Angola Air Services [Archive]

strong medicine

8th Mar 2006, 21:43

:uhoh:
im not sure of specifics, but i was in angola with another company about 18 months ago when half the crew walked out. i believe the pay is pretty good and they seem pretty well set up in angola now with a lot of steady contracts.... so if you can accept the "same circus- different tent" theory... go for it!

Truthteller

14th Mar 2006, 04:48

That little place suck's:mad: ass.
Be-awear!!!!!
Angola has some beautyfull places, but this comes at a cost!:eek:
Stay Tuened for more when Truthteller returns:}

european champion

14th Mar 2006, 06:32

What do they operate?are they hiring?

Truthteller

14th Mar 2006, 06:57

They operate 4-1900's and 2-200'2
As far as i know they are looking for 1900 captians
But be-awear the riding is hard there in all sens of the word.:oh:

Captain Volmer

14th Mar 2006, 09:10

Could any one tell me if there is any one else that are hiring pilots on the BE1900 and or BE200 in Africa?
Regards

hyenacackle

14th Mar 2006, 11:53

Lets start off by saying a prayer to those employed by Angola Air Circus......:ugh:

If u willing to expose yourself to a african adventure straight from HELL then go for it.....:{

hie hie hie :E

european champion

14th Mar 2006, 12:50

Would they be interested for first officers?Anyone knows their contact address or person to speak with?

Captain Volmer

14th Mar 2006, 13:24

[email protected]

Chief pilot James
+ 244 923 231 309

5600 $ Capt BE1900
4600$ Capt BE 200

ALLSTATIONS

30th Mar 2006, 22:17

Lots and lots of flying. Good salaries. BAD traffic and CRAZY controlling.:ooh:

So Luanda sucks, but so does most african cities. Things are slowly changing, just hope I can last that long

Africa is a beauty :ok:

Sabastienl

1st Apr 2006, 17:51

Hi all,
OK, I have heard some of you folks out there stating your take on the
operator...that's fine & I am sure there is a lot more that can fill up pprune!
my Qs are for the guys/gals that are currently working there who have got
there career off the ground with this operator...as for the majority of us
"wannabbees" who are interested in landing flying job on twin turbine are
waiting eagrly on the opportunity to join outfit as such that tend to fly quite
a bit! My Qs are as such;
1. Are they hiring F/Os for the 1900s or Kingairs at the moment?
2. What sort of hour requirments for the F/Os?
3. "Flying a lot" how many hours/month?
4. What sort of salary a person can expect? any overtime + per diam?
5. What license validation you need? must you have a type rating prior to
being hired or they can provide you with training & bond you? if so how
long is the bond?
6. Are there any perks beside the salary like accomedation ...or food
allowence?
7. How safe is it to live in Angola/Lauanda?
8. How is the co. culture? A/C maintenance? how much work are there
for this co.? Is it seasonal? prev. someone mentioned crews walking
away! any truth to the story? How is the CP "James" with the guys?
9. Finally, what sort of package a person can expect & how long is the
usual contract? what sort of time frame for upgrades? Any hope for
the left seat? or Never?
Any reply will be much appreciated :) positive or negative!.....serious
replies only! U can PM me if you wish.
Thanks to All :ok:

ALLSTATIONS

1st Apr 2006, 20:31

Here it is, or at least my opinion

1. They hired a couple of guys recently on 1900's and 200's. Things change
from time to time so you never know.

2. F/O hour requirements vary depending on need. Some of their clients
like United Nations & others require some time on type. Some guys started
with relatively low times, 500's

3. 200's averaging 60+ & 1900's around 80+

4. 200 F/O 3100$ & 1900's 3600$. No over time and 500$ for your month
off. The company pays for three airline tickets return per year. 3 Months
on 1 month off basis.

5. All A/C are South African registered. SA validation. DE visits every 6
months for recurrence training and license needs. Can do ratings then
and they might consider bonds if crew shortage. Normally about 1 year.

6. All food and accomodation is included, as well as transport.

7. Pretty save out here. Been here over year now and no real problems.

8. A/C maintained to SA standards. More than enough work for company
here and not seasonal. Company is expanding. Crews tend to come and go
but been good lately. Contracts in Africa is not for everybody. James treats
the guys well so no problems there.

9. Usually contracts on permanent basis with 3 months on 1 month off.
Upgrades usually slow due to hour requirements on type from certains clients.
ATP required for captain on 1900's

Hope this helps.

Sabastienl

1st Apr 2006, 22:22

Hi ALLSTATIONS,
Thanks for your reply...very much detailed & right to the point ...well
appreciated. I just got couple more Qs for you as you seem to be wanting
to assist fellow pilots, if you don't mind.
1. Would you happen to know if they are hiring right now?
2. $3600 is this net in your pocket? or do you have to deduct housing +
car? Is there a lower salary while on training (first month or so) typed/
or not typed on A/C or not as in some companies OR salary stays $3600
from day 1 regardless of the training.
3. Quote "All A/C are South African registered. SA validation. DE visits every 6
months for recurrence training and license needs. Can do ratings then
and they might consider bonds if crew shortage." Unquote
Any idea what must a person have to do if not SA licensed and what sort
of cost, hassels involved to obtain SA license or can he fly with his ICAO
license on SA A/Cs? Ok I understand from you they do in house training
as well ....so if I understand you correctly a person may be hired without
a rating and can be given one? is this correct? and if so, is this practice
currently being done at AAS?
4. Do you have to Share accomedation ....or your own flat?
Finally how much can you pocket monthly if you like enjoying 1 or 2 cold
ones after work at the local pub....and maybe enjoy the girlssss that hang
around there...or maybe not a good idea on the girls issue (HIV)?
Thanks for the reply.......and look forward to it.
Keep the chin up :ok:

ALLSTATIONS

2nd Apr 2006, 09:05

Some more info

1. Taken in some guys recently so not right now.

2. Net in your pocket. Company provides crew houses with cars.
No lower salaries while training.

3. Just need validation. As far as I know wright law and do practical
flight test. Some captains here on FAA licenses with validations. Seems
to be enough F/O out there with relevant type ratings at this stage but
has done it before.

4. Accommodation is very expensive in Luanda. This place is a dump and
to find reasonable accommodation is very hard. There are currently two
crew houses for pilots and one for engineers. A flat on your own will
probably be close to your monthly salary. Lets just say not your average
living conditions.:eek: For beers and whatever probably around 300$ a month
but depends on the thirst.

Talking about beers ............................................................ .........:E

south coast

2nd Apr 2006, 09:54

cannot help but laugh at the likes of sebastien and euro chomp, as named from his kinshasa thread....

these places are not like any place you have been before, the operators basically have no scruples, dont think it will be like working for an operator in europe, they dont care about you...you are left to sort things out yourself...they dont want to hear about your problems!

maintenance, all to sa standard....that means fcuk all!

but, if you are still serious about it, you will not get anything by emailing, calling from europe to these operators...you must turn up on their doorsteps and basically be ready to go tomorrow, preferably rated on a machine they operate.

it is great experience to have but if you have a jaa licence, which i am guessing you do from the way you are talking, my advice would be to stay in europe, instruct or spend the equivalent money you will spend to go out to sa, live there for a few months before getting a job, the money you might have to spend on a rating, licencing etc etc...on doing a turbo-prop rating in uk on a atr or some other plane...

ALLSTATIONS

2nd Apr 2006, 11:52

Company employs qualified full time SA engineers. Also has approved AMO.
But as I said only my opinion and maybe it does mean f... all.

As far as this company goes, please use the contact details as listed by
"Captain Volmer" above. This is the only way in.

"South Coast" is so right about conditions in these cities. And then we did
not talk about air traffic and controlling. You won't believe what happens
here on allmost a daily basis.:eek: :* :mad: :eek: :} :zzz: :ouch: :yuk: :ooh: :eek:

Sabastienl

2nd Apr 2006, 17:39

ALLSTATIONS,
Thanks mate once again for your detailed take on AAS. I am interested
too bad I missed out on the recent hiring! let's hope next round is not
too far off.....soon! maybe soon enough to have next round of cold ones
on me in Lauanda! ;) :ok:
South Cost
Don't place me in the same class as europeon chomp, alright! you don't
know me, you don't know where I had flown, you even don't know where I
come from, ....so don't make any prejudgments on people! FYI I had flown in
& out of "s**t holes" where the airport terminal building is a shack where all the dogs from the area come in and pee/pooe on its side walls with gravel RWY. of only 2500-3000' in length max. and in uncontrolled airspace "it ain't anything like Europe", where you as a pilot have to do "point-to-point" navigation (if your lucky you might have NDB at the airport working) but in
most cases nothing works with all high terrain in the vicinty "mountains"! and in addition to that the weather.....! something you had never experienced in your entire flying career in Africa....and matter fact you will prob. never get to experience in the rest of your life if you continue flying in Africa!
My point is not to put you down, but rather don't be prejudgmental on
people! :ok:

european champion

2nd Apr 2006, 19:01

Sebastien what do u mean'dont put me in the same class like Euro champ' ?
Do you know me?

FlingWingKing

2nd Apr 2006, 19:26

Stay in Europe!!!!!!!!!!!!

Africa are not for sissies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who are you to judge and give comment if you have not been to the Dark Continent.(If you have been here, I do apologise). This Dark Continent will teach you many things, mostly about yourself. Its not easy, but it is VERY rewarding.....and you will learn things that no flying school can teach you.

So Seb and Euro Champ.......Go for it I say old chap!!!

south coast

2nd Apr 2006, 19:55

fling....did just under 4 years in the congo, and 3 years in algeria...then thought it time i got a proper job!

wheels up

2nd Apr 2006, 20:06

South Coast

Careful what nasty things you say about SA maintenance - we might have to let PROPSPANNER loose on you.

GRRRRRRRRRR

AAAARF AAARF

EAAASY BOY,

PROPSPANNER! PROPSPANNER! COME BAAAAaaaccck........

uh,uh....too late, he off to git ya.

wheels up

2nd Apr 2006, 20:25

FYI I had flown in & out of "s**t holes" where the airport terminal building is a shack where all the dogs from the area come in and pee/pooe on its side walls with gravel RWY. of only 2500-3000' in length max. and in uncontrolled airspace "it ain't anything like Europe", where you as a pilot have to do "point-to-point" navigation (if your lucky you might have NDB at the airport working) but in most cases nothing works with all high terrain in the vicinty "mountains"! and in addition to that the weather.....!

Sebastien - you're gonna LOVE Africa - sounds like your sort of place.

Might I suggest Angola for starters?

hyenacackle

2nd Apr 2006, 20:54

"South Coast" Glad to see you got the job covered. Now maybe you
can work on the attitude.

Tech's work hard to keep you save up there:ugh:

Sabastienl

2nd Apr 2006, 21:16

European Champ
Didn't mean to put you down or anything so don't miss understand what
I meant! You seem to be eager to go to Africa & I wish you the very
best in your endouver....although if I were you I would listen to some
of the guys that been there or are there now for their advise and then
and only then make up my mind. From the sounds of it you are just
starting out & there is no problems with that ....we all started there
but like the rest of the folks on pprune I think it may be a hard start for you
specifically if you have not been exposed to this kind of enviornment
before for starters. I have little bit more exp. than you have ....and
also been exposed to similar if not worst conditions so maybe I can
relate to it easier ....that's all! If you are determined ....I say go for
it and fly safe! best of luck.

Sabastienl

2nd Apr 2006, 21:20

To All The Folks That Replied,
Thanks a lot. And Best of luck to everybody as we all need it! If there
is anything else to be told, don't hesitate to post it.
Keep the chin up boys!:ok:

south coast

3rd Apr 2006, 08:38

guam man...

yes i am grateful to the technicians who kept the planes safe to the best of their ability, but my reference to sa maintenance may not have been directly aimed at the techs, ever thought of that....?

policies of maintenance dept's, inability to organise spares, the fact that the flight folio was never used as the document it was intended to be...

sa is part of africa, and the stats for aviation accidents, mostly due to poor maintenace is out there for everyone to read...africa has the smallest number of planes flying as a continent, yet the worst safety record....please explain that one...

FlingWingKing

3rd Apr 2006, 10:04

South Africa is vastly diffirent than the rest of Africa. Go read the stats again and compare South Africa with the rest of your world.....maybe you will be surprised at our "bad" safety record.

south coast

3rd Apr 2006, 10:18

fling...are you also unable to read english....

i said sa is part of africa and africa as a continent has the worst records...i know sa's record is much better than the rest of africa's.

i dont dont for a moment think the likes of saa, comair, link, sax dont have good maintenance dept.s and procedures in place, but with reference to this thread, which is what i thought we were tlaking about i think the smaller contract operators, perhaps the one named in the title of this thread, do not have quite the same level of maintenance as the larger operators....

FlingWingKing

3rd Apr 2006, 10:23

Point taken.........we went off in a bit of a tangent, didnt we?

Maybe some blame are lying with the operators....trying to squeeze every cent out of the contract ...........

Fly safe

south coast

3rd Apr 2006, 10:32

there we have it....you have hit the nail on the head...it is a money issue...unfortunately in my experience of small sa operators, they want to make as much money for minimul investment and minumul up-keep.

too many share-holders/directors needing paying and maintenance is somewhere money can be taken from...

Sabastienl

11th Apr 2006, 05:42

Hi Folks
I have just tried the number few days back, and the phone rings but
it seems that somone is diconnecting it. I tried the same today the
recorded operator says this number is no longer in service. I am just
wondering if the CP disconnected the line (too many phone calls) don't know!
+ 244 923 231 309
ALLSTATIONS
Please check your PM! :) :ok:

Voel

12th Apr 2006, 08:12

Sabastieni that number might work if you use the area code fo Luanda as well. Try +244 (2) 923 231 309. Or try
Luis Duva / Ops +244 (2) 923517548

propspanner

12th Apr 2006, 11:40

Nort Coast??

o.. South Coast!

Where are you?? up north!
Have you forgotten your birth place?? next to the VW factory??
As it is you are getting your BALLS frozen! Down south the weather is sunny and hot!

Would you like to come back??? Dam sure you would, if it was not just for the money!

Hope to see you soon on the lovely beeches of the south coats!