Jetstream 41 - Romania
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Animal Farm
Jetstream 41 - Romania
Heard (from an agency) there is to be some recruitment for J41 crews based in Romania. Any idea where these aircraft are coming from and which airline is involved?
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: where they send me
I guess Direct Aero Services may be a holding company or such like ?
I'm begining to seriously consider this job, out of desperation more than anything. So I would be very interested to get any views of
a) Blue-air as a company in general - standard of Ops and Engineering, Safety culture, Management etc etc., and
b) life as an expat in Romania - how easy/difficult is it to live there, english widely spoken ? Transport system (Bucharest/country in general) ? Standard of health care, economy (as it's a low cost operator I'll be feeding myself), getting a personal bank account or any none-resident type of problems ?
Yes I have searched, but very meagre pickings, so any offers gratefully accepted.
Thanks.
L8.
I'm begining to seriously consider this job, out of desperation more than anything. So I would be very interested to get any views of
a) Blue-air as a company in general - standard of Ops and Engineering, Safety culture, Management etc etc., and
b) life as an expat in Romania - how easy/difficult is it to live there, english widely spoken ? Transport system (Bucharest/country in general) ? Standard of health care, economy (as it's a low cost operator I'll be feeding myself), getting a personal bank account or any none-resident type of problems ?
Yes I have searched, but very meagre pickings, so any offers gratefully accepted.
Thanks.
L8.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 1
From: FUBAR
Don't know where you heard Blue Air. They are a lo-cost operating a handful of 737's.
More likely this would be in support of Carpatair, who recently down-sized (their aircraft & operation ) based not in Bucharest but Timisoara.
I may however be wrong, just surmising.
More likely this would be in support of Carpatair, who recently down-sized (their aircraft & operation ) based not in Bucharest but Timisoara.
I may however be wrong, just surmising.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Sandpit
Aerotaxi - Taximetrie aeriana
Part of Blueair, currently operating some helicopters and some small piston cessna 172s.
Cannot speak about the company (don't work there), but i can tell you a little about Bucharest:
English is widely spoken, the city is quite expensive to live in (rent for a single bedroom would be around 700-900 depending on location), transport is pretty bad (no highways and the number of cars increasing every year), health system is ok (if you have also some private health plan with a local company it can be very good) and finally about the bank account there is no problem if you are not a romanian or resident (you just cannot apply for a credit).
Hope it helps, good luck
Part of Blueair, currently operating some helicopters and some small piston cessna 172s.
Cannot speak about the company (don't work there), but i can tell you a little about Bucharest:
English is widely spoken, the city is quite expensive to live in (rent for a single bedroom would be around 700-900 depending on location), transport is pretty bad (no highways and the number of cars increasing every year), health system is ok (if you have also some private health plan with a local company it can be very good) and finally about the bank account there is no problem if you are not a romanian or resident (you just cannot apply for a credit).
Hope it helps, good luck
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY
It's related to Blue Air, but not started by Blue Air. Blue Air is owned by Romstrade, a construction firm. They own the Direct Air AOC, which I believe is now limited to just some helicopters and King Air's used on charters and Romanian post contracts. Blue Air, again through affiliates, is also getting into the airport management business in Romania.
Jetstream 41 -- ROMANIA
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 471
Likes: 31
From: Europe
I agree the salary (assuming the stated number is correct) is a joke. However, it seems a bit unfair to call Rumania a third world country. Yes, there is lot's of poverty and the rural areas are still decades behind the west but Bucarest has most things you would expect from a first world capital.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Animal Farm
Whilst they will no doubt get a number of desperate pilots take up these terms, what they have obviously failed to grasp is that as soon as these pilots get a better offer elsewhere they will be off (one months notice). And the 12 month reducing bond will hardly be a deterrent. Leaving Blue Air/Direct Aero Services with un-crewed aircraft. Unless of course there is something in the contract with Eastern Airways that says Eastern will provide them with crews under such circumstances. I think Eastern are very keen to offload these excess to requirement aircraft, so they may well have offered some contingency crews where necessary. I also note from PPJN that Eastern starting pay is £36455 for LHS as opposed to this Blue Air contract of €28000 - the only disadvantage of Eastern by comparison is a three year bond.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 1
From: FUBAR
733 driver, agreed with "most things" ,but unfortunately that also includes prices, particularly when you are identified as a foreigner.
I am led to believe that accomodation is provided (don't know of what standard ) but happyjack, agreed, the salary is a pi$$-take.
The problem is, in the current employer-biased times, they will have no shortage of takers.
I am led to believe that accomodation is provided (don't know of what standard ) but happyjack, agreed, the salary is a pi$$-take.
The problem is, in the current employer-biased times, they will have no shortage of takers.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: romania
happyjack ...romania is not a 3rd world country....don't belive everything you see on TV....came here and see for yourself...ofcourse, i can't compare romania with other country from western europe....for obvios reasons i won't go into details...a lot of good things happend in romania after '89....if you have any questions i am happy to aswer...
anyway...i also applied for tis job...as a first officer...but for the moment they don't have captains ....and happyjack....who knows maybe we will meet in romania...drink a few beers and talk about beautiful places from here....
anyway...i also applied for tis job...as a first officer...but for the moment they don't have captains ....and happyjack....who knows maybe we will meet in romania...drink a few beers and talk about beautiful places from here....
Last edited by dannutz; 13th March 2009 at 19:13. Reason: mistake
Joined: May 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 965
Likes: 46
From: Ташкент
romania is not a 3rd world country....don't belive everything you see on TV....came here and see for yourself...
I can think of far better places to live... even Luton.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Not been there myself but know several people who have (lived there helping orphans etc and not just for hols).
Gather English speakers are scorned even if they try and speak the lingo - locals aren't friendly regarding this and will ignore if tense and pronunciation and gender aren't absolutely correct - worse than the pprune spellcheckers. Bit like France used to be 30+ years ago, thankfully now the French like most of Europe welcome our feeble attempts at speaking their lingo and acknowledge we are doing our best. Romania by all accounts this is not true.
PS
How about Aberdeen!
And for Dannutz - what is the local beer like? Bet it's not real ale but more lagerish?
Gather English speakers are scorned even if they try and speak the lingo - locals aren't friendly regarding this and will ignore if tense and pronunciation and gender aren't absolutely correct - worse than the pprune spellcheckers. Bit like France used to be 30+ years ago, thankfully now the French like most of Europe welcome our feeble attempts at speaking their lingo and acknowledge we are doing our best. Romania by all accounts this is not true.
PS
I can think of far better places to live... even Luton.
And for Dannutz - what is the local beer like? Bet it's not real ale but more lagerish?
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 471
Likes: 31
From: Europe
Yep, the local beer is more like a lager or pilsener. It is not bad. I have also not felt ripped of in Bucarest. The beggars are a nuicance though. I have been to the historic center of town which has some nice enough places to hang out. The menues are availabe in English, still, prices are very reasonabe. I would go as far as saying dirt cheap. I do agree that housing is too expensive but that is also true for the locals who are having a hard time on the local salaries. I spoke to a few locals (all of them in aviation) an they all have been helpful and friendly and I don't speak a word of the language. I flew as a pax (in uniform) on Blue Air the other day and got chatting to the cabin crew. I asked them if the taxies at the airport would accept Euros and how much I should pay for the trip to the hotel and they offered to give me a lift. Had a friendly chat with them on the way and when they dropped me off I tried to give em a bit of money for the fuel and they would not accept it. One of them said that they don't like the gypsies because they give Romania a bad name etc. but apart from that they seemed very oppen and that includes foreigners. If you read this guys , thanks again!