Virgin Nigeria (threads merged)
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Guys,
Being an expat F/O is not too difficult. Basically all you do is fly, fly, fly. The new rostering terms of 8wks on 2 wks off should be kicking in right about now. The company apartments are nice, i learnt the new one has a gym. But the one i stay in has a swimming pool. You have a steward who does your cooking and cleaning(you buy the groceries).
Rule out nite life et al. If you're not flying, you're too tired to go out. Make the best of your experience there.
Being an expat F/O is not too difficult. Basically all you do is fly, fly, fly. The new rostering terms of 8wks on 2 wks off should be kicking in right about now. The company apartments are nice, i learnt the new one has a gym. But the one i stay in has a swimming pool. You have a steward who does your cooking and cleaning(you buy the groceries).
Rule out nite life et al. If you're not flying, you're too tired to go out. Make the best of your experience there.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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The answer is simple, VK does not compromise on hiring standards. You pass the written and sim assessment, you get hired. The standards are the same for all, locals and expats. The guys in charge of hiring are nigerians, so you cann't accuse the company of preferential treatment.
The locals who are not making it should realize that they have to make the extra effort to get on board.
Cheers
The locals who are not making it should realize that they have to make the extra effort to get on board.
Cheers
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SA
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For those in the know...
Given the current conditions with the US 121 carrier where I am presently an F/O, I am trying to cover my a*s and testing the water. I currently have 1100TT 900ME w/ 500 turbine. I am typed on the EMB 145, but not on the 170/90. Will they consider my time or is 170/90 or 73 type a must? Thank you in advance for your replies.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lagos
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NDB17, you got me wrong. I never made mention of virgin igeria compromising its standards. If you read my post you will see wher i wrote ...
Let me re-emphasisze my point: Arik and Aero has more fleet than virgin,but give more priority to employing locals than Virgin Nigeria. WHY?
And i believe Aero,Arik and Bristow that favour Nigerians more do not compromise on standards either.
AircraftCarrier, i understand your misery, after getting the Job, Virgin is still yet to call you for the sim. Be patient ,you will get there soon.
i dont see any difference in employing Nigerians as well that are still jobless if they meet the criteria
And i believe Aero,Arik and Bristow that favour Nigerians more do not compromise on standards either.
AircraftCarrier, i understand your misery, after getting the Job, Virgin is still yet to call you for the sim. Be patient ,you will get there soon.
Join Date: Mar 2008
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5N AREABOY,
Thanks and I appreciate your level of sympathy and support towards my situation. However, I would not tow the line of personal attacks as it is always counter-productive and brings out the bad side of people.
I was in touch with guys who got into Qantas and Virgin Blue, and there is no doubt that Virgin Nigeria has a pretty high standard when it comes to recruitment process. But I am not too sure if they should make any apologies for it.
For now let us join heads and think about it this way; maybe this is just the beginning of Nigeria becoming the developed country she has always deserved to be. For this to happen, people have to learn to sit back after every challenge or mission and ask where did things go wrong? Can it be done better next time?
I quote from a Nigerian migrant friend of mine who works happily for the Commonwealth Government today; “The biggest problem I had blending into the Australian workplace came from my personal background, which neither helped me in accepting when I am at fault nor empowered me to confront the challenges I faced. I was at odds with everyone for years because I was always making excuses instead of seeking advice and support, until I changed and accepted that I do not know it all, and I need help”. Great fellow eh!
Now how about a team on a critic and fact finding mission! It may just help in the future when the opportunity arises again. And you seem very well placed for such an admirable position as you sound very intelligent. Keep it up!
Thanks and I appreciate your level of sympathy and support towards my situation. However, I would not tow the line of personal attacks as it is always counter-productive and brings out the bad side of people.
I was in touch with guys who got into Qantas and Virgin Blue, and there is no doubt that Virgin Nigeria has a pretty high standard when it comes to recruitment process. But I am not too sure if they should make any apologies for it.
For now let us join heads and think about it this way; maybe this is just the beginning of Nigeria becoming the developed country she has always deserved to be. For this to happen, people have to learn to sit back after every challenge or mission and ask where did things go wrong? Can it be done better next time?
I quote from a Nigerian migrant friend of mine who works happily for the Commonwealth Government today; “The biggest problem I had blending into the Australian workplace came from my personal background, which neither helped me in accepting when I am at fault nor empowered me to confront the challenges I faced. I was at odds with everyone for years because I was always making excuses instead of seeking advice and support, until I changed and accepted that I do not know it all, and I need help”. Great fellow eh!
Now how about a team on a critic and fact finding mission! It may just help in the future when the opportunity arises again. And you seem very well placed for such an admirable position as you sound very intelligent. Keep it up!
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Hi Poljot,
A330s are the preferred airframe, but they need to be in good technical shape and at a price that would make flying them worthwhile. I do know that 330s aren't easy to find at the moment as everyone wants one. If you do know where 3 good A330s can be obtained, let me know and I'll pass on to my guys at VK.
A330s are the preferred airframe, but they need to be in good technical shape and at a price that would make flying them worthwhile. I do know that 330s aren't easy to find at the moment as everyone wants one. If you do know where 3 good A330s can be obtained, let me know and I'll pass on to my guys at VK.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Dear 5NAREABOY
at several forums,the CEO of vk has expressed his preference for local pilots,its much cheaper.If you pass our recruitment process you are in thats it.VK is not operating federal quota,but selecting the best,no politics .
Do you know of anyone nigerian who passed thier selection process and was not employed?
AERO and ARIK employment process is flawed as man know man is the order of the day.
Recently aero fired some pilots who could not cope after spending millions on training i assure you they have learnt thier lesson and redesigning there recruitment process.
Futhermore a complaint was lodged about your greviance at NCAA and VK was summoned,they went with interview results and NCAA was shocked,yet this pilots have been employed by other airlines,people who could not fly an ils on two engines!
Never has vk let a pilot go b/c he could not hack it,its much cheaper to have a high standard of recruitment than waste your time and money training.
VK management is heavily biased towards nigerians,even though they will recruit any pilot from anywhere.
so pls apply but dont expect your origins to help you scale through
at several forums,the CEO of vk has expressed his preference for local pilots,its much cheaper.If you pass our recruitment process you are in thats it.VK is not operating federal quota,but selecting the best,no politics .
Do you know of anyone nigerian who passed thier selection process and was not employed?
AERO and ARIK employment process is flawed as man know man is the order of the day.
Recently aero fired some pilots who could not cope after spending millions on training i assure you they have learnt thier lesson and redesigning there recruitment process.
Futhermore a complaint was lodged about your greviance at NCAA and VK was summoned,they went with interview results and NCAA was shocked,yet this pilots have been employed by other airlines,people who could not fly an ils on two engines!
Never has vk let a pilot go b/c he could not hack it,its much cheaper to have a high standard of recruitment than waste your time and money training.
VK management is heavily biased towards nigerians,even though they will recruit any pilot from anywhere.
so pls apply but dont expect your origins to help you scale through
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Virgin Makes emergency landing at PHC
There seems to have been no news of the Virgin Nigeria aircraft en-route from Douala to lagos which made an emergency landing at Port Harcourt international yesterday. I heard there was an electrical fire in the cockpit, but it was landed safely. Has anybody heard more?
Join Date: Dec 2003
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It has been reported that there were a number of injuries caused by passengers panicking, leaving their seats while the aircraft was still moving and attempting to disembark 
From AllAfrica.com
Nigeria: Probe of Virgin Emergency Landing Begins
18 April 2008
Posted to the web 18 April 2008
Ahamefula Ogbu
Port Harcourt
As speculations are still rife over the actual cause of the emergency landing of the Boeing 737 Virgin Atlantic plane bound for Duala, Cameroon Wednesday evening in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Accident Investigation Bureau, National Civil Aviation Authority has commenced investigations.
Port Harcourt Zonal Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Godknows Ugwuzor confirmed that the investigators were already on ground and were expected to come out with the comprehensive answer to the actual cause of the emergency landing.
As at the time THISDAY visited the airport yesterday, the aircraft marked 5N-VND was still parked at the airport though some people who spoke off record said the problem with the aircraft was not a serious one but that the pilot did not want to take chances.
No fewer than 111 passengers on board the aeroplane including the full squad of the U20 female national team known as the Falconets survived the near mishap which left some of the passengers with minor injuries.
However, Virgin Nigeria officials at the airport dismissed the apprehension which attended the news of the incident saying it was not serious. They added that the alarm may have been due to smoke from a passenger luggage which the sensitive gadgets in the aircraft interpreted as fire and sounded the alarm.
They also claimed that all the passengers in the affected aircraft have been safely flown to their various destinations with another aircraft and blamed the stampede by passengers for some of the injuries.
He said, Nobody could have been injured if all the passengers had carried out the instructions given by our officials inside the airport. Out of all those, who were injured, only three were taken to the Shell Clinic, while others were treated at the clinic within the airport.
18 April 2008
Posted to the web 18 April 2008
Ahamefula Ogbu
Port Harcourt
As speculations are still rife over the actual cause of the emergency landing of the Boeing 737 Virgin Atlantic plane bound for Duala, Cameroon Wednesday evening in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Accident Investigation Bureau, National Civil Aviation Authority has commenced investigations.
Port Harcourt Zonal Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Godknows Ugwuzor confirmed that the investigators were already on ground and were expected to come out with the comprehensive answer to the actual cause of the emergency landing.
As at the time THISDAY visited the airport yesterday, the aircraft marked 5N-VND was still parked at the airport though some people who spoke off record said the problem with the aircraft was not a serious one but that the pilot did not want to take chances.
No fewer than 111 passengers on board the aeroplane including the full squad of the U20 female national team known as the Falconets survived the near mishap which left some of the passengers with minor injuries.
However, Virgin Nigeria officials at the airport dismissed the apprehension which attended the news of the incident saying it was not serious. They added that the alarm may have been due to smoke from a passenger luggage which the sensitive gadgets in the aircraft interpreted as fire and sounded the alarm.
They also claimed that all the passengers in the affected aircraft have been safely flown to their various destinations with another aircraft and blamed the stampede by passengers for some of the injuries.
He said, Nobody could have been injured if all the passengers had carried out the instructions given by our officials inside the airport. Out of all those, who were injured, only three were taken to the Shell Clinic, while others were treated at the clinic within the airport.
Join Date: Sep 2003
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The crew said they had an aft fire indication that would not go out and requested an emergency landing at DNPO. The controllers really bungled the whole situation, it took the intervention of other pilots on the frequency b4 they got clearance to descend and land. At least we know that the fire engines at DNPO now work. The airport definitely was not prepared for this kind of situation, took them almost an hour to clear the runway and ramp area of pax. luckily for them the crew were professional enough to stop the aircraft on the hi-spd taxi instead of on the runway. if not the airport will probably still be closed.
Anyway 2 thumbs up to the guys upfront and the girls in the back. But our ATC system need a serious revamp.
is it true that another VK aircraft (5N-VNG?) had a tail strike at DNPO the day before?
Anyway 2 thumbs up to the guys upfront and the girls in the back. But our ATC system need a serious revamp.
is it true that another VK aircraft (5N-VNG?) had a tail strike at DNPO the day before?
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: nigeria
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Gist is, the crew had a tail strike in PHC.
Unfortunately, my guys loaded pax and flew aircraft back to Lagos, they say without inspection from Tech.
Hope thats not the case but if it is.......!
no good guys.
Unfortunately, my guys loaded pax and flew aircraft back to Lagos, they say without inspection from Tech.
Hope thats not the case but if it is.......!
no good guys.
Join Date: May 2005
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JABAG if there is any element of truth to what your last post was trying to say, the decision of the crew to fly the aircraft without proper inspection after a tail strike was totally irresponsible, deplorable and criminal taking into account that the aircraft could have suffered structural damage. The main problem with Nigerian aviation is a total lack of oversight by the regulatory bodies.
Last edited by PLTFORLIFE; 20th Apr 2008 at 04:12.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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PLTFLIFE
why blame regulatory authorities,both pilots in question have been suspended indefinetly by VK,and grounded by NCAA,and have also been interogated by both NCAA and VK
what more do you expect from a regulatory authority?
why blame regulatory authorities,both pilots in question have been suspended indefinetly by VK,and grounded by NCAA,and have also been interogated by both NCAA and VK
what more do you expect from a regulatory authority?
Join Date: Dec 2002
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The grapevine says VK will somehow get rid of its 767 wet-lease contract, and instead get 3 A340-300s from an undisclosed European airline, on wet lease.
Any iota of truth in this?
Any iota of truth in this?
Join Date: Nov 2007
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QUOTE RANI;The grapevine says VK will somehow get rid of its 767 wet-lease contract, and instead get 3 A340-300s from an undisclosed European airline, on wet lease.
Any iota of truth in this?
Could this explain why they want to lay off staff?
Any iota of truth in this?
Could this explain why they want to lay off staff?