Afriqiyah Airways all expat pilots grounded ???

[AviationHopper]

Hello pilots in Afriqiyah

is it true that the airline has suspended expat pilots flying? I cannot reach my
friend since 10 days, but before he told me very bad and very sad things of Lybia.
He was also afraid of being hold at the customs or not able to leave the country.


Europeans are targeted by the custom, also as flight crew you do not come
into neither get outside the country and nobody can have visit from his family.
Also locals like to get rid of the expat - pilots. HR boss behaves like a prisoner-director.

And again Afirqiyah did not pay on time and you did not get your monthly
allowance. But the contractor cannot do anything for you, because they
just don`t pay. Procedure with night stop allowance had changed and now
it is not paid. Also many expat-pilots are on the jump, 3 had left and 2 have
resigned. Quality and Safety is to laugh on, etc.

Are you caught in Tripoli? Anybody is able to leave the country?
Hope the best and hope for good answers ...

[slatanmhor]

hey man...that could be true. I too have a friend working on contract in Libya as a Captain and have not heard from him in 2 weeks!!! Maybe same problem for him. He working on contract for Carpatair who in turn work for Petroair....Hmmmm Interesting

[Sam Rutherford]

I'm flying out of TIP with Afriqiyah tomorrow for Brussels - you want me to ask someone something?

Sam.

[AviationHopper]

yes Sam,

can you check, whether the expat pilots are grounded and not able to leave the country or what is going on there.

I got a pm, that the Afriqiyah pilots who are outside the country got advise not to come back.

What is on there?

Thank for help

[Boeing 777-300ER]

The problem is due to the dispute between Libya and Switzerland. Switzerland banned entry visas to 180 Libyan nationals including the President and his family.

As Switzerland is part of Schengen, even though the are not part of the EU, no EU country or countries forming part of Schengen can issue visas to these 180 Libyan nationals.

Libya retaliated by not issuing any visas to any EU nationals or nationals forming part of Schengen except those having a residence visa. So if people leave Libya they can't return back.

The EU are not happy with Switzerland's stand on this as they have hijacked the EU even though they are not part of it. Most probably very shortly individual EU will issue these nationals with specific visas allowing them entry into their own country making this rule void. So the problem will soon be resolved

[Sam Rutherford]

The reply arrived after I had already left for the airport - sorry!

Had a great flight though, the new planes are very nice.

Safe flights, Sam.

[Harlem]

Does anyone know if Afriqiyah are going to recruit pilots before summer?

[AviationHopper]

Sam thanks, have you had an expat-pilot on your flight? Do you know?

It does not look good the posts here. It seams they are stuck there and not getting out. Hopefully country will calm down soon.

Harlem,

are you sure you want to go there with these problems? I heard, that pilots had to take unpaid leave or leave the company. This does not sound they are recruiting. And they treat expats bad. It is really a problem, unless you are from their area. Good luck from me.

[Harlem]

Well, I agree with you, but nowadays to find a job is difficult, so it is very important keep our ratings updated and for that we need to fly. The situation is getting worst quickly.

[AviationHopper]

CANCEL EMERGENCY

OK guys, I had contact to my friend, he is OK and I relax now.

Situation is very tough. Pilots, but only European, were not allowed to come back
because of the VISA problem from Libya with the Swiss. Also problems with customer staff who refused the permission letter for their exit. Seams a problem with one of them. Several pilots resigned plus some did not come back plus some were terminated by Afriqiyah. As usual these companys are disorganised and the person who deciding for expat making all the time problems and is not respecting contract items. Also many problems with moving to different hotels. Just horrible, when Libya gave ultimate to Swiss 4 weeks ago on all hotels in city there were 5 military with loaded machine guns. brrrr

Harlem,
you have my totaly understanding, after a while not flying it is better to fly somewhere and be ready for good jobs. But does it mean we do ALL !!! Only to be uptodate to fly? I am not pushing you plus luckily not in same situation now. But I was waiting before end of the year for 3 months and I did not go to Afriqiyah.
You find out the best for you and good luck and the best. Naturely when you are Libyan it is ALL easier for you.

[ShinjukuHustler]

Gentlemen,

May I enquire regarding Libyan Airlines?, does anyone work there or know anyone who does? I am currently based in Gulf region and have recently been contact regarding something with Libyan Airlines.

Does anyone know how Gulf countries compare with Libya with regard to lifestyle etc? How are things for expats, am from EU and some of these posts really don't sound good.

Alot of people complain about the Gulf but it's not that bad actually. You can go about your business without any interference from locals or worry about corrupt police. In fact my biggest headache is the driving here! Can the same be said of Libya?

Any information appreciated.

Hustle On :ok:

[AviationHopper]

Well, I only can give you second hand information, since I was not there,
but I was invited for interview but did not join. Have 1 good and reliable
ex-colleague there, and another ex-colleague who confirmed information
by his friend, also flying there.

Think yourself about, people are scared to mention the name "Ghadafi".
Locals do what they want and they are right, regardless if they are wrong.
They ask expats behind the scene, how to do something, but if they don´t
like, they don`t do

All what is written here IS as it was written. I really felt bad, when I could not
get any information about my colleague a month ago. Search the forum, there is
another thread about the lifing-style, in that people from there replied.

Have a good decision

[LH2]

people are scared to mention the name

None is scared to mention His name :) It's just an old inside joke amongst resident expats to refer to Him using certain circumlocutions, that's all, you see? :ok:

Seriously, Libya is a great country (hey, it says so even in its name!) Just don't go there thinking that you are the big man from the developed world and what do they know and stuff. That sort of attitude might not be welcome (yet it seems to come as a surprise to many a European :rolleyes:).

In fact my biggest headache is the driving here! Can the same be said of Libya?

Not at all. It's in fact so much worse :uhoh: I used to work with an ex-SAS (not the airline) bod who claimed he was scared of the driving there :}