Felix Airlines, Yemen
 

Anybody have any news or rumors to this airline?

They are scheduled to begin service on Oct 26, 2008 in Yemen. Currently, there are two CRJ-200s in Chicago, to be delivered to Yemen. They plan to get CRJ-700s.

They have three captains in training in Spain. They are going to feed Yemenia Airlines as a regional airline.

felixairways.com

TORONTO, March 12, 2008 (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc said on Wednesday that Yemen's Felix Airways has ordered eight airliners from the Canadian company in a contract worth about $276 million.
The deal also has the option for three additional CRJ700 NextGen airliners, which would raise the value of the deal to about $385 million.
Felix Airways is owned by Yemeni airline Yemenia and other investors.

Can anyone chime into when these guys will be actually taking delivery of the CRJ-700 Next Gens?

Felix Airways
 

They are due to commence operations in January 2009.

Felix
 

From what I understand, the -200's are going from Chicago to Toronto to get painted and have the interiors re-fitted. Then they will go to Yemen.

Yes, that's correct. I'm scheduled to be on the first CRJ-200 on the leg from Toronto to Yemen as a deadheading pilot, sometime in the middle of November.

You couldn't tell that from the website! Looks like they're selling tickets now.

so you are going to be a first officer on that flight ? who did you find the job through ? Avionco or Brookfield ?

Got the job through Brookfield. No, I won't fly... I'll be a passenger with several other pilots deadheading to Yemen.

thats weird. As far as I know on a ferry flight shouldn't be any deadheads or passengers. Oh well, its been some time since i ve done a ferry flight.
Enjoy your stay at Yemen. As far as I know also the 700 will be flown by CSP's and Avionco guys for the first 3-6 months so it will be interesting to see how the whole deal is going to work

What is a CSP ?

I would assume that the crews would fly either, or any, CRJ model. Why would they be stuck in one?

As to the deadheading, heck, I have no real idea. I'll be in the plane. I may be a relief pilot for duty time. Don't know.

Tony, does this mean you will be working for felix ? if so for how long...is it just enough until they train their own pilots...
And how much will thye PAY?????
Thanks

Yes, working for Felix in Yemen as a contract pilot. Pay is $7000 month for 90 hours, pro rated above 90 for an FO. I don't know what they pay the captains. That is a contract with Brookfield. The other contract agency, Avionco is paying $5500 month for an FO, plus $1500 per diem. To my knowledge, all payments are in US dollars. 12 month contract with Brookfield; Avionco is a 12 month contract for captains, 6 month for FO's.

The current arrangement, from what I can piece together, is that Avionco (Calgary) sent over the very first CRJ (edit: it's a -700) within the past couple days from North America to Yemen, with service to begin "soon". Presumably by the first of Nov 2008.

Folks who are hired by Avionco will get paid by them. Unfortunately, you can go back through this site and find unfavorable stories about that.

I got hired by Brookfield (London), which seems to have an OK reputation about paying and generally nice to deal with. Lucy has been so far.

Brookfield has 3 captains in Spain (all from USA, I'm told) training Yemen nationals to be FO's. There are also 3 FO's (also, all from USA) who will be going to Yemen on a -200 in the middle-ish of November.

There's an order for 8 of the CRJ-700NG's, so you gotta figure that they'll continue hiring once those get closer to delivery.

I saw pictures of the living arrangements from Brookfield, and it looks nice.

Thanks for the info....just one more thing what kind of experience do you have. I am currently a CA on the 200 for a large regional and have been thinking about going overseas for a while..
again, thanks for the info

Go with Brookfield not Avionco
 

Avionco will rob you! I know this from personal experience. Would also suggest going direct if you can and cut you own deal. Security is a big issue in Yemen, be careful.

I can tell you the two CRJ 200's ( they are old Fly I birds 636BR S/N7307 and 637BR S/N7308 ) wont be up for at least 3-5 weeks. As of right now there hoping we get 636 out on Sept. 27.I am working on them at Emery air it just outside of Chicago in Rockford IL. As of now we have no gear (out for overhaul) and there is still a ton of corrosion that needs to be remove. GA Telesis thought it was a great idea to store 4 of the Fly I birds in Tampa bay.

ACA CRJ's
 

My current airline has several of the old Independence -200's. There's two weird things about FlyI birds:

1. They don't have cargo air (no live animals)
2. They don't have high pressure air ports for air starts

So you're saying there is no way that the first plane will leave Rockford for the paint shop in Toronto on the 27th of October?

For Tony and anyone else interested: Here is the information on N636BR. Here is the information on N637BR.

Strangely equipped planes: 1 FMS...but ACARS equipped.

I genuinely appreciate that info. I'm sure you meant Oct 27 and not Sept 27. I guess I'll be on 636BR after it goes from your shop at RFD to the paint shop in YYZ.

They're guessing Nov 8/9 to leave YYZ for Yemen. I'm guessing all that will be kinda hard without landing gear !!!

Ok, I did find the sales brochure for this serial number. Looks like they planned to turn it into a Challenger 850.

16,229 Hours Since New (*)
14,028 Landings Since New (*)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 53,000 lbs.
Maximum Landing Weight: 47,000 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 2,728 Gallons (2,135 Main + 593 Auxiliary)
ENGINES:
General Electric CF34-3B1



N636BR Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-200ER Atlantic Coast Airlines 1999-Apr-20 2x GE CF34-3B1

N636BR Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-200ER Independence Air 2004-Aug-04 2x GE CF34-3B1

Avionco bashes are unjustified....been working for them for one year now and one day late on pay once, on time the rest and three days early on three occasions. If you dont want to come over to Avionco than that is fine, more flying for me.

No Avionco Bashing intended. Just telling you my experience, that's all. Happy flying and hope it turns out better for you than a lot of other people.

Tony Williams - you have a PM :ok:

Apparently Felix just received their first crj700 yesterday, they have pics on their website..

700 NextGen
 

Those NextGen aircraft are very nice. I fly NextGen -900's and the difference for passengers is night and day.

The interior LED lighting is really brightens it up and the new windows are huge. I think the NextGen a/c are just as comfortable as E-170's.

It's good to see them with actual a/c. It feels more legitimate now.

I flew N495BR (ACA/IndependenceAir used call sign "blue ridge", I think), and I don't recall that feature. Good news is that I won't kill anybody's pooch by forgetting to have the cargo air on.:}

Go Direct with Felix?
 

Anybody tried this?

Felix Chief Operating Officer: Capt Abdul Habib Ibrahim
Email: [email protected]
office phone: 011-967-735-004004

Saturday, 18 October 2008 (Reuters)

Yemen's first low-cost airline, Felix Airways, began its operations on Saturday to tap growing demand for domestic flights. The inaugural flight will be between southern port Aden and the capital Sanaa.

The airline which has a capital of $80 million and currently just one aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ700, was set up by state-run Yemen Airways (Yemenia), and a unit of the Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank which promotes private entrepreneurship, officials said.

Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Al-Arrasha told reporters that the airline would operate flights between the capital Sanaa and the southern port city of Aden, and add more domestic services after acquiring more aircraft.

With the creation of the new airline, the latest of several low-cost airlines launched in the region in recent years, Yemen Airways will focus on international flights, officials said.

Demand for domestic flights was growing about 6 percent a year in Yemen, according to a report cited by newspapers.

I just applied through avionco. Anyone know if they're still hiring or are the initial group of pilots already hired? Looks like the felix website is incomplete.

I did mean Oct. 27. but hopefully by the 31st.Yeah like i said there is just to much work to be done on it. with the gear, today we started cannibalizing the #2 engine off of A/C S/N 7340 to put on to the #1 spot on 636BR and worst yet we still have a ton of corrosion to remove.A lot of it is back behind the wing box. mostly on,around, and under frames :ugh:

Photo of Felix CRJ-700 in France
 

CRJmechanic,

How many CRJ-200 airframes total do you have there are RFD?

I'm only aware of two going over.

He have two for Felix airlines and one other for some company

Re:Photo of Felix CRJ-700 in France
 

Very interesting picture... I was told the aircraft would remain under a Canadian registration, yet I see its already registered under Yemen numbers.

Felix 700
 

Why would the registration remain Canadian? They are not wet leased. Didn't Felix purchase them from Bombardier?

Where did you hear that they would retain Canadian registration?

CRJ Mechanic
 

How are the C checks coming along on the first Felix -200?

Anyone know how long it took to get a call back from Avionco after submitting the paperwork in for Felix Airways?

Avionco
 

I know about 5 guys that applied through Avionco when the job first posted. All say they keep getting the runaround.

i would still say at least a week if not more

Hey, thanks for keeping us up to date. I'll pass the word.

Tony

Yeah, I keep getting the run around also... Have they slowed or stopped hiring for now?

I would not count getting on with Avionco. They have plenty of pilots and not enough jobs...:confused: From the pilots I have spoken with they had no problems with Avionco...I think the major problem here is that Yemen is a very dangerous place and pay should be HIGHER!. Don't whore yourself out and lower the bar! You saw where that got most of the US pilots. Good luck! I LOVE JAPAN!!! Flying is great here!!