Air Serv Pilots
 

Any current / former U.S ( or anyone) Air Serv pilots out there? Just looked over the website and got a general idea of what type of operation it is, but im looking for more gritty details of conditions, pay, how you went about getting the job and flying there being a U.S licensed pilot, any other experiences, etc. Looks like a real exciting job. Any info would be great.

i was under the impression that air serve pilots did not get paid....they did it all for free because they were Christians...?

i could be wrong though....

Yes you might be correct. I just reread the site and the fact that it is a not-for-profit organization didnt register right away for some reason. It still seems like an interesting position, im just not sure i have the qual's for somehting like that. Id be interested to know more.

As far as I am aware, AirServ pilots are paid in the normal manner. AirServ itself may be a non-profit corganisation, but that doesn't infer that everyone working for it is doing so for nothing, even if they are Christians.

JohnnyP
 

Oh yes, AirServ guys are definitely paid!

If I remember right for instance, AirServ Entebbe (Uganda) operates C210, C208 & BE100. A Caravan captain (single-pilot) there was paid 2500 USD/month with accomodation & food provided during the mission and 5-months-on / 1-month-off schedule.

As far as their requirements are concerned, they were not very high but they wanted you to come with a type rating and a South African validation. Many AirServ aircraft in Africa are operated under ZS- registration (South Africa), I believe it is a subsidiary of the main AirServ.

Finally, I am not convinced they are really Christians... Definitely strongly affiliated to the US government, but not really big on the religious side unlike some of the missionaries who operate 206s and the like...

Treetop, I thought you said they get paid!
If you search this forum you will find quite a bit of info about airserve. The last I read is that they are in a long way connectted to the CIA, but hide behind a cloack of do-goody-save-world-americana-style, true blue baptist, our way.
Do some scratching.......
If you can reconsile yourself with the moral principles of the Agency, and convince yourself to get malaria at least once a year for the astonomical sum of..... you get my drift?
The flying is not that great.
And if Susan knew who I was she would kill me with a stare.
Or maybe arm wrestle me to death....
Have you ever heard of Southern Air Transport? Maybe Air America, read the book or seen the movie?


Again "..the time has come the walrus said....."

Agreed. In DRC for instance, AirServ provides air transportation for organisations such as the International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and a load of UN agencies (WHO, WFP, HCR...). It conveniently allows their pilots to fly (and take a look around) in hot places such as Bunia, Bukavu, Goma and the like while pretending to do humanitarian work...:cool: Nothing wrong with that by the way, just be aware of it if you want to go and work for them...

This thread is developing a somewhat controversial theme to it. Before there are complaints in that regard or I start getting visits from men in dark coats I would remind participants or viewers of this site that the specific nature of this forum is that of a "rumour network" and I would draw your attention to the red warning at the bottom of the page.

4HP

4hp, relax..........Who knows, maybe some on this thread ARE the men in Dark Coats......ha ha

Hey most of the pilots that fly for Air Serv are South-African
They have base's all over Africa , there entry to fly is about 1500 hours
cheers

Men in dark Coats??
 

Dear Mr 4HP,

I wouldnt be to worried about the MIDC, they cant even catch an elderly sick be-turbaned middle estern gent..... Maybe its the beard that does it.
Maybe they should drop oversize condoms over Afganistan and Nothern Pakistan like they did in Vietnam. That might drive his inferiority compex to the fore ground and make him hand himself over.
On a more serious note: It was not my intention, to scare the prospective applicant. I know if it was me I would like to know who I call master. If he knows its still his choice, albeit a more informed one. My intention is to help inform a fellow aviator.

After sale service
 

As far as i am concern, i beleive that air serv organisation
(not air serv pilots) are just as many NGO organisation
manipulated by polictics to clean the chit their own country has
created to serv (land serv) their onwn economical interests.

Long life to NGO as far as they have independant funding.

All the best .

Contraxdog.....

You draw a very long bow with your statements RE Air America, CIA connection etc......

Be1900 Captains hired through Air Serv US2600/ month. FO US$1500/momth.....King air pilots I think are the same.

Some aircraft are leased through Naturelink in SA. Same company supply some pilots with these aircraft...dont know how much they pay.

Air serv hiring done through Warrenton office in Vaginia USA. Send resume to chief pilot, Kurt Neuwanschwander. In my personal experience they are the most unsafe bunch of cowboys I have ever had the misfortune of working for. But dont take my word for it....go get hired and decide for yourself.

mjbow2

Its sounds that you have worked for them or with them
Are they safe to fly with ?:sad:

Some people may be confusing AirServ with MAF. MAF are a religious set up ,attendence at Bible School being necessary before you start work.If Catholic don't even bother applying.

Yes,it is a unsafe operation,ONLY, if you do not adhere to checklists, jump chocks, FLY OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE A/CRAFT etc.
Pilots are S.A. but operate in the boundries of the SACAA,

MJBOW2....what a heap of crud !
Unsafe... ???? Theyve been operating in the most aviation unfriendly parts of the world for over 20 years and not had an accident...they are thoroughly professional and won't stand any nonsence from cowboy pilots....Go and check some facts before mouthing off...You could do worse than check out the (I think Feb issue...maybe Jan issue) of professional Pilot magazine...

Have to agree with mjbow2 to a certain extent. The information regarding operating in the areas they do is readily available in the Jepps but they don't seem to pay it much attention. On the whole I think they're pretty safe but there are some problem areas, use of transponders for one.




Helmet, bunker, blast proof door.......

Poor Wun....

Like I said...you dont have to take my word for it. But if you want me to acknowledge a comment that represent an opposition to my personal experience of working for them, other than your own first hand experience, then you're baiting the wrong airman!

Firefly7: NO

poorwanderingwun

Well I heard about 2 accidents &
1. C206 based in Uganda ( entebbe) that crached after take-off , the pax and pilot was OK but the A/C burnt to the ground , the reck is behind their hanger in entebbe
2. King Air 200 , the one main gear did not come out
3 Another king air that had a engin fauilar in flight

It seems that most of their pilots are safe:ok: