Solenta vs Qwila (Who's better to work for?)

[Chunks]

If one had the choice of either working for Solenta or Qwila, who would you choose? From what I can see the pro's working for Qwila is a 'free' 1900 rating after a few tours on the Van and with Solenta one has to pay for your own 1900 rating but from what I've heard they are a professional outfit.

Any other pros and cons about each company?

[Propellerpilot]

Do you have the choice for working for either or ???

Do some research on this site and read what people have said in the past or even better talk to people face to face.

I would fly for a company that gives me the best tools for the job and invests in my carreer and in me as a person, if I had the choice.

Don't pay for ratings - every company has their own SOPs anyway and even if you have just a rating, you will start from learning almost from scratch, especially if you have had no multicrew experience or MCC in your life. I am glad I did not pay for my rating - now I got the rating and the money is still in the bank :ok:. After a year or two of flying with one company, I am sure it is easy to switch to any another 1900 job with the other companies if so desired.

[FatFlaps]

Yip, I have to agree - do a search on this site - plenty will come up on Solenta alone. Also a word of caution...there's no such thing as a "free lunch" and yes, I know we're talking about ratings here and yes, I know you referred to it as a 'free' rating, but just becareful what you sign yourself up for

[Goffel]

Solenta is a totally proffessional company.....they dont take nonsence if you break the rules.

As my hooligan Madagascan friend says, if you want to get fired from Solenta, all you have to do is fly overweight or out of flight and duty time, and you are on your way home.

Their SOP's and paperwork are in a standard of their own.

For advancement and security, my vote would be Solenta.....(and no, I dont work for Solenta).

Goffel...:oh:

[flux]

Nice one Goffel, I no longer work for them. It is by far the standard in that sector of the market! You cant go to far wrong. Go have a look.

[50feet]

I think at the end of that day it depends on how you value your career and the quality of the company you work for. Some companies have really good rep's with the airlines and some well errr.......... dont!

If you want to fly for an operator where you fly without MEL, U/S items on the MEL but go anyway attitude etc etc well then thats up to you. But when the **** hits the fan and the insurer is baying for blood its the pilots who are in the kuk as you went and did the flight!

The 2 above mentioned companies are both solid companies and are excellent! Go for it and enjoy!!

[Flyer14]

SOLENTA!!!!!!:ok:

[Mcritical]

Solenta set the standard for contract companys operating in Africa!:ok:
And no I do not work for them!!

[maxrated]

I have friends who fly at both company's.

Solenta
Pay for own rating
Loads of company politics and no one likes the chief pilot apparently (seemed like a nice enough chap to me though).
Company has a reputation as a very poffesional outfit.
Seems like a quick command if you are on the ATR fleet.
1900 guys do alot of Harare- JHB graveyard shift cargo flights when back in SA.

Qwilla
Small company , you are not just a number.
Very low pilot turnover, means crew are happy.
Dont have to pay upfront for your rating
Cool contracts, ICRC Pakistan/Afghanistan also Iraq but based in Amman Jordan , really awesome place !
More laid back working environment.
Chief pilot is a lekker guy.

[Hot Shots]

In my opinion, I would go for Qwila if I had to choose. They seem to be as professional and not so up tight as Solenta. Not a big fan of Solenta.

No, never worked for either of them.

[SAT_BOSS]

I worked for Qwila till recently & all I can say is that all the guys @ Qwila has always been very good to me, from BJ right through the whole spectrum. Nothing in life is perfect but many youngsters got their break at Qwila & ended off poling their way to the left seat of the 1900.

I know nothing of Solenta.

I can describe Qwila as a fun "family place" to work ...

My two bobs!

Ohh yes & I left off my own accord for better financial prospects but still think fondly of my mates :D

[Gooneybird]

Lots of good points made.

What about dollars? Any big differences there?

Never worked for either company. Know nothing about them other than they both have solid reputations. Probably a bit of a case of horses for courses. Also depends on what you want. Career advancement? Money? Location? Type of accommodation? etc...

[vanman208b]

guys ,i have had the opportunity to work for both ,and honestly Qwila is by far the place to be,training and safety ,are right up there with Solenta ,but when it comes to the looking after the ppl that make it all happen (THE CREW) Qwila outshines the rest ,solenta has lost the interpersonal touch and its sad because its a great company but the way they deal with crew is not welcoming.after all we are professionals and have paid alot of money to get to where we are ,paying for ratings and being treated with disrespect is not worth it.Dont get me wrong i enjoyed my time at solenta but when it comes to the crunch personally Qwila has got the goods and the crew can vouch for it.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

I'm with Vanman on this. I'm profoundly suspicious of any company that requires you to pay for your own type ratings. There is something that smacks of the exploitative and unprofessional about those who do so and it leaves a sour taste with me. I'd go with Qwila, having worked with BJ in the past. He may no longer be operational but I doubt he's forgotten what being a young cojoe on a turbine DC3 is about and this translates to the way he looks after crews.

[Nickerbal]

Guys I also worked @ Qwila and have nothing but good vibes to say. They are small "family orientated" & also VERY strict on safety. The CP = Mr BS is a good guy, gets on very well with the crew and listens to them. BJ is a caring guy and knows what "its about". Auntie M will ALWAYS be a mom away from home, sort your bookings, stay up late and work the extra mile for you.

Good luck Qwila & keep growing "small" in the right direction ie niche market.:ok:

[B200Drvr]

As an Ex-Qwila employee, who spent time both on contract and in the office, I agree 100% with the above. I had a great time there and left for a move to faster things. BJ truly does believe in a safety culture, and sticks to his word, furthermore he has the knowledge and experience 1st hand. Good luck to them.

[fly1981]

that is absolute :mad:, the only people that have a hard time when they give notice are the people that dont give the required contractual notice. Guys, you got to understand, this is a contract company, that requires pilots to get approved by the client before they fly for them. This takes time, therefore a pilot that gives 2 weeks notice causes a lot of problems for the admin and operational side. Solenta may require you to pay for the conversion, but the recurrent training there after is all paid for, and it is top class!!! Solenta is a great company to work for:ok:

[theRealFlyingNomad]

"Flew" a year for Solenta... More frustrations than satisfactions. . The problem wasn't them, nether me, the problem was US: the relation between employer and employee...in which both part have their responsabilities. What they verbally promessed me at the time I signed the contract never reallyhappened, so I left... Its like a couple: If you are not happy with your wife or husban, think about it, try to fix the problem, and if it doesnt work...divorce! So I walked away... I do beleive people are happy with them, like with the Qwila guys. Some are not, on both side also. Conclusion: Just try it, sign it, go for it, and if you are not happy, move away...easy... PS: By the way, If I wasn't happy with Solenta, I also had the chance to meet great guys, the experience I gained there was great, and at the end, it helped me to find a new great job a few months after resigning... So, now, I think about that time of my life with a smile (and a lekker beer) TRFN

[Whenwe]

Solenta is a totally proffessional company.....they dont take nonsence if you break the rules.

As my hooligan Madagascan friend says, if you want to get fired from Solenta, all you have to do is fly overweight or out of flight and duty time, and you are on your way home.

Their SOP's and paperwork are in a standard of their own.

For advancement and security, my vote would be Solenta.....(and no, I dont work for Solenta).

Goffel...

Guys and Girls,
You are are no doubt following the postings about another tragic african accident.
And there is no such thing as a perfect company.
That Chief Pilot that you are referring to is part of the Solenta Team that
have contributed and have earned the above quote.

Choose well, my friends and fly safe.

[Malagant]

Started with Solenta before they even had that name yet, when King Air Services recruited the first pilots for Bruce to go on DHL contract, haven`t worked for Q but have friends that work there and both Solenta and Q are solid thanx to Bruce, so if you can get a job with either..Go for it..!:ok:

[Alexair]

Hello everyone,

First of all, thank you for all details and explanations about both companies.

I have some questions, I would like to know a little bit more about the package they are offering (salary, allowance/accomodation, free tickets to home country, etc...). I know that I might ask a lot but as I am married with 2 kids (4 years old and 9 months old), I need to know a little bit more before applying to avoid to bother them for nothing... I guess some of you will understand me.

Furthermore, is there any french school near the place both companies are located?

Thank you for your help.

Best regards,

Alex

[theRealFlyingNomad]

Hey Alex,
There is many previous forums with the informations you need deeply explained (sometimes too much!), just click on search, go in the fridge, bring back a few six packs of Beer, and be ready to spend a few nights reading about the Salary and conditions of RSA contract companies...
By the way, if you have two kids, and a Wife that you probably Love, Contract flying and Family Life is not too too easy to manage!
Thinks carefully before to sign!
Good Luck!

[Springbok614]

hi all!

thanks for all the gen or these two companies.

i got in with both recently and had an offer to start pretty much immediately from both... however, i couldnt drop my currnet employer!

is this the norm with contract companies that a couple of months ahead are a bit grey for them in terms of placing crew on jobs?

any input would be much apprciated! it seems that i would pretty much have to resign from my current employer and then become available to go on contract but risk not having a job for a bit! i like to be more sensible about it!

cheerio!

614

[Springbok614]

as a precaution to my previous post being misunderstood, i would like to add the following:

none of these two companies required me to drop my employer and start immediately as in 24 hrs, which by the way is not realistic anyway! 30 days is obviously the accepted norm and they would both respect that, especially solenta.

what i basically wanted to say is that if one has say a 60,90,120 day etc notice period, it seems to make it harder for these companies to employ you in terms of slotting you in on their crew scheduling. this is at least the impression i got as both these companies wanted me to start there, but couldnt seem to look into to future far enough past 30 days to actually slot me in.

i gave both a date that i can start realistically and that didnt even seem to help. so that lead me to the conclusion that i would have to resign my job without a start date or actuall written offer with any of these companies and once i have about 30 days to run to the end of my service with my current employer, i then should contact them and say that i am now available in 30 days.

614

[theRealFlyingNomad]

Well, to be honest with you, you might have to sit on the ground for a while, with your "basic salary" only, waiting your new employer to send you on contract... this is the way it SOMETIMES goes.

The turnover rate at which pilots do come and leave those companies, plus the constant "changes" in the contracts they fly for ( and also sometimes the Ops's unability to respect their own words and transform a schedule in a complete Picasso piece or art in which you don't know if you have to cry or burst laughting when you look at it...) WILL not help you to have a stable life...

But then, in the mean time, if they need you now NOW, you won't even have the time to drop the pen after signing the contract that you will end up for months on the other side of the world...

Basically, be ready for any situation, and to accept it as it comes...( and be sure you have enought cash on your bank account before to sign, 'cos you might have to stay for a while without having any S&T..or Per Diem as some call it...)

Good Luck