Africa World Airlines

[flyafricaworld]

Considering 70% of AWA is owned by chinese HNA Group

I would like to set the record straight that HNA Group does NOT own 70% of Africa World Airlines Limited.

With regards to your comments about Tianjin Airlines pilots and local pilots, I'm not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean TJA expats and TJA local Chinese pilots (in which case you probably want to address your questions in the relevant forum covering China)?

[Maurice Chavez]

flyafricaworld,

Are you a consultant for them?

[totomechanic]

Stand Corrected

Thanks

Okay, So who exactly does the 70% Chinese ownership belong to? And what is their connection to HNA/Tianjin Airlines to be using their facilities (erj 145 simulator) at Sanya, china?

...the question was, How much salary/benefits do Ghanaian FO's/Captains make at AWA? Is it less than Chinese FO's/captains flying the same equipment in China, and if so, why?

Just curious.


PS: seeing how domestic operations are being postponed, when would regional ops commence? 2015? Has anyone even seen the aircraft livery? Care to Share with the rest of us? I'm dying to see this.

[flyafricaworld]

So who exactly does the 70% Chinese ownership belong to?

There are multiple partners who make up the 70% non-Ghanaian ownership component. I don't recall the specific numbers for each offhand, but no single party has a majority stake.

How much salary/benefits do Ghanaian FO's/Captains make at AWA? Is it less than Chinese FO's/captains flying the same equipment in China, and if so, why?

Thanks for clarifying. Answer to that question is no, it is not significantly different than the local scales for TJA's ERJ-145 pilots at the various levels. It was actually very slightly higher when the Ghanaian pilots signed their contracts at the end of 2011, but due to changes in GHS and RMB exchange rates since then, the numbers are right around the same levels right now. For better or worse, experienced Ghanaian are able to command higher wages than they used to, primarily due to shortage of qualified personnel at present.

seeing how domestic operations are being postponed, when would regional ops commence? 2015?

The intention is to expand into regional operations at the earliest possible opportunity (viz. as soon as the relevant licenses and authorisations are in place).

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Echoes of The Guv'nor...?

[Johnson121]

africa world

The worst thing we could have done is to have been very public with announcements saying "we will fly on XYZ" date and then for whatever reason, be forced to postpone it.

i presume you all have a registered airline company with civil aviation and ICAO ? In your earlier threads export licence and tax was an issue to delay start up, as you said you have resolved them with a hong kong lessor what causes a delay again? as you have staff and cash flow reserves ?

What do your competitors in the region have to say, with a delay like yours are they all smiling presuming that africa world is a gimmick? and do you not think that all these delays can have a negative impact on the airline as competitors may talk about it in negative ways.

Heard china pay about 15000 USD to captains do AWA pay the same too?

[flyafricaworld]

Echoes of The Guv'nor...?

I don't think he's due for release anytime soon.

[flyafricaworld]

do you not think that all these delays can have a negative impact on the airline as competitors may talk about it in negative ways.

We've got quite enough to worry about getting an airline started from scratch to be particularly concerned by the views of our competitors of all people. Certainly, they may think us to be a "gimmick", but at the end of the day the only way to prove our bonafides to both our supporters and detractors will be to get planes in the air. Until that happens, anything we say will always be qualified by an "if".

We seem to be going around in circles here. I'm not here to justify anything to people. I came on to this thread months ago to answer questions being raised by potential pilot recruits (and I continue to get a number of PMs with questions that I am very glad to answer or redirect), not to play armchair CEO and make a case for our business plan or activities. If you or anyone else thinks we are not going to be successful for whatever reason, I thank you for contributing your piece and we shall agree to disagree.

[SalesConsult]

Africa World

We seem to be going around in circles here. I'm not here to justify anything to people. I came on to this thread months ago to answer questions being raised by potential pilot recruits (and I continue to get a number of PMs with questions that I am very glad to answer or redirect), not to play armchair CEO and make a case for our business plan or activities.

You are quite right and I must repeat that your approach is the right one. You should not be discouraged with other issues filtering through what you thought would be for "questions" of potential pilots recruits, even such potentials need some information about your plan and set up before consideration. You will agree as well that you have this forum for PR exercise, in general, as well no matter how it turns out. I, for one, have been impressed. Keep it up and Good Luck!

[Johnson121]

africa world

Has anyone even seen the aircraft livery? Care to Share with the rest of us? I'm dying to see this?

[totomechanic]

I heard newly qualified recruits at AWA are paid about 2000 GHC per month (less than 1500USD). True or false? I'm sure pilots in China earn far more than that. May I ask, what currency are pilots paid in? US Dollars or GH Cedis... and are there any benefits I may not be aware of i.e. Car/medical/housing allowance?

Also what is the current recruiting climate like for AWA considering the recent delays? Have the 2nd batch of local pilots already been sent to China?

I also like the approach AWA is using - I agree with SalesConsult - most potential recruits would be curious about any start-up's plans as this indirectly translates into career progression and job security. Do not be discouraged. Great job so far!

[totomechanic]

I definitely see the huge potential for AWA to succeed! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well. Africa desperately needs what AWA has to offer.

[flyafricaworld]

I heard newly qualified recruits at AWA are paid about 2000 GHC per month (less than 1500USD). True or false?

Untrue.

If you would like to PM me any details about the source of this false information, I would be happy to go ahead and correct them. We pay per a sliding scale based upon rank and experience (eg. 8000 hr captains make more than 200 hr FOs), but the lowest range starts above that level. Considering the current demand for pilots in Ghana, I doubt anybody would have signed on to begin with at those levels.

May I ask, what currency are pilots paid in? US Dollars or GH Cedis... and are there any benefits I may not be aware of i.e. Car/medical/housing allowance?

Salaries are paid in Ghana Cedis, which is the requirement by law for employers of Ghanaian residents. The salary is however pegged to USD with a periodic review. A few other benefits are also provided (eg. medical, etc..).

Have the 2nd batch of local pilots already been sent to China?

No, we are still on hold with the second batch until the aircraft delivery dates are fixed. Obviously there has been some "turnover" of candidates in the interim, so we are still happy to accept applications from interested parties.

[totomechanic]

Hi flyafricaworld,

Hope all is well and plans are progressing smoothly. As we head into July, have there been any new developments?

checkPM!

[flyafricaworld]

Slow and steady and smooth for now. No new delays, which is always a plus!

Expect public statements from the shareholders around the 20th of the month.

Toto - please check your PMs - have responded to your question there.

[Johnson121]

Africa World. will you share the statements with us?

As July has begun is the launch in a few days time?

[flyafricaworld]

As July has begun is the launch in a few days time?

It is posts like this that sometime make me wonder why I bother engaging with you here.

What part of my previous statement that "I would not expect to see commercial flights until September" implies a launch in July?

[SalesConsult]

Flyworld maybe Johnson121 is so eager to see you guys chock-off that his keyboard can't connect past statements.

[totomechanic]

Does anybody know whats involved in converting an FAA CPL license to local license in Ghana? I heard there is an Air Law exam but who administers it?
what other tests (eg skills test?) are involved?... Is the GH system more FAA or JAA?

anybody gone through the process?

[flyafricaworld]

Does anybody know whats involved in converting an FAA CPL license to local license in Ghana? I heard there is an Air Law exam but who administers it?
what other tests (eg skills test?) are involved?

The Air Law test is administered by GCAA's Personnel Licensing section.

The test itself is quite straightforward. If you qualify to sit the test, you are provided with a study guide. Together with a review of the GCARs and the current Ghana AIP, that should be more than enough for a properly qualified CPL holder to pass the test. I do not know of anyone who has failed the test, and that includes some folks who I seriously have concerns whether they knew which side of the plane pointed up.

To be permitted to sit the test, you must be able to show significant ties to Ghana other than simply those related to aviation. That means you should be a citizen of Ghana, born in Ghana, permanent resident of Ghana, or something other than simply trying to get the license in order to land a job with a Ghana carrier. This is at the discretion of GCAA - lately they have been very strict about this due to abuse of the system.

If you cannot show the Ghana ties as above, you cannot get a license CONVERSION but rather a 6-month VALIDATION (which is renewable at GCAA's discretion). The key difference between the two is that the validation requires you to have a type rating already endorsed on your FAA license (unless you want a validation to fly an aircraft type that doesn't require a type-rating), while the conversion permits a basic Ghana CPL/IR to be issued without the type-rating. Once you have the Ghana CPL/IR you can undergo a GCAA approved type rating course and then have the type-rating directly endorsed on your Ghana CPL/IR.

Africa World Airlines only conducts GCAA approved type-rating courses, which means that the prerequisite has to be a Ghana CPL/IR or ATPL and not just a validation. However, pilots who already hold ERJ-145 type ratings on their ICAO license can apply and go through the validation process.

Hope this clarifies!