Life at Arik Air
Join Date: Jul 2008
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D-8 arik
I believe they are still hiring for the D-8. I am in Toronto doing initial for it right now. Protec Technical is their recruiter along with Sigmar I believe. I used Protec. You can also go directly through Arik I believe. All 3 companies have websites for the application process.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: In a shoe box in my grannies garage
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Life at Arik
Many questions Gafa Pilot. I can not answer all of them, as it is 18 months ago ever since I have been there and Christian?s Photography World is defiantly a good source to see, how the surroundings look like and the housing.
They may have changed the FO Director, which was a Nigerian with US Passport and FAA ATP. That guy was a real p................ and had not a lot of sympathies for expat pilots.
Housing, Food and Safety (it really is an issue in Lagos) is good and fair but you will fly to the absolute max and DO NOT get sick. It is not in their book (or at least was not when I was there) and the Malaria Prophylaxis hits your liver hard. While the compound is in Ikeja, closed to the airport, which is convenient for transpo, not a lot of social life (you won't have time for that anyway) as there is not a lot there and safety precautions limit you to a high extent. Some people used to go to the Sheraton when off duty, where there is some restaurants, a bar and a night club.
A/C specific I can not answer your questions as I was not on the CRJ's.
They may have changed the FO Director, which was a Nigerian with US Passport and FAA ATP. That guy was a real p................ and had not a lot of sympathies for expat pilots.
Housing, Food and Safety (it really is an issue in Lagos) is good and fair but you will fly to the absolute max and DO NOT get sick. It is not in their book (or at least was not when I was there) and the Malaria Prophylaxis hits your liver hard. While the compound is in Ikeja, closed to the airport, which is convenient for transpo, not a lot of social life (you won't have time for that anyway) as there is not a lot there and safety precautions limit you to a high extent. Some people used to go to the Sheraton when off duty, where there is some restaurants, a bar and a night club.
A/C specific I can not answer your questions as I was not on the CRJ's.
Arik Air-nigeria
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Brighton
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Life at Arik
What's the latest wrt accommodation You will stay in one of 5 or 6 hotels all have pros and cons, I am in the de-vine which is much s the photos on there website. Good internet, clean rooms and the food is ok. Two weeks here and no deli belly.
What's the location of the accommodation like (pics?) and / or are there places to go? Eat out? etc...My hotel is 5 mins drive from the Sheraton as are a couple of the others. You can walk around if you like but there is not a lot around. The island is hours away in the trafic.
Transport to and from the airport. Is it reliable? Safe? How long does it take?There is transport throughout the day it is always a minibus and usually comes with an armed guard. It takes around 20/30 mins to get to the airport
What's the work / rosters like? Sectors per day? Length of working day? Hours per month? Number of days off? etc...The rules are 100hrs in 28 days be ready to fly them all. You can do anything from 2 to 6 sectors a day. With around 1 nightstop a week.
Is the fuel policy sensible or is it just 'fumes' on arrival?Fuel is currently changing it was take everything for your whole trip but fuel burns are being monitored with a view to putting a policy in place.
What's the latest news / developments on the company route structure?Lots of rumours. London is bout to start. They want to start to the US and international flight.
Are the aircraft being well maintained?The maintenance is done by lufthansa
How long does it really take to get a Nigerian licence validation?Around 4 to 8 weeks
The Master Contract makes mention (but without amounts) of a 2 year bond for 'Line Training capability'. Anybody care to explain?Read it again or get an updated copy it says that the bond will last as long as the training qualifies you for ie Prof check 6 months = Bond 6 months
Are crews paid on time?Budget to be paid 10 - 14 days late
How does the time-on / time-off rotation work in practice?8 weeks on 4 weeks off depending what fleet/contract you are on.
What's it like personal safety wise?No problem whatsoever in the hotel. I don't imagine there is a problem in the daytime either but never had a reason to go out.
What's the cost of living like in Lagos / Nigeria?You can come here and spend nothing. Arik pay for all your food and water and a couple of softies a day. You buy beer yourself if you want it.
Are the cabin crew good looking?
Which is more lethal, mosies or night fighters? Not seen either yet
If you come here bring books, laptops, dvds or whatever else you need to fill your time. They will quite happily have you here paying you to do nothing while they wait for your validation to come through. Hence I have even got bored enough to post on Pprune.
What's the location of the accommodation like (pics?) and / or are there places to go? Eat out? etc...My hotel is 5 mins drive from the Sheraton as are a couple of the others. You can walk around if you like but there is not a lot around. The island is hours away in the trafic.
Transport to and from the airport. Is it reliable? Safe? How long does it take?There is transport throughout the day it is always a minibus and usually comes with an armed guard. It takes around 20/30 mins to get to the airport
What's the work / rosters like? Sectors per day? Length of working day? Hours per month? Number of days off? etc...The rules are 100hrs in 28 days be ready to fly them all. You can do anything from 2 to 6 sectors a day. With around 1 nightstop a week.
Is the fuel policy sensible or is it just 'fumes' on arrival?Fuel is currently changing it was take everything for your whole trip but fuel burns are being monitored with a view to putting a policy in place.
What's the latest news / developments on the company route structure?Lots of rumours. London is bout to start. They want to start to the US and international flight.
Are the aircraft being well maintained?The maintenance is done by lufthansa
How long does it really take to get a Nigerian licence validation?Around 4 to 8 weeks
The Master Contract makes mention (but without amounts) of a 2 year bond for 'Line Training capability'. Anybody care to explain?Read it again or get an updated copy it says that the bond will last as long as the training qualifies you for ie Prof check 6 months = Bond 6 months
Are crews paid on time?Budget to be paid 10 - 14 days late
How does the time-on / time-off rotation work in practice?8 weeks on 4 weeks off depending what fleet/contract you are on.
What's it like personal safety wise?No problem whatsoever in the hotel. I don't imagine there is a problem in the daytime either but never had a reason to go out.
What's the cost of living like in Lagos / Nigeria?You can come here and spend nothing. Arik pay for all your food and water and a couple of softies a day. You buy beer yourself if you want it.
Are the cabin crew good looking?
Which is more lethal, mosies or night fighters? Not seen either yet
If you come here bring books, laptops, dvds or whatever else you need to fill your time. They will quite happily have you here paying you to do nothing while they wait for your validation to come through. Hence I have even got bored enough to post on Pprune.
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Some things appear to have changed since ameriocas time.
Although security is a matter of personal opinion it doesn't seem to be an issue with the expat community here at present.
If you are sick and tell operations they accept it and do not force you to fly.
Rapidly expanding expat community.
You do max out on hours and it is up to you to track yours accurately and tell ops when you are out of hours.
Currently expats are in hotels scattered around the airport that vary in standard, neither ourselves nor Arik is happy about the situation as it creates transport problems amongst other things. Eventually this will change as they're building western standard accommodation for the expats in a nice area.
It isn't bad here at all, just don’t come expecting it to be Europe or the US. I don’t know about anyone else but I came here to fly and want to max out on my hours.
Friday is still Sheraton night.
Although security is a matter of personal opinion it doesn't seem to be an issue with the expat community here at present.
If you are sick and tell operations they accept it and do not force you to fly.
Rapidly expanding expat community.
You do max out on hours and it is up to you to track yours accurately and tell ops when you are out of hours.
Currently expats are in hotels scattered around the airport that vary in standard, neither ourselves nor Arik is happy about the situation as it creates transport problems amongst other things. Eventually this will change as they're building western standard accommodation for the expats in a nice area.
It isn't bad here at all, just don’t come expecting it to be Europe or the US. I don’t know about anyone else but I came here to fly and want to max out on my hours.
Friday is still Sheraton night.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Las Vegas, Gambia
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Thank you!
First let me say that I am not a pilot. However I do have a fairly substantial amount of knowledge concerning the West African Aviation community. From the last 5 years I have been involved in it directly and indirectly from Senegal to Camaroon. I have spent a few weeks in Lagos pursuing the aviation game and found that if you are an adventurous soul and don't let the distractions cloud your mind, you can have a great time there. It is like anyplace else that is different from what you are used to, learn the rules, get a guide, ie. someone that you trust, and be fair with the people. You can have a very good and safe time. Just don't be stupid, the Nigerians are very good at finding weakness in a situation and exploiting it as possible. Just don't let that happen and things will be fine.
As far as PPrune: The questions that you have asked are good and honest questions, some of the responses treat the questions as if they are not worth their time. Others take a very typical Nigerian approach (sorry guys but you need to look at the realistic way you respond to anything that has to do with Nigeria) and claim predgidous, whitey, expat, what ever! You guys really need to get over this issue of protectionism and learn that if we all don't start working together to salvage aviation in Africa, we will simply stay behind the financial curve of the world economy.
You may be right! and I may not be right! But if we work together, Africa has a tremendously bright future, and Nigeria should and can lead the way.
Random thoughts by a Yankee that is missing West Africa.
As far as PPrune: The questions that you have asked are good and honest questions, some of the responses treat the questions as if they are not worth their time. Others take a very typical Nigerian approach (sorry guys but you need to look at the realistic way you respond to anything that has to do with Nigeria) and claim predgidous, whitey, expat, what ever! You guys really need to get over this issue of protectionism and learn that if we all don't start working together to salvage aviation in Africa, we will simply stay behind the financial curve of the world economy.
You may be right! and I may not be right! But if we work together, Africa has a tremendously bright future, and Nigeria should and can lead the way.
Random thoughts by a Yankee that is missing West Africa.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Life at Arik
Good evening everybody,
Well...how to start my reply to the topic, letś say that "gringo" missing West Africa is right.
i do agree 100% it is true Africa has a brilliant future, and it is up to everybody involved to see it soon.
Of course, do not expect the same play rules like Europe or America, open your mind and try to learn as much as you can, because as much as you travel, the better for you regarding culture shock, environment, etc.
All around the world the values are pretty much the same. Normal people regardless of race, religion, wants the same basic things from life.
About aviation, nobody knows it all. Nobody.
We all learn in a day by day basis. Please do not come with the "I knows it all about", or "we do things like this in my company" attitude.
First, "your" company was not yours, and on top of it does not exist anymore.
So you left your country to come here looking for greener pastures.
Do not try to be any kind of fake leader among your fellows, at the end everyone can survive by itself.
After my very personal opinion about the dos and donts, I truly believe in the nowadays pioneering. Only those willing to do anything beyond will flavour that feeling.
Sacrifice is also involved, everything has a price, but if thigs are fair it will be worth the effort.
Sorry gents, philosopher time is over. See you soon
Well...how to start my reply to the topic, letś say that "gringo" missing West Africa is right.
i do agree 100% it is true Africa has a brilliant future, and it is up to everybody involved to see it soon.
Of course, do not expect the same play rules like Europe or America, open your mind and try to learn as much as you can, because as much as you travel, the better for you regarding culture shock, environment, etc.
All around the world the values are pretty much the same. Normal people regardless of race, religion, wants the same basic things from life.
About aviation, nobody knows it all. Nobody.
We all learn in a day by day basis. Please do not come with the "I knows it all about", or "we do things like this in my company" attitude.
First, "your" company was not yours, and on top of it does not exist anymore.
So you left your country to come here looking for greener pastures.
Do not try to be any kind of fake leader among your fellows, at the end everyone can survive by itself.
After my very personal opinion about the dos and donts, I truly believe in the nowadays pioneering. Only those willing to do anything beyond will flavour that feeling.
Sacrifice is also involved, everything has a price, but if thigs are fair it will be worth the effort.
Sorry gents, philosopher time is over. See you soon
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Great thread! Good to hear words of advice and thoughts of those who have been in Africa in general, and also those who are.
Anyways, I have a few questions about Arik Air that I thought I'd throw in aswell..
I have wanted to apply to Arik since I first saw they were going to start up.. somewhat stupid I know, but I liked theyr plans and outlooks, and now it seems like they might just work aswell.. Anywho, I know that they earlyer had a cadet pilot scheme on theyr website.. Does anyone know if they have discontinued this?
I am currently working on my FAA CPL, and would like to go there right away really, but I reccon that they have a hour minimum for theyr pilots..?
Also, I didn't really find if it is enough with a CPL or if I should knock out my JAA convertion and ATPL befor I apply?
Thank you for any answers!
Anyways, I have a few questions about Arik Air that I thought I'd throw in aswell..
I have wanted to apply to Arik since I first saw they were going to start up.. somewhat stupid I know, but I liked theyr plans and outlooks, and now it seems like they might just work aswell.. Anywho, I know that they earlyer had a cadet pilot scheme on theyr website.. Does anyone know if they have discontinued this?
I am currently working on my FAA CPL, and would like to go there right away really, but I reccon that they have a hour minimum for theyr pilots..?
Also, I didn't really find if it is enough with a CPL or if I should knock out my JAA convertion and ATPL befor I apply?
Thank you for any answers!
