Solenta
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Nice Lizzard, Good Lizzard.
Well put lizzard,
All you have to remember there is us and them, and as long as you dont confuse that line drawn, it still beats working for a living, or what hey gunnie?
ye olde contraxdog
All you have to remember there is us and them, and as long as you dont confuse that line drawn, it still beats working for a living, or what hey gunnie?
ye olde contraxdog
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Just for the record...
... Solenta's on-line CV submitter back in service.
Petes Dragon, just meant that, as a pilot with limited experience and seeking a first job, I found it depressing that, apparently, Solenta had ceased to accept CVs. The negatives I've heard certainly havn't put me off.
Petes Dragon, just meant that, as a pilot with limited experience and seeking a first job, I found it depressing that, apparently, Solenta had ceased to accept CVs. The negatives I've heard certainly havn't put me off.
GunsssR4ever
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Hey I got an answer back !
Hey boys and gal's even I got an answer back from Solenta ! (Just to double check ...) 
" Dear XXXXXX
Thank You for submitting your C.V to us.
We will be looking at all the C.V's submitted to us next week and will
be in contact with you for any further developments
Kind Regards
Verna
Solenta Aviation
" Dear XXXXXX
Thank You for submitting your C.V to us.
We will be looking at all the C.V's submitted to us next week and will
be in contact with you for any further developments
Kind Regards
Verna
Solenta Aviation
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hi all,
as a newcomer i would like to know why future employees would look unfavourably at someone who has worked at solenta. i thought that the employer would only be looking at the amount and type of hours. i admit that i like the look of solenta, dispite the amount of crap being thrown at them, however there is turbine time on offer. please inform why it would look bad on my resume.
matt
as a newcomer i would like to know why future employees would look unfavourably at someone who has worked at solenta. i thought that the employer would only be looking at the amount and type of hours. i admit that i like the look of solenta, dispite the amount of crap being thrown at them, however there is turbine time on offer. please inform why it would look bad on my resume.
matt
Join Date: Aug 2002
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All for one and one for all!
I am going out on a limb here and blaming all the pilots past and present who accepted working for this company under these conditions for the problems they now face.
Unfortunately there is NO pilots union for charter and contract pilots flying in Africa and and such it has been to the pilots to accept/reject the salaries/conditions.
IF and I say IF from the very start the pilots would have refused to work for such little remuneration and demanded at least $1500 C/P and $2500 CD then I think there would not be as much anomossity towards those who took the 'hour building' route to an airline career.
As to why certain companies refuse to hire ex-Solenta pilots - I don't think this has anything to do with any imagined lack of professionalism as these guys really can fly, but I think rather a case of sour grapes from the other companies who would love the DHL contract but simply cannot offer such low rates and still pay reasonable salaries.
There are always going to be companies which offer fantastic conditions in order to attract the 'Best of the Best' and there will be others who offer next to nothing simply for the experience. I myself have worked for both and in the end it comes down to what value you place upon yourself!
So to all those who have, are or hoping to work for companies like Solenta ask yourself -
How much am I worth?????????
I am going out on a limb here and blaming all the pilots past and present who accepted working for this company under these conditions for the problems they now face.
Unfortunately there is NO pilots union for charter and contract pilots flying in Africa and and such it has been to the pilots to accept/reject the salaries/conditions.
IF and I say IF from the very start the pilots would have refused to work for such little remuneration and demanded at least $1500 C/P and $2500 CD then I think there would not be as much anomossity towards those who took the 'hour building' route to an airline career.
As to why certain companies refuse to hire ex-Solenta pilots - I don't think this has anything to do with any imagined lack of professionalism as these guys really can fly, but I think rather a case of sour grapes from the other companies who would love the DHL contract but simply cannot offer such low rates and still pay reasonable salaries.
There are always going to be companies which offer fantastic conditions in order to attract the 'Best of the Best' and there will be others who offer next to nothing simply for the experience. I myself have worked for both and in the end it comes down to what value you place upon yourself!
So to all those who have, are or hoping to work for companies like Solenta ask yourself -
How much am I worth?????????
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Makes you think....
Darrel,
Just a couple of comments about your tirade....
1. How is it that various Solenta pilots (direct from the C208 pool no less) have been taken by SAA, got invitations for interviews at Cathay, are now flying at MK, etc. etc?
2. How do you explain that very reputable airlines are sending Solenta their cadets?
3. How do you explain that the ATDF (Aviation Training and Development Foundation) has sent its cadets to Solenta?
If you have a problem with the company, sue them, don't run them down in public, where you know they will not lower themselves to your level and respond.
And oh yes, from an "ex military pilot", at least we had to undergo language tests while we in the military and as such we take pride in our ability to spell. Next time use a spell checker.
The SAAF pilots rule!
Just a couple of comments about your tirade....
1. How is it that various Solenta pilots (direct from the C208 pool no less) have been taken by SAA, got invitations for interviews at Cathay, are now flying at MK, etc. etc?
2. How do you explain that very reputable airlines are sending Solenta their cadets?
3. How do you explain that the ATDF (Aviation Training and Development Foundation) has sent its cadets to Solenta?
If you have a problem with the company, sue them, don't run them down in public, where you know they will not lower themselves to your level and respond.
And oh yes, from an "ex military pilot", at least we had to undergo language tests while we in the military and as such we take pride in our ability to spell. Next time use a spell checker.
The SAAF pilots rule!
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We're all on the same side !
I always find it refreshing to find a company with worse problems than my own. Even though their pilots get paid on time, more often than us.
Hey Pete,
What you're suggesting is that it's ok to be screwed over and sworn at by senior management as long as your company is involved with a cadett program from a major airline ??
Moving on, I understand that one of the Solenta guys that was retrenched took the company to the CCMA who found in favour of the pilot , as the retrenchment process was so severly flawed in terms of the SA labour law.
Solenta had to give him his job back and he negotiated an even better package and structure for himself than what he was retrenched with.
There is justice in the world after all !!
Regarding the SAAF / Civvie pilot "debate", I have flown with Ex SAAF and civvie pilots who were equally as inept as each other, conversely some of the greatest guys I fly with are both Civvie and SAAF trained.
A person can be an idiot or a really great chap, irrespective of where he started his flying career.
Just a few thoughts, take it leave it................
Hey Pete,
What you're suggesting is that it's ok to be screwed over and sworn at by senior management as long as your company is involved with a cadett program from a major airline ??
Moving on, I understand that one of the Solenta guys that was retrenched took the company to the CCMA who found in favour of the pilot , as the retrenchment process was so severly flawed in terms of the SA labour law.
Solenta had to give him his job back and he negotiated an even better package and structure for himself than what he was retrenched with.
There is justice in the world after all !!
Regarding the SAAF / Civvie pilot "debate", I have flown with Ex SAAF and civvie pilots who were equally as inept as each other, conversely some of the greatest guys I fly with are both Civvie and SAAF trained.
A person can be an idiot or a really great chap, irrespective of where he started his flying career.
Just a few thoughts, take it leave it................
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You're a bitter guy Darryl and make some pretty controversial accusations. For a two-post wonder you are a little OTT.
Chill out or get back to your building site.
4HP
Chill out or get back to your building site.
4HP
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Thanks Darryl - it's not easy.
You don't say why you left - was it your call or theirs?
If you're interested in getting back into the industry keep your licence current; I know it's expensive but you've invested so much already. You know better than I do but I'd be real surprised if there is a stigma attached to having worked for Solenta. As long as you've not got any skeletons in your cupboard there's every chance you'll get another chance.
Prove them wrong Darryl - go get a better job & one day when you're sitting doing .82 at 370 you be the judge as to who the winner was.
Stay with your dream - it's achievable.
4HP
You don't say why you left - was it your call or theirs?
If you're interested in getting back into the industry keep your licence current; I know it's expensive but you've invested so much already. You know better than I do but I'd be real surprised if there is a stigma attached to having worked for Solenta. As long as you've not got any skeletons in your cupboard there's every chance you'll get another chance.
Prove them wrong Darryl - go get a better job & one day when you're sitting doing .82 at 370 you be the judge as to who the winner was.
Stay with your dream - it's achievable.
4HP
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Sollenta all over again
Well, Solenta is up an the bashing list all over again!!! I guess this speaks for itself about the state of the morale in the company and the general well being of those who have to work there. In my years of aviation experience let me tell you a few things that I have learnt.
1. Pilots will never stand together!!!, because there will always be some idiot who thinks that he can kiss ass with management by nailing his buddies.
2. When it comes to money or peoples lives and careers with management, money wins hands down every time. ( thats not right though!! )
3. Regarding ex SAAF pilots versus's civies, well being an ex SAAF pilot myself I have seen the standard that the SAAF can train there pilots to, but after flying with civie guys ( and now girls) I tell there are some extremely talented and professional civie trained pilots out there who have taught me a thing or two. I tell you what makes a good pilot, not so much his or her background but what they do with their skills they have and how they use these skills to improve themselves. Let me tell you one truth, bad attitude has killed more pilots then bad flying skills.
4. Regarding the new cadet scheme that Solenta is initiating, of which there are now quiet a few programmes in place around SA, I am sure that knowing managent at Solenta and what I have read and heard about them, this programme is being instituted for one reason only, POLITICS!!. I am pretty sure that they are not doing it out of the love for the community and goodness of there hearts. Hell a cadet scheme always looks good for window dressing especially in SA, can you imagine the good will they will receive from goverment, CAA, ALPA, etc, etc ,etc. (NB!! tHIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE MERITS OF CADET, AFFRIMATIVE ACTION SCHEMES ETC!!!)
5. My flying carreer has also had its ups and downs, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you will eventually get there in the end especially if you have a vision of where you want to be. Those of you though who screw you fellow pilots beware this industry is small and the person you screw, laugh at, or shoot down will proberbly in the future be your Captain, Chief pilot or be on or know some one on the interview board of an airline you want to work for, seen it happen in the past I am sure it will happen in the future.
6. Seeing is believing, especially in aviation, too many people with big mouths and no brains in this industry ( a lot of these people tend to be management types).
Well good luck to all of you out there, take the advice to heart and just remember your come first in your life, not management, jobs or money.
1. Pilots will never stand together!!!, because there will always be some idiot who thinks that he can kiss ass with management by nailing his buddies.
2. When it comes to money or peoples lives and careers with management, money wins hands down every time. ( thats not right though!! )
3. Regarding ex SAAF pilots versus's civies, well being an ex SAAF pilot myself I have seen the standard that the SAAF can train there pilots to, but after flying with civie guys ( and now girls) I tell there are some extremely talented and professional civie trained pilots out there who have taught me a thing or two. I tell you what makes a good pilot, not so much his or her background but what they do with their skills they have and how they use these skills to improve themselves. Let me tell you one truth, bad attitude has killed more pilots then bad flying skills.
4. Regarding the new cadet scheme that Solenta is initiating, of which there are now quiet a few programmes in place around SA, I am sure that knowing managent at Solenta and what I have read and heard about them, this programme is being instituted for one reason only, POLITICS!!. I am pretty sure that they are not doing it out of the love for the community and goodness of there hearts. Hell a cadet scheme always looks good for window dressing especially in SA, can you imagine the good will they will receive from goverment, CAA, ALPA, etc, etc ,etc. (NB!! tHIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE MERITS OF CADET, AFFRIMATIVE ACTION SCHEMES ETC!!!)
5. My flying carreer has also had its ups and downs, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you will eventually get there in the end especially if you have a vision of where you want to be. Those of you though who screw you fellow pilots beware this industry is small and the person you screw, laugh at, or shoot down will proberbly in the future be your Captain, Chief pilot or be on or know some one on the interview board of an airline you want to work for, seen it happen in the past I am sure it will happen in the future.
6. Seeing is believing, especially in aviation, too many people with big mouths and no brains in this industry ( a lot of these people tend to be management types).
Well good luck to all of you out there, take the advice to heart and just remember your come first in your life, not management, jobs or money.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Howzit chaps!
Well the guns are blazzin...
Daryll,You either have huge balls or plain stupidity to shoot down Solenta like this openly,along with the ex-Mil chaps. I have worked with for Solenta for a very long time and may just feel more anguished than you with the company but your accusations are a bit odd.
How can you blame one company for your luckless applications elsewhere.I was in the field when you were there and let me tell you,You were not Mr.Popular.You were not making a lot of friends with your bickering,perhaps this is what the applying companys have heard???? Perhaps it was you and not the company giving out the bad reputation.If its true and when I am out trying to get work and am shot down for being an ex-Solentie the I will apologise but I doubt it will come to that.
As for the Ex-Mil story...Well yes there is a biased feeling towards all the Ex-Mil pilots perhaps as much of Solenta management is Ex-Mil.As a Civie Pilot myself,I don't particularly like it but hey it will never change.What I can say is there have been a few prev Solenta employees (ex-mil)who no longer are with Solenta but they were not given red carpet treatment hence their departure,So one can not assume Ex-Mil pilots are favoured by management.Those pilots are some of the best pilots I ever flew with and the CRM and flying skills was there ( dont get confused with CRM and buddy buddy relationships).This is where management did lose out and lose "the operators".Their loss.
As for this cadet story-Oh boy! I see a repeat of Rossair,With Good pilots who wait their time in the company for movement up the ladder only to be overtaken by some rookie with a few sponsered dollars in the pocket
There is alot of resentment towards Management,And always will with every company(how many times you will read that on PPRUNE).You say other Solenta pilots should speak up well look at this topic for numbers of reply.I am not gonna praise Solenta on this reply nor shoot them down.Perhaps later....but leave it to us who really can shoot them down with valid ammo.
No bird deserves to have his wings clipped no matter how bad the bird is,So put the bricks away and keep your aviation dream alive.As a true pilot would not be put back by this.
Anyway.I am off now to see if Britney Spears needs a new personal pilot!
Well the guns are blazzin...
Daryll,You either have huge balls or plain stupidity to shoot down Solenta like this openly,along with the ex-Mil chaps. I have worked with for Solenta for a very long time and may just feel more anguished than you with the company but your accusations are a bit odd.
How can you blame one company for your luckless applications elsewhere.I was in the field when you were there and let me tell you,You were not Mr.Popular.You were not making a lot of friends with your bickering,perhaps this is what the applying companys have heard???? Perhaps it was you and not the company giving out the bad reputation.If its true and when I am out trying to get work and am shot down for being an ex-Solentie the I will apologise but I doubt it will come to that.
As for the Ex-Mil story...Well yes there is a biased feeling towards all the Ex-Mil pilots perhaps as much of Solenta management is Ex-Mil.As a Civie Pilot myself,I don't particularly like it but hey it will never change.What I can say is there have been a few prev Solenta employees (ex-mil)who no longer are with Solenta but they were not given red carpet treatment hence their departure,So one can not assume Ex-Mil pilots are favoured by management.Those pilots are some of the best pilots I ever flew with and the CRM and flying skills was there ( dont get confused with CRM and buddy buddy relationships).This is where management did lose out and lose "the operators".Their loss.
As for this cadet story-Oh boy! I see a repeat of Rossair,With Good pilots who wait their time in the company for movement up the ladder only to be overtaken by some rookie with a few sponsered dollars in the pocket
There is alot of resentment towards Management,And always will with every company(how many times you will read that on PPRUNE).You say other Solenta pilots should speak up well look at this topic for numbers of reply.I am not gonna praise Solenta on this reply nor shoot them down.Perhaps later....but leave it to us who really can shoot them down with valid ammo.
No bird deserves to have his wings clipped no matter how bad the bird is,So put the bricks away and keep your aviation dream alive.As a true pilot would not be put back by this.
Anyway.I am off now to see if Britney Spears needs a new personal pilot!
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Shooting from the hip
Darryll,
Wondered whether you would pick it up.... Isn't it great to see that nobody is perfect.
One question though if you do not mind.... Why did you as SIC not report the drunk PIC's on any one of the "many occasions" that you had the misfortune of flying with them? Not only did the drunk PIC's commit an offence, but you did too, by allowing that flight to take place. Just a thought....
Squall-hog,
I think you pretty much nailed it on the head. Pilots (in any organisation) should stand together and ensure that they operate to the same standards and rules. It unfortunately requires only one pilot that thies to make a point, to upset that apple cart.
Whether you are right about Solenta and politics, only time will tell, but I think any company offered such an opportunity will jump at it (Rossair and SAA cadets is an example).
And yes, the most important person on any flight, is me. If I percieve any threat to my wellbeing on a flight, I'll decline or try to make sure that the flight goes out in such a way that I am happy.
Maxrated,
No not at all, the point I was trying to make, is that no company (not even Solenta) can be all bad, and that there might just be some positive points in such a company. This belief is borne out by speaking to some of the pilots. Although they are not perfectly happy, they seem more happy than unhappy, if that makes any sense. Must say though, I have never met a pilot that was happy all the time. A pilot that does not bitch, can only be dead...
I cannot comment on the CCMA rulings or any of the labour issues at Solenta, so I will not go down that path at all.
At least we also agree on one point - you get good pilots and you get bad pilots, be they SAAF trained or civvie trained. I have had the priviledge to have flown with some really great civvie pilots from whom I have learnt a lot, but then the opposite is also true and I have been scared sh*tless by some civvie pilots. Unfortunately this is one debate that will never lie down and will always be with us. After all, we have to share the same airspace, not so?
Turbine tank,
If you need a P2 for that Britney gig, let me know....
Wondered whether you would pick it up.... Isn't it great to see that nobody is perfect.
One question though if you do not mind.... Why did you as SIC not report the drunk PIC's on any one of the "many occasions" that you had the misfortune of flying with them? Not only did the drunk PIC's commit an offence, but you did too, by allowing that flight to take place. Just a thought....
Squall-hog,
I think you pretty much nailed it on the head. Pilots (in any organisation) should stand together and ensure that they operate to the same standards and rules. It unfortunately requires only one pilot that thies to make a point, to upset that apple cart.
Whether you are right about Solenta and politics, only time will tell, but I think any company offered such an opportunity will jump at it (Rossair and SAA cadets is an example).
And yes, the most important person on any flight, is me. If I percieve any threat to my wellbeing on a flight, I'll decline or try to make sure that the flight goes out in such a way that I am happy.
Maxrated,
No not at all, the point I was trying to make, is that no company (not even Solenta) can be all bad, and that there might just be some positive points in such a company. This belief is borne out by speaking to some of the pilots. Although they are not perfectly happy, they seem more happy than unhappy, if that makes any sense. Must say though, I have never met a pilot that was happy all the time. A pilot that does not bitch, can only be dead...
I cannot comment on the CCMA rulings or any of the labour issues at Solenta, so I will not go down that path at all.
At least we also agree on one point - you get good pilots and you get bad pilots, be they SAAF trained or civvie trained. I have had the priviledge to have flown with some really great civvie pilots from whom I have learnt a lot, but then the opposite is also true and I have been scared sh*tless by some civvie pilots. Unfortunately this is one debate that will never lie down and will always be with us. After all, we have to share the same airspace, not so?
Turbine tank,
If you need a P2 for that Britney gig, let me know....
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uncovered!!
skywalka, Bikini, I just got positive confirmation that The Negotiator is management, very high up management.
And for you SIR, the guy you fired had more twin turbine medium aircraft time than anyone else in the company, that includes YOU.
No ATP deemed necessary for FO on the ATR.
BUT, he is somebody who wont take your cr*p.......makes you think doesnt it?
And for you SIR, the guy you fired had more twin turbine medium aircraft time than anyone else in the company, that includes YOU.
No ATP deemed necessary for FO on the ATR.
BUT, he is somebody who wont take your cr*p.......makes you think doesnt it?
Last edited by 4HolerPoler; 9th Nov 2002 at 07:52.
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So what's the latest at Solenta these days. There was more negative than positive posts, so I'm curious if those who were very positive are still in fact happy? Is Solenta looking by any chance for drivers? Plus, are they only running 208's? They have other a/c's listed but I only ever hear of talk from the 208 drivers. What do the other pilots think. Anyone with the facts, .....I'm listening.
Thanks,
Joe
Thanks,
Joe
Cheers