Flying is my passion but need 9ja connection asap

[250hrsand counting]

Patience is golden even if it feels like forever(godsent)

I am a 250 hr commercial pilot with Multi and instrument rating and need a flying job in Nigeria. I worked at a bank in 2008, got a visa to come to North America and used all my savings to get a commercial pilot license(a risky decision which i hope will pay off soonish) Soar the skies once and you are hooked for life,The sounds of the engine on takeoff and descent is immortal and heavenly(but you guys know that already).

Flying to me is a place where i can truly be myself and leave all that is not me on the earth.My mentor who just passed away last year after loosing his battle with cancer helped me a lot and my gratitude goes out to the famous Captain O in heaven.On his death bed he sent me to a few contacts at Air Nigeria (where he flew) and another major airline but all promised interviews which i never got(in 9ja only GOD and connections gets you almost anything but right now my connections are not rock solid).

It is precisely one year and 6 months since i got my CPL and its really expensive staying current. i was back home in 2011 to convert my license to a NCAA CPL as i didn't have the connections i could not get a job after flooding all the airlines at Murtala Muhammed International Airport with my resume. I only came back to to get my residency(which i got)working on getting my IATRA written(work in progress)

I'm still trying to get into regional airlines as a dispatch/rampie here in NWO as long as a right seat is guaranteed after a period of 1 year but no luck yet. All i here is you are determined but the season is slow .( save me that crap and lemme work,the hiring season for pilots due to weather is from March-October)At the end of the day i somehow feel that it's a person that understands where i am coming from and where i am going to(one who is willing to take a chance on me to better and improve my skills) that will give me a break.I would like to fly for carriers back home for starters but at this point in time as long as i can get more skills, experience and education God and patience will just have to be the key. Any help will be much appreciated.

Quitting is not an option as i am following aviation wherever it takes me
Take the bull by the horn and be the captain of your life.

[daladaladriver]

hey mate, you're going to be waiting some time for a dispatch/rampie job in TO. Check out avcanada for more info on ramp jobs... there's plenty of opportunities in Canada to get into a plane via this avenue... but be patient, don't expect to go flightline after just 1 year... realistically think 2 years. Know that the wait will be worth it! forget about Nigeria unless you have money to blow on a type rating, and of course, you must have super solid contacts! best of luck

[FLYDHC8]

As long as you are Nigerian I wouldn't say forget about Nigeria, Keep pushing. I will also advise you look beyond Arik and Aero. There are lots of smaller companies recruiting, new start ups as well. Connection will help but there are also pilots that got jobs without connection and they still do. When you drop your resume make sure you drop it to the right person and try as much as you can to follow it up.

I have seen different situations where people spend most of their time pursing connections and missing out on jobs they would have gotten if they had put same effort into pursing those in charge at the airlines directly. It won't be easy but you will make it.

All the best.

[250hrsand counting]

@ daladaladriver

Thanks for your response, but i must say i cant forget about Nigeria as at the end of the day i am Nigerian and will forever be. I will just do my best and leave the rest.

[nickballack123]

250 hr

I will recommend you join the Nigerian proffesional pilot association.. They are guys like you.. And are making valuable impact.. Check them on facebook..

[BLUEJuice]

Nigeria Job hunter.

Flying is my passion but need 9ja connection asap

I am a 250 hr commercial pilot with Multi and instrument rating and need a flying job in Nigeria. I worked at a bank in 2008, got a visa to come to Canada and used all my savings to get a commercial pilot license(a risky decision which i hope will pay off soonish) Soar the skies once and you are hooked for life,The sounds of the engine on takeoff and descent is immortal and heavenly(but you guys know that already).

Flying to me is a place where i can truly be myself and leave all that is not me on the earth.My mentor who just passed away last year after loosing his battle with cancer helped me a lot and my gratitude goes out to the famous Captain O in heaven.On his death bed he sent me to a few contacts at Arik and Air Nigeria(where he flew) but all promised interviews which i never got (in 9ja only GOD and connections gets you almost anything but right now my connections are not rock solid). It is precisely one year and 6 months since i got my CPL and its really expensive staying current..i was back home in 2011 to convert my license to a NCAA CPL as i didn't have the connections i could not get a job after flooding all the airlines at Murtala Muhammed International Airport with my resume. I only came back to Canada to get my residency,(which i got)working on getting my IATRA written(work in progress) and hoping that will give me a flying chance(which didn't turn out as planned)

I'm still trying to get into regional airlines, as a dispatch/rampie here in Toronto Canada as long as a right seat is guaranteed after a period of 1 year but no luck yet. All i here is you are determined but the season is slow .( save me that crap and lemme work,the hiring season for pilots in Canada is from March-October because of the weather)At the end of the day i somehow feel that it is a person that understands where i am coming from and where i am going to(one who is willing to take a chance on me to better and improve my skills) that will give me a break.I would like to fly for carriers such as Arik or Aero. Any help will be much appreciated.

Quitting is not an option as i am following aviation wherever it takes me
Take the bull by the horn and be the captain of your life

Just a few responses....
1. Air Nigeria Ceases to Operate

2. Being in Canada and looking for a job in Nigeria is not going to happen.
Unless you are being sought after.(Good Time on Type,PIC etc.)

3. If you are Nigerian "at all" you need to utilize that aspect? Especially
with no experience at all. (You cannot play the canada card be
considered expatriate and expect to be put on anything with a
rotation having NO experience)

4. Arik Air is flush with many qualified and ab initio FO's on 737,CRJ,Q4.
It needs Capts. and i believe has commenced few upgrades on
various fleets.

5. Aero has limited growth going on and jobs are available. (737,new Q4
coming)

6. Are you finished with everything ... Licenses, ratings ?

7. In response to your "let me work" statement....

"EVERY OTHER RAMPER WANTS TO BE A PILOT TOO"

Aviation is Luck, Time, Political. and did i say luck?

You will get there... don't worry. My advice now is that You really need to come back to Nigeria show up at the gate walk in drop of resumes or ask to schedule an appt. meet pilots and follow up dilligently. Many many low time Nigerian pilots and AB Initios were hired this past year...plus the market was recently saturated with pilots (VN bust and DANA Air Suspension etc.)

There has been growth at AERO, Overland, Top Brass, DANA Nigeria(Dornier) , MedView and many a charter operator.

[250hrsand counting]

@FLYDHC8

Thank you very much....i am just hanging in there, networking and hoping i end up at the right place at the right time. Kindly pm me if you have any inside news on who is hiring in the Nigerian aviation.

[250hrsand counting]

@ BLUEJUICE

Thanks for the response and yes i have gotten all my licenses and ratings(CPL/MEL/IR) except the ATPL but i plan on getting more experience and building more hours before doing that.I admit that i am a low timer without experience and know i have to come and look for the job in person,Im willing to come down asap if i can get my foot in the door that's all i need to jump-start my career.i heard interviews are taking place this month and next month.......Thanks to PPRuNe

[250hrsand counting]

I will recommend you join the Nigerian proffesional pilot association.. They are guys like you.. And are making valuable impact.. Check them on facebook..


@nickballack...... Thanks for the response but i cant find them on Facebook. Do they have a professional website?

[CaptZeloZelo]

Agreed with one of the prior responses. In order to get the job in Nigeria you must be IN Nigeria. Even if you are Nigerian that won't do. To them your just another resume in a pile but if you were there in person every day/week/month then you would be a face to a resume, a face to a possible future pilot. Showing up once to hand a resume won't count either, too many people do that.
As for Canada, look around, there's plenty of "ramp" jobs available in Canada, you just have to be willing to leave the "family nest" it seems like you're living in in TO, get outside the "big" city.

[250hrsand counting]

@ Captainzelozelo

"In order to get the job in Nigeria you must be IN Nigeria"......I concur to this part but this other part "you just have to be willing to leave the "family nest" it seems like you're living in in TO, get outside the "big" city".........i agree to disagree here because its not a matter of willing to live the big city as i have left it a couple times job hunting in temperatures as low as -23celsius (and as high as 23celsius) plus its really expensive to do this as i have taken a road trip to NWO and all i get is the same you are motivated and driven but i'm sorry we don't have a position for you (save me the preaching and lemme work)I am doing odd non related aviation jobs just to to be able to stay current and pay rent + bills. i know what the road trip cost me and at the end all i was left with was the probability of a jump pilot job in the spring which is not guaranteed(Lest i forget it left me more bills too). Only he who wears the shoe know where it pinches so i repeat as BLUE JUICE said earier Aviation is Luck, Time, Political. and did i say luck?
Thank you all for your responses as you are ultimately the captain of your future.

[eagleflier]

I had the opportunity of working with CaptIn Olu, perfect gentleman. May his soul rest in peace.
I got a job with Air Nigeria 16 months after I got my CPL. My friends with connections waited just as long because the airlines just weren't hiring at the time. You need to be in Nigeria as has been said earlier.
I have contacts with the new start ups in Nigeria and none of them are hiring pilots with no experience for now i.e Discovery, Azman and Medview.
Arik will be holding assessments for First Officers soon (soon in aviation has no time frame) and Aero also needs FOs but are banking on getting those with time on type (even if it means poaching since they pay a LOT better than the other airlines).
My advice (or advise) to you is come to Nigeria, I'm guessing you MIGHT not have to pay rent here. Drop ur CVs personally with the various Chief Pilots. It goes a long way.
2of my buddies recently got jobs with Arik this way, they bugged the CP so much he sent them to the CRJ Fleet Manager who said they didn't have to wait for An assessment if they can go to Flight Safety and pass a CRJ type rating course. They had to pay for it but they were guaranteed jobs afterwards. They are now undergoing line training.

Hang in there and you will get a job provided you pass interviews and assessments when they do come your way.

I wish you good luck.

[nickballack123]

250hrs

I don't think they have a web site now.. But surely a facebook page Nigerian Professional pilots... Just give it a try

[250hrsand counting]

@ nickballack123

Roger that.....just sent them a message( a really long one lol)

[juropilot]

There is a pressure on Dana Air from NCAA to hire Nigerians. They have been working with ab-initios for years.
Have you checked with them?

[250hrsand counting]

@juropilot

I applied a few times with Dana but no response yet.