C130 PIC aid worker

[redbaron999]

Just finished my CPL and starting multi IR. I am 49 years of age and have no ambition to fly for the airlines. Nor would they employ oldens like me anyway even with new legislation! Pipe dream has always been to fly aid into countries left or right seat in a C130. The pay is not important as I am pretty much financially secure.

Anyone know of any jobs in this area or how to find them?

[Cojack]

Aid Work Huh?

The UN will usually only use you if you are Military, or have a Military flying background. Use more privatised charity groups.

There is an oganisation where the only members are business men, Rotary, try them they might take you on, or at least point you in the right direction. They have the money to operate a number of Hercs.

Be careful though, I know a friend who done aid work, and someone took a shot at him with an RPG whilst doing a drop.

Best of luck.. I admire your principles.

[B200Drvr]

Flying Aid, is some of the most challenging flying around, due mostly to the fact that modern countries with ATC / Radar etc don't need aid, so you are flying in countries where you have to be allot more vigilant for everything, people, dogs, cars, cows and everything else that can cross a runway running in front of you when you are about to touch down, Big Russian machines who over exaggerate their true position, or who cant talk English. Weather that comes and goes with no reports, so runways that are there one minute are not the next, Friendlies who are not that friendly when it suits them. What I am trying to put across is that most of the big aid agencies want 700 hrs TT for a C208 Co-Jo , A C130 would require 3-4K plus type rating and time on type, preferably ex Military for a Co-Jo. But you can give Safair or Trans-Afrik a call to get the low down.
Good luck

[redbaron999]

Wise words.

Many thanks for the reply. 4 years ago I set up a business in an internationally unrecognised part of the world that resulted in the local mafia/thugs storming it and taking over control. Death threats back home, cars being torched and general intimidation left me no option but to depart. Did however towards the end get a great deal of support from some ex special forces buddies who had mates in NATO based in the country in question. At least I left with some dignity after the medicine was dealt out. Ironically shortly after this in order to get some R&R I took 2 years out to get my Multi IR!

Good contacts on the ground can prepare the way for a realtively uneventful drop. In this knowledge I am prepared to pursue this pipe dream.

Thanks for the wise words which are well received.

[ramon76]

aid pilot

could someone giive links for these big aid agencies?
I am very interested. Mainly in South America, as I speak spanish.

Thanks a lot!
Ramon

[scroggs]

Getting to operate in those kinds of parts of the world on C130s (or similar) is not easy! There's no way that anyone will empoy you without considerable experience in more straightforward roles. The best route is probably via UK air freight operators, and if you can eventually get to fly the L188 Electra, that's similar enough to the L100 (civilian C130) to make you worth considering. The only L100 operator locally is Air Contractors, who have a couple on the Eire register.

Scroggs

[angelorange]

Go to the Royal Aeronautical Society Hamilton Place London this Tuesday 31st OCT 2006 - conference all about this very subject:

http://www.raes.org.uk/conference/indexconf.html


Also have a look at AirServ, Flying Mission (Botswana) and MAF (who will be at RAeS conference).