West african Pilots

[Capt. Manuvar]

Does any one know what the pay is like (FO & Capt) on west african airlines, especially in Nigeria?
Any info will be appreciated.
Any news on the IRS fleet expansion (F100 B762ER & B744)?

[nomoneynowek]

I don't care how much it is......to have to live in Nigeria it would never be enough!:}

[bluesafrica]

..couldn't agree more...
Blues

[Capt. Manuvar]

Sorry for your bad experience, but i dont mind the country at all. If there's anyone with any USEFUL info pertaining to the question asked it will be highly appreciated.

[xabi200]

Hi Capt,

I'm not sure what you call an airline but I was flying on LET410 (F/O without type) in Bamako,Mali my pay was 700 000Fcfa (£700).

I was supposed to work in Ghana on the same a/c and the pay was 750$.

Not sure if that help.

[Capt. Manuvar]

xabi200
thanks a lot for the ifo

[tally]

capt,
I get into los tomorrow, will find out and let you know.

[NoseGear]

Tally, where are you staying mate? I get into LOS on Sunday, 5 October, let me know, catch up for a few cold ones maybe.

Cheers

Nosey:ok:

[chuks]

The first thing to bear in mind is that most right seat (FO) jobs in Nigeria are for local pilots. This is how they get the necessary experience to advance. A work permit for someone only qualified as an FO would usually not be available.

There is a glut of local pilots in Nigeria, usually. Anyone expecting to come into a largely empty market can be in for a rude shock. It is the same old story, with fairly high hours/experience on type required for a given job and only command postions available.

Then there is the inevitable culture shock of having to live and work in a very different environment. Just have a look at a lot of the half-thought out comments on this site about Nigeria. Nigeria can be very dangerous and ATC can be pretty chaotic but it very much depends on how badly you need a job, yes? These people who mouth off in a very categorical way about Nigeria as though it were some sort of seamless entity really need to get out more, IMHO.

I bet some of the same bewildered voices I hear on the Lagos Approach frequency, not realising that their flight details have to be passed along before entering Nigerian airspace, say, are the same people who later pop up on this website slagging off everything to do with Nigeria. A real professional just gets on with the job, working with what is available, rather than trying to show that he is practically the only proper aviator in the business.

What I am saying here is that the Nigeria of today is not usually the place for low-time, 'will fly for food'. time-builders. That period ended about 15 years ago when more and more talented young Nigerians came into their home market after having trained abroad. Don't expect to be competing for jobs with some group of know-nothings. You have to think about what you can bring to the party aside from your white skin. (That's a highly over-rated asset in many cases, I find!).

Too, the simple aircraft of that time have largely gone, to be replaced with two-crew turbine equipment, so that one now needs a type rating and specific experience.

I don't know what expectations young people have of Africa these days. If one is expecting to sit around the campfire under a sky full of stars, inside a thornbush enclosure, well, Lagos is bound to be a big disappointment. It is very much a sprawling, big city in the West African mode. Daily life can be a struggle, even for an expatriate. For local people it can be very hard indeed.

Crime is a very big problem for everyone. (Most of the airlines that operate to Lagos forbid their staff, under normal circumstances, to even leave their hotel during stopovers.) Because of this, although I like the country and the people, I couldn't recommend coming to Nigeria to work if any reasonable alternative exists. Law and order is in a very fragile state.

[lowflare]

Chucks!

This is good example how to describe a flying and living enviroment in couple of sentences.Couldn't agree more on Nigeria.I must add that (correct me if I ma wrong) there are over 25 AOC's today there and it would be very unfare to generalise.Couple of guys I know are working there as expats and my knowledge is that they are sattisfied and well treated.I am speeking of qualified Capts and FOs on turbine equipment..Around 3000$ (F/O) and 6000 (Cpts) a month is something that you can hope IF you are rated on 737 or something similar.It depends on a deal but,should be around there...All voices about "end of the world country" should visit some other African countries (no insults to anyone).Capt. Manuvar I say,grab your chance to see something different and to fly with some cool people and on cool airplanes.We would all like to fly A320 in Europe.Or we would not??

[Capt. Manuvar]

Thanks chuks and lowflare
I've been away from Nigeria for about 5yrs but i'm about to turn up there in a few months with a brand new CPL.
I'm away of the state of things in the country and in the avaition sector.
I just want to know what to expect and to know if i'm being scr:mad:wed. I know the avaition industry isn't rosy anywhere but i do NOT have a'will-fly-for-food' attitude. $3k is a reasonable pay for a T/prp FO, but do local pilots get a similar rate (i am a local)?
Thanks
Capt Manuvar

[chuks]

As a local you should be able to get in touch with the local pilots and quickly find out what the going rate is for someone with your qualifications. At the moment things are fairly busy in terms of local airlines, but these do tend to come and go. As they say, 'No condition is permanent.'

Good luck.

[Dotun]

I think the local FO earn half of that. Its can be fun here in Nigeria, I have a couple of friends down here who wouldn't go back Europe. I think you should come down and make up your own mind.