RwandAir info please
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Kigali
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1. If you are an FO, you will only fly if there isn't a local FO availble. They want their own FOs to gain experience and upgrade. These guys do not have a long term plan to keep an Expat mix with local pilots. No, they are sending young Rwandese to the USA and Canada to do their Pilot Courses and to return to fly for Rwanda Air. Their plan is to have a 100% Rwandese Pilot Group in the long run. They have tried to keep expats with them, but the majority leave and even with high salaries.
2. As an expat your salary is higher than those of the local Pilots. This isn't your fault, but come locals just don't understand and accept this, and instead of taking this issue to their seniors, to the proper place, they take it out on you, as an expat. An expat FO gets a higher salary than a local Captain on some fleets. Some guys can't accept this!
3. The training is very unprofessional.
4. During the Line Training, the Line Training Captain didn't know basic things such as standard call outs and speeds. One manufacter callouts came out instead of the manufacter of the plane being flown.
5. If you do not have a local physical appearance, you will get a bit hassled on the street. They know that expats from abroad are there for a reasonable amount of pay... So you do get approached and everyone seems to be finding a way to get something off you. This doesn't bother everyone, but it bothered me. A good local salary is around 100 to 200 USD. So to the local population, you are Elon Musk.
6. Officially the CEO is a woman. The President of the country put a general working as an unofficial CEO. This guy doesn't have a clue about the airline industry. Once there was a problem with a flight on the turbo prop fleet. This guy went and knocked on a captains apartment door, on his day off and asked him to do the flight, The expat captain had a beer in his hand and pointed at the beer. The local unofficial general CEO still requested for his assistance!! This is difficult to believe, but it is true! And SAD! The same guy, once, sent a A330 instead of a 737 to South Africa because by mistake they had sold an extra ticket in business class, or one of the seats was unusable. They try to save money in many ridiculous things, but where they should, they don't.
7. There is an Air Marshall always on board the aircraft. You will be watched at all times. Even in the hotel when you are away. I personally don't like this type of work environment. I didn't do anything wrong, but I just can't get used to it.
8. The Rwandese government are obsessed with security. I am not saying they do not have reasons to do so. They probably do and are right in taking so many precautions, but it does affect your life. The cars to get in Kigali Airport go through a gigantic car scan. Everyone leaves the car and goes through a scan before even entering the airport. Once you are in, you will go through another one. The government uses the Israeli software called Pegasus and can access your phone, WhatsApp, emails, everything. This isn't official, but unofficially this is spreaded by word of mouth. The superiors will never have a conversation with you by phone or email of a matter that can't be "heard" by the government, they will have it with you in private. You pass through many metal detector machines a day, going to the grocery store, shopping mall etc.
9. If you are an expat and your fleet has flights to a certain city where your family lives, DO NOT REQUEST to fly there. You have great chances in asking NOT to fly to that destination.
10. The commuting was sometimes a hassle to get, even though everything was written in black & white. If you have 20 days off, although everywhere else the off days start when the day after you arrive at you destination, with Rwanda Air these travelling to and from days are taken out of your commuting days off. That is not at all fair.
11. There was once a pilot meeting. All the pilots that were in Kigali and that were not flying were there. The chief pilot at the time said the following: "I am very proud to announce that we have got to our goal of 80% of local pilot in Rwanda Air". He was from Ghana if I recall correctly. He meant by this, local African Pilots. Apparently the government gave them this "goal". They have their national flag flying around the world and they have preference to have local African Pilots wearing there uniforms and coming out of the cockpits of their planes. I am fair skinned. I do not like this comment. If this were to be done in any western airline, I can't even imagine the consequences..
12. The country isn't a true democracy. Officially it is, but once you live there you will understand that true freedom of speak does not exist. The local pilots will not say no to anything. Most of them came from the military and they continue to take orders as if there were flying army planes where the rules are completely different. During the COVID pandemic most local Pilots were flying to the point of exhaustion. Many expats were pushed also. The incident with the CRJ in Entebbe about a couple of months ago reflected this issue. The crew arrived at Kigali and were pushed to do one more short flight, They went beyond all of their limits and the outcome was bad, but it could have been worse.
Look, I could continue with more and more stories.
Answering your question, if you are a First Officer seeking to get in line somewhere, forget Rwanda Air.
They have a plan, and that includes their own national pilots in the long run.
The money isn't bad, but honestly, double would be fair.
Last edited by Wanda air; 14th Jun 2022 at 16:48.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Been around the block
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I am sorry, but where have you been in Europe to compare Kigali to any European Capital?
There is nothing to do in Kigali.
The biggest shopping mall is representative of what the city has now to offer, which is not much.
The city is clean, it is very safe, but besides that, was is there to do there?
I can tell you: nothing!
Not even the Africans from neighbouring countries are willing to live there without the commuting contract.
There is nothing to do in Kigali.
The biggest shopping mall is representative of what the city has now to offer, which is not much.
The city is clean, it is very safe, but besides that, was is there to do there?
I can tell you: nothing!
Not even the Africans from neighbouring countries are willing to live there without the commuting contract.
Join Date: Jul 2020
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Nothing to do in Kigali? Kigali has a very lively social and expat scene. It’s so lively that the CP of RwandAir will be out until daylight and you will be called to do his flight as he’s “sick”. You will be driven past the club in Nyutarama and you’ll see his car in the parking lot and wonder why he’s still partying while you’re going to cover his flight on your day off. In all seriousness though, Kigali and Rwanda are pleasant, fun and safe. The CP is not. The 73 fleet is ok. 330 you’ll meet a small Ivorian man that will amaze you with his leadership, integrity and skill.
Kigali is safe and clean?
Yes. They have a army of senior ladies to clean and do landscape for 20usd per month. I never saw so many policemen in the streets of any another country. It looks like they are waiting for another humanitarian crise to happen soon. I hope my colleagues will not be there if this happens.
RWAND AIR
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Kenya
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There’s a whole thread here on the airline. The Ivorian CP is gone. That’s a wonderful thing as he brought nothing good to the company, the business, the region, the country or the career. What fleet are you trying to join?
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Indonesia
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Trying to join the 330.
would you mind to share a bit about the working environment and also the roster nowadays.
Thanks
Join Date: May 2017
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Sure. [email protected]
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Join Date: Jul 2020
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Last edited by Wildgun938; 3rd Oct 2022 at 23:43.
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Looks like this is an AFRICA problem. It seems most airlines in Africa are unprofessional in some way or the other. Most of the top management and staff who are African are very hostile (racist is more realistic) to other ethnicities (races).
It has become a situation where ''MY PEOPLE'' are above all else and must be promoted at all costs whether they are qualified or not. EX- MILITARY (Including Civilian) dictators roaming the airfields like God's gift to aviation (seems they were born with hours, ratings, and experience). EGOS that can be bruised so easily you are always walking on eggshells around them. Anything you say can be used against you. It seems to be some inferiority complex.
If you are not African (or even a certain tribe/religion), they don't want you there, Getting employment becomes difficult. If you are waiting for an upgrade you may be frustrated, you will have a harder time during training, SIM training records manipulated, etc. It is very cleverly done (and so easy in aviation training). Complain you will simply be branded with whatever BS they can throw at you.
Bribery for upgrading or getting employed is normal
Duty times and flying hours are not respected. You are eighter enticed with extra cash or threatened to be fired. Work with NO PAY, Lack of aircraft maintenance. The CAA authorities are corrupt.
The list goes on...
Unfortunately, our continent is special, and even those from first-world countries begin to behave with the same dishonesty if not worst.
We can only hope for change...
It has become a situation where ''MY PEOPLE'' are above all else and must be promoted at all costs whether they are qualified or not. EX- MILITARY (Including Civilian) dictators roaming the airfields like God's gift to aviation (seems they were born with hours, ratings, and experience). EGOS that can be bruised so easily you are always walking on eggshells around them. Anything you say can be used against you. It seems to be some inferiority complex.
If you are not African (or even a certain tribe/religion), they don't want you there, Getting employment becomes difficult. If you are waiting for an upgrade you may be frustrated, you will have a harder time during training, SIM training records manipulated, etc. It is very cleverly done (and so easy in aviation training). Complain you will simply be branded with whatever BS they can throw at you.
Bribery for upgrading or getting employed is normal
Duty times and flying hours are not respected. You are eighter enticed with extra cash or threatened to be fired. Work with NO PAY, Lack of aircraft maintenance. The CAA authorities are corrupt.
The list goes on...
Unfortunately, our continent is special, and even those from first-world countries begin to behave with the same dishonesty if not worst.
We can only hope for change...
Join Date: May 2022
Location: LegoLand
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you gonna get around 4k usd. But those 4k will be the most expensive in your career. You gonna fly with 100 different cowboys that DONT CARE about safety, efficiency or standardization. A good example is the emergency descent that one colleague did last year, where the captain did everything wrong, and the FO saved the day. After landing the captain called deputy CEO to say some escuses, instead of calling chief pilot or DFO to spread the word. Every aspect of RWD is very primitive and each one is scratching the other's. I am happy that I am retired. Good luck to everyone that is risking life in Kigali.
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