You know you've been in a Congolese (DRC) airline for too long when.......
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You know you've been in a Congolese (DRC) airline for too long when.......
....When being 3 tons overweight on your MZFW is 'NORMAL' SOP 
....When dispatching with several 'NO DISPATCH' items from the MEL is 'NORMAL SOP
....When ATC routinely issues wrong instructions with potentially lethal ramifications, and rather than alert him of the same, you do whatever the hell you please, since he's blind anyways (no radar)
....When you routinely carry more than 190 passengers on an aircraft with an emergency exit based seating limit of 180 passengers
....When on the last flight of the evening, you casually start rushing the ground crew so that you reach your base in time to not get mugged on the way home, in your crew car
....When the shiny transport category narrow body jet you came here to fly with such zeal, starts looking like a potential flying coffin
....When you are told by the management that it's perfectly 'normal' to fly a highly sophisticated computerised jet transport aircraft with only one working FMGC, although the manufacturer wouldn't permit you to even FERRY one in said condition ??!!
....When you start finding perfectly normal, vehicles of persons without any identification whatsoever and/or permit to enter a sterile airside area of an international airport, dropping their owners/renters/operators off, with complete impunity, to the stairwell of the aircraft
....When the loader, with uncanny regularity, F#$%s up the load sheet and hence the trim, and you get 'used' to it
....When you know that the cabin crew have had no training whatsoever, and hence in the event of an on ground emergency evacuation, shall pretty much be able to do sod all to save the lives of your passengers, and you dont give a rat's ass anymore
Well folks, those were just some observations that I came up with off the top of my head, to start things off with........ please feel free to add more as and when you please.
....When dispatching with several 'NO DISPATCH' items from the MEL is 'NORMAL SOP
....When ATC routinely issues wrong instructions with potentially lethal ramifications, and rather than alert him of the same, you do whatever the hell you please, since he's blind anyways (no radar)
....When you routinely carry more than 190 passengers on an aircraft with an emergency exit based seating limit of 180 passengers
....When on the last flight of the evening, you casually start rushing the ground crew so that you reach your base in time to not get mugged on the way home, in your crew car
....When the shiny transport category narrow body jet you came here to fly with such zeal, starts looking like a potential flying coffin
....When you are told by the management that it's perfectly 'normal' to fly a highly sophisticated computerised jet transport aircraft with only one working FMGC, although the manufacturer wouldn't permit you to even FERRY one in said condition ??!!
....When you start finding perfectly normal, vehicles of persons without any identification whatsoever and/or permit to enter a sterile airside area of an international airport, dropping their owners/renters/operators off, with complete impunity, to the stairwell of the aircraft
....When the loader, with uncanny regularity, F#$%s up the load sheet and hence the trim, and you get 'used' to it
....When you know that the cabin crew have had no training whatsoever, and hence in the event of an on ground emergency evacuation, shall pretty much be able to do sod all to save the lives of your passengers, and you dont give a rat's ass anymore
Well folks, those were just some observations that I came up with off the top of my head, to start things off with........ please feel free to add more as and when you please.
Last edited by WannabeAirbusFlyer; 18th Mar 2011 at 20:38.
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As my bank account became emptier, I came closer, and closer, to taking a contract in Africa.
Fortunately, the contract I was on last year, in Europe,rematerialised, just in the nick of time.
I am sorry your luck was not so good.
Sorry to say, but did you really have cause to expect any better
Seriously though. if you are REALLY worried, DO NOT GO , buy your own ticket home if required, and walk off the job.
However, if you CAN survive it, think of the EXPERIENCE you are gaining, and how grateful you will be in the future to have gained such an insight 
into REAL aviation knowledge.
Take care Bruv
Fortunately, the contract I was on last year, in Europe,rematerialised, just in the nick of time.
I am sorry your luck was not so good.
Sorry to say, but did you really have cause to expect any better
Seriously though. if you are REALLY worried, DO NOT GO , buy your own ticket home if required, and walk off the job.
However, if you CAN survive it, think of the EXPERIENCE
you are gaining, and how grateful you will be in the future to have gained such an insight into REAL aviation knowledge.Take care Bruv
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Here,There..Everywhere!
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You know you've been in a Congolese (DRC) airline for too long when.......
...........when you call 6 mile final at Goma and ATC clears you to land only to immediately clear some other poor sod for take off on the reciprocal runway and asks very nicely for him to expedite.
............when ATC clears you to hold over a VOR and then clear you for an approach that is based on said VOR which has not worked for who knows how long.
...........when cabin crew allow 2 adults to sit on one seat and then are absolutely shocked when you say it is not allowed.
..........when the local Congolese technician "engineer" uses solder to plug up a fusible plug at some crap hole airfield because his countryman captain landed deep and was a bit heavy footed with the brakes.
...........when same said Captain takes off knowing one of the engines has lost all its oil because he does not want to night stop and then cooks the engine.
Scariest part is this is all true........I wish I was joking!
............when ATC clears you to hold over a VOR and then clear you for an approach that is based on said VOR which has not worked for who knows how long.
...........when cabin crew allow 2 adults to sit on one seat and then are absolutely shocked when you say it is not allowed.
..........when the local Congolese technician "engineer" uses solder to plug up a fusible plug at some crap hole airfield because his countryman captain landed deep and was a bit heavy footed with the brakes.
...........when same said Captain takes off knowing one of the engines has lost all its oil because he does not want to night stop and then cooks the engine.
Scariest part is this is all true........I wish I was joking!
Join Date: Jun 2007
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When you are able to fly between CB's with the skill of a downhill skier.
When you find 3000kgs of dried fish in the belly hold but not on the manifest.
When you realise that the only efficient thing the company is capable of doing is getting you to the aircraft on time for your overloaded departure.
When you realise that you only spend 9 hours a day in the house you rent for 2000usd per month and that is spent sleeping.
When you realise 16 hour days 7 days a week are "Normale" and you actual pay is 10usd per duty hour.
When you realise you can speak Lingala, Swahilli, French and dream in those languages.
When you realise you the only clothes you have worn in the past 12 months are your uniform shirt and pants, the rest are gathering mildew in your wardrobe.
When you realise LOBI has many meanings.
When you find out your poor struggling "Patron" has a 2 million usd house in Belge......paid for.
When you understand that "Les Congolais," are the kinest people in Africa.
When you find 3000kgs of dried fish in the belly hold but not on the manifest.
When you realise that the only efficient thing the company is capable of doing is getting you to the aircraft on time for your overloaded departure.
When you realise that you only spend 9 hours a day in the house you rent for 2000usd per month and that is spent sleeping.
When you realise 16 hour days 7 days a week are "Normale" and you actual pay is 10usd per duty hour.
When you realise you can speak Lingala, Swahilli, French and dream in those languages.
When you realise you the only clothes you have worn in the past 12 months are your uniform shirt and pants, the rest are gathering mildew in your wardrobe.
When you realise LOBI has many meanings.
When you find out your poor struggling "Patron" has a 2 million usd house in Belge......paid for.
When you understand that "Les Congolais," are the kinest people in Africa.
Last edited by Siguarda al fine; 22nd Mar 2011 at 06:51.
