BALEWA
16th Sep 2005, 19:30
I find it heart breaking, that young pilots and even pilots in general, have to pay for hours on the 737 or any aircraft so they can gain the time they require for an interview or a position.
How things have changed.(Its all about money now!) And the passion for this profession of ours I know is what drives so many of my colleagues to do this.
Well my idea is simple and this is it.
If you are fully qualified and have a type rating on the 737 or what ever the aircraft may be then do what thousands of pilots from europe, america, australia e.t.c. did years ago. Look for a job in Africa guys, I have met many senior pilots who have told me about their stay in Africa, all flying with top airlines around the world now, and they ere all here building hrs. Some still come down.
There are many companies looking for pilots with a type to get on the right seat. Especially with the increase in traffic and the arrival of so many aircrafts into this continent, its gone wild here and by the grace of God things will stay like that and even improve as time goes by.
Do not be turned off by negative information and let me categorically state here that right now a lot of expat pilots are flying with us down here and doing just ok, many take time to adjust and get things together, but with the help of the local pilots you get to carry on just fine. ( Pilots we are just like any other pilot from other parts of the world, passion to fly, and having great fun with each other and telling passionate stories about events here in our aviation community, just like when we meet in the training schools all around the world!)
The pay might not be as you might find in Europe and others but you will find that it will get you by in africa tremenduosly well, and you will get flying time, believe me you will.
I know some guys out here now who are doing just that right now, and they are just fine.(Another just left after 1000's of hrs logged) Got an email saying his up for a popular british low cost carrier.
It will help those who are interested to scan through the african forum here on pprune and you will find that there are some really great chaps there who will gladly put you through on info on who is employing and all that. Dont be put off with those ones that will give you all soughts of negative answers, some expats who are on the continent here have formed groups to bring in friends and etc... thereby sending negative remarks to scare off would be potential pilots.
Find out who is recruiting, get phone numbers, ask to talk to the CP and be polite, if you get a good response then for goodness sake get out there and let them see you in their building. Most of the airlines in africa have their offices around the airport area or in the airport vicinity itself. Dont be put off by petty remarks stay on top of it. Also make sure when you arrive you come on a day flight and have the address of your embassy, so you can go there first, tell them you are around and what you are doing in the country.(Also ask them about ere most of the expats hangout, they do know about them joints and bars, cos most embassy staff hang out there too) Go straight to the airport and let the airline know you are here. By the way if you see or observe some ladies working in that office talk to them about hotels and transport etc, over time I have found them to be quite helpful when it comes to good honest info on those issues just to be on the safe side. Now I'm giggling, but it is important afterall you might just be new here and I know you need to make sure you are doing the right thing and not find yourself vunerable to all soughts.
You will easily recognise your fellow countrymen in the airport area in flight gear or even discussing with local pilots, do not be hesitant to approach them. They will tell you ere to stay and e.t.c Most foreign pilots in african countries have their favourite hangouts apart from the general ones we all go to so look into that too.
I wish you all the best, and before you pay for those hours take a good look around, the world is a small place, I have trained and flown with pilots from all over the world, we are all the same guys and if there is a way some of us down here can help then we sure will.
Well I hope this helps somebody out there, you can surely find something else to do with the money for hour building and in the same time make some great friends too in other parts of the world, I know I did.
Just try guys and all the best.
Balewa.
How things have changed.(Its all about money now!) And the passion for this profession of ours I know is what drives so many of my colleagues to do this.
Well my idea is simple and this is it.
If you are fully qualified and have a type rating on the 737 or what ever the aircraft may be then do what thousands of pilots from europe, america, australia e.t.c. did years ago. Look for a job in Africa guys, I have met many senior pilots who have told me about their stay in Africa, all flying with top airlines around the world now, and they ere all here building hrs. Some still come down.
There are many companies looking for pilots with a type to get on the right seat. Especially with the increase in traffic and the arrival of so many aircrafts into this continent, its gone wild here and by the grace of God things will stay like that and even improve as time goes by.
Do not be turned off by negative information and let me categorically state here that right now a lot of expat pilots are flying with us down here and doing just ok, many take time to adjust and get things together, but with the help of the local pilots you get to carry on just fine. ( Pilots we are just like any other pilot from other parts of the world, passion to fly, and having great fun with each other and telling passionate stories about events here in our aviation community, just like when we meet in the training schools all around the world!)
The pay might not be as you might find in Europe and others but you will find that it will get you by in africa tremenduosly well, and you will get flying time, believe me you will.
I know some guys out here now who are doing just that right now, and they are just fine.(Another just left after 1000's of hrs logged) Got an email saying his up for a popular british low cost carrier.
It will help those who are interested to scan through the african forum here on pprune and you will find that there are some really great chaps there who will gladly put you through on info on who is employing and all that. Dont be put off with those ones that will give you all soughts of negative answers, some expats who are on the continent here have formed groups to bring in friends and etc... thereby sending negative remarks to scare off would be potential pilots.
Find out who is recruiting, get phone numbers, ask to talk to the CP and be polite, if you get a good response then for goodness sake get out there and let them see you in their building. Most of the airlines in africa have their offices around the airport area or in the airport vicinity itself. Dont be put off by petty remarks stay on top of it. Also make sure when you arrive you come on a day flight and have the address of your embassy, so you can go there first, tell them you are around and what you are doing in the country.(Also ask them about ere most of the expats hangout, they do know about them joints and bars, cos most embassy staff hang out there too) Go straight to the airport and let the airline know you are here. By the way if you see or observe some ladies working in that office talk to them about hotels and transport etc, over time I have found them to be quite helpful when it comes to good honest info on those issues just to be on the safe side. Now I'm giggling, but it is important afterall you might just be new here and I know you need to make sure you are doing the right thing and not find yourself vunerable to all soughts.
You will easily recognise your fellow countrymen in the airport area in flight gear or even discussing with local pilots, do not be hesitant to approach them. They will tell you ere to stay and e.t.c Most foreign pilots in african countries have their favourite hangouts apart from the general ones we all go to so look into that too.
I wish you all the best, and before you pay for those hours take a good look around, the world is a small place, I have trained and flown with pilots from all over the world, we are all the same guys and if there is a way some of us down here can help then we sure will.
Well I hope this helps somebody out there, you can surely find something else to do with the money for hour building and in the same time make some great friends too in other parts of the world, I know I did.
Just try guys and all the best.
Balewa.