I am an Aircraft Engineer with more than 24 years experience with all companies from the 150 Cessna to the B767 and everything inbetween.
From what I am about to say some off you will know who I am.
Let me explain Vanutu & Air Vanuatu. I was there for 3 years as the only Avionics licenced Engineer for the period of 16-December-2005 to 1-December-2008. I have worked in many ****hole's in the Pacific. Vanuatu is the most liveable place in the Pacific in my opinion.
There are many things to consider if you plan on taking a job with Air Vanuatu, or any other company in Vanuatu.
Firstly is the cost of living. EVERYTHING is expensive except for Coffee & Meat & the Local Market, both of which are the best things in the Country. The fishing and Scuba Diving are World class but you should already Know that!
There is no such thing as a TAX free Country.
If you do Tours or plan to Tour like some of the Pilots & Engineers you legally must pay Tax on your Vanuatu Income back in Australia. Don't take my word for it, ring the ATO.
If you live there with your family like I did then you wont be subject to paying tax on your salary or Share's ETC. The rulings are still complex, it depends on your own predicament. I cannot stress enough to get your own private ruling from the ATO on this matter before taking on any employment. The ATO is your friend in this matter just like Google.
AIR VANUATU & your ACCOUNTANT are not!!!!!!!!
They are both Greed driven !!
My Family consisted of a Wife and 2 boys under the age of 5 & we lived in a 4 bedroom house with an above ground pool and only one car. I love red wine and found myself curbing the luxury most nights, and our cost of living was $1,400 per week icluding rent. We never skimped on anything too much but never lived the same standard of living as we did back in Australia either!
If you have family then Vanuatu will be too expensive for you to live. Basic Western education is the same cost as Private Schools back in Australia.
Electricity in Vanuatu is approximately $1 per Kilowatt. If this means nothing to you then you have nowhere near enough knowledge about your expensive exotic Pacific Working Experience. Another example is...... I imported a 1995 Model BMW 525 from Japan into Vanuatu. The cost of the car and the freight from Japan to Vanuatu was less than $10,000 AUD......by the time I got it on the road with Duty, Vat, etc ,etc it cost $ 18,000 AUD. Still a great deal but!!!!
Before I left a simple 128K ADSL internet connection cost approximately $165 per month.
Fuel $1.90 per Litre.
Can of coke at the supermarket $ 1.50
.
Are you starting to get the picture yet?
There are many other things to consider, these are just but a few.
As for the good things.
1. Coffee is excellent. ( You must buy it at Mele where they roast it)
2. The meat is Awesome and cheaper than Aussie meat & better IMHO.
3. The Fishing & Scuba Diving are World Class.
4. The Locals are great people.
5. There is one other things thats cheap just like everywhere in the pacific and it's not what you might think. ( hint it reaches maturity in around 6 months time and it's grown in soil)....**** nearly forgot........Vanuatu is one big race track....no drink driving or speeding laws......just don't run over anyone.
As for the big Question Air Vanuatu........I can only comment on an Engineering side of things, and I don't have much to say. If you have the sort of licences that tickle their fancy then you will be dissapointed unless you have a fetish for the one or more of the 5 points above.
Now for the Pilot's. I have seen during my 3 years there. Progression from the flying school (C172) to ATR 42 in less than 3 years. I have also seen BN2A to FO on B737 in even less than that time. Air Vanuatu would be one of the better picks for the more inexperienced pilots's. If you are looking for twin or command time on Piston or Turbo Prop then this is a low paid FUN way to advance your career in an above average time frame. I can also guarentee you above average live skills as a bonus. The same can be said for a single Engineer looking to pick up an ATR42 or B737 ticket. As an Engineer you you need to be more than flexable when it comes to Aviation law.
1. Rule one..... Make sure you have EVERYTHING in writing.
2. Rule two......Don't forget rule one because Alan Burke will.
Air Vanuatu is no differenet to any other business. You are just another client, don't forget the rules!
I have many fond memory's of this and other places I have worked including Bangladesh!
DON'T FORGET THE RULES