Voluntary or Aid Work

[flyinghigh66]

Is there anyone out there that can give me a few pointers as to how to go about finding companies/organisations that employ voluntary or aid pilots?

I know of the main ones Airserv, withoutborders, amref, but was wondering what others may be out there. I'm thinking any country around the world.

If there are any pilots that have done this kind of work and wish to either share thier experiences or PM me that would be great to. I'd love to hear how they got into it and what they got out of it?

[ANTI-ICE ON]

Hi Flying High,

I don't know if that is what you are looking, but I have heard of Aviation Sans Frontieres who is a French NGO providing aid especially in Africa and South America.

They for sure hire pilots for all kinds of missions.

La voie des airs pour secourir la terre (http://www.asf-fr.org)

Good Luck :ok:

Anti-Ice On.

[stansdead]

Any Low Cost Airline (and likely most airlines in future), are looking for volunteers to be First Officers.

All you need is a type rating and huge debts to apply.

[Vrille]

There is the Mission aviation fellowship based in Kent:

Mission Aviation Fellowship - MAF UK (http://www.maf-uk.org/Home/1.id)

Good luck

[go around flaps15]

:rolleyes: What another crap post about Ryanair. They pay you. And pay you rather better than most other locos. Over priced type rating? Yes.

Decent pay from there on? Yes.


A world away from Easyjet in regards to newly recruited cadets? Yes.



Bull**** half hearted post by Sky Captain? Affirm.

[excrab]

Flyinghigh66,

I think the reason for some of the abuse that you may be getting is that you appear to be asking about working for nothing. Most aid work is done by commercial organisations such as Airserv, or groups such as MAF who whilst not paid in the manner that commercial operations might recognise are very carefully selected non the less.

Many years ago I spent a year or so doing this type of flying in New Guinea. We got paid for doing it, not very much, but they required a minimum of 1000 hours and tailwheel experience before they would take people on, and with good reason. Flying single engine aircraft at high density altitudes onto short strips, often with 20% slopes (that isn't a typo), in mountains that make a lot of the Alps look like pimples, is not the place for a frozen ATPL who has been flying Senecas around Oxfordshire (and I apologise if you are not in that class).

Now that I fly airliners for a living from the LHS I would say that with 250 hours you are safer in the RHS of a 737 or an Airbus than you would be in some bush operations. In an airliner you learn your trade before you move to the LHS and have to start making the decisions unaided, in single crew operations and especially in remote areas and difficult terrain you have to start making them from the first day without an experienced pilot next to you to guide you.

[flyinghigh66]

I do have a zest for life but obviously I don't want to shorten it unexpectadly. I was wondering if there were any operators out there, large or small, that would consider taking on someone as a safety pilot or the like for a month or so, call it a busman's holiday if you like. I wouldn't be working as such maybe more taking a break but doing what I enjoy. Better than moping around all day surely.

(I was originally looking at taking time out with other charities but then thought why not incorporate the flying if I could. It would be great to use some of my new found knowledge to help others and not fatten the wallets of the rich.)

There must be such a rich set of experiences outside the airlines, I'd love to hear some of it...Anyone got any good blogs or websites they set up over the years with thier experiences, perhaps you could post addresses or PM me?

Excrab, much appreicated, and I do understand what you are saying. Times are hard for low hour pilots out there and at the moment their choice is either get a job (inside or outside of the aviation world, but most likely outside) and use thier hard earned cash to keep current or find some other way... I am exploring all avenues. If I sit on my backside just writing endless CV's and making depressing phone calls I will get nowhere.

As for the other posts, yep I agree that paying for the possible chance and privalage to fly passengers around during the summer is setting a dangerous president. There will always be people out there that think it is worth the financial risk and others that disagree. But please, could we keep this thread about peoples experiences in the unusual and helpful rather than bitching about the airlines.

[standardbrief]

well done mate!! i've been flying jets for many years now and have been thinking for a while of an opportunity to do some of the flying i think your interested in.
its a very hard time to be looking for work at the moment but it will turn just like it always does. personally i think some aid work on the cv will go a very long way with many employers whether aviation related or not. many people of coarse do not have the opportunity to volunteer due personal reasons but if you can go for it i'm sure you will be richly rewarded!!