Direct Personnel B757 Contract

[Compass Rose]

Direct Personnel, via the Flight International website, are advertising for B757 pilots for a contract starting in March.

Anyone know which bit of the Globe it is in?

[Twin2040]

I have spoken to Direct. Im qualified according to the add in Flight. Nice people to speak to - but they are unable to say where and for which airline, within the next 2 weeks. This is due to the clients request.

Have a look at their website and look under "our clients". You can then see which companies they have been working together with in the past - only few with 757s.

Only thing they have said so far: We have worked with them before and it is close to Asia. My guess is Kazakstan.

Regards. Twin2040

[Brenoch]

twin 2040

I'll second your guess. Believe it's Air Astana in Alma Aty, Kazakstan.

[Compass Rose]

Thanks for the replies Gents. Think I'll give Kazakstan a miss!

[expedite_climb]

Quite a few guys from my outfit did this contract last year. Those I know had a bloody good time....

[Twin2040]

Hi again! Anybody who already did work in Kazakstan, whiling to share details. Anything you might find interessting to tell.

Thanks and regards.

Twin2040

[411A]

I personally know a now retired B747 Captain that did a five month contract there some years ago.
This fellow spoke reasonably fluent Russian, liked the local folks and the history of the country, resided in an old asylem that had been converted to crew quarters, and mentioned that the goat cheese was very tasty.

I believe it is an acquired taste.

[Twin2040]

Thanks 411A. Unfortunately I am not keen on Goat cheese. Had a kind of O.D on any food comming from goat. Spend 2 years in Pakistan, flying Uzbekistan, Tjadikistan and Afghanistan.

Any one who has been working on this particular contract before?.

Twin2040

[Twin2040]

It is now confirmed that the company is Air Astana in Kazakstan. Still not anybody willing share info regarding accomodation and if you able to bring family? Happy New Year.

Regards. Twin2040.

[747fanatic]

Twin2040,
What were you flying in Pakistan? no 757s here.

[Twin2040]

B200 and B1900 - years ago for UN

[megapilot]

It’s Air-Astana airlines from Kazakhstan. They have very strange salary policy for local pilots. Month salary for local pilots is about 1000 USD. The foreign pilot’s salary is another. It’s about 6000 – 8000 USD (tax-free) + 60 per diems. The result of this discrimination is - many local pilots look outside for other airlines and Air-Astana is looking for (incognito) pilots from outside. If you have another opportunity, use it. Best regards from Kazakhstan.

[Brenoch]

Hello Megapilot,

Would you care to elaborate a bit on the situation in Air Astana? Is there a dispute between the locals and the expats?

Regs

[megapilot]

Hi Brenoch!
757 fleet of Air-Astana consist of 3 757-200 (dry lease) and 1 757-200 (wet lease from Atlas Jet Turkey). Air-Astana used foreign pilots for 757(dry) fleet from BA, Thomas Cook and Transavia. There is only one pilot (BA 757/767 Cpt.) in Air- Astana now (757 dry fleet). I am local. Foreign pilots could understand us very well. We got great help from them. They understood us and we understood them.

[Ignition Override]

Can one make some friends with the locals there if one eats pork?

Might the presence of just this one healthy delicacy (with barbecue sauce or not) indicate whether a region could be considerd somewhat safe for Westerners these days, if you know what I mean?

No kidding here.

[Brenoch]

I haven't been there for seven years or so but back then pork was readily available.

[homesick rae]

Regarding DP and their Client Confidentiality approach, well I have been approached for two positions with them...one in Asia and one in Africa...over the past two years and nothing ever came of it...just fizzled out.

FYI Only

Cheers

HR