Virgin Nigeria Offer Confirmation???

[freefly_rulz]

Well, it has been two months since I got the offer confirmation in my inbox, and as of yet, I have heard nothing since, except - "we are working on a training date".

Does it really take 60 days to get a training date?

They have trouble with MM2, and this can cause in a reduction of work by 30%, and they have removed the "pilots" under their careers on their website...

Is this any cause for concern? Will we really get a training date, or will the elation of getting the job wear off, and I will start with new interviews at other companies abroad?

If anyone has some "inside info", please PM me, or post it, I would really like to know what is going on!

[seper]

from my sources the main problem is that VK has NCAA approvals for just alteon and gecat.This two companies have no slots for initial 737 available till year end,which VK is finding unacceptable.They are investigating several options,as its much simpler if the pilot already has the 737 rating on his foreign licence.Believe me its also a major heqadache for them!
The mm2 controversy seems dead and buried as far as i know!

[18left]

at one point they contacted comair in SA,but when NCAA PLC gave them the bill for approving comair..............................................v1 rotate
apparently they have close to 20 pilots they are trying to fit into gecat/alteon already tight assed schedule,so pray for a miracle
it seems the EMB recruited pilots will have things smoother as there slots seems guaranteed
theres also the issue of accomodation,they still have almost ten pilots leaving in hotels!

[dynamicd]

18 left What NCAA is doing is very unfair,this same comair facility is used by AERO for initials why does it have to be inspected again by NCAA,I believe they must have inspected and approved it for AERO to use.

[freefly_rulz]

Well guys, this is 100% more information I have received from you, than from VK in the last 2 months, so I appreciate the posts, thank you.

I hope they can sort their troubles out, as I really want to start working for them, but I cannot wait six months for a training date.

18L, your posts have always been appreciated, thanks for helping out again.
Seper, you seem to know alot, the information has helped a great deal to ease the frustration, thanks.

Any other information from other sources?

[OneTwoTree]

Look on the bright side gentlemen, all this free time gives you extra time to prep for the type rating class.

[walla1]

any information would be great ! you guys say that the embraer people have guaranteed slots so why have we not heard anything yet ?

walla1

[NaijaNinja]

"....... as I really want to start working for them ......"

I am not sure i've read well, so i will ask my great friend Balewa (when he reads this) to confirm whether i have or not. Over to you Sir Balewa!

My point: Is a South African airman acting desperate to work in Lagos, Nigeria? I don't mean Lagos, Portugal! From what i know, read, see and hear both within and outside this forum, South African Pilots are too good to work in Nigeria! Nigeria ranks too inferior to South Africa!

I am not starting a war of words, just reminding certain people how tide turns and how the worm also turns! It would be nice for the NCAA to do a census of South African airmen who've chased their daily bread all the way up to EKO! Please publish the digits!

Come to think of it, is Naija the place to be when you want a large bread from flying? Answers on a postcard to those left in Jo'burg! I have no beef with any outsider as long as they don't leave EKO and then call us all sorts. Those courageous to do so whilst in Lagos, beware because the day you do so, your bread will melt in water, i will tell the Ojuju Babas to do the job!

[freefly_rulz]

NaijaNinja.

I will not take your post as a personal attack against me, I presume you have had a run in with "South Africans" on previous occasions, and still feel a bit angry at them.... so your arrogence against "South Africans" in general is forgiven.

So, let me tell you a bit about myself...

I have been working in and around Nigeria for the last 3 years. I have seen, and stayed in many, many towns and cities in my time here (Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Yola, Kaduna, Maiduguri etc), and I am currently in Naija, so I am not one of the "new breed" of pilots that suddenly want to come and work here, I have been here for quite some time, and intend to stay on a bit more, hence my employment at VK.

I have met some of the nicest people in "your" country, and I intend to stay as long as I want, I enjoy the place, and if you think I am too good for your country, the problem, obviously, is with you.

And Balewa is courteous to the people here who don't attack him first, I have followed his comments on some threads.

So, now you have no reason to come out guns blazing in my thread where I am asking Nigerians for help. :ok:

[NaijaNinja]

freefly_rulz,

Yeah, Naija is my country but not just mine! Trust me, i've not displayed my arrogant side at all, we all should have one but i hardly show mine. And also trust me, i have quite a number of South African friends who would drive me through all the game reserves today if i call them up that i am in town!

My comments were not aimed at you but at those i described as too good for Nigeria and those who blab their foul and/or fowl mouth once they leave Naija. Like i said earlier, i do not wish to start a war of words.

I know Sir Balewa as you've described him but he had a large bout with your fellow citizens, hence my request for him to help me confirm what i've read.

As you've seen, Nigerians have helped with the info they have and you can count on me to provide mine when i have it!

I reiterate that there's no personal attack on you Mr/Mrs freefly_rulz, fly freely in Naija, you are welcome Sir/Ma!

[aiellosky]

Why does it always have to end up in some kind of fight...offense?

I just dont get it...

[OneTwoTree]

sorry to swerve off topic, but does anyone know what the expat guest housing is like?
ANY information would be appreciated.
still standing by as well.

[freefly_rulz]

Hey OnetwoTree

I spoke to an expat Captain from South America, and unluckily only had one minute to find out about the accomodation, as his ride arrived at DNMM.

He said he has been working there for about two years, and he has been living in a hotel the whole time.

All I could find out about the accomodation He says it is quite nice, and that there is a pool and a barbeque area there. Thats all I could find out. I will be moving through Lagos again in about a months time, so I will really try to arrange to see the accomodation, so that I can see what to expect, and let the other guys know how it is.

Sad that there is no comms from VK regarding ANYTHING!

[OneTwoTree]

Freefly,

thanks for the quick reply. sounds like a cool place.

[18left]

DYNAMICD

wellcome to the world of NCAA PLC have you bought shares?each airline needs a seperate rate approval for the same facility.For TRES outside the training facility some extra millions were spent by vk to get them approved to train at alteon,as alteon has insufficient full time staff to handle vks demand.

FREEFLY RULZ

why dont you email or give them a call?

[freefly_rulz]

Hey 18L.

I have been writing them emails (at the HQ, and in London) emails for some time, and all I got was the response "We are waiting for a training date".

I know that they are working hard to get training dates, but a general communication letter to everybody waiting would have been nice.

I phoned the Ops Manager today, and he was extremely friendly and helpful, and helped quite a bit. I have some homework to do, so I will see what happens with what we discussed.

Cheers.

[5N AREABOY]

.....and we understand the frustration and anxiety you are going through. The mouth watering offer you got as an expat is now looking like an oasis.Dont worry the dollars will soon start flowing,we are a generous people,just get used to the african time brother.:{

[aiellosky]

I have got this on the mail today...

We apologise for the delay in responding to you and I am writing with reference to our current recruitment process, which you have successfully completed all three stages including the simulator assessment stage. However due to various changes in our recruitment process, we have currently frozen recruitment until further notice and therefore your application has currently been placed on hold.

bummmer....oh well
keep on walking..
good luck to you all

[OneTwoTree]

aiellosky,

OneTwoTree here. Do you know the reason behind this email. seems a little odd that they drug you around for months, and then told you that your app. will be frozen....

I bet you must be quite upset at the fact that you paid for 3 interviews to Nigeria or London (thats gotta be a LONG LONG flight!) and now to be borderline rejected...
anything else you can share with us? seems like no one else getting any emails, nothing.

[Shunanny]

Areaboy, what an apt name .
For all, VNA only has one pay scheme, housing scheme and transport scheme. There are no "expat" only pilots etc.
There is an exception with the contract plots from parc, rishworth etc. though.
As 18L has said, getting SIM slot is one hell of a problem, yes a better job could have been done.
Aiellosky, why dont you write them for futher explanations. I know that the DFO is a gentleman and will explain futher.

SHU:sad:

[aiellosky]

hey onetwotree....how are you???

Yeah...i dont really understand.....they say that i have been sucessful on the 3 stages.
I think they may be thinking that they have hired too many people????
well...... if i didnt pass on any stage they would just tell me that and say Im sorry right?
I really dont know...
but i am copying the rest of the message here:


Please be assured that your application is of interest to us and we would like to keep your details on file. We shall be reviewing the recruitment process in due course and will be back in touch with you when we start recruiting once again.

Thank you for your patience and continued interest in Virgin Nigeria.

Well...If anyone know what is happening I would be happy to know.

Later

[The Vicar of Bray]

Hello folks, am just wondering if anyone has gotten an offer letter or provisional contract and then they were contacted later to say that they were no longer being considered for the job, or that they were being put on hold. I did my interview in November and SIM assessment in January, finally got an offer letter at the end of February and a provisional contract in April but up to now I have not gotten a start date for the ERJ, far less a hard copy of the contract. As we all know, they seem to be taking their cool time to contact people and to let them know what is going on. The thing that is really killing me is that I have given up other jobs for much more money in much safer places for the VK job and yet they are just taking their cool time to say something to me/us.

[OneTwoTree]

ailosky,

Thats very weird that happened. Did you get an offer in black and white (email or letter) from vk offering you a job prior to your application freezing?
regardless...just hang in there. im sure they'll let you know what they want later on. perhaps they will hire you when they find out they need more pilots, and youll be chosen since youve apparently passed thru the whole interview process.

Vicar Of Bray,

personally, I have recieved the provisional contract, as of most guys here. we are all waiting for training dates. i think you and one other guy are on the E jets. seems like they are having a hard time finding placements for the 737 guys, but doesnt seem like the E jet guys are having any easier of a time.

Just be patient...

[walla1]

i spoke to england today about the embraer training and it looks like all is on track and will just take a little longer to get the start date.
they went out their way to put me at ease.
so things sound healthy.
i hope we get that awaited date soon !

walla1

[The Vicar of Bray]

Thanks you for the reassurance guys, am waiting patiently and I hope that it all works our soon for all of us.

[walla1]

I know from a few guys in the field that there have been some difficultied with getting the new 737 guys to do their base checks in lagos ?
and how will that affect the new recruits on the way ?
can anyone shed some light on the subject ?
thanks
walla1

[OneTwoTree]

thanks for relighting the thread, walla.

surely after all this idle time, someone has to have some insight on training for the new recruits....

Still standing by patiently...

[Staalburger]

Hoe is Yola?

[freefly_rulz]

freefly_rulz wrote:
Well, it has been two months since I got the offer confirmation in my inbox, and as of yet, I have heard nothing since, except - "we are working on a training date".

Does it really take 60 days to get a training date?

They have trouble with MM2, and this can cause in a reduction of work by 30%, and they have removed the "pilots" under their careers on their website...

Is this any cause for concern? Will we really get a training date, or will the elation of getting the job wear off, and I will start with new interviews at other companies abroad?

If anyone has some "inside info", please PM me, or post it, I would really like to know what is going on!

:rolleyes:

One month and a bit later, and NOTHING!! :eek:

[18left]

Embraer training is about to start...........
New routes coming up shortly..............
Am sure you will hear from them soon.
They still have a lot of new pilots grounded due one licence/validation issue or the other, for weeks now,which they are presently trying to sort out,i dont think they will be keen on increasing the numbers in this group until,this group is on line.
Keep the lines open,but keep all options open as well:ok:

[Rani]

Good news re EMB.

Concerning new routes, difficult to see how that's possible given the acute shortage of both aircraft and pilots. :confused:

[freefly_rulz]

Hey 18L

As always, thanks for the info.

And for the heads up:
but keep all options open as well:ok:

It says everything I need to know :sad:

[seper]

EMB Trng has commenced,a friend of mine is one of the first set who left last week,also a mixture of new intakes with old hands on the 737

[Golf_Seirra]

The way they have handled this whole matter speaks volumes of how they run their business.....they could not arrange a piss up in a London pub, even if the boss man was paying.

I think anyone still keen must start playing them at their own game and dictate new rules of engagement. Firstly tell them to take their GBP20K bond and shove it....

Secondly, they must come out with specific dates and deliverables regarding issues that have been raised....eg housing / accom, tax structure, work permits for spouses etc.

My feeling is with Sir Richard having bought out the major shares of Virgin Blue and the new politics in the local Nigerian scene, there are more important issues in Virgin's interests.

Remember one thing, the honeymoon is over and their organisation is only going to get more disfunctional before it gets better...lets hope that peroid is short and brief......:oh:

[NDB17]

GS,

Insulting your potential employer on this forum is not a very wise way to start off your career with them. There are many issues at this time which are holding up your training schedule. You might not understand, but trust me the company is working very hard to have you guys ease in smoothly when you do start.
Everybody has an opinion, but SRB and the other investors are not idiots. There is a plan, and like we all know the best laid out plans do not always work as planned. Trust me when i tell you, it's still one of the better paying jobs around.

[LongJohnThomas]

NDB17,
Are you still at home?
Call me asap. Thanks.

[seper]

You may all be in for a big wait,was recently a guest at a vk function recently,and from what i learnt.for the 737 if you dont have an FAA/JAA/Nigerian licence,it is a headache for them.Any licence that does not recognise alteon uk or panam u.s they will tend to shy away from them for now.For the EMB its even more confusion,those selected as launch crew,were mostly people with nigerian licence or those whoose home countries will recognise EMB trng at the designated trng center by the NCAA.They however welcome type rated licence from any country,as its straightforward to get the Nigerian validation.
Alteon is not a zero time sim apparently so for certain nationalities base trng is required in a registerd aircraft of such country .......more headache for them