Air Charters Express DC-8
 

Anyone has more details about this DC-8 outfit out of Ostend? They are running a class as we speak. I know someone in that class and I am told the company changes the word on them all the times, it is very deceiving, no pay so far, asking them to find their way to Ostend with a possible future reimbursement which it seems will never happen according to the present signs. It seems owned by some kind of Iranian Mafia with total disregard to safety or respect for crews and their lifes.
I was thinking to apply but kind of scarry place to me. Any infos will be welcome.

Hey Count, it seems you have the all the information one could ever desire. If I were you, I would tell your bud to bail now, leaving a spot open for someone else who may not be so paranoid. Last "Mafia" movie I watched, seems like most characters had Italian names for some reason. Buy your own ticket to be 'reimbursed'? My friend, unfortunately, that has been going on since the mid 80's. Don't be scared............. :eek:

I had the pleasure of dispatching their DC-8 62F 9G-AED recently, though i couldnt believe how many hours it had in the tech log..some old machine!!

I had the pleasure to fly 60/70 series DC-8, still the finest machine I've flown in 30 years. Stable, straight forward, tough old sob. Still the best thrust reversers I have seen (hydraulic).

Aero Service in MIA I believe.

The DC-8 sim in MIA might not be FAA certified yet. Check with Aeroservice first. Also my undesrtanding is the ACE owner is related to HeavyLift owner. Both Ghana registered.

flying officer kite9G AED, though flying on an ACE call sign is operated independently from the OST outfit and flown by a non ACE Ostend crew, she flies beautifully and is in good shape.

Why does that remind me of so many outfits that I've worked for?
DisOrganised.

60 series DC 8, Wonderful aircraft.

Does anyone still operate any of the re-engined versions?

At the moment, Astar is still flying 8 Diesel 73's for DHL in the states. Their days are numbered though. Looking at the tea leaves it looks like K. Allen is going to go with ATI/CCI for their lift needs.

National
 

Saw a National DC-8-71 in Bagram the other day.

Welcome to NATIONAL AIRLINES – Cargo Services

National Air Cargo Extends Flights from Bagram Air Base to Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan

National Air Cargo

Wonder whose certificate that is (was)? Name has been around forever.....:uhoh:

NAC
 

NAC bought the AOC from Murray Air.....about 1 year back.

I have heard that ACE soon to have a name change to Meridian Cargo.

Are they doing their own hiring, or going thru an agency?

Thanks

Ace Tail Strike
 

Ace *** departing a Gloucestershire airfield had a tail strike last night. It left a hole in the runway reportedly. Hope it pressurised OK.

I know which field this bird departed from. That's not the relevant bit here. However, his departure track, considering his destination, was quite elaborate.
Wonder if the aforementioned 'incident' had anything to do with that. i.e: he tracked a long way west before turning.

Please elaborate, its a well known fact that he operates to a Middle East location from "Rompers Green" a secret military airbase :eek::rolleyes::ok:

Refering to this old girl:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/IMG_9894.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/IMG_9897.jpg

A dab of paint here, a dab there....whose to know?:}:ok:

Sorry I have to agree with Fish Head, ACE planes have fresh C-Checks and fairly recent paint.

Also think you voicing an opinion that you know nothing about, and by the way, would like to hear you speak (and write) Fish Head's mother tongue.

Afraid he is 100% correct, you probably a bored enthusiast or trolley dolly again.

ACE one one zero
 

Comes to our local airport very regularly. Video's about her on YOUTUBE.
:ok: She looks magnificent.

EBOS-SPOTTING.BE | Expected flights,movements and pictures (old and new) from Ostend Airport... LUCHTHAVEN OOSTENDE

That's the old girl !!! By the way, she is AOK:cool::cool:, flying at this moment, maybe with a scratch bum !!! But remenber guys, it is the venerable DC - 8, and a stretch DC - 8, stronger than any a/c around, even the russian flying logs !!!!! Also, ACE/Meridian from Oostende has never flown a DC - 8- 62, the 62 has nothing to do with the Oostende company other than being registered in Ghana. Fly safe guys !!!!!:)

Many thanks to the many feed backs privately received. The picture I have now about this company can be summarized as:

1.You get cheated out of every single penny possible. If the owner can have you flying for free, you will make a perfect employee. He is not much of a people person.
2.They like to use many south Americans, special Peruvians mechanics as well as pilots, who are very company's people, kept in Europe illegal with no visas, willing to work for very little money, and deal breakers for the non-Latinos pilots.
3.It seems they have many tail strikes and even an engine pod somewhere in Afghanistan due to tired go getter pilots, south American bravado, bad loads.No Jeps updates. Bad paperworkds.
4.Company doesn't mind of eventual crashes which is forecasted pretty soon. It will mean more money to the owner.
5.Any pilot with a minimum self-respect should stay away.
6.However whatever left of your money will always hit your bank account on time

It is obvious they are using South American crews, as the B707 are almost inexistent and the DC-8's even in South America are vanishing.

So older pilots do not want to upgrade to newer aircraft because of the high cost and prefer to find place where they can continue flying an old bird.

In Europe you won't find any pilots anymore able to fly these birds (they all retired yet) and even in Africa it becomes a huge problem as most cargo-pilots who get a day older try to fly local pax flights.

It seems ACE is looking for other airframes to extend their fleet.

Fish Head on Final,

Strubbe, you're still on the Dinosaur-8? Working for Insein T is not a joke, people like Duane E are angels compared to him. Truth be told.... Anywho, enjoy her, fine piece of machine, sort of miss her....

first a/c painted as Meridian Airways

Skyliner - aviation news & more

Any more info?
 

I believe I am in the final cut for a Captain's gig at ACE and am seriously looking for any more info. that anyone has about them. If anyone has answers to the following questions I would be very grateful.

1) Do they lay over in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.?
2) Any idea what the schedule is like? #of days off, on call?
3) How do they treat their pilots?
4) Is there an employment contract? Can I bail if things are terrible?

The question I would really like answered is if this is a scum bag outfit that sh*ts on it's people or just low end of the scale? One I can take, the other I can not.

If anyone has any contacts with pilots at ACE they can share I'd be appreciative.

Many thanks

SK-8

SK-8,

1)No lay overs in Afghanistan/Iraq
2)Not sure, but you might wanna fly as much as possible... $$$
3)Boss man threats you like $hit, but ignore him, he's a harmless clown.
4)Don't believe there's a binding contract, some have bailed on a 24h notice.

To answer your last question, it would fall into the lower end of the scale.

Other then that, don't believe it's a bad outfit, just not my "cup of tea" so to speak. PM me if you need feed back from some of the guys who are there and were there.

Hi Maurice!
True about the bossboy...if you take things to heart then you will not survive.Take everything with a bag of salt but one thing for sure is that what little salary you get it will hit your account on time every time! Some great guys in the company :ok: who love DC8's! Forgot to add...no contract..a handshake at the interview secures the job.

?

1. No. However you should consider yourself lucky anytime you make it out of there.
2. What's a schedule?
3. Pilot = necessary dirt
4. Extremely advisable.

Countbat,

You obviously don't work for them.... Don't give mis/false information if you don't know. My info is correct, Mally can back that up.

Everything above is correct. Maybe not descriptive enough though. pm me if you want some more detailed info etc...

hey guys............
wat are the minimum requirement for F/O's..........
and any contact for hr???

BR
stone:ok:

Countbat,may I add to the questions asked, the following;
only if you are very unlucky you get to stay at the tent with airconditioning, Schedule? lolololololol specially with the expilot scheduling, he forgot what the life of a pilot is, Pilot = dirt, well not quite, but the guys they have seem to like it because many come from the worst scum bag operator in the world, ARROW AIR, and if you don't like it, bail out at the beginning of the month, around the 5 , when you know the pay is there unless you mind losing 5 days pay.:)

Mal,

How many 8's has he got up an running now? Oh, ek het vir Fats jou cell foon nommer gegee....

See you at Denel!

Mooi bly!

Cheers!

Hi MC!
4 in operation and 5th arriving next week. Awaiting to hear from Fats as well thanks.Will know about the Denel issue this week.
Safe flying and hope to see you down South!
Totsiens maat!:ok:

Look at the panel and outside appearance of 9G-AXC, very nice indeed;

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4646/cockpit1a.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/459/d...rways9gaxc.jpg

Nice to see there are some REAL aircraft still flying.
That old DC 8 looks to be in good condition.

Veteran Hawk
 

Hi Countbat, do you know if ACE operate under an AOC, ie do they take pilots over 65?

They are former Airborne Express DC8s. aka ABX. Airborne had a fleet of about 38 dc8s at one time. These on here are some of the last to leave the property in Wilmington, Ohio.

Bit hard to fly commercially with out an AOC, innit? So yes ACE/Meridian does fly under an AOC (Ghana AOC) and no, 65 you're out, where you should be, on retirement!