Sierra Leone Airways
 

Have an interview coming up with the new airline - anyone know what its like to live out there - especally Freetown area? All comments greatfully received!!!

Enigma you bailing out bru ? :D

Crewmail I (we) answered quite in detail enigma on the same topic here : http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=80387

If I can be on the negative side ... sorry but I have been here long enough ...

Is it a SL set-up compnay with locals in charge ?

IF so - mate sorry SNA / SLA ... they have all started and failed due to pure greed, theft and corruption.

Sierra National Airlines (SNA) has been going very well (I think) with Monarch's aircraft and crws as I think Monarch do not take any sh1t from them.

f you need any more advice - more specific - ask I will be more regular online again !

Brgds and best wishes.

Gunnsss

Sierra Leone
 

Been interviewed and was offered a job. When is your interview ? Capt or F/O ? Airbus or Boeing ?.

Cheers,

May see u there

Interviews
 

Had a call from the agency the other day and will let me know in due course. The job is for cabin crew anyway!! I believe all the pilots positions have been taken for the airbus & 737.

Sounds a fun place to be in as described elsewhere in forum. Shame about the prices. Am still trying to work out if the airline will pay for your accomodation with in the new compound thats being built.

Is Sierra Leone a Muslim Country? Similar to Nigeria on culture?

UK gov advises that its still unsafe to visit there. (Me wonders when the info was last updated?


http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid= 1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386406

Freetown
 

I called the foreign ministry in my country and they advised there was no remarks on Sierra Leone. Certain places you were advised not to visit, but not different than any other place f.ex Johannesburg.

Cost of living would be in the area of 2-300 US$ pr month if company provided accomodation, transport etc which I was informed they would at the interview.

It is one of the most poor countries in the world, very beautifull beaches.

Apparently long lay-over's in London, Paris, Amsterdam (on the Airbus) with good pr diem.

Did they advise you of any startdate for operation ? Date of flying to Sierra Leone before operation commence ?

Cheers

Crewmeal .. Freetown where you will spend 99% of your time (and Lungi) is 60% Christian and 40% Muslim.

In the Provinces vice versa ..

Christians and Muslims lives in harmoney together. In 4 years never heard of a problem.

Racial problems is with Nigerians - locals despise them. Lots stayed behind after ECOMOG / War days and runs taxi's / shops.

Lebanese outburst also now - and then but not too serious.

Lebanese "runs" the country ... although the President is "local" :D

Cst of living per person ... WRONG .. you will eat local food then . casava and rice ... I work on a budget $800 and make it just .. just .. ok Bert yes it includes Carlsberg ... :yuk:

So $600 to $800 ... Split busyour input ? You back yet ?

Cheers,

Gunsss

Cost of living
 

600-800 US$ ok, assume u have company accommodation etc and the amount is for eat-drink only? guess i had some wrong info. Ok with Carlsberg, problably the best beer in the world.

How is the sports there, any tennis, golf etc or is it all fishing.

Cheers

interesting having done some work for sna in the past
is this a new carrier or sna renaming itself
sna were looking at operating a310 on the london route
would appreciate more details

Crewmeal
 

That UK Gov warning is current, can't say more unfortunately.

Guns please keep us posted as something is going on.

:cool: Hey Folks

Was interviewed and offered job also, as FO.
No start date or sim date yet, keeping fingers crossed.
Will be flying 737 am itching to get going.
looking forward to meeting some of you guys soon hopefully.
Anyone that has some more info on the company eg fleet and living arangments, would be greatly appreciated.:)

Keep the good side out.

Was offered a position as Capt A310. My understanding was that it was a new National carrier (EcoAir) with 2 A310, 2 B737 and 2 copters. Startup (first flight) April 1st.
Accomodation should be very nice (nice compound) with 2 persons sharing 1 accomodation.
Flights to AMS-LHR and Paris, quite long lay-overs, 75US$ pr day in per diem.
The B737 crew should be advised of simulator soon followed by A310 crew. Position of crew to Sierra Leone sometime medio of March.
I hope this will work out, sounded exiting with a new start-up airline.
If anyone has more info, please advise

By the way, regarding the name EcoAir, don't really know if that is the name of the Airline:confused:

Anyone who went for the interview, could you please tell something about it ? Did you go to london and what did they tell you, could be interesting to compare the info's.

:cool:

Hey manfromnorth

It does sound exciting, but I would be more excited if I had a sim date. I was told the same of start date ie April 1st.
Nice to hear they are going to have a 310, nice big gadget!
If I'm told more, will definatley post here.

Keep the good side out;)

Hi Enigmajet

What kind of license do u have FAA, JAR ? I would think there would be oppertunities in Uk, easyjet or Ryan Air with your rating (if you have JAR FCL ATPL).

Cheers

:cool:

Hey Manfromnorth

Have Jar Licence. But keeping the fingers crossed for this at the moment. If things dont materialise will check those guys out.
Cheers.
Hey Gunship if you are online, Have you noticed any new buildings
going up around your area ie new compound??
From what I understand from your posts I think you may be living around Freetown. Info greatly appreciated!!
Cheers Bru!:)

you say this will be the national airline
is sierra national not the national airline
they have been operating lgw/fna and bjl for the past two
years
will sierra leone airways be a sierra leone registered company
with sl aoc
sna saw off redair,is there enough business for two carriers
out of fna to lon.
it would be interesting to know who is funding this operation
or are sna renaming and re-equiping
i know gunship is regular traveller on sna after his short
transfer to redair custom when operating.
what does he have to say??

Sierra Leone reply
 

Sorry gentleman,

Gunns on his old day is getting busy .. tel line did not work and the lapdog went for a walk ... sorry will check more regular now and answer you immdediately.

Re the "compounds being errected" ... without being sarcastic .. there is roughly 300 to 500 new Big Houses in biggish compounds that is being built in the West of Freetown alone.:}

I have lived here 4 years and yes I do not think there is something that I do not know about, but must admit my friends are all in the travel agents / Airline business and I slapped them with a cold fish when I told them that SLA is opening up.

Guys soory call me negative (I actually am not at all ) but please do not resign out of a more steady job - if you could - I have just seen to many failures here.

As Finnman says .. Red Air / Africa One was the last b&stards to leave me with an unused return ticket in my pocket.

I have spoken to Monarch guys (SNA aircraft operators), the SN Brussles guys and the security guys that actually count the pax - the aircraft which was completely overbooked over XMass is running at between 50 and 60% capacity.

I AM NOT in the Airline business - so I am not trying to shaft you before you arrive - just there to help.

I see you guys are very eager and I really "feel" for you but please e-mail me who is in management or more details as I have seen to many damn 419 operators here and especially after hearing the seats are not full anymore (after Xmass drop).

I hope I sound realistic and not an like and a55. I will check my mail also from now on ;)

Cheers and good luck.

Gunns

New Airline in Sierra Leone, cool ??
 

Guy's, talked with a buddy of mine and he gave me these info.
This new airline is named "EcoAir"- It is a private airline with goverment and private investors - startup March,April (May,June?) - Airbus 310 and Boeing 737 - They have been hiring through a UK company called Wynnwith - Chief pilot or Head of Ops is a man called Capt Pakkas or Pappas !

Another fluke or ?

More News
 

Morning guys,

This is what SL CAA knows about SLA.

The only thing they have is that an aircraft named "Skytruck" are coming from Poland ? and that the CAA part here are going soon to inspect the aircraft in Poland. There is a rich guy involved that set this up called "Mr. Onu" - sorry tel message ....

Nothing yet under ECO Air.

Re the Security THE CLAW ... the Poms and Americans "play" these games regularly. Things are very steady here and personally I think sometimes they are trying to scratch things up - sorry personal feelings. 300 Gurka's arrived to "strenghten" Liberia border on behalf of 12 000 SLA soldiers and 21 000 UN troops ... politics ared irty my friend ... the Superpowers play the dirty game ... in the mena time 100's of Chinks re- creates our Defence HQ here ... :(

Liberia next dear .. well it needs a NUKE :}

Hope it helps in the mean time ...

Cheers

Gunnss

Mobile Phones!!
 

Does anyone know if UK mobiles will work in SL? Do they have their own network that is compatable with a UK one. So far Orange say they dont, Vodaphone dont't know!! T-Mobile dont know and BT (O2) are working on it!!!

Shall I get my present nokia unlocked just in case???

Gunship
 

Thanks Guns, sorry to say, more on the way!:eek:

Mobiles and Sport
 

Mobiles: 2 Networks presently ... and third the Gov / national "might" open soon.

Celtel by far the best. Presently coverage in the WHOLE of Freetown, down the Southern beaches half way and Lungi.

Just watched the *&^% cricket with the MD. :(

Bo en Kenema operational (2 largest Towns after Freetown). Kono and Makeni (diamond areas) end of March - Mid April. Southern Beaches to River # 2 (most popular place ) end of March it will be Operational.

Faxing and DATA started last Friday.

Calls $1.20 per minuteto the UK, but end March they will have their own gateway and call rates will drop a lot and International SMS will become a reality (eventually).

The other Network : Millicom is just ops in Freetown and Lungi.

NO - I say NO UK mobiles work here - open you mobile there - here they charge $50 up depending what type.

Little to NO Sport at school level - rather go for the NO part ;)

Golf course ok in Rainy season (green grass and oil / sand greens) - very picturistic - 100 m from the beach.

At the Golf club - 2 squash courts and another two / three in Freetown. 2 Tennis courts at Golf Club. Average condition
(playable). Remeber we come out of a 12 year civil war.

2 Nice swiming Pools at the 2 Hotels - especially the Buntemani (completely re-build by Chinks) has a beautiful pool. Pay about $3 if you have a white a55. ;) If you are local - not allowed - reverse apartheid ...

The Claw ? More ???

Cheers and brgds

Gunnss http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/aircraft/3flypigs.gif

PS: I need a few cases of CARLSBERG for these typing lessons :D

just found a web site re eco air
5% stakes held by
nigeria airways
ghana airways
air afrique
air guinea
liberian airways
60% held by private investors( if they get to that)
rest held by governments

eco air comes out of ecowas states

still dont understand how come in the village of freetown
nobody knows anything about it
it is difficult to hold a secret in fna

Hi Finnman

could u post the web address for the eco air inf !

The Wise / Unwise OWL
 

Guys,

I have made this thread with a little devil icon. Call it devil's prophet ... or whatever.

If I have a look at the "investors" I will not work for the airline unless that 60% "private investors" is a company called BA or whatever. Someby stable that has FULL control of the daily running and decision making process.

I do not need to go into details about Nigeria, Ghana, Air Afrique, and Liberian Airways. Air Guinea is the only one still flying. Unsure about Nigeria Airways. The rest of them is all bankcrupt and was drained from tp to bottomn by GREEDY, a55holes called politicians and their partners in crime who was put in charge of these airlines.

I have first hand experience what happened with Ghana Airways and SNA (Sierra National Airways). What these guys do : They get a company like Monarch to invest their aircraft under their name. They wil operate and operate and then eventually there starts a back log in payment and it get's bigger and bigger and the next moment Monarch for instance will stop flying for them. Monarch will pull out and that will be that - courtcases and stuff.

In the mean time - SNA will just approach another company ... you getting the drift ?

If they do start with their own aircraft / own crews like Ghana Airways you guys are guaranteed a longer job prospect as the Gov / company should keep on bailing them out untill they can not go anyfurther (ie Ghana Airways and Air Afrique).

Yes, I am negative - but I will be the first one to congraulate the company on making money and NOT STEALING it like the ALL the previous airlines that is under Gov control has done.

The longest serving Airlines in the area are both PRIVATELY owned - West Coast Airlines and Paramount Airlines .. small .. efficient and surely making money as NO politicians have their filthy dirty hands in their Airlines. http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/mica/Miscgopher.gif

I will open a thread about ECO AIR.

PS: I am actually a very positive person - but I would hate to see you coming and going and you said : WHY DID YOU NOT TELL US Gunsss :}

ECO - AIR (Sierra Leone Airways ?)
 

I spoke to a local guy that knows the inside of SL 's CAA.

ECO AIR has asked for an AOC (Airline Operators Certificate) but not officially yet - just an enquiry. And obvioulsy one was not issued yet (as of today 's date)

Here is the link and short message on the web that I could find about them : dd 3 April 2000 ..

Air Afrique a du plomb dans l'aile... ...et du souci à se faire !


BAMAKO, April 3 (Reuters) - The member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plan to create a regional airline in the near future, a senior official said.

The new company would be called Eco Air, ECOWAS Executive Secretary Lassana Kouyate told Reuters on Sunday after meeting Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare, the current president of the economic bloc.

News of the new airline follows Mali's decision, announced last week, to break up Air Mali's monopoly on domestic flights, which the country's civil aviation authority (DNAC) said would allow any airline to fly domestic routes in Mali provided they could meet operating standards. [...]

[...] Many of the countries in ECOWAS hold stakes in Air Afrique. It was not immediately clear what impact the planned airline would have on the Francophone multinational carrier.{ PS: In the mean time they have been bailed out more than once and was finally closed down a few months ago as far as I know } http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/aircraft/Plane1.gif

publié par Antoine H. 18:59

http://www.radiocockpit.com/2000_04_02_arc.htm

THE CLAW ?
 

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/new/dan.gif ???

Explain pse Claw ?

TRAVEL WARNING
 

On the UK Gov's web site their is a travel warning : "We advise against all non-essential travel to Sierra Leone."

I e-mailed the British High Commission and here is the answer back from the British High Commisioner, Mr Alan Jones.

" Thank you for your e mail. Travel Advice is reviewed on a regular basis by me personally. We take advice to the communities for whom we have consular responsibility very seriosly indeed.
I beleive the advice against non essential travel remains perfectly valid. It is also closely in line with advice given to the US community by their Embassy, with whom we liaise closely.

You are aware of recent events in Freetown including the raid on Wellington Barracks, treason charges against 7 individuals, border incursions and the ongoing work of the Special Court. All of these events lead me to beleive caution still needs to be exercised and that the travel advice remains valid
Regards
Alan Jones "

AOC
 

Hi Gunship

How long would it take for Eco Air to get an AOC if they officially applied ??:confused:

ECO - AIR
 

Lo AH,

Ok officially Nothing of ECO - AIR as of today but ... ECO - Travel applied for an AOC and received it - quite a while ago.

Just this week ECO - AIR asked that ECO - TRAVEL AOC must be changed to ECO - AIR. This was refused.

But do not dispear ... a few dollar bills between the sheets of papers sorts these paperwork out very quickly ! http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-027.gif

ENIGMA ? CREWMEAL ... r u there guys ? http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-007.gif

EcoAir ??????????
 

Sounds like EcoAir or what ever it's called is starting up (soon)??:confused:

Anyone offered a job there yet
:cool:

ECO AIR
 

Lo AH,

It seems more and more that ECO - AIR / ECO - Travel and SLA is all the same thing ?

Enigma :confused: Crewmeal :confused:

They should know - they where interviewed. Sounds like a nice op - as long as they stay out of the Gov's claws.

EcoAir
 

Crewmeal and Enigma, any news from the "New" company or is silence since interview the only sound:confused:

Where's the $20+ million investment for the A310 going to come from?

:cool:


Hey Folks

Sorry to say I havent much news on the operations side of things.
i.e. who's behind them or how much money they have, or need to be invested. I'm practically geting all my info from this thread!
Sorry. But its good to see some people out there know whats going on! :)

Keep the good side out.

Talked with a few guys who was promised the contract on Airbus with Eco Air but they have had no Feed-back at all other than LATER THIS MONTH ??? for simulator etc ???
They advised that if you have any other job lined up, go for that because it maybe another african scam (promise is cheap) full of corruption as usual and bla. bla bla Just a mather of time before that will go down the drain (as usual).
They off course would hope the best, but the communication between the "new" airline and (hopefull) crew is nil !!!
Anyone who has better info than this (nothing) is welcome !!

From what I know things will start moving this month. It is anticipated that the 737 flying programme will commence towards the end of april to various destinations in West Africa. The Airbus programme will follow after that. LGW & ORY look favourites to start with. Other destinations to follow.

I think in all fairness to Eco Air they should be given a chance to get things going. Like everything in aviation speculation is always rife and I'm sure when there is something to say then those at the top will let everyone know. I believe that the Company have been let down badly by simulator timings - hence further delays in training.

Cabin Crew recruitment will be commencing shortly to tie in with the operation.

Lets leave the legal boys to cross the 'T's and dot the 'i's

nice to hear all those comments offerd a job with them recently I am waiting for my intervew with my fingers crossed looking 4ward to see all of you guys . will appriciate it if you can help wiz this is there any chance to bring a family there ? my job is CSD

Accommodation
 

This is having the final touches put to it as I type. Can't say whether it will be suitable for 'family' occupation at this stage, but I guess it will be on a shared basis anyway.

The 737 operation will commence by the end of april and the 310 will be phased in by June.

Cabin Crew interviews will start next week and training during the first part of april. Final Crew training will commence when the aircraft arrives.

Some interesting times ahead me thinks!!

any questions fire ahead at

[email protected]

As far as Cabin Crew are concerned:"not interviewing for a few weeks yet!"

$30-$40 per diem for cabin crew.

Any more info?