Silverback Cargo Freighters

[JJflyer]

Anyone heard of "Silverback" Air, Airlines or Airways... Supposedly out of Kigali, but not sure about that. Does the name ring a bell (Perhaps a warning bell)??????

They are supposedly operating a DC8-62F. Any info on them would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

JJ

[sheepskins]

Hi,

Dont know much about the operation, do know that they pay very well!!! Saw them advertising for crew a while ago on www.Flightinternationaljobs.com maybe you can still get their info from that.

Cheers, enjoy Kigali.

[blowawayjet]

jjflyer check your pm inbox.....

[RUDAS]

Hi,saw a dc8f at joburg today,on old 09,looked like it had "Silverback" titles.Anyone know its story/where it flies etc?

Odd name,i've heard people call old grannies and Gorillas 'Silverbacks',but never an airline...

[126,7]

It is indeed about gorillas. See here (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=184702)

Don't know which country this aircraft is registered in though.

[EL SID]

The Flag on the aircraft is Rwanda - guess it is a Rwanda reg too.

[Treetopflyer]

Affirm... 9XR- is indeed Rwanda.

[Cue Ball]

Yep can confirm that it is from Rwanda, saw it many times sitting on the apron at Kigali gathering dust. Was lucky enough to be there on one occasion when ground runs where being done and went on board to see what it was all about. The crew were Rwandan and said that they were still waiting to get work for the aircraft but that nothing was really happening. Good to hear that it finally left Kigali, as for what it is doing in Jhb........ who can say?:confused:

[kamrav]

Two hotels being built, one in Kigali and other in Gisenyi and most of the materails are procured in SA and airlifted to Kigali, Silverback has been involved in a couple of these flights since last quarter of 2003 and flights should conclude any time soon.

[RUDAS]

thanks,thats very interesting to find out.:ok:

[Speedbreak]

....that DC-8 is doing "special" flights, carriyng guns, or all kind of weapons for the Ruandese rebels in East Congo....

The "Chief pilot", a belgian, is an ex pilot flying for Savimbi special flights.

Some are glad to see that airplane fliying, some doesn't....

[bluesafrica]

Speedbrake,

Why do you write such bullsh*t ? Did they tell you that in a bar very confidentally....
Blues:*

[4HolerPoler]

Speedbreak - I'll quote your own words from a recent post on an Air Macau thread - these are your words;

Before saying that on the net , do you have any proof of what you are saying?

You can get a lot of troubles....

Rumours aren't proof! ...........

(Even if I'm in Congo, I have friends flying for AirMacau, and Dragonair)....

I'll second your warning. I can't believe on one hand you're warning folk on posting controversial material & then you leap in & post a real beaut. I hope you know what you're on about; your allegations are pretty serious.

4HP

[Speedbreak]

....we are in contact with people leaving in east Congo, ....
Just watch the news about the war in Congo, ....

Or take some vacation in East Congo and you'll see!
That's also the reason why the European Community doesn't want to finance the réhabilitation of the Goma's runway.... Just because they know that the Ruandese will use that airport to land with DC-8s or IL76, fully load with weapons....

[bluesafrica]

Speedbreak,
It's a long shot what you are taking here. The war somehwere doesn't make an African cargo airline automatically a gun runner. Keep it in facts only and no fiction, please!
If you have other proofs than news about conflict then go on, not before.
Blues

[Speedbreak]

Agree with you bluesafrica,

But the fact is that not everything and everybody is nice and beautifull like in a Disney cartoon....

Anyway....

[bluesafrica]

If you do not like pictures of gorillas it is not a good reason to write lies from airline!
Blues

[planecrazi]

Does anyone remember the DC8 that sat on it's tail on Goma apron a few years back, surrounded by military?
I saw it with my own eye's in the days we use to fly there daily for the UN. I seem to remember that I was stationed in Kigali for evacuation flights over this period when Kabila made his first moves west bound. This DC8 wasn't carrying aid in green boxes either.


:*

[bluesafrica]

Dear Planecrazy and Speedbreak,
What I am trying to say to Speedbrake and you also is that even if you saw few years ago DC 8 on it's tail doesn't necessarily mean that Silverback is in that business.
Before you start to publish such stories you should make sure that they are based for the facts, not for fiction!
I am sure that you agree.
Blues

[Speedbreak]

...........pffffffffffffffff................

Hopeless...........


Ok...bleusafrica....you're right!

[planecrazi]

Hello Blues,
I never mentioned which DC8 because I don't remember. You took for granted and jumped to a conclusion. No problems!
I did not point fingers to the DC8 in the topic. I asked a question and wondered if anyone else knew more about it at the time.

Amazing things seen whilst working for the UN/ICRC over 7 years of contract flying in the USSR and Africa.

[Speedbreak]

....You Plancrazi,
I'm sure that you saw a lot of stange thing happening in some airports, especially on war zones, were you use to fly or on any rebels sides....

All kind of things that you'll never see on Gatwick appron, or on any "normal" places.

Only people like you can understand what I'm talking about....

Anyway....

[bluesafrica]

Dear both!
I do understand your worries 100%. I also know what you are talking. I spent last 25 years both side of that fence.
But before we can point the finger for anyone we need to know facts!
Good and steady tailwinds for both of you.
Blues:ok:

[Rhodie]

Just in case anyone is interested -

Was out of JIA this morning, back late afternoon, and the Silverback is still sitting on 09 hardstand.

Hasn't moved for a few days now...

Cheers

R

[kamrav]

Just to add to my previous post, Silverback did a flight on the 1st April as a freight charter for the previously mentioned construction project. Another charter is due soon, and with previous charters they had to sit at JIA for quite a while, and it might be the case this time again.
Once last year, a flight from JIA had to be cancelled cause the plane had a technical fault, and was grounded and also stood there for quite a while.
Certainly some very interesting "theories" being discussed re the presence of this DC 8.

[Kopeloi]

Silverback´s DC8 9XR-SC was yesterday at Malaga Spain. A good looking paint job!
Nikolai

[JJflyer]

Operating a "Agriculture equipment" flight for UN... Rumour has it...Militarized Landcruisers.
Paperwork needed to reflect the cargo in "More detail". Seems that departure was delayed a bit due to that reason.

Nothing fishy about this though ad perrrfectly legal, that is as far as I know.

JJ

[Kopeloi]

...well , it happens sometimes that paperwork is not quite exact...
nikolai

[Selcalweb.co.uk]

The Rwandan registered DC8 9XR-SC which had been grounded at Brussels for several months departed to Kigali at 0707z on 24 March as VRB407. Apparently some sort of ban kicks in on 25th and it was issued with a special permit to fly otherwise it would be grounded there forever. Perhaps someone knows more?

R

[TownshipDog]

Saw the a/c in question on the ramp at Bujumbura yesterday...it arrived, dropped off a few boxes and then left for Kigali

[trilander]

The ban refered to applies to a long list of airlines with poor maintenance records/ major crashs, not all of them are African but none allowed into european airspace.

[AAL]

DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH


I am sure this post is going to raise some eyebrows, possibly the ire of some but hopefully it will get the aviation fraternity thinking again about the blatant discrimination by the hypocratic Belgian and EU CA authorities against a small African Air Cargo Operator, over the past few months, and place the matter in perspective.

Approximately 5 or six months ago the DC-8 of Silverback Cargo Carriers was grounded in Brussels. This grounding and the consequent loss of earnings for this struggling African Company has cost a fortune and probably placed its continued existence in jeopardy. To comply with the airworthiness demands of the Belgian CAA it was placed into maintenance with a reputable local AMO in Brussels who repaired the aircraft to a “safe flyable – by EU standards” condition. Yet after this the Belgian CAA still refused to let the aircraft go.

The issue with the DC-8 went much further than a mere technical opinion and the concern of the Belgian CAA. Rwanda and Belgium have long been at loggerheads about the lack of intervention by-, and Belgium’s prevention of the well-documented Hutu – Tutsi genocide that was committed under the noses of Belgium Forces present there at the time. Presently Rwandan Authorities are still demanding that certain Belgian Officers be tried by the World War Crimes Tribunal for their role during the crisis, or for what they did not do during the event to prevent the catastrophe. This tit – for – tat argument and political posturing is still ongoing.

In a way to get at the Rwandans, Silverback’s DC-8 was chosen by the Belgians as a football. It can certainly be argued that there were some issues of maintenance on the aircraft worthy of concern. These matters were however speedily addressed but yet the Belgian intransigence persisted driving Silverback almost to the brink of bankruptcy.

In a desperate attempt to achieve some leverage in the matter, and upon closer inspection of an SN Brussels flight via Kigali and Nairobi over the past few days, the Rwandan Authorities paid closer attention to the Belgian A320 aircraft. If for no other reason, at least to see for themselves what Silverback is lacking and how it should be and is done in the “First World” by a “First Class” international and reputable airline. Being a wide-bodied long- range intercontinental passenger aircraft the Rwandans were sure that they would learn a first hand lesson.

But alas! The Rwandans could not believe their eyes. An ostensibly beautiful aircraft with a fairly fresh coat of paint did not cover up what was discovered. Leaking fuel tanks with Jet A1 dripping continually onto the tail-cone of the number 2 engine and of which the fuel had already formed a pool of 3 x 2 meter on the tarmac after only a few minutes on the ground. The belly of the aircraft was also covered in a smear of fuel and hydraulic fluids. From these indications and the corrosion to the aircraft surfaces it is evident that this aircraft has been flying in this condition for quite some time.

Upon closer inspection numerous fuel and hydraulic leaks of major safety concern were found.

What makes matters worse about this aircraft is that the SN Brussels A320 is used to fly unsuspecting passengers halfway around the globe, purportedly by a first class international airline overseen and regulated by a first class category 1 CAA. These were the exact reasons why the Belgian CAA had grounded Silverback’s freighter in Brussels. Passengers usually just see the sugarcoated paint job of the top section of an aircraft from the passenger terminal and from the boarding walkway.

This situation was obviously “manna from heaven” for the Rwandans who immediately grounded the Belgian A320.




It is difficult or impossible and unfair to compare the A320 with the DC-8. I am sure however that every aviationist with even limited experience will agree that the state and condition of this passenger-carrying A320 belonging to a reputable international carrier is completely unacceptable and should not be. We also all know from experience that if matters are taken too far aircraft like this example will be grounded across the world every day leaving passengers and cargo stranded creating chaos with schedules.

On the renowned European (Belgian) aviation website and discussion forum www.luchtzak.com (http://www.luchtzak.com/) it is interesting to note the unreserved opinions of what I presume are predominantly European aviators and enthusiasts. On two respective threads on the site i.e. “SN Brussles Grounded at Kigali”, and “Silverback Grounded at Brussels” these “specialists” express their views on these two incidents, on African flying and air companies in general, and about their colourful opinions of us Africans as people. Their opinions are shameful and disgusting to say the very least. They should remember that behind every European “BLACKLIST” there is a “WHITE-LIE” such as the manipulation and exploitation of Africa by its former and past colonial masters, and again now by even more unethical prospective commercial exploiters. The Silverback DC-8 issue remains such an issue of political expedience, as is their inclusion on the so-called “BLACKLIST” of airlines and AOC’s recently announced by the EU.

These people should stop and think that perhaps we actually need their help and advice to build and develop Africa to an internationally acceptable and competitive level. Not judgement and condemnation. If we can achieve this through constructive co-operation and engagement Africa can become an even bigger trading partner for Europe, and a substantial client and market for Europe’s aviation industry’s products.

Africa is trying hard to put its house in order. Never before has so much progress been made in such a short time towards instituting democracy across our continent, and installing norms and standards of an acceptable international standard. This also in the aviation industry. In this process we need every ounce of help and assistance we can get.

Europeans must never forget that Africa’s riches were exploited and harvested for decades by former colonial masters who shipped our riches off to foreign shores, with possibly the only exception being South Africa where their albeit peculiar Government at least ploughed their wealth back into their own soil. Countless conflicts and war’s in Africa were and still are the results of posturing and competition for Africa’s resources, often planned, funded and initiated by interests from European shores, leading to circles of perpetual violence and bloodshed at the cost of us Africans, benefiting only those who in the process receive our minerals and oil at dirt cheap prices. It is then somewhat dismaying that amidst all this chaos we are criticised and ridiculed for not complying with the same standard of aviation excellence as that of the CAA of Belgium and the EU.

In the matter of Silverback and the SN Brussels A320 it must be borne in mind that Silverback is a small struggling company trying to get on its feet and develop and grow into an airline that will one day be able to buy and proudly fly A320’s like the one in question of SN Brussles. In this process Silverback does not receive State subsidies, nor will they be bailed out of trouble every time they experience financial woes or if they should fail in their best intentions, as happens regularly with airlines in Europe.

We have to compete against such odds. We also have to contend and compete with the squadrons of Russian aircraft (possibly almost the entire ex-USSR Airforce logistics arm), congregated around the UAE waiting to snatch every kilogram of available cargo not consigned on the major airlines. To add insult to injury a new and even more alarming phenomenon is developing, of many of those named on the European blacklist now having fled to the Kyrgystan register and also congregating in the UAE and Middle East, who out of desperation will fly for any price better than nothing. Belgian and European CAA’s would be well advised to rather pay those operators attention who somehow were weeks ahead of the anticipated blaclist and did the trouble to re-register long before the list was announced. But still the joke and hypocrisy doesn’t end there.

There are countless examples in the recent history of some of these blacklisted companies flying for EU Governments, the UN, UNHCR, Red Cross and some European Aid Agencies. This not withstanding their technical condition and lack of oversight and regulation, and the facts that the same aircraft had earlier flown war materiel into our continent. The reason for them obtaining these contracts is exactly what impedes the growth and development of our private commercial aviation industry in Africa. The cheapest meanest price is always awarded the contract. Do yourself a favour, observe the growing fleet of home-converted L1011 freighters at Ras Al-Khaimah Airport, who because of exactly their tolerated status – can afford to compete our struggling private airlines out of the market. Not withstanding some being blacklisted, those very same L1011’s and IL-76’s will soon again fly for the EU, UN and Aid Organisations under other names and using contracting AOC’s.

Africa too would like to see the unregulatable sky-pirates out of the air. Such a step will protect us and give our struggling aviation industry much needed room to breathe, and a chance to compete equally and fairly, but perhaps most importantly a chance and the resources to re-organise and in the process to perform some much needed upgrading. Silverback does not fly under a flag of convenience, hide its origins, and present dubious maintenance records in foreign non-understandable languages.

The comments that have been aired on this subject over the past while is shameful, and those who did so should have a good close hard look at the standards practised by those who were instrumental in making these judgements. In aviation there is not room for political expedience, double standards and hypocracy, especially when your own house is not quite completely in order.

[Selcalweb.co.uk]

Thanks for the replies. AAL, that's particularly interesting reading thanks!

R

[Maurice Chavez]

The maintenance preformed in Brussels on the DC-8, was done by a swedish AMO, who refused to sign off the airplane and would only sign for the work they had accomplished. I got from first hand that the airplane was not in an all bad state, however the maintenance actions performed by the Silverback mechanics themselves, was not up to scratch to say the least. This was the reason the Swedish AMO would not sign the airplane as "release to service".

I agree with the rest of your post, no doubt Silverback is trying and yes Belgian CAA is the worse of Europe.

[AAL]

Thanks Maurice,

I know the owners of the aircraft first hand. The maintenance was performed by Lufthansa Technik not a Swedish firm. The aircraft may be "old" but it is in not too bad a condition at all. Please believe me the much newer A320 of SN Brussels was worse and there are photograhs and records available to prove and substantiate.

The matter at hand is however not to enter into tit for tat argumuments and to take cheap shots at SN Brussels who we all respect and look up to, but rather to illustrate how certain CAA's hold us smaller operators at ransom sometimes for unclear reasons and political expedience, which in the process threaten our continued existance. Next time SN Brussels goes bankrupt the Belgian Government will merely bail them out of trouble again.

It is almaost if there is a concerted attempt to drive us out of business, and then the Russians laugh, come in to fill the gap, and fly with their IL's and AN's which cant be regulated at all, anyway (because of the language problem). See the interesting but humourous thread about illegal flying in the DR Congo, else where on the African Aviation thread. This is what we must contend and compete with, and still remain viable.

With small companies like Silverback there is nobody to help them. Can you imagine what the parking alone at Brussels cost, while this joke played off over the past 5 - 6 months? Nobody else is going to help pay these bills.

Let alone the bills, see all the bad and negative publicity - even visit the Luchtzak website and threads referred to in my earlier. How does one repair such damage ?

You will notice that nobody from Rwanda has yet published photographs of the A320, perhaps because there is a responsible path and recourse to follow. It should have been done so in exactly the same responsible fashion with Silverback.

[Mark J B]

My sympathys to Silverback and other airlines caught up in this mire of politics. However, as long as our accident rate in Africa continues to be horrendously high, we will always be viewed with suspicion. I guess the ball is in our court!

[r3500vdp]

I guess I have very little sympathy for a company that helps bring more arms into an already troubled region, especially when Rwanda is famous for supplying DRC rebels through the backdoor.

From an Amnesty report:

In addition, during 2003 a company based in Rwanda, Silverback Cargo Freighters, used two DC8 aircraft to carry out another series of ammunition deliveries from Eastern Europe to Rwanda.(70) The two DC-8 operated by Silverback Cargo Freighters were each sold for a symbolic price of US$10 in a complex deal from the United States and delivered to the company in May 2002.(71)

According to Albanian officials, at least four arms flights were carried out to Kigali from Tirana from April to at least June 2003.(72) Albanian officials said these flights involved the shipment of large quantities of ammunition - 3,590,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition (for Kalashnikov assault rifles) and 85,000 rounds of 9mm (pistol or sub-machine gun) ammunition. At least one arms flight from Tirana was reported by Albanian officials to have involved "explosives" routed from Belgrade.(73) While a "Delivery Verification Certificate" from the Rwandan Ministry of Defence dated 24 June 2003 confirmed receipt of the 3,590,160 cartridges in Kigali, three "end use certificates" indicate that the Rwandan Ministry of Defence had ordered another one million rounds of 9mm ammunition from Albania.(74) These could have been delivered from Albania or another country. Albanian officials indicated that some 9mm ammunition had been returned from Rwanda.(75) The manager of Silverback subsequently offered to fly missiles and large quantities of ammunition from Poland to Rwanda in October 2003.(76)

[AAL]

"I guess I have very little sympathy for a company that helps bring more arms into an already troubled region, especially when Rwanda is famous for supplying DRC rebels through the backdoor."

In response to the post by r 3500vdp:

You are clearly not familiar and conversent with events, situations, politics, conflicts and the recent history of the Cenrtal Africa and Congolese conflicts. All wars are regrettable and should be avoided at all costs. You seem conversent with internet research so I humbly suggest that before you reach opinions and express yourself on such sensitive matters, you also do some research into the genocide in Rwanda, the present situation and whereabouts of the up to 15 000 perpetrators, and the Rwandan's concerns for their safety and for the sovereignity of their State.

It is presumed that your country also has a military that purchases arms and ammunition, and I am sure that even in your case they do so even during times of peace. As the only cargo operator in Rwanda I am therefore sure that from time to time the Rwandan Government commissions their only cargo carrier to do so for them.

Please dont be self-righteous and hypocritical about such matters. All countries fly their arms. You just have to think of the millions of tons of arms flying to the Middle East over the past few years.

If you would like a good balanced and fairly objective opinion about who the real culprits are that have fueled the conflicts in Africa, please visit the website of one Ruud Leeuw, incidently also a Belgian, at his website www.ruudleeuw.com (http://www.ruudleeuw.com). Apart from general threads and matters of aviation interest, Ruud also has a few very intersting threads on smuggling and illegal flying in Africa, and about arms trafficking in general.

Closer inspection might afford you a few surprises, and if you care enough about us here in Africa, please do the trouble to distinguish the victims from the instigators and beneficiaries who drive these processes.

Every country has a right to defend itself, even yours!

[snarfel]

AAL,
However, Silverback delivering arms to war-torn Africa countries is unacceptable. And the fact of millions of tons of arms flying to the Middle East is not a valuable excuse. I rather believe that it is not correct to compare arms flights to the Middle East with the illegal ones to central Africa. Visit www.cleanostend.com/clos_en.htm as well.

[AAL]

Dear Snarfel,

You are quite correct, if there werent wars and no weapons to be flown, and none to sell, we could all be selective and moralistic about such issues.

Are you suggesting that it is all-right to fly arms to the Middle East, but not for your own country and then contracted to fly officialy for your defence (whatever measures it might entail).

We must not let such issues cloud our judgement. A new movie about the genocide in Rwanda is about to be released called "Shooting Dogs". Perhaps if we were in their circumstances then we would feel different about the matter.

Silverback are not gunrunners. If they did do some such flights for their Government it is a completely different matter to that of the notorios smugglers who do so one day, and fly the next for every bleeding hearts campaign.

I am familiar with the "cleanostend" camapign and give the Belg's credit that they have done a good job to sort out the mess and better regulate matters there.

Now let's clean Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujeira in the same fashion, in so doing us here in Africa a favour to create the climate and opportunity to fly our own cargo and in the proceeds make enough revenue to upgrade our aircraft to such standards that will make us all proud.

[Stratocaster]

Silverback was set up by the special forces of the APR for weapon deliveries and covered ops in DRC.

Silverback bought the 2 Diesel-8 for 10$ each in a very complex deal involving western intelligence agencies.

The planes flew weapons and millions of ammo from Albania and former-Yugoslavia to Rwanda. The plane were also used to discretely deliver hundreds of tons of tin stolen from DRC.

Although the entire ops is profitable, the mechanics were not able to keep the aircraft airworthy, which is really the least they could do.

All this while the UN/EU/etc. are investing billions to bring peace back in the region (how many millions of deads again ?).

And you were expecting a "normal", "reciprocal" or even "fair-play" treatment with this type of ops and history ? :D

Probably the best joke of the year, thanks for that ! :ok:

[snarfel]

ALL,
I certainly don't agree with arms being flown to the Middle East as it happens over the past years. But arms flown to Central Africa are more likely to be used for genocide purposes. However, if you would feel that what is happening in the Middle East is almost genocidal, I would be inclined to share that opinion. But I presume, this is not the right place to discuss that issue.

[AAL]

Stratocaster,

You clearly have some very strong opinions about Silverback. While we are, as you put it “joking around”, let’s guess - you flew for them and they perhaps didn’t pay your last salary, or you yourself flew for their opposition or for rebels in the affected areas and merely dislike them as a result.

Your supposition about how they acquired their aircraft are equally humorous for if what you profess that they were provided by “Western Intelligence Agencies”, the process and fact would have been handled in a very professional and sensitive manner, and more likely, the details of which would certainly not have reached your ears and be flying around in the irresponsible fashion that you present.

However, your assertion of how they may have been come by once again raises the same concern about the duplicity, hypocrisy and self-righteousness of those who now at this very late stage of the hour want to stand in judgement of others. Would it then not be reasonable to assume that those same agencies were in the process approving of their activities, or by their actions otherwise were again meddling in the affairs of others. If you read in the earlier, this is exactly the kind of White Lies and White-Mischief that I alluded to in an earlier post, that ends up in regrettable situations and Blacklists.

[vagabond 47]

Dear Snarfel,

Silverback are not gunrunners. If they did do some such flights for their Government it is a completely different matter to that of the notorios smugglers who do so one day, and fly the next for every bleeding hearts campaign.

. Saw one of the old Gonzillas in Bombay this morn whilst passing thru........Despatcher said 40tonnes of "Mombay Masala",dont see any reason to Doubt him?

[Maurice Chavez]

AAL,

Don't get all pi$$ed off now. Silverback isn't that clean or great as you might think or hope to believe so. Yes, they are trying, trying hard, I'll give them that, but that's about it. Yes the Belgian CAA is insane and yes they don't know what they're alking about. But Silverback isn't an angel....

Again, the maintenance in BRU was done by a certain Swedish AMO, not Lufthansa Technics, the airplane was just parked there. The said AMO did not want to sign out, or sign off the airplane because of the work that had been done by Silverbacks own "brilliant" mechanics.

The same lead "mechanic" of Silverback nearly killed an entire crew on a DC-8 from Abidjan to Paris, when he was flying as a Flight Engineer. He failed to tell the truth, of how much fuel the airplane had remaining, they landed in Paris with 1500KGS, in bad weather and not even enough for a go around. When he was questioned about it he denied it; however his fuel uplift worked out to be more then 1.165 to the litre. Amazing calculation....Needles to to say he was fired....

The same lead "mechanic" / F/E did an engine idle runup in BRU on Silverbacks DC-8, managing to flame out #1&4 engine, not knowing what caused it, thinking it was a problem with the airplane, while main tanks 1&4 were emptied and no transfer had been made from 1&4 alt....The same Brillian "mechanics" changed a mainwheel on the airplane at Luftahnsa Technics, not as per MM, IE, they never torqued it. When the airplane was towed from Lufthanse Technics to another ramp, the Swedish lot found the main tire to be looking a bit funny. When our brilliant "mechanics" were questioned about it, the reply was " aha yes, but you never asked us".

I could go on and on about this guy, Mr Bertram D, but I'll save my keyboard.

The DC-8 of Silverback was never bought for 10$, but leased from Farhad Azima...Maybe by now they own it, but not a year back they didn't.

Everybody in Africa is trying and trying hard, but don't make it sound as if your buddies are flawless and just pour victims of a Belgian Agenda. Most of us have flown guns and ammo around, I will not judge them for that, but Air Safety, man these guys are a joke.

Also your statement to Stratocaster;

"You clearly have some very strong opinions about Silverback. While we are, as you put it “joking around”, let’s guess - you flew for them and they perhaps didn’t pay your last salary, or you yourself flew for their opposition or for rebels in the affected areas and merely dislike them as a result".

Very dumb, you finally admit what Silverback is all about. Yes, not paying peoples salary and what they do... Check with their ex chief pilot Christian V, how much do they own him?

Your second quote to Stratocastor:

"If you read in the earlier, this is exactly the kind of White Lies and White-Mischief that I alluded to in an earlier post, that ends up in regrettable situations and Blacklists".

Ah, so Silverback is just getting screwed by the whiteman, without any reason? A bit far fetched and a bit to close to racism, as far as I'm concerned.

Tell your buddies to get their sh*t together and maybe we don't have to read all this negative publicity of Silverback anymore...

Enough said!

[Stratocaster]

AAL,

Yeah, yeah, sure... Suggest you get in touch with these boys: +44-20-74135500, and try to explain your version of Silverback's history. I quoted their report on DRC in my previous message. If you manage to convince them, the rest of the world will know, don't worry about it.

Very funny "suppositions" about me, by the way. But you can't tell the difference between a 330 and a 320, so I'm not really surprised.

[AAL]

Being an African I do not disagree with anybody’s opinion that Africa and the rest of the world should stop flying arms.

We all know the consequence of Mr Kalashnikov’s contribution to the welfare of Africa. Hopefully soon we can collect them all, melt them down, and with the same steel erect a statue overlooking Victoria Falls in memory of the suffering and destruction they have caused.

We must however at the same time shut down the Belgian FN factory in Tanzania so that we do not in so doing create a demand and market for their products in stead.

As we have now progressed this far, I think it still just necessary to acknowledge and realise that:

Silverback was not started and funded by “certain Western Intelligence Agencies” as Stratocaster so flippantly wishes to make out. They are a small struggling company merely trying to make a living.
They are perfectly entitled to provide logistical services to their Government as happens in any other country in the world, including yours.
Their aircraft is not in the sorry state that some biased detractors have tried to make out, and that it was merely used as a tool by a former colonial master to get at the Rwandan Government.
They have as a result been unfairly treated by the Belgian Authorities for reasons of political expedience.
The SN Brussels A330 (sorry Stratocaster!) was in an equally alarming condition considering that it is supposed to be a first class passenger aircraft.
Even-handedness should apply when dealing with such matters.
The real culprits that have illegally infested Africa with arms should be dealt with and banned internationally by ICAO not just by the EU. Those that have again opportunistically not been mentioned or included on the so-called blacklist and who continue to fly unhindered into Europe every day, should receive the same treatment.Perhaps we should start a new thread to name and shame the smugglers and sanction busters that for some or other reason have not been exposed yet.

[gerhardv8]

The DC-8 landed in Kinshasa on Friday, around mid-day. It was good to see it again.......I just luv that tail paint-job!!!!!

[Grunner]

Speedbrake,
Why do you write such bullsh*t ? Did they tell you that in a bar very confidentally....
Blues:*
All - A simple web search shows what they are up to and this is not new information. Also, stop wearing your politics on your sleeve.
Also, the Belgian pilot wasn't lying about running construction supplies either. When there are no arms to move they make money off the UN flying relief supplies and refugees around in the same aircraft.
p.s. Is the "Chief Pilot" nick named "Super Mario"?
----------------------
"In addition, during 2003 a company based in Rwanda, Silverback Cargo Freighters, used two DC8 aircraft to carry out another series of ammunition deliveries from Eastern Europe to Rwanda.(70) The two DC-8 operated by Silverback Cargo Freighters were each sold for a symbolic price of US$10 in a complex deal from the United States and delivered to the company in May 2002.(71)
According to Albanian officials, at least four arms flights were carried out to Kigali from Tirana from April to at least June 2003.(72) Albanian officials said these flights involved the shipment of large quantities of ammunition - 3,590,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition (for Kalashnikov assault rifles) and 85,000 rounds of 9mm (pistol or sub-machine gun) ammunition. At least one arms flight from Tirana was reported by Albanian officials to have involved "explosives" routed from Belgrade.(73) While a "Delivery Verification Certificate" from the Rwandan Ministry of Defence dated 24 June 2003 confirmed receipt of the 3,590,160 cartridges in Kigali, three "end use certificates" indicate that the Rwandan Ministry of Defence had ordered another one million rounds of 9mm ammunition from Albania.(74) These could have been delivered from Albania or another country. Albanian officials indicated that some 9mm ammunition had been returned from Rwanda.(75) The manager of Silverback subsequently offered to fly missiles and large quantities of ammunition from Poland to Rwanda in October 2003.(76)
A UN official told Amnesty International that, according to several reliable sources, aircraft of Silverback Cargo were used in mid 2004 to transport further quantities of arms to Rwanda from Eastern Europe.(77) Between March and September 2004, Silverback Cargo Freighters leased one of its DC8 aircraft (9XR-SC) to a company called International Air Services (alternatively International Air Express), registered in Liberia but based in the Ras-al-Khaimah Free Zone (UAE). According to international aviation records, from late 2003 to at least April 2005, International Air Services leased two Lockheed 1011-100 Tristars from Ducor World Airlines, a company named in a UN report for flying arms in violation of the UN arms embargo on Liberia(78) and carrying arms through Mwanza to Burundi in late 2002.(79) In November 2003, International Air Services leased a Boeing 707 from Air Memphis, a company registered in Egypt that flew coltan from Goma to Germany in June 2001(80) and continued to operate from Goma in 2003(81), the year it reportedly founded Air Memphis Uganda.(82)"
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr620062005

[bearkeeper]

This may be a bit old hat but can anyone tell me what's happened to Silverback Cargo freighters?

Their website redirects you to Akagera Aviation (a helicopter charter operation), as of today (05 March) they still remain on the EU Banned List of Airlines and I saw both DC-8's parked-up at KGL a few weeks ago when I was in transit.

Can anyone out there shed some light?

[Auscoaster]

Be very careful of them. They bring alot of work here and pay well at first and then all of a sudden you dont hear from them again and battle to get hold of anyone. My previous company lost alot of money because of them after months of trying.

[chips737]

Has any heard what Silverback Cargo is up to?? They have a DC-8 stuck in the shop in Johanesburg that is not finished. Are they going to get back into the air or are they out of money?? I know about the EU ban but understood they were to be making regular runs throughout the middle east.

[bearkeeper]

Chips737
Refer to the thread in Freight Dogs.