Fly540 Pilots held in Cabinda by Ruthless GM for
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Fly540 Pilots held in Cabinda by Ruthless GM for
Pilots have recently resigned from Fly540 Angola after many months of effectively being imprissioned in Cabinda Luanda.
They were hired,signed contracts to be based in Luanda however upon arrival in Angola in April were sent immediately to Cabinda,a province of Angola,an enclave surrounded by the Congo jungle.Within a few days of arrival their passports were collected and flown back to Luanda where they were all told that these would be handed into immigration to obtain their work permits.
The group of pilots all expats including 3 Capts,5 F/Os and 1 female cabin crew then had to wait,and wait they did,After a couple of months doing absolutely nothing they then started demanding the return of their passports,however their GM and Director of flight operations continually lied to them,always telling them the same story,that all passports were still in immigration.
Time passed and one F/O fell very ill with Pnumonia and Malaria,shortly followed by another F/O with malaria,then another F/O got Typhoid.Still there was no way to get out of the country,management would not give them their passports back.Relaiable sources told me that one Capt was examined in Luanda and was told he was critically ill and needed immediate repatriation back to the UK,it took another 3 days for his pasport to materialise.Miraculously his passport was handed back to him in his GM flat in Luanda where he had been staying for 4 days,even still at this stage the GM questioned whether he was faking his ilness.Another F./O was given his passport to return home after confirmation in Luanda that he had Malaria.
Apparently the Capt was sent home on a 11 hour flight and was very ill during the flight to the UK,this same guy 2 weeks later was dealt another blow he had a severe case of intestinal hook worms,
Back in Luanda another F/O who had been ill with Typhoid was kept a further 2 weeks in the GM flat,they would not give him his passport,but when he contacted his own embassy again miraculously his passort was given back.
All these guys were then not paid the following month,and demanded payment,but the GM apparently sacked them bar One.
This company Fly540 Angola as it is registered is sponsored by Lonrho London,they have been trying to start operations in Angola since 2008,they have an old clapped out ATR42 in Cabinda,which never flies due to many technical problems,they have a huge payroll,at least 40 staff,all on full salaries,rental properties in Luanda each about $20000 per month!!
they have brand new cars,drivers maids all on full salary,remember all the crews had been on full salary for one year and there had been £0.0 REVENUE throughtout the period commencing 2008.
TO me this an extremely suspicious,the business plan is it actually AVIATION or something else,why were crews held there,effectively prisioners,and everyone paid full salaries despite no revenue.
There are many questions that need to be answered,I have looked into Lonrhos affairs and there is much on the internet to link them to many"unusual dealing" including Mugabe,etc etc ,its all to do with the huge wealth that is in Mineral Extraction,and the Democratic Reublic of COngo has vast reserves,this borders on corrupt dealings in my opininon,and personally I feel this supposed airline is just a cover for something more sinister,
As the old saying goes "time will tell,the truth will eventually come out",
A word of warning even if you are desperate,with an ATR rating dont jeopadise your life for this company.
They were hired,signed contracts to be based in Luanda however upon arrival in Angola in April were sent immediately to Cabinda,a province of Angola,an enclave surrounded by the Congo jungle.Within a few days of arrival their passports were collected and flown back to Luanda where they were all told that these would be handed into immigration to obtain their work permits.
The group of pilots all expats including 3 Capts,5 F/Os and 1 female cabin crew then had to wait,and wait they did,After a couple of months doing absolutely nothing they then started demanding the return of their passports,however their GM and Director of flight operations continually lied to them,always telling them the same story,that all passports were still in immigration.
Time passed and one F/O fell very ill with Pnumonia and Malaria,shortly followed by another F/O with malaria,then another F/O got Typhoid.Still there was no way to get out of the country,management would not give them their passports back.Relaiable sources told me that one Capt was examined in Luanda and was told he was critically ill and needed immediate repatriation back to the UK,it took another 3 days for his pasport to materialise.Miraculously his passport was handed back to him in his GM flat in Luanda where he had been staying for 4 days,even still at this stage the GM questioned whether he was faking his ilness.Another F./O was given his passport to return home after confirmation in Luanda that he had Malaria.
Apparently the Capt was sent home on a 11 hour flight and was very ill during the flight to the UK,this same guy 2 weeks later was dealt another blow he had a severe case of intestinal hook worms,
Back in Luanda another F/O who had been ill with Typhoid was kept a further 2 weeks in the GM flat,they would not give him his passport,but when he contacted his own embassy again miraculously his passort was given back.
All these guys were then not paid the following month,and demanded payment,but the GM apparently sacked them bar One.
This company Fly540 Angola as it is registered is sponsored by Lonrho London,they have been trying to start operations in Angola since 2008,they have an old clapped out ATR42 in Cabinda,which never flies due to many technical problems,they have a huge payroll,at least 40 staff,all on full salaries,rental properties in Luanda each about $20000 per month!!
they have brand new cars,drivers maids all on full salary,remember all the crews had been on full salary for one year and there had been £0.0 REVENUE throughtout the period commencing 2008.
TO me this an extremely suspicious,the business plan is it actually AVIATION or something else,why were crews held there,effectively prisioners,and everyone paid full salaries despite no revenue.
There are many questions that need to be answered,I have looked into Lonrhos affairs and there is much on the internet to link them to many"unusual dealing" including Mugabe,etc etc ,its all to do with the huge wealth that is in Mineral Extraction,and the Democratic Reublic of COngo has vast reserves,this borders on corrupt dealings in my opininon,and personally I feel this supposed airline is just a cover for something more sinister,
As the old saying goes "time will tell,the truth will eventually come out",
A word of warning even if you are desperate,with an ATR rating dont jeopadise your life for this company.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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If planning to operate in places like that you should already understand what you're potentially getting yourself into, must have a back-up plan to get out and never give up your passport. As for "The truth will out" it won't and if it does, no one will give a **** anyway.
It will always astound me just how long many pilots will sit there with false hopes and without money before taking action or getting out.
I wish these guys a speedy recovery. Maybe someone will learn from their mistakes (but I doubt it).
It will always astound me just how long many pilots will sit there with false hopes and without money before taking action or getting out.
I wish these guys a speedy recovery. Maybe someone will learn from their mistakes (but I doubt it).
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Weird story, being there against their will, but still getting paid full?!?!
Here in Brazil bureocracy can also jeopardize schedules by several month and finaly turn a business inviable, it just happend with a Cargo newcomer and seen it other times before. Bad for the crews who loose their proficiency and makes it harder to find a new job. And being abroad specially in a poor structured region like Cabinda is desparing. Then again if you read about anyone anouncing job openings anywhere in the world you see colleagues getting euphoric behind it, just see the post about Arik or Air Nigeria, even Biman or the new starter in Cameroon...
Has anybody ever heard about an airline unable to fill the positions unless being picky?
Here in Brazil bureocracy can also jeopardize schedules by several month and finaly turn a business inviable, it just happend with a Cargo newcomer and seen it other times before. Bad for the crews who loose their proficiency and makes it harder to find a new job. And being abroad specially in a poor structured region like Cabinda is desparing. Then again if you read about anyone anouncing job openings anywhere in the world you see colleagues getting euphoric behind it, just see the post about Arik or Air Nigeria, even Biman or the new starter in Cameroon...
Has anybody ever heard about an airline unable to fill the positions unless being picky?
Join Date: Jul 2009
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A while back while working in the oil industry I had an issue with my own and some of my men's passports being held while we were working in Vietnam. After my requests and then demands for return of our passports was refused I called the UK Foreign Office (Tel:020270081500). These guys were great and on the phone to the Vietnamese authorities immediately and I had the passports returned the next morning. I always keep this telephone number with me now when working overseas. The other advice on getting a second passport is possible and is a good idea.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Fully agree with D & F
I always carry 2 passports and I am reluctant to hand 1 over in Europe (e.g. to Hotels etc) let alone the dark continent!
I always carry 2 passports and I am reluctant to hand 1 over in Europe (e.g. to Hotels etc) let alone the dark continent!
