Working in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
 

If you guys are invited to go to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, by either Hellas Wings or IAQOM, take care: probably you will have payment problems. There were a group of Brazilians working for these companies (in fact they are the same) that did not received their contracts. This is true for both Pilots and Engineers.

However people who worked straight for the Equatorial Guinea Government have had no problems there.

Equatorial Guinea
 

One other thing to watch out for working in EG is that, certainly for oil related activities, expats are having to pay tax in EG, not sure of the rate but think it`s 30% or so. I had up until recently spent the last 8 years working there. Unfortunately not in aviation.:(

I was in EG and was based in Bata for a bit. Never had any trouble with the pay, I was paid on time no problems for me with that. I would go back, BUT, I will go almost anyplace for work if I am paid on time and for the right money.

Did not work "directly" with the government either, BUT, I did work with and for great people.

Is that the Shorts operation?

No not the Shorts operation, but the people I have spoken to that work for that operation (while I was there) were very nice.

The definition of ecstacy? V1 outta Malabo... :} Boys, be very careful in that place and which company you get tangled up with up there, two SA based companies had their fingers burnt badly up there... We sat at the airport for hours on end every day, order from down south, no you will not fly until the bucks are in the bank, and then the clowns up there start taking passports, and eventually with a fake tech snag we were able to get our equipment out of there... Some tense moments...:ugh: Other company had to get SA ambassador involved as well... They can keep that place...

FlyItLikeARental is correct you MUST be careful with whom you do business with, and like most things in this business get the money first(or a least a good portion)before you go. So that is nothing new to anyone of us on this board.

I had no passport problems, I kept mine the entire time I was in E.G. and was asked for it two times only.......upon entering and exiting the place.

Anyway what I think for what it is worth is as follows, have all of your business together before you go off to work in another country, know all you can about the counrty and the people you are working for BEFORE you go....know who you are dealing with. I might be the only person on this board with an okay experience in the E.G.

eg payment problems
 

i ve been working last year in equatorial guinea and i had problems of payment in fact i didnt receiv part of my contract with ex hellas wings now iaqom

:) Yes guy's EG can be good just be carefull for whom ur operating there. Naturelink is the one company to be carefull of, their ops director and MD has the habit of pissing off the EG ministers severely, normally by not paying the promised bribes so that will bounce back to you the driver.:=

Hi E145Captain,

Are you are refering to the E145 operator witch is now back in Eq Guinea?
Maintenance is now contracted to Swiss Intl airlines, we have 4 engineers down there now...

What is the EMB145 doing in Malabo? Is it flying as an airline? Or Oil Worker shuttle? What routes does it fly?

Any info on IAQOM?

EG
 

I delivered N287DL a viper powered hawker two years ago there. At night, they turned the lights off and wouldnt let us land. Too bad for them we did anyway (thanks to GPS as it was dark as hell!) and were greeted by nice little soldiers with AKs. Got walked over to Swiss Air (we were delivering it to EG anyway) Couldnt be more happy then when we were airborne, think our situation had something to do with the coup attempt years ago.

IAQOM
 

Dear Pilot5,

this IAQOM was created when we were there, and is the new company of the guy whom did not paid our group. So take care!!

Also, I have learned a few days ago, they have created a new company called "Cronos Air", and they are asking for ERJ145 FO. As long as I know the only ERJ145 that is based in Malabo is the same, and by the name of the company looks like it belongs to the same guy. As a matter of fact as his name is well known on the market for not paying people, he opens new companies very often.

So, again, take care. The chance is big and real that, if you decide to work there, you'll ending working for free.

And also there are a lot of opportunities for ERJ145 crew in Asia, even for not rated people on other aircrafts.

Just to finish, again, take care to whom you work in Africa, mostly in Equatorial Guinea (Cronos Air says they are based in Douala, but their flights are all from Malabo, and this guy also uses Douala as his personal base).

Safe flights

Swiss ??
 

Dear Oligoe,

I have been away from EG for almost one year now. But if the operator is the greek guy take care... Swiis might not receive for the job, as other big companies already have had the same kind of problems....

emb145
 

does anyone know anything about the emb145 presidential plane in malabo. i was offered a captain position there a few months back and i got cold feet. i might want to reconsider. i dont know how to contact them as well. thanks, andy [email protected]

EG
 

Moonshine 707.

I worked for Naturelink for 18 months in EG...based in Malabo.

Never had any problems with passport, was paid by Naturelink before time, had my S&T paid long before I even left SA for EG.

First lived in a cramped house whilst they sorted out the accomadation, but was briefed on the situation before I went....then moved into a massive 10 bedroom villa next to a sports club with a pool.

So for me and others at the time, Naturelink was great to work for as any hassels you had, one phone call to Jannie and the problem was sorted out...(except a couple of back-stabbing co-pilots who were trying to fast track the system).

I enjoyed the flying, (mind you, not at the time in the thunderstorms), learnt a hella of a lot, made good money and made a couple of good friends.

The right company, I will definitely go back.

Goffel.

E145 in Malabo
 

Dear Andy,

the only one E145 in Malabo is the 3C-QQH. And, in fact, it is NOT the presidential aircraft (the president flies a BBJ). The aircraft is in a confusion between EGA (Ecuatoguineana de Aviacion) and the executive, since EGA does not exists anymore. So part of the documents of the aircraft show it belonging to EGA and others to the Presidency.

The closer you'll get of flying for the presidency is flying the President's personal security.

And if the guy who are offering you the job is a Greek/American guy, take care: you'll might end like our group, without receiving for your contract.

And another piece of advice: he loves to chenge the contract while it is on the way.

I would go looking for a greener pasture.

This days you'll find E145 jobs in China with better T&C than in Malabo, and also with a very better living condition.

Take care.

E145 Captain

Which companies in Asia are hiring low time F/O's? (Without type rating)

Probably better to try the Asian forums for that info.