Humanitarian and Missions Airlines

[Racine1026]

I am looking into Humanitarian and Missions Airlines in Africa (and globally) as a pilot. However I am having a hard time seeing what is out there. Anyone know the name of a few Humanitarian or Missions airlines I should look into?

Thanks for your time!

[Ixixly]

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) if you're Christiany enough for their liking!!

[Agaricus bisporus]

Best of luck with humanitarian work though there are few companies that specialise in it and jobs are hard to find and by no means guaranteed to take you where you sound like you want to go - I mean it is hard to choose where you may work. It will take luck and perseverance.

As far as the religious side is concerned if you're of the mindset that thinks it is OK to go and ram your religion down the throats of poor benighted black heathens because your book is the right one and theirs isn't...

Is there a worse demonstration of cultural vandalism and racial bigotry than this?

[cavortingcheetah]

From some personal experience some years ago, if you're sufficiently faithful to gain entry to MAF then you don't need an aeroplane in order to be able to fly.

[daladaladriver]

I must say, I'm not a fan of seeing all these religious flying outfits using the airplane as a tool to spread their propaganda. I mean, what kid isn't going to get super excited about the Bible after a FLYING MACHINE gives it to them. Monster Truck Fellowship could change Africa.

[Teddy Robinson]

Hmmm .. interesting debate.
I approached one of "our" training captains many years back who had been involved in this outfit with a view to using my 4000hr experience to better the future of mankind in some small but significant way.. this was taken as an opportunity to "convert me" to a particular take on an ancient and unapproved set of texts and SOP's with no supporting manuals or performance data.
Guess it's a case of trust ... and frankly pushing ideology down peoples throats rather than food, water, and the means to sustain their family groups without the brainwashing didn't do it for me any more than I did it for them.
Selling your house is one thing, selling your soul is quite another

[Agaricus bisporus]

To be fair to MAF though I don't think they push religion before aid or on condition of receiving it, more with it which isn't as bad as some missionary's tactics, they must do much good work. It's the peddling of "my superior ideology" in any form that I find unacceptable esp when connected with poverty and survival though you could argue that China for instance is doing something far more insidious than this and on a vastly greater scale - its just political rather than religious.

[Racine1026]

That spun an interesting debate haha. I am not intrested in shoving religion down someones throat so no worries on that front. I am firm believer that we all have a person side to our beliefs and that one only becomes religious by there own will to do so (personal opinion). What I am interested in is more or less relief. Perhaps that is more humanitarian work (I still cant define what the difference between humanitarian and missions work is I know missions pilots also fly cargo and humanitarian pilots can be strongly religiously affiliated ).


I appreciate all of your inputs btw.

[Mobotu]

ASF France....

There are a couple of Caravans flying around the DRC with Aviation Sans Frontiers titles on them - I think this is more what you meant in your initial post?????? I know someone who flew for them for for a year who is now with Air Mauritius but not on the Caravan rather the Scarebus!
Not sure of who to contact??? Google may help!

[Fuzzy Lager]

MAF are a bunch of thugs. Keep away

[Agaricus bisporus]

Fuzzy, I think that post needs either a full explanation, substantial modification or deleting altogether.

[mad_jock]

I don't know I have heard second hand and also first hand some of thier antics.

Thugs is one of the terms that could be used. If you mean beaten into a corner with a bible as emotional blackmail.

They are no different to any other aircraft operator.

[CaptZeloZelo]

There are a couple of Caravans flying around the DRC with Aviation Sans Frontiers titles on them

From what I've heard they are Canadian registered and would require the pilot to have a Canadian CPL.

Unless I've been mis informed...

Best of luck, MAF has about 6 months of training before you can even touch the plane. Local studies, local language courses, integration into the local society, you don't get paid either. You must raise your own funds during your yearly leave.

[mATT84DC]

ASF C208 in DRC are french registered..I remember them in Kinshasa..few years ago, when I was looking for a job, they told that the min required was 500 tt...I don t remember more details...

just for info, many companies are flying in Africa for ICRC and UN, it should be considered humanitarian flight as well, but they usually have high requirements (included time on type).

[digitalsoul]

MSF, ALS(kenyan company), DAC(kenyan company), Air Tec(south african, LET410, lots of them), A Ukrainian company in Goma operating SAB), Solenta-south african, King air service-south african. A mexican company based in Kinshasa with a Dornier(jet type), Canadian company based in Kinshasa operating DASH8 with nice sounding ladies on radio.
Most of them have UN/WFP Red cross contracts. requirements are mainly there for 'show'...well....really in most cases with some companies-wont point fingers.... BUT normally their clients may require the Copilot to have at-least 100 hours on type and captain 500 hours on type..min. But also the respective company may have their own requirements as they see fit.
If they need you urgently, you will get it. if they don't, you will try harder. Good luck

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Time on type is a UN/ICRC requirement and nothing to do with the operators. A couple of them have lost contracts for sending crew out without the required hours.

[Agaricus bisporus]

You know, I just love the balance on this forum!

You can call a company of perhaps over-zealous Christian missionaries "a bunch of thugs" with no explanation or justification whatsoever and get away with it unscathed but if you refer to the CEO of a certain NW European airline with a shocking reputation for all kinds of chicanery with anything but sugary adoration the entire thread is blocked.

Whatever has PPRuNe come to? (Apart from Ryanair poodles) Shame. Shame. Shame.

It is pretty disgusting, double standards like that.

Oh well, I expect I'm the next for the chop.

[daladaladriver]

I know of a pilot who flew for a mission airline, and left for a paying job flying the same aircraft... and now he's going to HELL. True Story.

[mad_jock]

Agaricus if you had met any of the boys that fly this type of flying you wouldn't be suprised at the description.

Its quite christian knight territory.

The pilot is disposable in alot of ways. Bullying and abuse is normal. If you depart the organisation or don't do what you are told its like leaving a sect, emotional blackmail will be brought to bare by experts in it.

Getting 20 bibles and a nun to some out of the way hole in dodgy as hell wx with an aircraft thats borderline according to manfuctures preformance when its brand new. It is meant to be done on an act of faith that your doing the big mans work and he will look after you. Then the nun will bring 90 bibles and her mate then your still expect to do it anyway.

One lad I spoke to had lost his faith due to the antics and was desperately trying to get home in fear of his safety while flying and couldn't say anything because he would get a visit by some of the locals who believed that giving him a good kicking was gods work and good for his soul. He couldn't get a ticket home from his church and didn't have funds of his own. He was living on 20$ a month from his church.

[WhinerLiner]

They are a torrid bunch of sanctimonious self-righteouscrooks. They love to go on and on about how good they are but will break anylaw in ‘Gods’ name and promptly get ‘forgiven’.