ex-Ansett drivers enjoy the high life in Air Mekong

[Kaptin M]

Fancy a romantic stopover in Siem Reap, home of the famous Angkor Wot temples?
The ex-AN 737 pilots now flying out of Phnom Penh for Air Mekong (on tourist visas?), and earning fabulous tax-free USD salaries, might be able to give you an insight into how wonderful things are there.

A short drive from this single runway airport along a dusty road, will find you checking in at the 100 room Angkor Hotel, Road Number 6, opposite Diethelm Travel - the accomodation of choice for the cabin and cockpit crews of Air Mekong, Cambodia`s newest start-up airline, running a "fleet" of 1 B737-500 leased aircraft.

A far cry from the days when these same aviators would alight from their chaffeur driven limousines, and check into the Hyatt or Hilton, each allocated SEPARATE rooms. Today ALL (3/4) cabin crew are given ONE room and the cockpit crew (2) ONE room, to share.

A happy airline? As with most Asians, the outward appearance often belies what lies beneath, for whilst most of the ex-Air Cambodge cabin crew are happy to be back flying, the Khmer co-pilots who were previously employed by RAC have found themselves displaced by the ex-AN people - something the PREVIOUS white men there did NOT do!

Neither is the "reputation" and "history" of the current ex-AN cockpit crew there not unknown.
For although the word "SCAB" means little to the Khmer, used in the context of "one who takes another person`s job", the Cambodians in Air Mekong are now able to realise why these individuals have been rejected from Australian aviation.

And a special "Chiem reap sewa" to Capt Schlonger aka KaptinX, from his acquaintances in Singapore. :cool:

[Lusimtingting]

Never give up do you , poor fellow.
You are going to take your bitterness to the grave.

[elektra]

But are they happy? Maybe these guys will be all the better for going through this just like a lot of us are better for the stuff we have had to do in the last 13 years after we were no longer welcome back in Australia.

[Woomera]

In another life 300 or so moons ago, the company for whom I then worked and had oversight of SE ASIAN OPS had a contract with Air Cambodge to provide jet services to supplement their DC4 (if I recall) and to take advantage of their reciprocal rights arouond the place.

We hung in there until Pol Pot and his friends could take pot shots and the inevitable evacuation.

'Twas a huge tragedy that should not have been alowed to happen.

Great to see them getting back into the world.

I will never ever forget the heart wrenching speech by Dr Haing Ngor at the National Press Club in Canberra, pleading for all Cambodians exiled and/or living abroad to return and use their skills and training obtained wherever they were to help reconstruct the country.
He maintained that they owed it to their country.

This is the same Haing Ngor whose harrowing story was revealed in the movie "Killing Fields".

And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, he gets taken out by an Asian Street gang in LA.
He survives the horror of the Killing Fields and dies for a piece of jewellery. There is no justice in this world.



The Dith Pran Holocaust Awareness Project, Inc.

Spreading the Word of the Cambodian GenocideDATE=4/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229782
TITLE=HAING NGOR VERDICT (L)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: THREE MEMBERS OF AN ASIAN-AMERICAN YOUTH GANG HAVE BEEN
FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING HAING NGOR, THE CAMBODIAN DOCTOR AND
ACTOR WHO FOUND FAME FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FILM "THE KILLING
FIELDS." MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS THE CASE WAS UNUSUAL IN THAT
THREE SEPARATE JURIES DECIDED THE FATE OF THE DEFENDANTS..

TEXT: PROSECUTORS SAY THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE "ORIENTAL LAZY
BOYZ" STREET GANG -- JASON CHAN, INDRA LIM, AND TAK SUN TAN --
WERE SEEKING A VICTIM THAT SUNDAY NIGHT TWO YEARS AGO.
ACCOMPLISHED THIEVES, THEY ROUTINELY STOLE JEWELRY, WHICH THEY
SOLD FOR MONEY TO BUY DRUGS.

THE THREE SAW HAING NGOR DRIVE INTO THE OPEN CARPORT OF HIS
CHINATOWN APARTMENT. THEY CONFRONTED HIM AT GUNPOINT, TOOK HIS
SIX-THOUSAND-DOLLAR ROLEX WATCH, AND SHOT HIM WHEN HE REFUSED TO
TURN OVER A LOCKET WITH A PICTURE OF HIS LATE WIFE. HAING NGOR'S
WIFE DIED IN CHILDBIRTH IN CAMBODIA.

THREE SEPARATE JURIES HEARD THE CASE, AND ALL AGREED WITH THAT
VERSION OF EVENTS. AS THE VERDICTS WERE READ THURSDAY MORNING,
EACH DEFENDANT WAS FOUND GUILTY OF PREMEDITATED, FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER, AND SECOND-DEGREE ROBBERY. THE JURIES COULD NOT
DETERMINE WHICH MAN USED THE FIREARM.

ONE DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAYS SHE IS SHOCKED AT THE VERDICTS.
DEFENSE LAWYERS POINTED OUT THAT SOME THREE-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN
CASH WAS LEFT IN THE LUXURY CAR AFTER THE SHOOTING, WHICH WOULD
BE UNLIKELY IN THE CASE OF ROBBERY. AND TWO WITNESSES WHO
INITIALLY SAID THEY SAW THE DEFENDANTS RUN FROM THE SCENE LATER
CHANGED THEIR STORY.

PROSECUTOR CRAIG HUM RESPONDED THAT THE WITNESSES WERE OBVIOUSLY
FRIGHTENED, AND SUGGESTED THEY WERE INTIMIDATED BY GANG MEMBERS.
AND HE SAID THE THREE THIEVES WERE LOOKING FOR JEWELRY, NOT
MONEY.

HAING NGOR WAS ACTIVE IN THE CAMBODIAN REFUGEE COMMUNITY, AND
THERE WERE RUMORS THE KILLING WAS A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION. BUT
NO EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED IN COURT SUPPORTING THAT THEORY.

HAING NGOR ESCAPED FROM CAMBODIA IN 1980, AND WON AN ACADEMY
AWARD FOR HIS ROLE AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST IN A 1984 FILM -- "THE
KILLING FIELDS" -- WHICH DEPICTED THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE.

THE THREE MEN CONVICTED OF THE KILLING FACE POSSIBLE SENTENCES OF
LIFE IN PRISON. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19TH. (SIGNED)

NEB/MO/MMK



Whoever and however is working there should have regard and sensitivity for the background and the plight of a country still emerging from a very dark part of their history.

[Kaptin M]

Lostem, methinks you mistake my "bitterness" for what is, in fact, FACT - and amusement! :cool:

Perhaps, elektra - "character-building" was the terminology used, from memory.

`Tis all too true of Cambodia, W. The plea for Khmers to return with their expertise (and dollars) was usually rewarded with the line, "We`re from the Government, and we`re here to help you. You will need to agree to give ME 20% of your gross turnover, before we can proceed, however...and without MY help, you can go no farther."

To add a little more to the opening story, Air Mekong does not have trays for serving beverages to pax, however the F/A`s have been able to procure trays that had previously "disappeared" from Royal Air Cambodge - for a price, of course!

A little like one of the Russian captains employed there before - he was paying one of the RAC "managers" 20% of his salary to keep his position.

Character building. :p

[umemployed]

Good too see your over the dispute Charlie!
You probably don't even know the crews up there!:yuk:

[amos2]

Aaaahh!..Cambodia..a fifth world country with a fifth world lot of scumbag politicians, if one can even consider them that.A real problem! ;)

[Woomera]

Kaptin and Amos 2

That may be what the situation is now, but it is exactly why Ngor was campaigning for the return of the educated and socially sophisticated exiles to prevent that very thing.

His death was a great loss to Cambodia in particular and the world in general.

Another of the twists of fate and Chaos theory, that like the "butterfly flapping its wings in the S. American jungle" triggers the Typhoon in Asia . (Slasher where are you we all miss you mate., c'mon I know you are out there.):)

Perhaps, and this is a personal opinion only, they find the "comforts" of wherever they now, outweigh any sentiments that they may have for the place of their birth.

And this IMHO is the problem we have all over the world, people are looking for the easy and comfortable way out, rather than staying and participating in fixing the problem.:{

[Kaptin M]

Personally, W, I believe that overt "payment for favours" (we call it corruption in the Western world) has long been a "way of life" for most Asian cultures.
It is something foreign to US, but not to most Asians, because they have grown up with it as part and parcel of their daily life.
Those Asians who have had "exposure" to Western societies, and who have seen that to prosper in the West, where it is not necessary to bribe officialdom (usually!!), are somewhat naieve if they believe that the same system will be ACCEPTED within their own countries. The people who are in a position to stop it, are those who would be the MOST disadvantaged!

Trying to import this into a society (such as Cambodia), is akin to King Canut attempting to stop the tide.
Even in Japan - considered one of the more "westernised" Asian countries, there is hardly a week that doesn't pass without SOME high-ranking official being exposed for receiving massive kickbacks.
It is deeply ingrained, and continues today at many levels, whereas previously it was more confined to the "upper" echelons.

Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, is an ex Khmer Rouge soldier - but are we ever likely to see him brought to trial? Little wonder Pol Pot was able to "evade" the Government troops until the day he died of natural causes.

Are the wives of Cambodian high-ranking officials, who pay hitmen to throw acid in the faces of their husband's concubines ever brought to justice?
The comfort that ill-gotten money buys, ensures the answer is "No".

So perhaps the ex-AN drivers ARE in suitable company!

"And this IMHO is the problem we have all over the world, people are looking for the easy and comfortable way out, rather than staying and participating in fixing the problem."
OTOH, W, "Try, try, try again - time will bring you its reward.", might be shown in a new light if one thinks of that persistent fly that keeps bashing its brains against a glass window, in an attempt to escape! :eek:

Edit:
"You probably don't even know the crews up there!"
:cool: :cool:
Hmm, 27 years with Ansett...came off the A320..now an F/O on the 737.

"Really old - and really ugly" was the description that filtered through from a few of the employees in PP - but then again, I probably qualify for that as well!!

Oh, and of course there's the ex-Kendell chappie, who shares the same name as our retired cricketer, Rod.

Yep, NO idea at all who they arel!! :p

[phat boy]

how come kaptin m always b!tches like a b!tch about the AN guys but never about the QF shorthaul (IE Australian Airlines) blokes that went back to work during the strike?

just wondering...

[Hugh Jarse]

MEEEEOW!!!

Somebody get a saucer of milk for Kaptin M, please.http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/poke.gifhttp://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/stick.gif

[Sheep Guts]

Woomera does this thread, come under the 89 Topics ban?


Capy:I believe that overt "payment for favours" (we call it corruption in the Western world) has long been a "way of life" for most Asian cultures.

Yes tue but really this applies all over not just Asia. You would certainly include the entire planet. Where did everyone learn the ropes of corruption? Thats the question really isnt it. So called first world nations have alot to answer for really.Africa,South America,Europe,Russia, Middle East, and others did not learn corruption on their lonesome. Its everywhere really.

It is something foreign to US, but not to most Asians, because they have grown up with it as part and parcel of their daily life


Well I dont think its foreign Sir. Hardly really. The US is the first home fo the shonk and the Con and the Toe cutter. We have all got it now.

Corruption is something that is non-definitive in location. Even in Oz we have and have had it , all the Royal Commisions in the last 30 years talk for themselves dont they.

Regards
Sheep


P.S. Come to Central America and the Carib, they teach the ethics of corruption here. Theres even advertising campaigns against it . Financed by the chief corrupters themselves.




:rolleyes: :cool: :) :p

[TIMMEEEE]

Kaptin M - perhaps you should direct your criticisms not so much towards the Air Mekong guys but at all the ex Ansett Flight Ops Dept management types that were so prominent behind the scenes in 89 and now working for Singapore Airlines.

Reackon those clowns have alot to answer for especially after discouraging AN pilots to apply then getting jobs thru the back door themselves!

[Kaptin M]

Historically speaking :cool: , pb, you are correct - QANDOM still has its share of 1989 scabs.

This is an area that Slasher (anyone remember him?) - an ex-Australian Airlines...previously TAA...pilot - frequently complained about not receiving its share of the limelight.
Basically because Abeles (joint MD of AN) and his lapdog Hawke took centre stage, Ansett was seen as the "villain of the peace", aided and abetted by their blacklegs.

The story of Haing Ngor is an interesting one, esp. the observation in Woomera's reprint of the finding:
HAING NGOR WAS ACTIVE IN THE CAMBODIAN REFUGEE COMMUNITY, AND THERE WERE RUMORS THE KILLING WAS A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION

The entrenched government is currently headed by a former Khmer Rouge army officer - Hun Sen - and the system of graft as well entrenched now as before.
For USD30, you can buy an assassination - the ride-by type - a common way of getting rid of "troublemakers", in Cambodia.
The cost is somewhat higher in other countries, but that MENTALITY still prevails - if you can't BUY it out, KILL it!

[Kaptin M]

And to prove that FACT is often stranger than FICTION, here's a further, interesting twist to this story.

The Chief Pilot of Air Mekong is NOT B737 endorsed - however, he IS A320 rated :confused: .....if you recall, this airline originally intended running A320's.

THE aircraft carries Cambodian registration. but the ex-Ansett pilots are operating on Australian licences (NOT Cambodian), whilst the Khmer co-pilots who ARE Cambodian licenced AND B737 type rated, are prevented from taking a position within their country's airline because of the ex-AN s#%*s, and who would undoubtedly do the job for FAR less than the USD8,500 (salary $7,500 + $1,000 accomodation allowance) paid to our "high flyers". :mad:

[Helibloke]

Good to see your concern about the local pilots KaptinM, However, dont you work overseas to the detrement of the local pilots there who are looking for a job!
Not involved in anyway with the dispute but i can see a bit of double standards here
Cheers

[Kaptin M]

This company will take - and promote - as many local pilots as possible, as quickly as possible. There are simply not enough, here, to keep up with the (increasing) retirement of "baby boomers", expected to peak in the next 3 - 4 years here.
They are promoting F/O's to the lhs once they have been in the company for the (JCAB) required 3 years, as long as they have TOTAL time of 3,000 or more hours.

The short answer is "No, Helibloke", so perhaps you need your vision checked. :D

Quite different to our "historical" Ansett people, who are not only ACTIVELY blocking the Khmers from taking a job in which they have more experience, but have ALSO prevented other Australian, unemployed, younger Ansett F/O's from maintaining recency.

Loved the world over - not!!

[umemployed]

Your outa here W

[Kaptin M]

And umemployed's delightful post post above helps further highlight the "type" that were quick to steal jobs THEN and NOW.

Thank you, umemployed - you are worth your weight in gold. :p

[Wizofoz]

And here I was thinking companies decided who they wanted working for them. But no! Aparently those dastedly rebals fixed bayonets and stormed the Mekong citidel taking no prisoners!!

Kap, in the REAL WORLD (Definition: That which occurs outside Kap Ms hatred- fevored mind. Source- The Oxford Concise.) a company decides it wants X qualifications for a job and advertises for such. Person Y, having said qualifications, applys and is accepted/rejected accordingly.

Kap, you've spouted some crepe on this forum over the years, but this one takes the cake. For you're assertions to carry any credence it would mean that if Mekong had started in '90 and not '03, no out of work '89er would have taken a job with them out of some obscure set of values, even though this company obviously had it's reasons for wanting experienced ex-pats as crew.

So I take it the AFAP ACTIVLEY stoped it's members from taking others jobs world wide post dispute? Did the guys who ACTIVLEY approached John Elliot to fly his 737, thus putting four biz jet pilots who had been promised type ratings on the streets, get life bans? Or bought a beer and congradulated at the next AFAP love in? And the miriad who flooded GA and took plum jobs that were the rightful asspiration of incumbent pilots. What did the AFAP do? Happily took the dues of shafter and shaftee and went back to ranting about Ables/Hawke et-al. As a Canuk I used to fly with said, "Well, I applied to Cathay, but when I went to the interview, there were all these Aussies taking the jobs and saying "Don't apply to Ansett""

By the way, wasn't your cushy little number up there is Nihon the result of JAL setting up a low-cost arm to undercut the pay and conditions of existing pilots? I believe there are plenty of qualified main-line FOs who COULD fill your shoes, but aren't entitled to? I've been told Korean and Asiana, similaly, could staff internally, but choose to keep expats (Including a goodly number of '89ers) to keep their unions at arms length.

But that can't be true! It would mean an AFAP member (apart from Gilligan, he's the only one! Honest!) was putting his own interests above world union domination! Say it Aint SO!

[umemployed]

My apology for previous comments Kap M. They where uncalled for!

[Kaptin M]

Wiz, I think your second paragraph pretty much answers your OWN hypothetical questions that follow, when you wrote:
Kap, in the REAL WORLD (Definition: That which occurs outside Kap Ms hatred- fevored mind. Source- The Oxford Concise.) a company decides it wants X qualifications for a job and advertises for such. Person Y, having said qualifications, applys and is accepted/rejected accordingly

As pointed out earlier, how do YOU consider that the ex-AN people flying in Cambodia qualify for that position, by reason of the following:
(a) the Chief Pilot of Air Mekong is NOT B737 type rated (he is A 320 typed) - yet Air Mekong's only aicraft is a B737;

(b)the ex-AN people do NOT hold Cambodian licences - but the Air Mekong 737 is Cambodian registered;

(c)there ARE type-rated, Cambodian licenced, EXPERIENCED B737 Khmers who could take F/O positions there, but are being PREVENTED from doing so, by your greedy, self-centred colleagues. Additionally, these same "pilots" are all ex-AN "captains", who have grabbed (once again!!) a job opportunity from a younger - and no doubt, more desperate - ex-Ansett F/O, and removed his prospects of staying current a little longer.

During the time I flew with Royal Air Cambodge (through MAS), the co-pilots used were the Khmers - the SAME ones being prevented employment now. They had no B737 EFIS time, most having flown the B732 and Russian fighters, but they were being brought to a standard that would have seen them upgraded to the lhs by now, had RAC not collapsed.

Did the guys who ACTIVLEY approached John Elliot to fly his 737, thus putting four biz jet pilots who had been promised type ratings on the streets, get life bans
The answer to this one is found in YOUR OWN second paragraph, Wiz. :rolleyes:

There are quite a number of "new" airlines being set up in Japan, of which one is the one I work for. We were trained by JAL Captains, and are still checked by JAL Captains - we even enjoy a drink or 3 on nightstops and at home with them :eek: Would you say that that sounds like the way people who were " undercut(ting) the pay and conditions of existing pilots" would be treated?
Quite simply, the retirement rate of the Japanese pilots is going to see almost 40% of them leave in the next 3 - 4 years, and there is no possible way that they are able to train and promote the present F/O's to fill the vacancies, under the current conditions.
This airline is now promoting F/O's to the lhs in RECORD time - 3 years from joining as a GA pilot - and with MINIMUM qualifications (3,000 hours total). Even that is not fast enough.
Hence the requirement for foreigners.

And because of the shortage of LOCALS, that is the reason that SIA, MAS, Gulf, Emirates etc recruit foreigners.
Conditions for expats are ALWAYS different (if employed as an expatriate) from that of the locals, a little less here, a little more there.

However, a shortage of "locals" is NOT the case with Air Mekong - those guys are being effectively "locked out"!

Edit:
Totally uncalled for, umemployed. My wife was visibly upset when she read your slanderous and racist comments.

[stable approach]

Woomera,
Any reason why umemployed's post hasn't been removed and the offender binned? He's broken just about every rule, and is totally offensive - regardless of which side of the fence you're on.

[Woomera]

No reason other than I have a life and have only just got back to the boards. 02:48 UCT.
He has been banned forthwith.

Kaptin M please accept my apologies for not getting on to it sooner.

I have banned the offender notwithstanding his subsequent apology.

Go for each other by all means, but to abuse an innocent third party in such an unconscionable manner is not only the height of cowardice but a new low in the behaviour on this board.

This kind of behaviour is just not on and serves to confirm the beliefs held by the more extreme of some here of one side. I would hope that his colleagues are equally ashamed.

I would appreciate it if you would please pass on my unreserved apologies to your beautiful wife and family.

[Kaptin M]

No need for apologies from you, Woomera, we are all aware that you cannot be here 24/7. However, for that same reason the lower end of the gene pool also use the "back of the clock" hours to post their little nasties in an attempt to gain maximum exposure.

Personally, I'm thick-skinned (any of us who have been here for a while have to be), however - like swearing - personal abuse only highlights some individuals' inability to carry out an INTELLIGENT debate. They feel frustrated with themselves - at their inability to express their opinions, and so resort to personal attack. However, that is no excuse for busting the rules on a public forum such as this.

Mrs M was upset to see that sort of slander being posted, and although I reported it to PPRuNe, I felt that - to a certain extent - leaving the post, allowed OTHERS to judge for themselves why one side of a past historical event has zero time for the other....."birds of a feather"! Not that the side I am on was totally blameless either, but to a far lesser extent than the other.

Interestingly, umemployed had also disabled his PM box, and so I wasn't able to send him my thoughts!

Again, W, your apologies are NOT needed, but the gesture appreciated. Thank you.

[entebbe]

Charlie, you should really seek professional help. Your pathological thirst for revenge for the events which occurred 14years ago are distorting your reality, along with your credibility.

Ladies & gentlemen, Kapt M as usual does not let the truth get in the way of a chance to satisfy his appetite for revenge but as I reveal the facts in the following paragraphs about Mekong you will see Charlie for what he has become- a bitter and twisted man who is now telling straight out lies. How do I know this? I have been involved in the start up to date.

Fact 1: The current ex-pat pilots in Mekong airlines are not taking the jobs of the locals. The company in fact has employed 4 locals as pilots and are awaiting their release from the Cambodian Civil Aviation Authority. The reason that the Expats were employed was because the Insurance companies and the Investors would not put up any money or provide and assurances unless experienced ex-pats were used for the start-up. The locals are indeed good pilots and after meeting them they seem like nice blokes. However They are not current,( the most recent, an FO has not flown for more then 2years and the only LHS guy with command experience on a B737-200 hasn't flown for about four years. They will all have to do a ground school and full simulator Training along with line training. The current Board at Mekong has at least two Cambodians on it and is committed to hiring locals.
Not one of the locals has anywhere near the command or training experience of the ex-pats employed.

Fact 2: The company wanted 4 experienced Captains and 4 Experienced Fo's initially. They had great difficulty getting Fo's as Qantas, Virgin Blue, Cathay, China Air and EVA etc are all recruiting and the pool of ex- ansett FO's has all but dried up. Some Fo's were offered but would not leave Australia. Fair enough. As with all recruiting some FO's and Captains did not have a good history, hence no offer. Sad but a reality.

Fact 3: The tech crew do not share rooms. This is a complete nonsense. The standard of accommodation is 4 Star or higher and most times it is 5 Star. There is no back of the clock and the last flight lands at 21:15. It is a good route structure

Fact 4: The initial Chief Pilot was A320 rated but has since been stood down. I believe they they have someone else who is more suitably qualified. The other pilots are all very experienced and just do their job. I know these blokes very well and they are all good operators

Fact 5: The salaries quoted are not accurate. Some management may be getting that but the line pilots and FO's are not. If you want the real numbers email the company.

Fact 6: There is a rumour that the American Airline Pilot Association is talking to management and is willing to provide furloughed pilots to Mekong at half the current rates of pay( they obviously have never lived in Cambodia). It will be interesting to see what Kapt M's position on this will be as he was so vocal about the Air Nauru situation( and rightly so). Any thing other than support for the Mekong guys on this matter will be nothing short of hypocrisy on his behalf.

Readers, Mekong is a startup Airline. Will management & staff make some mistakes? Of course they will. Will there be Teething problems? Of course there will be, as there is in any other airline or business throughout the world. What Mekong doesn't need is people like Charlie spreading lies about so he can give himself a daily injection of revenge which he has become addicted to over the past 14 years.

Charlie, as I said at the beginning seek counselling. When I knew you years ago you were rational and stable. I have noticed over the past 12 months your posts becoming more and more bitter. This doesn't do you or your cause any good and I know by telling lies you are also losing your credibility. This is not said in malice. You gave me some good advice 14 years ago- you told me to go back to work. I have never regretted taking that advice. However please take mine- get help before this consumes you. I trust your family is well.

ps. By the way, Charlie please be advised reply if you want but do not try to denigrate me. I and one other have information on you from 14 years ago which would totally destroy your credibility should I chose to release it which I won't unless I'm vilified for what has been posted here today. The above is simply the truth.

[amos2]

Your "secret pilots information" is actually fairly common knowledge to a lot of people entebbe,and doesn't really make any difference to us. It's a pity you didn't correct your mistake! ;)

[Kaptin M]

As an obviously new reader, entebbe, you might wish to give PPRuNer's your name - first will do - so that the playing field is levelled a little.
But then again, those of the ilk with whom you associated over the past 14 years have never been able to play a fair game, have they!

Firstly, let me correct tha apparent persecution complex from which you appear to suffer - I can quite categorically deny that I am trying to "satisfy my revenge".
They are, quite simply "entertainment". :p

Your first point is very cunningly (and who would have expected otherwise) written. Air Mekong has been operating for quite some time now, and according to my sources (who are locals) the ex-AN people in PHP have no intention of moving aside, and are using the same deceptive wording YOU have to keep them in limbo, eg.
"...experienced ex-pats were used for the start-up."
The Khmer co-pilots have far, far more experience flying in that part of Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and China, than ALL of you put together!

"Not one of the locals has anywhere near the command or training experience of the ex-pats employed."
Really? You might tell Sothik that! And why would training experience be seen as a requirement?

"some FO's and Captains did not have a good history, hence no offer. Sad but a reality." From my understanding ALL of you up there have a past "history" .wrt 1989!

"Fact 3: The tech crew do not share rooms - the FACT is the tech crew DO share ONE room in Siem Reap. But don't let the truth get in the way of your litany. Why don't YOU, entebbe, check on YOUR "facts".

"Fact 4: The initial Chief Pilot was A320 rated but has since been stood down. I believe they they have someone else who is more suitably qualified."
Oh really?!! Who is the "someone", because as at the time I wrote that post (yesterday) the ONLY Chief Pilot was NOT B737 type rated.
You seem quite willing to name names, entebbe - so go ahead, name the Chief Pilot.

"Fact 5: The salaries quoted are not accurate."
I quoted USD7,500 + USD1,000.....total USD8,500. If YOU know a different figure, entebbe then print it HERE, to verify your assertion.

"Fact 6: There is a rumour that the American Airline Pilot Association is talking to management and is willing to provide furloughed pilots to Mekong at half the current rates of pay( they obviously have never lived in Cambodia). It will be interesting to see what Kapt M's position on this will be as he was so vocal about the Air Nauru situation( and rightly so). Any thing other than support for the Mekong guys on this matter will be nothing short of hypocrisy on his behalf."
Now you would HAVE to be joking, entebbe. As a scab in 1989, you had no qualms in shafting the pilots in Australia. Do you REALLY think that your type are going to get any support from me, or anyone else if this were the case!
After all, it was ex-Ansett scabs (again) who were the pilots trying to undercut the pilots in Air Nauru.

"You gave me some good advice 14 years ago- you told me to go back to work."
You have narrowed yourself down to one of three (very junior F/O's back then) people whom I believed had very little chance of survivng in aviation, because of your lack of (airline) experience.
During my time in SQ, I met some ex-AN F/O's who had LESS experience than any of you 3 - 3 months with Ansett pre-Dispute, and refused re-entry. These guys had a lot more grit and determination than you (collectively), and did it hard for a long time - but were successful.
It is a shame that your views were distorted over time, because of your exposure to the real slimebags with whom you shared the cockpit.

"I and one other have information on you from 14 years ago which would totally destroy your credibility should I chose to release it which I won't"
Go ahead - please.

[Woomera]

This thread is nowhere going.

Threat on threat I do not have the time for.

Click!