UNHAS and UN Contract flying

[ExpressFO]

Anybody know anything about the UN Humanitarian Air Service? Application process?


Anyone flying for a UN contractor that is hiring? Requirements?

[mauntown08]

Hi ya mate, unfortunately I don't have an answer for you, but I'm also keen to find out some details. I know most companies won't look at you unless you have time on type though. What sort of experience do you have?

[CentreOfExcellence]

The UN typically operates Beech 1900C/D, DHC8 100/200, CRJ-200, ERJ-135/145 and Do328 as well as 737-400 & Combi and MD-83 jets for passenger service. There are a variety of contract operators mostly from Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Mexico, Russia and Thpain. Assuming since your title name is ExpressFO from Cleveland, you probably fly Dash 8's for CommutAir. The biggest Dash operator is Voyageur Airways from Canada (also CRJ operator). You have to have a Canadian ATP to work for them. I don't know the name of the Kenyan operator, but good luck with that if you're not Kenyan.


Previous poster is right. You must have PIC type rating, 500 hours on type and right to work for the company contracted to be an FO. UN minimum requirements for captains are 3,500 hours and 500 PIC on type.


Flying for UN missions is haphazard at best. As a contractor, you receive NONE of the benefits or privileges of working for the UN. They will not support you, keep you free from harm or give a basic rats ass about you. You will receive 1 liter of water when working that tastes like stagnant lake water and is labeled: THIS WATER MEETS MINIMUM WHO SAFETY STANDARDS. In addition, you will be subject to dangerous flying conditions, unsafe airports, combat zones, malarial enchphalitis, possible mobbing, being robbed and various other risks to life and limb.


All this in exchange for a below standard salary with no benefits whatsoever.


If you're itching to work abroad, there are much better alternatives than being a UN contract pilot. Dig deeper.


Working as a UN contract pilot is not a badge of honor. It's either a sign of poor judgment or being misinformed. You're no longer misinformed.

[indaloamman]

COE--I occasionally fly with UNHAS and UN contract services, the aircraft and are hired from companies in Lebanon, Ukraine and South Africa with crew from those countries, US and elsewhere. These men/women are all professional--don't run them down. With rare exceptions the airports they fly to, which include those in remote parts of Congo, are safe and are provisioned with fire and rescue services. Have you been to Africa or SE Asia lately and seen how pervasive good bottled water is?

[4runner]

Centreofexcellence is a reliable source for all things UN and Afrika flying. Listen to him.... The last post is utter rubbish and not from an experienced Afrika pilot. The fire and rescue serviced in Congo??? Google Hewa Bora 727 crash. There were people burning around a charred hulk of a Boeing and Congolese "fire and rescue" were too busy looting the dying pax and wreckage to be bothered to extinguish anything or rescue anyone. Need another example, Nairobi, 2013. You won't regret taking the job and will look back fondly AFTER you've found gainful employment elsewhere. However, go into it with eyes open and avoid "The Thpanith" like the plague. Btw, centreofexcellence, whatsapp me as I just got a FB message vis a vis something you'd be interested in. PS, I need a 5-way and a Mt. Dew.

[Metro man]

The UN tries to be as multi national as possible and as a result, could't organise a piss up in a brewery. If you want to see how your tax dollars get wasted it's the perfect example.

In preference I would rather work for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Swiss management as opposed to which ever third world manager is having his turn at skimming of the $$$ this month.

[Fuzzy Lager]

Utterly corrupt.

[ExpressFO]

Work for a US regional airline. Little over 5000 hours on erj 145.

[ExpressFO]

Thanks for all the info! Figured that contractors weren't looked out for as well as U.N. employees. Were you a contractor?

[ExpressFO]

thanks for the replies. I figured there might be differing opinions out there. I fly the erj 145. So looking for operators with that type but willing to fly something else if the opportunity comes. For mauntown08-Read articles about UNHAS flying on the world food programs website, but there is no link to apply, hiring contact email or anything. There was one link for aviation related questions but when I called the number listed operator said it had been disconnected; sent an email also but yet to hear a reply -figured there would be some inefficiency at a large org like UN.

[Mobotu]

A lot of people over the years have asked me the same question - so I guess it depends on where your coming from(Dark side of the moon?)
If you are a bus driver(Airline Jockey) then this is NOT the job for you - you will go mad as these people do NOT follow schedules or logic so you become dissolusioned with aviation as a whole and may ultimately take up finger painting as a choosen career!
If you are farm fresh(straight from school) then beware - almost all that you learnt in school will not apply and your protests will only cause your fellow captains to regard you with distain owing to your lack of gumption - this may become a turning point in your life where you try alcohol or drugs to cope with the situation and ultimetely end up in rehab if your lucky!
If you don't fall into the previous two categories then you MAY be suited to UN flying however remember:
1) YOU CANNOT SAVE THE WORLD
2) YOUR NOT ONE OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
3) POLITICS OF SATURDAY NIGHT
If you understand ALL three - Welcome to the UN - The People who put UN into organised!

[CentreOfExcellence]

COE--I occasionally fly with UNHAS and UN contract services, the aircraft and are hired from companies in Lebanon, Ukraine and South Africa with crew from those countries, US and elsewhere. These men/women are all professional--don't run them down. With rare exceptions the airports they fly to, which include those in remote parts of Congo, are safe and are provisioned with fire and rescue services. Have you been to Africa or SE Asia lately and seen how pervasive good bottled water is?

Why yes indaloamman, I have been to Africa lately. Furthermore, have flown for the UN more than occasionally. And exactly where did I "run down" UN contract pilot crews? Also, your use of "pervasive" befuddles me. Maybe this is a Google Translate issue?


Safe and provisioned? Mmmkay. If you've never flown outside of Africa, safe and provisioned might have a different meaning. Maybe Kinshasa, Kisangani and Lubumbashi might have barely passable CFR. But safe by ICAO standards? Nowhere in DRC will you find ICAO standard safety. NOWHERE. Mbandaka, Gemena, Gbadolite, Kamina Base, Kananga, Mbjui-Mayi, Bukavu, Goma? Yes, most world class airports have runways that were half eaten by volcanic eruption yet still operate. Yes, safe airports have control towers with hand held radios charged by ten year old car batteries, where you must call via cell phone to have them start the generator (if there is petrol) prior to arrival. Safe indeed.


My hat is off to fellow aviators who currently or have previously contracted in any UN mission. Beers on me any time. Only the indoctrinated truly understand.


To the original poster: I believe most ERJ's flown for the UN and WFP are operated by FlyMex and are Mexican registered aircraft. There might be a Kenyan operator of WFP ERJ's too. Maybe Solenta?


You will never see a bigger waste of resources, both human and natural, than the United Nations. Ever growing missions are proof of their failure. If they succeed in their "mission", they fail. People lose jobs.


If you go, you will see and experience unbelievable things. It will build character. Just don't expect to accomplish anything for the good of the human race, especially those who suffer in Africa.