the truth what was going on.

The Truth? You couldn't handle the Truth. Disreputable, unprincipled and unscrupulous? He should have been a politician.