Payday at Arik Air
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Join Date: May 2010
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You are working now?????
I can leave on crappy organization making four thousand a month after taxes and only get twelve days off a month
If I understand you correctly, you are working now??? If so, I would not suggest leaving to go to Arik.
There is a very real possibility that you won't get paid, and that this company may fail at some point. But, they continue to purchase planes.
Today's Arik rumor... Dr. M has signed for three additional A330's. If true, it would be hard to imagine where they would fly, or who would fly them. The last thing this company needs is more big, empty airplanes.
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Fresh off the boat
Sunset Contrails, you would be pleased to know that AJ loves to have a freshie off the boat every now & then, so you are most welcome to join the daredevils who AJ has expeditiously softened.
Please do let us know when you get your first paycheque!
Finally, please do not come on this forum whining about how you got suspended without pay when you refused to work because you had not been paid.
And FYI, i don't work for AJ, it would be nice if you could tell me what its like to work for him, i might just join you when old blighty sends me packing.
Please do let us know when you get your first paycheque!
Finally, please do not come on this forum whining about how you got suspended without pay when you refused to work because you had not been paid.
And FYI, i don't work for AJ, it would be nice if you could tell me what its like to work for him, i might just join you when old blighty sends me packing.
Mistrust in Management
Be prepared for a life and culture that you have never dreamed of.
I have worked for airlines who apparently knew what the 'big picture' was. That they didn't know it will come as no surprise to all our readers.
Arik, however, take the big picture idea to new levels. Arik have no idea whatsoever (honestly) and just buy aircraft with no idea how they will operate them.
To be fair on the 737 fleet there is a semblance of an operation but it is dogged by every inefficiency possible. Rostering is indescribable - good trips like LHR require a bribe of sorts to a certain person in rostering (good idea to call him on 'Friday') I will never engage in that sort of thing. No one rostering officer makes a note of what they have or have not done and so the result is complete and utter chaos.
A baggage check is required by each pax before they board. It took me a few months to realise that these checks were not being done when it was raining - they would argue that these checks were not required when it was raining! (like most of the time)
You will find that most (not all) of the people you have to deal with on the ground at Arik are lazy and deceitful (they have been known to tell the odd lie - something like if you fly this aircraft today I promise you will be be paid today). I'm sorry to say this but when I went to LOS I kept an open mind about all the folk there - sadly I have come away with the opinion that Nigeria has a culture of lying with a few exceptional individuals.
The whole country is a basket case in my view and I hope I never set foot in the place again.
Arik is a microcosm of the the whole country and culture.
I apologise to any innocent Nigerians I may have offended, in particular I apologise to the majority of Arik Captains and F/O's who are generally decent and honest folk who continually struggle against Arik and the general Nigerian situation (awful ATC etc, etc) in order to provide a safe passage for their passengers. These folks do a magnificent job under the circumstances and in my view should be rewarded with double the pay etc and be paid on time obviously.
Nevertheless I stand by my comments about the prevalent culture in Nigeria. You have to live and work here to really understand how bad it is.
Kind regards
Exeng
Arik, however, take the big picture idea to new levels. Arik have no idea whatsoever (honestly) and just buy aircraft with no idea how they will operate them.
To be fair on the 737 fleet there is a semblance of an operation but it is dogged by every inefficiency possible. Rostering is indescribable - good trips like LHR require a bribe of sorts to a certain person in rostering (good idea to call him on 'Friday') I will never engage in that sort of thing. No one rostering officer makes a note of what they have or have not done and so the result is complete and utter chaos.
A baggage check is required by each pax before they board. It took me a few months to realise that these checks were not being done when it was raining - they would argue that these checks were not required when it was raining! (like most of the time)
You will find that most (not all) of the people you have to deal with on the ground at Arik are lazy and deceitful (they have been known to tell the odd lie - something like if you fly this aircraft today I promise you will be be paid today). I'm sorry to say this but when I went to LOS I kept an open mind about all the folk there - sadly I have come away with the opinion that Nigeria has a culture of lying with a few exceptional individuals.
The whole country is a basket case in my view and I hope I never set foot in the place again.
Arik is a microcosm of the the whole country and culture.
I apologise to any innocent Nigerians I may have offended, in particular I apologise to the majority of Arik Captains and F/O's who are generally decent and honest folk who continually struggle against Arik and the general Nigerian situation (awful ATC etc, etc) in order to provide a safe passage for their passengers. These folks do a magnificent job under the circumstances and in my view should be rewarded with double the pay etc and be paid on time obviously.
Nevertheless I stand by my comments about the prevalent culture in Nigeria. You have to live and work here to really understand how bad it is.
Kind regards
Exeng
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Naija Ninja
Maybe you could come and work in our country. Try your luck at Mesa, or Trans States, or Pinnacle, or Colgan, or PSA, and now you can add to the list Compass and Mesaba. Tell me how management treats you. I have worked for several of them. Management on more than one occasion has made public statements such as "If i get a pilot to come and interview for eighteen dollars an hour than I am still paying him too much." Another once stated, "If it looks like a pile of sh&% and smells like a pile of sh&% then it is probably a pile of sh&%. Get over it because it's never going to change." He was describing the work conditions and saying that if you don't like it you can leave.
Yes, Arik Air may be a poor operation but I see no difference to the regionals in the USA. If the pay is two to three weeks late every month? I agree that is bad. Twice the pay late is better than half the pay ontime. All other working conditions are the same.
As far as whining? It seems that you are whining on these boards and you don't even work for them. What is your concern?
Maybe you could come and work in our country. Try your luck at Mesa, or Trans States, or Pinnacle, or Colgan, or PSA, and now you can add to the list Compass and Mesaba. Tell me how management treats you. I have worked for several of them. Management on more than one occasion has made public statements such as "If i get a pilot to come and interview for eighteen dollars an hour than I am still paying him too much." Another once stated, "If it looks like a pile of sh&% and smells like a pile of sh&% then it is probably a pile of sh&%. Get over it because it's never going to change." He was describing the work conditions and saying that if you don't like it you can leave.
Yes, Arik Air may be a poor operation but I see no difference to the regionals in the USA. If the pay is two to three weeks late every month? I agree that is bad. Twice the pay late is better than half the pay ontime. All other working conditions are the same.
As far as whining? It seems that you are whining on these boards and you don't even work for them. What is your concern?
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....when I went to LOS I kept an open mind - sadly I have come away with the opinion that Nigeria has a culture of lying with a few exceptional individuals.
The whole country is a basket case in my view and I hope I never set foot in the place again.
I apologise to any innocent Nigerians I may have offended ....Nevertheless I stand by my comments about the prevalent culture in Nigeria. You have to live and work here to really understand how bad it is.
The whole country is a basket case in my view and I hope I never set foot in the place again.
I apologise to any innocent Nigerians I may have offended ....Nevertheless I stand by my comments about the prevalent culture in Nigeria. You have to live and work here to really understand how bad it is.
I can live quite happily with my opinion and in the knowledge that I too will never set foot inthat place again.
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Sunset, you've explained the inspiration for your dogged ruggedness, fair enough! It looks like you really like sh&%, just don't forget to tell us what it tastes like when you've been given your pile by AJ. All the best mate.
Exeng, you've expressed the truth in a dignifying way, i admire and respect the way you didn't stoop low like certain characters who know themselves. Keep the spirit & happy landings mate.
Exeng, you've expressed the truth in a dignifying way, i admire and respect the way you didn't stoop low like certain characters who know themselves. Keep the spirit & happy landings mate.
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9th & 11th, less than two weeks ago they said the 6th?? And the subsequent paid normally one week late?? How can this be normal when contracts say 28th-30th??.
I lack the ability to understand this matter!
Just another chapter of the Arik story.
I lack the ability to understand this matter!
Just another chapter of the Arik story.
Last edited by Don K; 10th Sep 2010 at 09:39.
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Let me start by apologizing for the thread hi-jack. I'll be quick. Last Friday, the 23rd, an Arik 330 leaving JNB had the firetrucks out with the watercannons going. Possibley someones last flight or something, anyway, I was taxiing past and got some great photos. If that was you or you know who it was in the 330 and they would like me to send them the pics, give us a PM.
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I see no difference to the regionals in the USA. If the pay is two to three weeks late every month? I agree that is bad. Twice the pay late is better than half the pay ontime. All other working conditions are the same.
All other working conditions are not the same as a regional in the USA. First, you won't be going home for 56 days at a time. You'll live in a hotel (or presumably someday a pilot compound) the entire time.
We are currently under order by the CP to not leave Lagos during that time. You won't go anywhere while here, except where you fly to. You won't get malaria at a regional in the USA. You won't have guys with AK-47's on the streets during your drive to work in the USA. Every street isn't lined with an open sewer in the USA.
You won't have a monthly roster. Usually, you have no idea if you're working or not until the evening before. In the USA, there's a winter. It's hot every single day here. Just some days are hotter than others. The pollution (air, water, land) is something that has to been seen to be believed. You won't be taking evening strolls through the neighborhood. (at the hotel I'm currently at, a few months ago, two pilots were armed at gunpoint at the gate in front of the hotel... neither works here anymore).
It's not hard to have higher pay than a US regional. McDonalds does (by the way, no McDonalds in Nigeria). But, there, you go home every night to your family.
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There's always Mr Bigs which is just the same except on my 2 visits I was offered bread because they had no burgers. I'm not sure they have grasped the concept of a burger shop yet.
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Arik Air - Critical Mass
Today (and the 11th) is the revised payday that Arik Air management has promised, now 11 days late. But, I predict this pay day will be the single greatest loss of pilots of any month.
1. Many are just waiting to get this last pay in August before leaving. Already this year, only slightly more than half way through, 1/3 of the pilot workforce has quit. Even engineer employees are leaving.
2. Flights are being cancelled for lack of crews. B737's are being flown with captain/captain, because there are so few FO's. It's difficult to recruit new pilots for obvious reasons. The company has resorted to calling former pilots, asking them to leave Emirates / Turkish / many other airlines around the world, to come back to Arik. What can they promise them? More late paycheques? Maybe threats of being fired if you sit, or allow somebody else to sit in business / first class? I don't think this has been very successful.
3. The new A330 has gone several days of no flying for lack of crew. An even more daunting task exists for recruiting for this airplane, since there are so many lucrative contracts out there with companies that pay WAY more money, and pay on time, and work in generally more hospitable areas. Even A330 rated Nigerian pilots working abroad (Virgin Atlantic and Qatar) have been contacted about working here (they didn't apply). I can't imagine any of them wanting to leave what they have for Arik.
4. Planes are routinely delayed for such basics as fuel, ATC fees, maintenance and parts because they have not been paid for. Even such basic ingredients as Jeppessen were not paid for, so a new company is supplying approach plates... that hasn't been paid. They threatened to shut us off today.
5. The company still operates, since April 2010, without a permanent MD and DFO. Very soon will be 4 years operating, without the basic international standards of IATA being meet.
6. With traffic anticipated to decline with the end of summer, revenue will decline even further than the many cancelled flights for lack of crew.
7. Crews / management employees were recently snuck out of HJ hotel late in the evening to a new housing arrangement so as not to pay the huge bill there. Yet another place that Arik will owe, and won't be welcome in the future. They will do the same stunt with every remaining hotel when the crew compound opens in 6 months. It's a regular occurance for crews to be denied food at hotels, because Arik did not pay.
8. There are many more major problems, but the biggest seems to be the total lack of acknowledgement of a problem. If you believe the rumours of a HUGE money laundering scheme, then I guess there isn't a problem. However, if that is not the case, then this company is headed for a VERY rough road ahead.
1. Many are just waiting to get this last pay in August before leaving. Already this year, only slightly more than half way through, 1/3 of the pilot workforce has quit. Even engineer employees are leaving.
2. Flights are being cancelled for lack of crews. B737's are being flown with captain/captain, because there are so few FO's. It's difficult to recruit new pilots for obvious reasons. The company has resorted to calling former pilots, asking them to leave Emirates / Turkish / many other airlines around the world, to come back to Arik. What can they promise them? More late paycheques? Maybe threats of being fired if you sit, or allow somebody else to sit in business / first class? I don't think this has been very successful.
3. The new A330 has gone several days of no flying for lack of crew. An even more daunting task exists for recruiting for this airplane, since there are so many lucrative contracts out there with companies that pay WAY more money, and pay on time, and work in generally more hospitable areas. Even A330 rated Nigerian pilots working abroad (Virgin Atlantic and Qatar) have been contacted about working here (they didn't apply). I can't imagine any of them wanting to leave what they have for Arik.
4. Planes are routinely delayed for such basics as fuel, ATC fees, maintenance and parts because they have not been paid for. Even such basic ingredients as Jeppessen were not paid for, so a new company is supplying approach plates... that hasn't been paid. They threatened to shut us off today.
5. The company still operates, since April 2010, without a permanent MD and DFO. Very soon will be 4 years operating, without the basic international standards of IATA being meet.
6. With traffic anticipated to decline with the end of summer, revenue will decline even further than the many cancelled flights for lack of crew.
7. Crews / management employees were recently snuck out of HJ hotel late in the evening to a new housing arrangement so as not to pay the huge bill there. Yet another place that Arik will owe, and won't be welcome in the future. They will do the same stunt with every remaining hotel when the crew compound opens in 6 months. It's a regular occurance for crews to be denied food at hotels, because Arik did not pay.
8. There are many more major problems, but the biggest seems to be the total lack of acknowledgement of a problem. If you believe the rumours of a HUGE money laundering scheme, then I guess there isn't a problem. However, if that is not the case, then this company is headed for a VERY rough road ahead.
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What day this month?
If there was some sort of semblance of corporate governance there would be McDs, KFC, et al unfortunately you would need some sort of a government, oh and an infrastructure and then corporate governance and and I forgot oh yes expats otherwise you would get a half hour excuse telling you why they have no chips only potatoes a deep fat fryer and 17 staff.
Anyone been paid I heard one captain who lives near the Danube has had some through and I am sure JH or TW must have seen something.
Any bets for this month?
VT.
Anyone been paid I heard one captain who lives near the Danube has had some through and I am sure JH or TW must have seen something.
Any bets for this month?
VT.
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I got paid, 9 Aug 2010, for July. 11 days late. I was paid the full amount owed for my salary, but without the money owed me for airline tickets.
They have promised to pay on time for August, but then they promised to pay on time when I signed my contract. I can only hope that the directors of this company will provide me with a similar level of service that I provide when I show up for work every day, on time, ready to work.
They have promised to pay on time for August, but then they promised to pay on time when I signed my contract. I can only hope that the directors of this company will provide me with a similar level of service that I provide when I show up for work every day, on time, ready to work.
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Who on earth goes to McD Taco bell
after a night of Drinking did the bar run out of wings or whatever they serve on the side assuming you are old enough to go to a Bar(Pub) or is this just a cheap attempt to rubbish Lagos
where the bars Traditionally serve fresh fish , Spiced snail,Ox Tail soup etc with your beer
only a Gloutton would go looking for more to eat after a night of Drinking in Lagos
guess you do not read or travel much to know how people unwind in Different countries
after a night of Drinking did the bar run out of wings or whatever they serve on the side assuming you are old enough to go to a Bar(Pub) or is this just a cheap attempt to rubbish Lagos where the bars Traditionally serve fresh fish , Spiced snail,Ox Tail soup etc with your beer only a Gloutton would go looking for more to eat after a night of Drinking in Lagos guess you do not read or travel much to know how people unwind in Different countries