crewmeal

Have an interview coming up with the new airline - anyone know what its like to live out there - especally Freetown area? All comments greatfully received!!!

Gunship

Enigma you bailing out bru ?

Crewmail I (we) answered quite in detail enigma on the same topic here : http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=80387

If I can be on the negative side ... sorry but I have been here long enough ...

Is it a SL set-up compnay with locals in charge ?

IF so - mate sorry SNA / SLA ... they have all started and failed due to pure greed, theft and corruption.

Sierra National Airlines (SNA) has been going very well (I think) with Monarch's aircraft and crws as I think Monarch do not take any sh1t from them.

f you need any more advice - more specific - ask I will be more regular online again !

Brgds and best wishes.

Gunnsss

manfromnorth

Been interviewed and was offered a job. When is your interview ? Capt or F/O ? Airbus or Boeing ?.

Cheers,

May see u there

crewmeal

Had a call from the agency the other day and will let me know in due course. The job is for cabin crew anyway!! I believe all the pilots positions have been taken for the airbus & 737.

Sounds a fun place to be in as described elsewhere in forum. Shame about the prices. Am still trying to work out if the airline will pay for your accomodation with in the new compound thats being built.

Is Sierra Leone a Muslim Country? Similar to Nigeria on culture?

UK gov advises that its still unsafe to visit there. (Me wonders when the info was last updated?


http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid= 1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386406

manfromnorth

I called the foreign ministry in my country and they advised there was no remarks on Sierra Leone. Certain places you were advised not to visit, but not different than any other place f.ex Johannesburg.

Cost of living would be in the area of 2-300 US$ pr month if company provided accomodation, transport etc which I was informed they would at the interview.

It is one of the most poor countries in the world, very beautifull beaches.

Apparently long lay-over's in London, Paris, Amsterdam (on the Airbus) with good pr diem.

Did they advise you of any startdate for operation ? Date of flying to Sierra Leone before operation commence ?

Cheers

Gunship

Crewmeal .. Freetown where you will spend 99% of your time (and Lungi) is 60% Christian and 40% Muslim.

In the Provinces vice versa ..

Christians and Muslims lives in harmoney together. In 4 years never heard of a problem.

Racial problems is with Nigerians - locals despise them. Lots stayed behind after ECOMOG / War days and runs taxi's / shops.

Lebanese outburst also now - and then but not too serious.

Lebanese "runs" the country ... although the President is "local"

Cst of living per person ... WRONG .. you will eat local food then . casava and rice ... I work on a budget $800 and make it just .. just .. ok Bert yes it includes Carlsberg ...

So $600 to $800 ... Split busyour input ? You back yet ?

Cheers,

Gunsss

manfromnorth

600-800 US$ ok, assume u have company accommodation etc and the amount is for eat-drink only? guess i had some wrong info. Ok with Carlsberg, problably the best beer in the world.

How is the sports there, any tennis, golf etc or is it all fishing.

Cheers

finnman

interesting having done some work for sna in the past
is this a new carrier or sna renaming itself
sna were looking at operating a310 on the london route
would appreciate more details

The Claw

That UK Gov warning is current, can't say more unfortunately.

Guns please keep us posted as something is going on.

enigmajet

Hey Folks

Was interviewed and offered job also, as FO.
No start date or sim date yet, keeping fingers crossed.
Will be flying 737 am itching to get going.
looking forward to meeting some of you guys soon hopefully.
Anyone that has some more info on the company eg fleet and living arangments, would be greatly appreciated.

Keep the good side out.

manfromnorth

Was offered a position as Capt A310. My understanding was that it was a new National carrier (EcoAir) with 2 A310, 2 B737 and 2 copters. Startup (first flight) April 1st.
Accomodation should be very nice (nice compound) with 2 persons sharing 1 accomodation.
Flights to AMS-LHR and Paris, quite long lay-overs, 75US$ pr day in per diem.
The B737 crew should be advised of simulator soon followed by A310 crew. Position of crew to Sierra Leone sometime medio of March.
I hope this will work out, sounded exiting with a new start-up airline.
If anyone has more info, please advise

By the way, regarding the name EcoAir, don't really know if that is the name of the Airline

manfromnorth

Anyone who went for the interview, could you please tell something about it ? Did you go to london and what did they tell you, could be interesting to compare the info's.

enigmajet

Hey manfromnorth

It does sound exciting, but I would be more excited if I had a sim date. I was told the same of start date ie April 1st.
Nice to hear they are going to have a 310, nice big gadget!
If I'm told more, will definatley post here.

Keep the good side out

manfromnorth

Hi Enigmajet

What kind of license do u have FAA, JAR ? I would think there would be oppertunities in Uk, easyjet or Ryan Air with your rating (if you have JAR FCL ATPL).

Cheers

enigmajet

Hey Manfromnorth

Have Jar Licence. But keeping the fingers crossed for this at the moment. If things dont materialise will check those guys out.
Cheers.
Hey Gunship if you are online, Have you noticed any new buildings
going up around your area ie new compound??
From what I understand from your posts I think you may be living around Freetown. Info greatly appreciated!!
Cheers Bru!

finnman

you say this will be the national airline
is sierra national not the national airline
they have been operating lgw/fna and bjl for the past two
years
will sierra leone airways be a sierra leone registered company
with sl aoc
sna saw off redair,is there enough business for two carriers
out of fna to lon.
it would be interesting to know who is funding this operation
or are sna renaming and re-equiping
i know gunship is regular traveller on sna after his short
transfer to redair custom when operating.
what does he have to say??

Gunship

Sorry gentleman,

Gunns on his old day is getting busy .. tel line did not work and the lapdog went for a walk ... sorry will check more regular now and answer you immdediately.

Re the "compounds being errected" ... without being sarcastic .. there is roughly 300 to 500 new Big Houses in biggish compounds that is being built in the West of Freetown alone.

I have lived here 4 years and yes I do not think there is something that I do not know about, but must admit my friends are all in the travel agents / Airline business and I slapped them with a cold fish when I told them that SLA is opening up.

Guys soory call me negative (I actually am not at all ) but please do not resign out of a more steady job - if you could - I have just seen to many failures here.

As Finnman says .. Red Air / Africa One was the last b&stards to leave me with an unused return ticket in my pocket.

I have spoken to Monarch guys (SNA aircraft operators), the SN Brussles guys and the security guys that actually count the pax - the aircraft which was completely overbooked over XMass is running at between 50 and 60% capacity.

I AM NOT in the Airline business - so I am not trying to shaft you before you arrive - just there to help.

I see you guys are very eager and I really "feel" for you but please e-mail me who is in management or more details as I have seen to many damn 419 operators here and especially after hearing the seats are not full anymore (after Xmass drop).

I hope I sound realistic and not an like and a55. I will check my mail also from now on

Cheers and good luck.

Gunns

Africanhope

Guy's, talked with a buddy of mine and he gave me these info.
This new airline is named "EcoAir"- It is a private airline with goverment and private investors - startup March,April (May,June?) - Airbus 310 and Boeing 737 - They have been hiring through a UK company called Wynnwith - Chief pilot or Head of Ops is a man called Capt Pakkas or Pappas !

Another fluke or ?

Gunship

Morning guys,

This is what SL CAA knows about SLA.

The only thing they have is that an aircraft named "Skytruck" are coming from Poland ? and that the CAA part here are going soon to inspect the aircraft in Poland. There is a rich guy involved that set this up called "Mr. Onu" - sorry tel message ....

Nothing yet under ECO Air.

Re the Security THE CLAW ... the Poms and Americans "play" these games regularly. Things are very steady here and personally I think sometimes they are trying to scratch things up - sorry personal feelings. 300 Gurka's arrived to "strenghten" Liberia border on behalf of 12 000 SLA soldiers and 21 000 UN troops ... politics ared irty my friend ... the Superpowers play the dirty game ... in the mena time 100's of Chinks re- creates our Defence HQ here ...

Liberia next dear .. well it needs a NUKE

Hope it helps in the mean time ...

Cheers

Gunnss

crewmeal

Does anyone know if UK mobiles will work in SL? Do they have their own network that is compatable with a UK one. So far Orange say they dont, Vodaphone dont't know!! T-Mobile dont know and BT (O2) are working on it!!!

Shall I get my present nokia unlocked just in case???