Afghanistan Work

[Chairmanofthebored]

I might have rocks in my head but I am having a time trying to track down operators servicing the Afghan contracts.

I know CHL have a contract and a couple of the middle east operators.

Who knows if anyone is looking for drivers at the moment? I have plenty of 212 time and I hear that is the machine of choice over there. Can anyone help with a push in the right direction?

Cheers guys.

CB

[Ned-Air2Air]

US State Dept Huey IIs are operated by DynCorp out of Patrick AFB in FL.

Presidential Airways just bought 6 or 7 of Carsons 61s for a Heavy Lift contract in Afghanistan.

PANH - operate the Mi-26 down in Kandahar for UN.

[grizzled]

As has been said there are several different aircraft types in civil helicopter ops in Afghanistan. Most common are MI-8's and 212's, so if it's 212 ops you're interested in you may have a chance. The two current truly civilian operators are Aerogulf (Dubai based) and, as you mentioned, CHL. Some of the operators of 212's (i.e. Dyncorp) are definitely not true "civilian operators" when it comes to Afghan ops.

In the case of CHL, the contract is brand new -- just getting going this week -- and involves 3 B212's operating under a US DOD contract. Because it's a new contract there will likely be openings as some crew find out quickly (on ther first rotation) that it's not for them. So, if I were you, I would call CHL in Vancouver and have a chat with them. If you have mountain flying experience and skills they will be much more interested in you. If you have experience in harsh environments (meaning conflict or post conflict, as opposed to weather) you'll move even higher up their list.

Calling Aerogulf in the UAE may also be worthwhile.

Good luck to you . . .

Grizz

[kflexer]

Might want to check but Its not Aerogulf that is working in Afghanistan It is probably A company from down the road in Abu Dhabi, Also If you want to inquire at CHL you will have to call The Edmonton base, Its CHC in Vancouver. Good luck to anybody crazy enough to go over there, Fly safe

[grizzled]

Maybe you're right -- it was Aerogulf at one time, but maybe it's Gulf Air now -- whoever it is they have a 212 or two in Kabul.

If you're in PNG, you'll also know it was Pacific for a while in Kabul. And that was an interesting operation!

Grizz

[Heliringer]

Ok, I'll bite, what were Pacific up to in Kabul?

[spinwing]

Mmmmm ...

Getting into deep, deep sh1t !

It really did end in tears ...... (and the evidence with all the bullet holes is in Abu Dhabi).


:(




BTW ... Its ADA that has an a/c there NOT Aerogulf. Anybody thinking of going there better know the odds! :=

[grizzled]

Here's an excerpt from a post I put on this forum seven months ago:

"Getting info on the actual owners of civil R/W aircraft operating in Afghanistan can be tricky for several reasons. First, a lot of companies don't really want the fact widely known or discussed (for obvious reasons -- it's a war zone). Second, all but one or two of the helos are working on UN or US gov't contracts. For the UN, that usually means MI-8's from Russian or East European companies. Ironically, more and more of the US gov't contracts also use the MI-8's. There are a couple of reasons for that (including, as you would know, a worldwide shortage of the usual "western" helicopter types) but the main reason is this: For the last year it's been nigh impossible for operators of western-made or owned helicopters to get insurance coverage.

And the reason for that is simple: Of four helicopters under contract to USAID in the past four years, none made it out of Afghanistan intact. (All were 212's btw.) Two were lost in accidents (the latest one being the Tasman aircraft mentioned by Bell4can) and two were the result of acts of war. For information purposes (and in order of their demise) the aircraft lost were owned/operated by: Gulf Helicopters, Pacific Helicopters of PNG (two aircraft), and Tasman of Vancouver.

Neither Tasman nor Pacific will return to Afghanistan. In April 2007, as a result of Pacific losing their second 212, underwriters more than tripled the cost of insurance (which was already very expensive). Early this year, when the Tasman machine was written off, most underwriters said, 'That’s it. We will not cover your machines in Afghanistan.' So most operators no longer bid on Afghanistan contracts."
_______________

If anybody is going to "do it right" it will be CHL under their new DoD contract. Luckily for them, some of the people involved in this contract are experienced in Afghanistan -- and are well aware of the fact that three of the four B212 losses I mentioned in my post from last year could have been prevented (maybe all four) by following appropriate safety and security SOP's.

If anyone wants to know what was going on, they'll have to buy a few beers for some ex Pacific, or Tasman, or AirServ crews. Or wait for the book or the movie . . .

Grizz

[grizzled]

I just got an update on curent 212 ops. As of this week, Abu Dhabi has one machine on a "PRT" (Provincial Reconstruction Teams") contract, Pacific (PNG) is back with one machine on contract to LBG ("The Louis Berger Group") through a USAID contract, and CHL is there with the 3 machines I mentioned earlier.

If you get an offer and/or want specific info on the types of ops for each (and the safety/security implications of each) send me a PM.

Grizz

[Granny]

Pacific Helicopters PNG are not in Afghanistan at present.

[griffothefog]

Spinwing is right on... A very good friend of many pruners here returned in a box from there not so long ago. I beleive they were there on a civvy aid/rebuild project.... Matters not to the taliban who will shoot at anything and scratch their nuts later.... :eek:

Why anybody would want to go there is beyond me :ugh:

[grizzled]

Check your PM's

Grizz

[fluffy5]

I believe ADA still have a project there, talked to an old south african a couple of months ago, on 212, If I remember rightly they were going to pay $5000 a week on a 6 week on 6 week off basis, could stand corrected as got a bad memory. He saw the light and went to oman.

fluffy

[spinwing]

Mmmmm ...

Fluffy ..... a bit more to that story than meets the eye ... old SA Gent no longer in ADA employ! :eek:

Cheers :E

[SASless]

Griffo,

As long as one can shoot back there might be a deal in the making! Not!

You have to be alive to spend the big bucks.....that is the rub in "good paying" contracts.

[Bravohotel]

The only equipment Pacific have in Afghan is a container of spare parts & equipment,which we can't get out...be well gone by now!!!!

[grizzled]

I can only tell you that the last time I saw that container, it was being "guarded" by Afghan security guards. But I noticed that the small "garden tractor" that had been in it was being used as a bowser tug by Dyncorp! If I were you I would assume that some entrpreneurial Afghan has built a small house from the proceeds of the container . . .

[Gator4life]

Hello,
Can anyone point me in the right direction as to who flies helicopters in Afghanistan?

[the bald eagle]

The military :E

[LOKE]

I it was civilian, my guess is Evergreen.

LK

[SASless]

Dyncorp for sure....perhaps Blackwater and surely Evergreen under a no mention contract.

[SARBlade]

CHL has a contract there as well.

[wde]

The Canadian company, Canadian Helicopters Ltd (CHL) is the contract holder for the 3 new B212s in Afghanistan, not CHC based in Vancouver.

The aircraft were airlifted 8 days ago and are on station and at work.

If you want contact info for contract work with this op PM me with your contact coordinates and I will forward to the GM for CHL Afghan OPs

WDE

[GeorgeMandes]

and here is a 212 being loaded for the trip over:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/CanadianHelicoptersAfghanistanpictu.jpg

[the delaminator]

which interestingly got a new paint job. normally there is red in CHL's paint but the Taliban don't like and are compelled to shoot at red.

Maybe a leftover from the soviet invasion days.

[grizzled]

Which is one of the reasons this machine from Tasman was relieved of its usual "fire engine red" paint as soon as it arrived in Afghanistan . . .

http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt110/grizzled/TasmanAfghan2e.jpg

[Gator4life]

Anyone point me in the right direction as to where I can get a crewman/maintenance job over in the middle east? I have over 1300 hours in the "60" and about 150 in the MI-8. ANy help and guidance would greatly be appreciated.

[freerideroj2]

Likewise, I am interested in a crewman role. Various exp from SAR, FLIR to powerline.

[rumline]

Heard the job (CHL) involves a lot of vert ref.....
Nothing like sitting there ..perfectly still at 150' to give an Islamifacsist lotsa time to steady that RPG.....:eek:
Could be a bit o' a turkey shoot....
Remember ...the kevlar goes under the seat , not on your back!

[500e]

bravohotel check post 24
clue its green

[jazzyj78]

Dear all,

For the next year which company are still operating in afghanistan???

Thanks for all...

JMP

[aclark79]

Lets see...

Bearpit
Columbia Helicopters
Evergreen
AAR
Canadian Helicopters
Dynacorp (for the State Department)

There are a number of Russian operators as well.

There are probably more, just not where I'm at.

[nothing better 2 do!]

Can anyone PM me some contacts for Jobs over there? If any one is looking?

I have Plenty of 205/UH-1H, MD500 time all VR work 200ft line. I hear that a lot of contracts are moving cargo and can get very busy?

Much appreciated.

NB2D

[nothing better 2 do!]

Anyone?

Still on the hunt for work.

Thanks in advance.

NB2D!

[Rotor Driver]

I think that AAR is still looking for a few S-61 co-pilots. They are out of Melcourne Florida, but thats all that I know of them.

[TukTukDriver]

As of November 2012, Abu Dhabi Aviation are ramping up to send 5 Bell212's over to Afghanistan.

[TukTukDriver]

Abu Dhabi Aviation are trying to get 5 Bell 212's moved from Abu Dhabi over to Afghanistan as soon as possible (Early December 2012)

I saw the aircraft in the hanger recently. They're "N" registered (American) so crews will have to have an American licence.

I don't know the exact salary figure, but I've heard $1,000USD/day being bounced around.

[212_Nightdipper]

Hello TukTuk,

Please pardon my ignorance, why it has to be necessarily FAA licensed crews flying??...can't it just be any pilot working for ADA?...( beside off course having the required experience to fly in a demanding place like the A'Stan...)...its just my curiosity.....

[TukTukDriver]

In order to fly an American registered aircraft ("N" registered) the pilots must have an American license. This goes for all American registered aircraft (F/W & R/W) operating worldwide.

As mentioned, I have seen the aircraft in the hanger and they have November registrations.

Aircraft for the Afghan contract are at the moment being crewed by pilots directly employed by ADA. The customer is an American company. When the American company find crews with the experience, then it is my understanding that the ADA crews will be replaced.

Salary figure quoted earlier for touring on this this new contract, was/is not confirmed, but has been "heard" mentioned....for both pilots and engineers. What the actual salary figure is, I do not know.

[tottigol]

The company can ask the FAA to issue a special purpose license to fly with a specific N registration number, provided you are typed in type (excuse the hype).

[pbarlow]

Hi Grizzled
I was interested to see your post back in 2007 regarding the LBG/Pacific helicopter being operated by Air Serv in Afghanistan. The incident in which Mark Burdorf was shot could have been avoided. I am the lawyer in San Francisco (a kiwi though) who represented the Mark Burdorf estate and yes I am writing a book on that terrible tragedy. I would like to exchange emails with you about this incident. Patricia Barlow [email protected] ph 415 977 1107