Not entirely sure that it is a case of pilots being "only for themselves". It is more a case of the demographic.
When all of this was, "Let's get the pitchforks and torches" talk was going on Arik was treating us all like sh1t and had been for some time.
Now most of the expats and even some of the locals have seen the error of Arik's ways and have voted with their feet.
The market is now so good that being at Arik is a choice. Something which is a bit of a novelty to those who suffered at the hands of the incompetent Arik management for some time.
Previously the only expats who remained at Arik are those who were so low houred that they could not get another job. Now the market is so good that major flag carriers like Malaysian, Garuda, Jetstar Pacific, will take 200-500hrs on type and some even less than 1000hrs TT.
Even the most new expat FOs have now had 12-18months at Arik are are therefore well past this.
Basically this means that only those who either enjoy the poor management, really want the time off at home regardless of career progression or those who just cannot be bothered to commute from the far east remain. (Excepting the FOs who are hanging in their hoping for command) As for the captains well the few expats who remain are there are there for their convenience.
Now if some one wants to start a group called Former Inmates of Camp Arik Air, Arik Air Veterans Assoc or African Survivors Assoc then that is a different matter.
One good thing that has happened at Arik is that most of the expats got out with just a bad experience which with the management in place is a lucky escape.
For those remaining please PM me if you need steers to agencies or jobs if you want out of Arik. Whatever you did in this life or another no one deserves to have to work with people like the deposed CP VE and his knowledgeable cronies and hangar ons.
If anyone is interested in a sweepstake as to when Arik will cease trading then post here if there is enough interest then we could start a new thread.
VT
