Air Namibia requires pilots
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: namibia
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These jobs were advertised in the local media about 10 days ago or so. But there's lots more to it than seems to meet the eye.
I want to be daring and make a little prediction here. Lets see how wrong I am...
A certain gentleman at Air Nam recently got a Falcon 900 rating as a gift from the Goverment Air Transport Services. Also flew the President to Japan recently if I'm not mistaken. While his already overworked collegues had to put in the extra hours to keep the airline in the sky.
Anyway, I guess he has to return the favour somehow, and what better way than giving Air Nam captain's ratings to his good friends at the Goverment Air Transport services? First he had to off course advertise the contrsct positions so he couls say that there were no other applicants.
Watch this space!!!!!
PS: Did I hear a little birdie sing something about an emergency Union meeting?
I want to be daring and make a little prediction here. Lets see how wrong I am...
A certain gentleman at Air Nam recently got a Falcon 900 rating as a gift from the Goverment Air Transport Services. Also flew the President to Japan recently if I'm not mistaken. While his already overworked collegues had to put in the extra hours to keep the airline in the sky.
Anyway, I guess he has to return the favour somehow, and what better way than giving Air Nam captain's ratings to his good friends at the Goverment Air Transport services? First he had to off course advertise the contrsct positions so he couls say that there were no other applicants.
Watch this space!!!!!
PS: Did I hear a little birdie sing something about an emergency Union meeting?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: namibia
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OH!!!
And did I mention the fact that german pilots are contracted in to fly the airbus at around N$20000-00 per return trip?
What happened to a training policy to cater for the needs of the airline?
just curious
And did I mention the fact that german pilots are contracted in to fly the airbus at around N$20000-00 per return trip?
What happened to a training policy to cater for the needs of the airline?
just curious
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Garden shed
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now before I lose my fragile mind again
, and go off on a tirade about Air Nam yet again
, can I just give all you keen guys wanting to work there one piece of advice....: DONT BOTHER !!!!
No really....take it from someone who knows....the only reason this would have been in the media for, as worn chair mentioned above,... in-house movement, buddy buddy networks or favours for friends and relatives.
, and go off on a tirade about Air Nam yet again, can I just give all you keen guys wanting to work there one piece of advice....: DONT BOTHER !!!!No really....take it from someone who knows....the only reason this would have been in the media for, as worn chair mentioned above,... in-house movement, buddy buddy networks or favours for friends and relatives.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: south-africa
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Working for Air Namibia
AS Pow-Pow rightly said, don't even bother applying! This is indeed a window dressing exercise for the Chief Pilot(one that got the Falcon rating) to get his buddies into the airline. Very interesting that the minimum requirements in the advertisement were reduced from the normal requirements as in the Operations manual of the company. For an A340 captain you need 7000 hours total time of which 2000 must be on B737 or equivalent and 1000 pic on b737 or equivalent. Advert said only 5000 total time..
Due to the fact that the management has not appointed pilots on the domestic pool of the airline, they now sit with a serious shortage on all fleets and also makes in-house promotion impossible! This after numerous warnings from the local pilots union. Currently all pilots are flying 80 hours or more and can therefore not be sent on upgrade courses as that would mean that the a/c will be parked on the ground. The other very obvious problem is that there are a number of B1900 F/O's that do not have ATPL and cannot be promoted to Captain. Therefore the B1900 Captains cannot be released to move up to the B737 pool and so the problem goes up all the way to the A340 pool. Some of these F/O's have been sitting on the domestic pool in excess of 4 years without getting an ATPL and yes you have guessed it, most of them are Affirmative Action candidates. They have even now been offered bursaries to go to the States to do their ATPL there because they simply cannot pass the exams for the ICAO license. This the kind of pilots you want to be flown around in in a b737 or a340?!
Another interesting thing is that Air Namibia recently acquired 2 B737-500 a/c. These a/c are now parked in Johannesburg until at least end of November because the B737-200 pilots that need to do a differences course cannot be released from line flying due to the serious shortage. You guess how much money is lost when you lease an a/c like that and it is simply parked on the apron...
Enough said for now.
Due to the fact that the management has not appointed pilots on the domestic pool of the airline, they now sit with a serious shortage on all fleets and also makes in-house promotion impossible! This after numerous warnings from the local pilots union. Currently all pilots are flying 80 hours or more and can therefore not be sent on upgrade courses as that would mean that the a/c will be parked on the ground. The other very obvious problem is that there are a number of B1900 F/O's that do not have ATPL and cannot be promoted to Captain. Therefore the B1900 Captains cannot be released to move up to the B737 pool and so the problem goes up all the way to the A340 pool. Some of these F/O's have been sitting on the domestic pool in excess of 4 years without getting an ATPL and yes you have guessed it, most of them are Affirmative Action candidates. They have even now been offered bursaries to go to the States to do their ATPL there because they simply cannot pass the exams for the ICAO license. This the kind of pilots you want to be flown around in in a b737 or a340?!
Another interesting thing is that Air Namibia recently acquired 2 B737-500 a/c. These a/c are now parked in Johannesburg until at least end of November because the B737-200 pilots that need to do a differences course cannot be released from line flying due to the serious shortage. You guess how much money is lost when you lease an a/c like that and it is simply parked on the apron...
Enough said for now.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: namibia
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The way I understand the affirmative action policy is that preference should be given to a previously disadvantaged person, when such a person is part of a group of people who qualify for a position. It does not differentiate between black and white, merely between previously disadvantaged or not and between gender. Unfornunately it is not clear what qualifies a person to be previously disadvantaged, and therefor the system is brutally abused.
But the imporatant fact is that affirmitive action does not cater for the entry or minimum requirments to be lowered, as this would lower the overall standard of proffesionalism in the industry, and also endanger the lives of the passengers of Air Namibia. This could surely be contested in court.
Its very simple, if 2 people qualify and meet the requirements for a position, and one was previously disadvantaged, or is a woman, then they should get the position. Just being of a certain skin color is not enough to qualify for a position under the affirmitive action bill.
The flying public appreciates the proffesionalism of the current pilots of Air Namibia. It is a pleasure to set foot on your aircraft. If the above posts turn out to become reality, I, for one, will surely have to change airlines. Keep on fighting for justice!!!
But the imporatant fact is that affirmitive action does not cater for the entry or minimum requirments to be lowered, as this would lower the overall standard of proffesionalism in the industry, and also endanger the lives of the passengers of Air Namibia. This could surely be contested in court.
Its very simple, if 2 people qualify and meet the requirements for a position, and one was previously disadvantaged, or is a woman, then they should get the position. Just being of a certain skin color is not enough to qualify for a position under the affirmitive action bill.
The flying public appreciates the proffesionalism of the current pilots of Air Namibia. It is a pleasure to set foot on your aircraft. If the above posts turn out to become reality, I, for one, will surely have to change airlines. Keep on fighting for justice!!!
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And a "BIG" full page spread in the Sunday Times looking for an Ops dirctor, A340 drivers, B737 drivers and B1900 drivers...is this still "window-dressing" and missleading advertising.??
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: home
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TOO many windows;
NOT enough dressing!
The staff situation is critical there... and a few pilots are seriously looking.
I think things will get a lot worse, even to the point where they will have to cnl flights.
P.s.
Apparently even the cabbin staff was about to strike about 2 weeks ago.
Management conceeded 'defeet' VERY COLD FEET!
NOT enough dressing!
The staff situation is critical there... and a few pilots are seriously looking.
I think things will get a lot worse, even to the point where they will have to cnl flights.
P.s.
Apparently even the cabbin staff was about to strike about 2 weeks ago. Management conceeded 'defeet' VERY COLD FEET!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Basically it is against our union's collective agreement as well as against the labour law and against the affermative action law.
This constitutes a criminal offence against Air Namibia and any employment offer will be reversed by the court and then the pilot will have to sue Air Namibia.
This constitutes a criminal offence against Air Namibia and any employment offer will be reversed by the court and then the pilot will have to sue Air Namibia.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: home
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3 Windhoek ATCs have resigned; 1 to follow....
The fare-well party will be on Friday 30 Nov 2007
Everybody seems to be invited!
Venue seems to be somewhere on Eros airport or close by!
More info will be posted as soon as it comes to me.
The fare-well party will be on Friday 30 Nov 2007
Everybody seems to be invited!
Venue seems to be somewhere on Eros airport or close by!
More info will be posted as soon as it comes to me.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Garden shed
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join in everyone..........Its the end of the world as we know it...its the end..................
PS. Congrats ATC's you held out long enough. Hope they appreciate you more wherever you go next. Thanks for keeping things safe while you were there.
PS. Congrats ATC's you held out long enough. Hope they appreciate you more wherever you go next. Thanks for keeping things safe while you were there.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: home
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Party
The Swift Flying Club has been organized for the party.
30 November 2007 from 15h00Z
1 skaap ......
bring lots of $$ for booze!
Organize a dedicated driver.....(x-girl?)
see you there!
p.s. Air Nam just lost their first A340 co-pilot...(congrats)
30 November 2007 from 15h00Z
1 skaap ......
bring lots of $$ for booze!
Organize a dedicated driver.....(x-girl?)
see you there!
p.s. Air Nam just lost their first A340 co-pilot...(congrats)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: namibia
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Staff
Additionally a couple of Captains from ALL fleets (B190, B737 and A340) have a moves indicated.
Not only is there a problem or 2 in Air Namibia but also in Namibian ATC.
These threads have to be read together....
The staff situation is critical there... and a few pilots are seriously looking.
I think things will get a lot worse, even to the point where they will have to cnl flights.
I think things will get a lot worse, even to the point where they will have to cnl flights.
These threads have to be read together....
