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View Full Version : Aristide's pilot lands senior position with Denel - I'm not joking!


4HolerPoler
20th Apr 2005, 04:32
I know you guys (and girls) are going to have a ball with this beaut:
Pretoria - Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's personal pilot has landed a well-paying job with Denel Aviation - even though the company is laying off 200 staff because of apparent money shortages. Sam Basch of Denel earlier confirmed Haitian Frantz Gabriel's appointment on a year's contract. However, he did not want to disclose details about Gabriel's salary because it was confidential.

According to Basch, Gabriel has been assigned to Denel Aviation's business-development division with a specific mandate to promote the company's interests in French-speaking African countries. Last year, about 200 people, among whom were others dealing with French-speaking Africa, were declared redundant. As many as 200 more employees may be laid off by June this year.

Although Gabriel is a pilot, Basch says the Haitian's job will not require any flying activities. For this reason, he need not be certified on any of the aircraft in which Denel specialises. Asked if the others in the aviation division needed security clearance as they were dealing with sensitive information and blueprints, Basch responded that this, too, could not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons. Beeld learned that Gabriel, Aristide's personal helicopter pilot, was apparently appointed just more than a month ago by Denel as a result of "political pressure from the highest level". It appears he just turned up for work one day without others in the division being told he was coming. When they asked about this, people were told that room had to be made for Gabrial. Another aspect of Gabriel's appointment is that it is only for a year.

According to informed sources, it is impossible for a novice to become acquainted with and explore a market in such a short time. If it happened to be a regional market where Denel had established a presence during the years, it would have made more sense. To the best of everyone's knowledge, Gabriel has always worked purely as a pilot and this is his first involvement in a marketing environment. No information on his qualifications is available.

This one has a particularly bad smell associated with it.

4HP

Solid Rust Twotter
20th Apr 2005, 07:53
Well, the taxpayer already supports the freeloaders in govt, so why not more of their cronies and thugs?:(

Unfortunately the minority who bear most of the tax burden have no say in these things.:mad: :yuk:

B Sousa
20th Apr 2005, 12:23
SRT .....A little late to say no, but in time to gather your toys and look for greener pastures.......SA seems to be headed towards Haiti anyway.........
I just wonder if this guy and your guy are the same. From what I glean on the internet they are::

Airmen Database Search Result
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name : GABRIEL, FRANTZ
Airman's Address : 9717 HAMMOCKS BLVD APT 203
MIAMI, FL, 33196-1556
FAA Region : Southern
Date of Medical : Nov, 2004
Class of Medical : 2
Expiration of Class 2 privileges : Nov, 2005
Airman Certificates : Commercial Pilot
Airplane Single Engine Land
Airplane Multiengine Land
Instrument Airplane
: Flight Instructor
Airplane Single and Multiengine
Instrument Airplane
: Mechanic
Airframe
Powerplant

This add lists him as Aristides "Security Chief". After all the security he got I think I would fire him.....

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/29/international0806EST0437.DTL

Rhodie
20th Apr 2005, 12:46
Doubt it Bert - poor fellow has an unfortunate name..

This clown's profile would look like this:

Name : GABRIEL, FRANTZ
Airman's Address : 9717 HAMMOCK, Aristide Private Beach
Haiti.
FAA Region : We dont worry about FAA
Date of Medical : What Medical..? Does Aids count.?
Class of Medical : Failed Standard 6
Expiration of Class 2 privileges : See above re' FAA
Airman Certificates : Very nice, with gold trim.
Airplane Single Engine Land - I did land once..
Airplane Multiengine Land - Huh..?
Instrument Airplane - Yes, Microsoft Sim 2004
: Flight Instructor - this was Henrie, Jean-Bertrand's second cousin
Airplane Single and Multiengine - It is very easy with 2 engines, there is always one spare..
: Mechanic - yes, I fixed my own lawnmower once..
Airframe - don't be stupid, you cannot make a frame out of air.
Powerplant - I have a Honda generator for when the power is off.


(OK, sorry - I'll get the door myself, thank-you..)

:ok:

R

(Edit: if "Security Chief" - then indeed the one and the same..)

B Sousa
20th Apr 2005, 12:53
Rhodie
Unfortunately I have to give him more credit than that......Hey he has an A/P maybe he can go work on the Huey........

ANVAK
20th Apr 2005, 17:57
quote: Although Gabriel is a pilot, Basch says the Haitian's job will not require any flying activities...
Small mercies.
When he is fired from there his next position will be with the SACAA, no doubt...

BAKELA
20th Apr 2005, 19:17
When he is fired from there his next position will be with the SACAA, no doubt

Small mercies

Might be just an improvement...

(edited for)

EISCCH!!!!:mad:

I'm not joking!

Neither am I.

4HolerPoler
23rd Sep 2005, 15:36
Now it's official:
Aristide pilot in top Denel job

The pilot of former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been given a job at Denel with "top-secret" clearance, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin revealed. Responding to a written question to parliament on the matter by the Freedom Front Plus, Erwin acknowledged that Franz Gabriel was employed by South Africa's weapons-manufacturing parastatal Denel. "Yes he is employed at Denel (aviation division) and his post is market developer (concentrating) mainly in the Francophone part of Africa due to his fluency in French. "Africa is a strategic and growing market for Denel," Erwin said in his reply on Thursday.

Refusing to comment on Gabriel's remuneration package, Erwin said the pilot had been offered the job as he had a degree in aeronautical science, was a qualified pilot and instructor, and had international and diplomatic experience. "Mr Gabriel received 'top-secret' security clearance," he said. Aristide was given asylum by South Africa last year after he fled from his island during political revolts. The South African government has said Aristide and his entourage would return to Haiti once the situation normalised.

Knoppiesdoorn
24th Sep 2005, 05:12
Whilst I was reading this I realized that we don't have a snowballs hope in hell of bringing about changes to CAA. As Bakele says he will probably end up at CAA then he and Obert can have a nice conversation in french..........

B Sousa
24th Sep 2005, 15:32
Love your Constitutional Guarantees. Jobs for South Africans First......Unless they are White........

Whats Top=Secret in South Africa, another Oxymoron

had international and diplomatic experience Now this is correct, he knows when to get out of town before getting his ass shot off.........


mainly in the Francophone part of Africa due to his fluency in French
Good reason there, bet theres no South Africa experienced in Avaition who speaks French..........

wheels up
24th Sep 2005, 23:22
"Degree in Aeronautical Science"

Let me guess - issued by an American "Institute of Higher Learning." Get your A@P, and we'll through in the degree as a bonus.

Or possibly its one of those degrees based on life experience and a cheque in the post.

Could be wrong of course. Could be an MIT or Cambridge qualification


naaa.