Airserv
 

In my year and a half with the company there was not much to complain about. The above comments about the pay in comparison are true to some extent except what is not mentioned is that with a lot of the SA companies, when their boys go home for a month they do not get paid. So if you work things out over lets say a year, there is not that big a difference. Take the medical cover provided by Airserv into account and you probably getting a very similar deal. BUT, yes there is always a but, with Airserv you are basicly employed in country for a year!! and this is the main reason that I moved on. You spend a year in country, you get 28 days off in your first year. They only pay for you to fly in at the beginning of your contract and out at the end any other trips for leave you pay for. On some of the contracts you will get R&R, this differes from contract to contract but is something like a week off after 8 weeks on duty. I have been lucky in my move in that I now get to do 8 weeks on and 4 weeks off and still be a bit better off at the end of the month.
It is not all bad!!! but being away for a whole year was not for me.:=
Good Luck
EW

AirServ (again)
 

Reading a few older threads about AirServ in response to suggestions on an earlier thread to check them out. Doesn't seem like such a bad place, but what is the current status of the contractor/in-house pilot dispute? I notice they've appointed a new CEO, will he take a different direction in this regard?

Also, read on an earlier thread that in your first year you get 28 days off. Is this in addition to say weekends or is it 7/7 tied to a pager or phone?

Regards,
TRF

they were at:

RAeS AVIATION IN SUPPORT OF DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS: CONFERENCE 31 October 2006

see: www.lukafoto.com for pics and links

Best off emailing: [email protected]

they will give you low down

exact conditions will vary from contract to contract... you would most likely end up in Africa unless you have 500+ hrs on a B200 in which case Afghanistan would be a possibility... 28 days is about right but whether you take it or not will depend on the location... due to the high costs of air travel to somewhere like Kinshasa it's possible that they'll ask you to stay in country for the duration but leave one month early on the years contract...
You might be better off applying to Naturelink who provide aircraft and crew to AirServ on a sub-contract basis but offer much higher salaries... it's been a contentious issue for a long time amongst AirServ high time skippers that the low-time FO next to them is paid considerably more ! One reason why I left. They'll tell you that they're an NGO and therefore a sort of charity but the fact is they bid for and operate exactly the same contracts as all the other operators. Not a bad company but shopping around before commiting yourself might be a good idea.

AirServ
 

Gent's, and those lovley ladies also, have any of you by chance heard of a humanitarian org called Airserv. Appears they are seeking qualified KingAir and Twotter Capt's for various locals in the mid east and Africa.
U.N. work I'm told.

Most gracious for any information concerning this org.

AirServ is very well known and has featured regularly in these columns...
I suggest you check the search section... remembering that AirServ has no e on the end... you'll get reams of info..
US (Warrenton, Va ) based NGO.... started 20 odd years ago as a spin-off from MAF with less emphasis on interfering with peoples beliefs and superstitions and more on getting people what they need to keep themselves alive. Nowadays it competes for contracts alongside the mostly South African companies flying in Africa such as NAC, NorseAir, Qwila, Executive Turbine etc… Less emphasis on the Humanitarian aspects and more on the reality of keeping the NGO viable.

It’s quite likely that they are in need of crews in this market as experienced people are thin on the ground and AirServ in spite of being a non-profit NGO offers only about half the salary that others offer and does not operate a ‘tour‘ system ie: 6 weeks or 2 months on followed by a month or whatever off…. You’re stuck in what can be a very uncomfortable location for probably a year or so… I believe that their operation in Afgahnistan has an RandR system but here in Africa it doesn’t apply. They work hand in hand with a South African company called Naturelink who own many (maybe most) of the aircraft being operated by airserv… Naturelink pay more like the going rate and find the money to pay for the transport costs of crews flying regularly up an down to South Africa as they work on a 6 weeks on 6 weeks off basis, this causes a lot of discomfort to AirServ crews, which is why few of them return to Airserv at the end of their contract… Airserv have never pursued a policy formed to encourage long term employment of their crews and have been content to rely on the enthusiasm of people wanting to help bring aid to Africa… In fact very little of what I used to do with Airserv was easily recognised as aid work in the sense that we understand it and anyway you will be on much better terms and conditions doing exactly the same work for a South African company which is why I’m sitting here now looking forward to a 6 week break…
Not sure what levels of experience they’re currently looking for… I know that in Afghanistan the capt’s have to have 500 hrs on type but like many companies this may change as the market dries up which it’s doing rapidly…. Best bet is to look at the web-site and find out who to contact..I’ve lost touch a bit with who does what… I know that they’re having a new building put up in Warrenton so who knows.. maybe they’ll find more money for the poor B*ggers stuck out in the bush… but more likely it’ll be used as an excuse for not having more money ! Good luck.

ha some one seems bitter.
ASI is a good company to break your teeth on and enter the contract market and make contacts.
twin capt makes 2800 US a month tax free living expenses paid for.
you will meet great people and have a blast flying.
R and R depending on the program.

take care

PM for extra info

CIA
 

Isn't this a CIA outfit? The sort-of tree-hugging version of Air America...?

Dunno about them being CIA??

They do in fact bid for the same contracts as many South African Contractors. But ask yourself this - if most south african companies are paying almost double the salary as AirServ, no onder they are having a hard time crewing their fleet. Many of their aircraft are registered in SA, so a validation will be required.

$2800/month......forget about it son!

If i am to fly in a seemingly hostile environment.....I am going to want my company to make it worth my while. :=

SN

RCC... no..there's no Spook connection... I've no doubt that one get's on board from time to time but that's only because they need to get somewhere a bit remote... they also no doubt travel on United and Delta... Most of the real spooky stuf is done by ........ and ........ plus of couse the CIA have their own operation. ASI is just a harmless NGO. Frog Fry or whatever is right inasmuch as you will meet and fly with some good people...also a few odd-bods but you can say that of anywhere.

It's not a bad company...chaotic in its admin maybe but then so are the two SA companies I've worked for.... Just depends on how much you want to work in Africa.... and how much commitment you want to give for $2800 pm.. ( must of gone up...was $2400 pm when I was with them. ) True that SA companies require a validation... but then there are also some interesting jobs in the more civilised areas of Africa...Game Park territory... Have a good look at Tanzania, Botswana etc through the Pprune search system...

Oosik... also check your pm's

Agree with what has been said. Unless you have a real calling to help poor people around the world for pittance, then Airserv is not the place for you. You will work along side other guys getting paid double the money for half the work, on the same contracts. If you have the necessary experience to get into Airserv, then you probably meet the requirements for some of the other contract companies who lease aircraft and pilots to Airserv and pay better wages.

Twin Capt. -- 2800 per month
Twin SIC -- 2300 per month
Single Capt. -- 2500 per month

Before taxes, which may or may not be much, depending on many things.
:ugh:

There are folks here who got hired with under 1000 hrs and some of us have stopped counting. The interview is a piece of cake and 99% of all flying is VFR. ASI operates under U.S. part 91, although that could be debated among some FSDO folks, so there are no flight time mins.

One year in country with two weeks vacation every six months, air fare not paid for, so most people just make an exit one month prior to contract end. Contract starts the day you leave your home country. Most programs get some type of R&R, which is a hotly contested policy among folks in the field, but apparently falling on deaf ears in Warrenton, VA. Equipment upgrades are non-existant unless someone dies or leaves with no notice (happens often), and even then it's temporary. It's a tough life, and a tough company to work for with kind of shady management, but ASI is the only U.S. company really doing this stuff in such remote places. I consider it just a strange one year vacation from driving a jet around the States.

Air Suck
 

yeah but there are plenty of non-US companies doing it and they ALL pay better. Air suck is a rip-off.

FATTY...
That’s a bit harsh, to be fair Airserv did not start out in the same way as the companies it now competes with...as I mentioned earlier here it was originally a modified version of MAF depending to a large extent on the motivation of its aircrew and field staff being that of bringing aid to the third world and therefore keeping costs to a minimum and aid funding going to where it's most needed...
The reality is that it has undergone a metamorphosis over the years and apart from its technical NGO status it's pretty much indistinguishable from the profit motivated companies serving UN and similar contracts in areas of hardship and conflict.
In the current market there are fewer people available with altruistic motives AND the necessary qualifications to fly in what can be difficult conditions and territories and so it's not suprising that ASI with it's relatively arcane T's and C's are having crewing difficulties... these can be offset to some extent by the close association with Naturelink who provide not only aircraft but (better paid ) crews. The management of ASI seem reluctant to recognise the change of circumstances either in the NGO itself or the market in general. One excuse offered re crew rates was that as an American company they had to pay very high insurance on employees... I found that difficult to acccept in relation to non-American contract pilots who I would have thought could be offered the alternative of putting there own insurance in place.

An e-mail from a colleague who more recently left ASI tells me that the current whinge is the amount of money that goes into salaries and support of home office and talk of reducing qualifications of recruits... so 'wannabees ' it may be an opportunity but take care... the demands on flying ability while normally not excessive can be extremely demanding under the wrong circumstances and you only have to get it wrong once...

For my part I enjoyed the experience of working with ASI.. but it's not a career company. No one forces anybody to work there and by my way of thinking those that choose to have no real reason to complain, at least in regard to contract fees as the rates are made clear from the beginning.

As to ASI's problem with recruiting..... that has to be left to the management.

yuk yuk
 

I used to work for them, so spare me the BS. They are a rip-off. Just like 9 out of ten U.S. companies. The money is made for the phoneys in the U.S., while the people in the field risk their lives for peanuts. Cry baby boo-hoo starving people we must save while others get three times the money and do ten times a better job. They even have a paid lobbiest in Washington D.C.! Just like any rip-off american company, they don't pay but they LOVE the coins you bring them! Its just to bad if you get killed...next. FU bub.

No one pushes you to work for them, I spent three years or so with them, flew on well maintained aircrafts (not all contract companies have that) and while a lot of people post 9-11 where sitting at home with no work I got the chance to go out on the field and build a hefty load of experience.

I was able to get good contacts and move on to bigger and better airplanes and i am happy to have spent good times out there.

Yes they do not pay all that well, but at least the check is in the bank every month, which is not the case with nature link!

The people that you will meet are from all horizons and countries making for a good mix. Yes upper management is an issue, but please let me know if you have found a company that is perfect? Look at the mess in some SA contract companies, and the aircrat they have to fly?


Bottom line, if you are not happy move on, and many people have, and most Ex AirServ people have gone back to great jobs.

cheers

Whatever
 

Ok...I'll stop playing the Grinch. I'll be more practical. I've seen Air Serv contracts and "other" operators contracts when I shouldn't have. Air Serv DOES NOT save significant money for anybody. However more than half their income is derived from U.S. Government grants.....

http://partners.guidestar.org/contro...ein=59-2500627

....to the tune of 16 million Dollars and thats only Half their income! They pay their people less than the UN per-diem! But they keep the UN per-diem for themselves! So...where the hell is the money going? Cumbaya's aside, they simply take advantage of good people risking their lives for whatever the hell it is that air serv does. Not to mention competing with REAL commercial relief aviation companies struggling to make ends meet. Hell, I thought the Americans were capitalists spreading capitalism around the world? What aviation company derives half its income from the United States Government...free gratis?

No wonder Africans are finding it tough to make a living flying in Africa. No wonder African aviation companies have a hard time making ends meet. Its a rigged game.

I do have to admit to being puzzled as to why Airserv with their much lower flight crew salaries, negligable crew transport costs ( they don't rotate their crews every six weeks as we and most others in SA do ) and huge grants still often lose out to profit driven SA companies when it's contract bidding time.. but, fortunately for us... they do !

I can only assume....
 

They pay people in the field crap because they do not want people to stay. If they stay, they learn too much. If they learn too much, they might figure out how to get a larger piece of the pie. Or worse, some inside AS might fear that others will learn how to set up a "Not for Profit" international aviation organization to directly compete with them for tax-payer Dollars. For me, it was quite telling when they moved from Redlands California to the Washington D.C. area. The majic of the Lobby Place.

As for their recruitment problem, there are three obvious reasons for it in my opinion. However there is still the security costs question: Is it that AS pays much more to insure security than commercial operators?

Only those in senior managment knows for sure, or, maybe the odd politician.

So for a young lad who's a little unfamiliar with the scene but none the less, looking at getting into a little tree hugging, leftist, pinko UN contract work sometime in the next few years, does anyone have details of other companies bidding for and doing Airserv-kinda-work, but with better conditions for those in the hot seat?

Cheers Boys

SC

SC....

Yes... just about every contract company operating out of South Africa...

On the down side you would have to have either an SA licence or an SA rating, something you're unlikely to get sponsored for... just too many SA pilots out there needing work... You could pay for it yourself but without a guarrantee of a job I wouldn't suggest it...
As for the tree hugging bit, you'll be disappointed... it's not taking food to the starving in refugee camps... at least thta's a miniscule part of it that the majority never experience... for the most part you'll be driving around grossly overpaid, self-important administrators on huge UN per-diems... some contracts are more rewarding than others ( in the humanitarian sense )... how much good any of it does and the reasons behind the international aid work by various countries will keep us arguing for the duration of the contract. Just accept that the private companies are there to make money and the NGO's..(not just Airserv) exist primarily just to continue existing.

If you have any church affiliations you could approach PACTEC or MAF... but you'll need to find sponsorship... no salaries involved.

One suggestion... you might reconsider the Pseudonym you've chosen..

Oh there are Others...
 

There are other companies that have MUCH better pay, bennies, and conditions than South African companies. You don't have to worry about getting cheated out of you pay either. Many organizations have publicly documented their complaints and offered their reservations concerning several South African companies. SA jobs are by far not the "pnnacle" availible.

lol

Zimex has to be a good bet but you'll need a JAA licence and 500 on type... very good company... other than that people like Dyncorp, Blackwater etc pay extremely well but you need the Stars and Stripes tatooed on your soul to qualify

Air Ser
 

Just turned away from a BE200 ASI gig in Kabul. All the prelim's were very professional and I was left with the impression this is a top notch outfit if you are interested in doing humanitarian work, Would go back and work for them in a minute if personal protection details were refined. All the crew I spoke with were very friendly and professional. Nothing but top marks from folks I spoke with.

MungoP
 

The only "Patriotic Tattoo" Blackwater can recognize would be a dollar sign on their bank statment.

Was just my way of saying that to work for them you need to be a US citizen and preferably an ex-jarhead... pity as its interesting work... little if at all more risky than what we do with other outfits and pays mega-bucks ..:*

As for ASI... I think you're being a bit hard on them.... poor pay definately but no one is forced to work for them. I'm only back here short term but am hoping the new CEO will have a more realistic approach than the last one... at least he's a pilot... Pilots generally are much better at the admin side than admins are at understanding aviation... which IS what ASI is about irrespective of that pathetic speach made a couple of years back.

Well MungoP....
 

I am both and I wouldn't spit on Blackwater if their guts were on fire. They are mercenaries, not patriots.

As for Air Serv, there is not now, nor has there ever been a legitimate reason for paying their people like crap. They are better on the co-jo pay, slightly better on the engineer and 1st officer pay, but basically they are paying people the field the same as fifteen years ago. Bet it ain't the same for people in the States after fifteen years.

However, you just do whatever you feel is best for you MungoP. My complaint revolves around the fact that generally ASI people do not know what most people make in this work until they sign a contract and end up in the field. In this, they use people in the worst way.

Hey MungoP they are not making you fly enough in Kabul these days seems you like to post a lot, will have to talk to your CD. Is that GJ by chance??

Now on the issue of salaries I have to say that yes they pay you very little, you come out on the field, find people making more, but hey if it was not for ASI a lot of people in North America would not even know what contracts are all about.

Generally Americans are not keen on working contracts, they prefer working under the poverty level for companies like eagle at less than 19.00$ and hour. At that price I prefer working at Taco Hell.

You're right... not too much flying right now plus it's a different crowd from last winter... we don't get up to the same sort of mischief... seems to be raining/snowing most days... mud mud mud, beginning to understand what trench life was like for the poor b*ggers during WW1. I seem to be spending half the day defending asi on pprune.. maybe I should become their PR man.....so... between orders for Tacos maybe you can slip me a clue as to who the fried frog is ..:suspect:

KABUL?!
 

Good Grief. Air Serv still pays CRAP even in a war zone? The arrogance of these people are just beyond me. I wish I could offer you all decent jobs so that you could all quit in mass and walk away with a brighter future. Good Luck.

.....
 

MungoP, be careful, there is a camera in your keyboard....(only he and I would understand that).

Ahh, what can I begin to say about ASI.

The 500 time on type issue is absolutely insane. Not as ASI policy, but rather (from what ive been told) an old number set up on a former 737 contract, and applied to this gig for some reason, by the U.N. They wont even accept BE300/350, C90, B1900 time. ????? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THE PENCIL MONKEYS GET AHOLD OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE!!!!!

But on the salary issue, yes, we all know its pathetic. But, for starters, I do not make a big stink about it, because I KNEW WHAT IT WAS WHEN I SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE. And I have run the numbers, and ASI vs. NL actually isnt that big of a difference, if you factor in certain things. It seems most people just look at the base salary number and just go off that. You cant do that.

Lets put it this way----i am actually making/saving more money working here, flying my little kingair, than I was back in the states flying for a part 121 carrier. Thats how pathetic salaries are in the US right now. And its TPIC time to boot.

Most of the south africans I work with thought I was absolutely insane to leave that to come "downgrade" and fly a kingair. Let me tell you, there is more to life than being an "airline pilot" in this day and age. I imagine your going to get to your new airline gig, and after the honeymoon ends, youll be wishing you were back in the bush. The PanAm Clipper days are over my friends.

In the U.S, we dont have many companies at all doing this type of work. And I realize there are quite a few SA companies out there, but in our sheltered world in the U.S, we would never have a chance to run across that info (except on pprune). This is a way to break into this type of operation, etc. And I see people saying, well why not just get hired by a SA operator.? Like they are actualy going to want to put in the effort to hire some guy from the states, and all the monkey-motion that goes along with it, when there are guys in SA for the job. Get real.

The best part of this gig, aside from TPIC time, are the connections, let me just put it that way.

All in all, ive enjoyed my time here. Met some really great guys from SA, for some reason they have put up with me, flown with me, even pretended to laugh at my jokes, and my attempts to speak Afrikaans. (but for the love of god, do something about that music you all play!!!!!:eek: ) The next engineer is bringing me an afrikaans study guide, so ill be able to converse.

But in the end, there is A LOT airserv will have to work on to improve things. If they would just change a few basic things, the turnover rate would not be there, people would actually be staying, training costs would be lower, happier employees, etc. See----so simple and logical, that it actually makes sense. But, we'll leave the "important" decisions to the pencil monkeys.

But I figure, in the next year or two, not much will have changed. Only time will tell I suppose.

Tree....?
 

Tree hugging?? You mean "prayer meet'ns" and "singing around the relief maze cumbya's"....or....have they switched to sacks of fertilizer nowadays?

Air Swerve Updates
 

Ok the latest I have is that the flamboyant ex CEO is now working in Afghanistan for a contractor. The new guy is a down to earth bloke who used to fly PACTEC (very religeous outfit = Kind of a MAF) in Afghanistan & was also an ex Policeman.

From the old crew very few are left and many will be happy to hear that SMcG "the stare you to death" Canadian has left:D They have a whole new crop of CD's but the Peod:mad:le that was in the "Boy Hugging" business is still working for Air Swerve:uhoh: He is now considered to be the best in the business :*

As for there Gin Palace called Air Swerve Limited in Uganda, its still beautifully maintanined and has one large C130 tyre in the middle of the hangar floor. They hope to break into Contracts. Last I heard they were trying for UN clearance to direct bid UN work.

I dont think they will ever "go down" and they actually have bought some Aircraft and believe that NL has a Schweeeet deal for them on some 200's but they will definately become more "Conservative" & Smaller. Obviously as long as the Peod:mad:le still works for them and the ASI board that was made aware of these allegations, does nothing, then ASI will continue to go through a tough process. Especially if the press in the USA gets hold of it and the Donor ****s themself into a lawsuit mentality.

So if you want to work for them, love all, including Peod:mad:les willing to accept great flying, **** pay and good hour building then its a great outfit to be with.

One day we might see the Gin Palace actually turn and make money becasue its a pretty hard thing not to be able to do if you sit right next to South Sudan!

air serv intl
 

Hi
I don't know ASI's rules as of this moment, but a couple of years ago I tried to get on with them. I have around 26000 hours but no turbine time!!! NO DEAL...ps...any info on Blackwater????? thanks.

Hi Guys,

I've been watching the ASI posts for some time now, and I'd be interested to hear what the latest conditions are like for the ASI crews in Kabul.

Cheers,

Dreamer :}

Air Serv International
 

A word of caution to future Air Serv International pilots.

I worked for Air serv in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They owe me a bunch of money and it looks like I will never get paid.


Ok. You have been warned.

Bottom line: Their employment contracts are only usefull in african toilets.

www.airserv.org

Interesting post re ASI...

I've worked with them off and on for the past 4 years in both Africa and Afghanland and while accepting that the organisation is not perfect (anyone knowing one that is PLEASE PM me )... I have NEVER heard of anyone having trouble getting paid... I have NEVER heard of anyone not having their contract adhered to...

I'm willing to bet that there is a story lurking behind 'aimes's' post... maybe he/she would care to elaborate ?

AIME's POST
 

My friend I worked for Air Serv in the "Pre Stu" and during "Stu" days and can assure you that I agree 100% with Mungo P that they are very far from perfect, BUT THEY DO PAY THERE salaries.

You say the Congo, you a new PPRUNER then, so maybe are you the guy that flew in that Otter that you all bent recently?

Because if so I would also not have paid you, I would have forgotten my parayer book and wrung your bloody neck, and after the last choke of breath was out of your body I would have cut your scrotum off with a very sharp knife so I can dry out the skin and make myself a tobacco pouch.

But off course I might be totally wrong, and if so accept my apologies, but I know, you know and every Air Serv Alumni knows that Air Serv actually pays there salaries.