Thirsting for adventure? Enjoy LCC flying? FastJet could be your answer! Adding A319s
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Thirsting for adventure? Enjoy LCC flying? FastJet could be your answer! Adding A319s
Not sure if others have seen this - could not find it on this forum. For those who are unemployed and rated, perhaps this could be helpful.
Looks like Stelios and FastJet have selected (surprise surprise) the Airbus A319. FastJet potentially wants 15 A319s in just the first year - that means quite a few pilot jobs. Not sure what the local pilot requirement might be. But you can bet Europeans will be invited to apply. Wonder what incentives they would have to provide (housing?) to get European pilots to fly these aeroplanes at "European" safety standards???? Sure, there are enough unemployed Euro crews available now to fly them, but I doubt they would find long-term crews without some incentives beyond pay. Unless they would rather employ cheaper locals after they gain enough experience.
See below:
Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC : Fastjet Chooses Airbus
07/03/2012 | 07:17am US/Eastern
RNS Number : 7336G
Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC
03 July 2012
Rubicon Diversified Investments Plc
("Rubicon" or the "Company" or "FastJet"; AIM: RUBI)
FastJet chooses Airbus A319 to launch low cost African airline
Rubicon today announces it has chosen the Airbus A319 aircraft to launch its new low cost carrier, FastJet, across Africa, with the first aircraft expected to carry passengers by October. FastJet will operate under a brand licence agreement with easyGroup Holdings Limited ("easyGroup") and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of leading low cost airline, easyJet.
Commenting on the announcement, Rubicon Chief Executive Ed Winter, said: "The decision to launch FastJet with the Airbus A319 enables us to expand rapidly with each aircraft potentially carrying around 250,000 passengers a year. Rubicon expects passenger capacity to double from current levels within six months of the introduction of the A319 fleet.
"We plan to add at least five leased Airbus A319 aircraft to the fleet within six months of launch and up to 15 within a year."
John Leahy, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Customers, added:
"We are delighted that FastJet has chosen the A319 as the basis for its fleet, a further endorsement for the efficiency and reliability of Airbus' market leading single aisle family of aircraft.
"FastJet will open up low cost travel to the African market, and the Airbus A319 will bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across Africa. It is a great combination."
The Airbus A319 has proven itself an ideal aircraft for the low cost airline model in other parts of the world. The 156 seat A319 was initially chosen after an extensive evaluation of a wide range of options and is ideally suited to the Company's expansion plans. Leasing aircraft on operating leases enables the airline to match its rate of growth closely to market requirements.
The first aircraft will be leased from Nomura Babcock Brown Co., Ltd. (BBAM Aircraft Management LLC), and is scheduled for delivery in September/October. BBAM is the world's third largest aircraft lessor, managing a portfolio of over 450 aircraft. Negotiations on further aircraft deliveries later in the year are underway.
Rubicon announced on 29 June the successful completion of its deal with Lonrho Aviation and its airline Fly540, providing the merged group with existing aviation platforms in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola. Lonrho Plc owns 74.9% of the London-listed aviation business and Stelios' easyGroup will own 5%.
David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of Rubicon and of Lonrho Plc, stated:
"FastJet has already stated its intent to raise the bar on air safety in Africa by operating its aircraft under the same strict rules that apply to European carriers. To this end, we expect to sign an agreement with a major European MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) company for the maintenance of its new A319 fleet in the coming months."
"Our management team has been actively engaged in detailed discussions with a number of Governments to lobby for incentives and reduced passenger taxes, factors that will affect our final decision on where to deploy the first A319s."
Looks like Stelios and FastJet have selected (surprise surprise) the Airbus A319. FastJet potentially wants 15 A319s in just the first year - that means quite a few pilot jobs. Not sure what the local pilot requirement might be. But you can bet Europeans will be invited to apply. Wonder what incentives they would have to provide (housing?) to get European pilots to fly these aeroplanes at "European" safety standards???? Sure, there are enough unemployed Euro crews available now to fly them, but I doubt they would find long-term crews without some incentives beyond pay. Unless they would rather employ cheaper locals after they gain enough experience.
See below:
Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC : Fastjet Chooses Airbus
07/03/2012 | 07:17am US/Eastern
RNS Number : 7336G
Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC
03 July 2012
Rubicon Diversified Investments Plc
("Rubicon" or the "Company" or "FastJet"; AIM: RUBI)
FastJet chooses Airbus A319 to launch low cost African airline
Rubicon today announces it has chosen the Airbus A319 aircraft to launch its new low cost carrier, FastJet, across Africa, with the first aircraft expected to carry passengers by October. FastJet will operate under a brand licence agreement with easyGroup Holdings Limited ("easyGroup") and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of leading low cost airline, easyJet.
Commenting on the announcement, Rubicon Chief Executive Ed Winter, said: "The decision to launch FastJet with the Airbus A319 enables us to expand rapidly with each aircraft potentially carrying around 250,000 passengers a year. Rubicon expects passenger capacity to double from current levels within six months of the introduction of the A319 fleet.
"We plan to add at least five leased Airbus A319 aircraft to the fleet within six months of launch and up to 15 within a year."
John Leahy, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Customers, added:
"We are delighted that FastJet has chosen the A319 as the basis for its fleet, a further endorsement for the efficiency and reliability of Airbus' market leading single aisle family of aircraft.
"FastJet will open up low cost travel to the African market, and the Airbus A319 will bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across Africa. It is a great combination."
The Airbus A319 has proven itself an ideal aircraft for the low cost airline model in other parts of the world. The 156 seat A319 was initially chosen after an extensive evaluation of a wide range of options and is ideally suited to the Company's expansion plans. Leasing aircraft on operating leases enables the airline to match its rate of growth closely to market requirements.
The first aircraft will be leased from Nomura Babcock Brown Co., Ltd. (BBAM Aircraft Management LLC), and is scheduled for delivery in September/October. BBAM is the world's third largest aircraft lessor, managing a portfolio of over 450 aircraft. Negotiations on further aircraft deliveries later in the year are underway.
Rubicon announced on 29 June the successful completion of its deal with Lonrho Aviation and its airline Fly540, providing the merged group with existing aviation platforms in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola. Lonrho Plc owns 74.9% of the London-listed aviation business and Stelios' easyGroup will own 5%.
David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of Rubicon and of Lonrho Plc, stated:
"FastJet has already stated its intent to raise the bar on air safety in Africa by operating its aircraft under the same strict rules that apply to European carriers. To this end, we expect to sign an agreement with a major European MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) company for the maintenance of its new A319 fleet in the coming months."
"Our management team has been actively engaged in detailed discussions with a number of Governments to lobby for incentives and reduced passenger taxes, factors that will affect our final decision on where to deploy the first A319s."
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The article says start-up in October but I cannot find the specific pilot base (other than countries FastJet will operate in). Anyone know where the first operational base will be located?
I suppose Stelios had a big say in the aircraft type (i.e., Airbus). Although good-ole Ed Winter had more experience with the 737-300 @ GO.
Question: have any Airbus A319/20/21s crashed in Africa in recent years? Probably not many. Although not always true, it sort of validates the saying I have heard about Airbus aircraft:
They are designed to keep 3rd-World pilots from killing themselves...
I suppose Stelios had a big say in the aircraft type (i.e., Airbus). Although good-ole Ed Winter had more experience with the 737-300 @ GO.
Question: have any Airbus A319/20/21s crashed in Africa in recent years? Probably not many. Although not always true, it sort of validates the saying I have heard about Airbus aircraft:
They are designed to keep 3rd-World pilots from killing themselves...
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The article says start-up in October but I cannot find the specific pilot base (other than countries FastJet will operate in). Anyone know where the first operational base will be located?
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Far be it from me to stand in the way of an argument as to who is racist and who is not. However, a few facts are always helpful in our understanding of the situation. The prime reason there has been no Airbus A320 series crashes in Africa is that there are virtually no aircraft of that type operating there. The only company I know of who operate the Airbus in non-Middle Eastern Africa are First Nation Airlines, who are a Nigerian start-up crewed almost entirely by European pilots.
Like many interested observers, I cannot help but wonder how Stelios and his mate Ed are going to change the face of African aviation safety. I genuinely wish him well in his endeavour, but he faces some very significant practical problems. In order to start an airline he needs Training Captains who are very experienced on the Airbus. The vast majority of those are currently employed in other airlines around the world. They would need significant inducements to leave a basically safe environment, in a financial and professional sense, to join a start-up airline in Africa. Unless he is willing to pay absolutely top dollar, I cannot imagine how anyone is going to leave easyJet, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Emirates, Etihad, British Airways etc in order to work in Africa. By definition, he will have to recruit from some of the 'second tier' airlines in safety terms and still pay top dollar. And we still have not begun to resolve the problem of recruiting pilots with Airbus experience willing to live in that part of the world. First Nation Airways, whom I alluded to earlier, are a case in point. They have enormous difficulty hanging onto their pilots, because Europeans simply do not want to live in Lagos, if they have any other credible choice. Then there is the issue of local licenses, which I know is a problem within Africa. In a nutshell, FastJet has a mountain to climb in an operational sense, and that is only the start of their problems. If Stelios is successful in this endeavour, I will only stand back and applaud a remarkable achievement. The reality is however, that the dice are loaded massively against success in this case. I do not expect many currently-employed pilots to leave jobs to go and work for FastJet. Time may prove me wrong, however, so we will just have to wait and see.
Like many interested observers, I cannot help but wonder how Stelios and his mate Ed are going to change the face of African aviation safety. I genuinely wish him well in his endeavour, but he faces some very significant practical problems. In order to start an airline he needs Training Captains who are very experienced on the Airbus. The vast majority of those are currently employed in other airlines around the world. They would need significant inducements to leave a basically safe environment, in a financial and professional sense, to join a start-up airline in Africa. Unless he is willing to pay absolutely top dollar, I cannot imagine how anyone is going to leave easyJet, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Emirates, Etihad, British Airways etc in order to work in Africa. By definition, he will have to recruit from some of the 'second tier' airlines in safety terms and still pay top dollar. And we still have not begun to resolve the problem of recruiting pilots with Airbus experience willing to live in that part of the world. First Nation Airways, whom I alluded to earlier, are a case in point. They have enormous difficulty hanging onto their pilots, because Europeans simply do not want to live in Lagos, if they have any other credible choice. Then there is the issue of local licenses, which I know is a problem within Africa. In a nutshell, FastJet has a mountain to climb in an operational sense, and that is only the start of their problems. If Stelios is successful in this endeavour, I will only stand back and applaud a remarkable achievement. The reality is however, that the dice are loaded massively against success in this case. I do not expect many currently-employed pilots to leave jobs to go and work for FastJet. Time may prove me wrong, however, so we will just have to wait and see.
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For once AdM I think I agree with you!! 
North Africa encapsulates my least favourite destinations due in part to the shocking ATC and language barrier - I can't imagine it get's any better the further South you head.You are more aware of how you have to look after number one, that's a real drain if it's day after day.
Good luck to anyone that applies and ends up flying around that neck of the woods.
North Africa encapsulates my least favourite destinations due in part to the shocking ATC and language barrier - I can't imagine it get's any better the further South you head.You are more aware of how you have to look after number one, that's a real drain if it's day after day.
Good luck to anyone that applies and ends up flying around that neck of the woods.
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I'd happily quit flying if the only option was Nigeria, most disorganised, corrupt, un-safe destination on earth, vile. 
Last edited by windshear-a-head; 12th Jul 2012 at 16:20.
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So their first base is to be Accra? Well, beats Lagos - less likely to get mugged / beaten unconscious whilst walking down the street. The locals are friendly, if not tempted to make a quick buck out of you...
Seriously tho' - to operate an African based airline to European standards, you're going to have to alter the whole aviation infrastructure in the countries you are operating in (and then some more!). Nice new shiney aircraft are great, but they still won't make up for often rubbish facilities, poor local operating procedures (particularly with other locally based operators) and the socially ingrained corruption that cascades from the top down.
As for getting crews out there - fair comment by other posters on this - who is going to move their family lock & stock to some of these places? A job is a job, but seriously go and have a look on the ground before you decide to move to the madness...
Seriously tho' - to operate an African based airline to European standards, you're going to have to alter the whole aviation infrastructure in the countries you are operating in (and then some more!). Nice new shiney aircraft are great, but they still won't make up for often rubbish facilities, poor local operating procedures (particularly with other locally based operators) and the socially ingrained corruption that cascades from the top down.
As for getting crews out there - fair comment by other posters on this - who is going to move their family lock & stock to some of these places? A job is a job, but seriously go and have a look on the ground before you decide to move to the madness...
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Finals19,
Obviously this job would not be for everyone. Plus, your pilot base better be located in a "safer" city than in a known, dangerous place. Otherwise, just expect locals to apply who don't mind the corruption, danger and difficult living conditions in certain cities.
That said, if reasonably safe accomodations were secured and possibly included in the package, I could see how this could be a good first job for the scads of Europeans who either work 3 jobs or bleed their parents' bank accounts to get their ratings up through the Airbus type. That assumes FastJet hires experienced left seaters who can provide wisdom for operating in very challenging weather and infrastructure/language conditions. Yes, I have several friends from various parts of Africa and I am aware of the rough conditions in certain parts.
If I were younger, single (I now have a young family) and Airbus typed, I'd probably apply for a job at FastJet to do for a few years. Spending say 3 years flying around Africa would be both eye-opening from a cultural standpoint and probably a great learning experience from a flying standpoint. Again, assuming it was run as a safe operation, I would be attracted to the opportunity to fly around the vast African continent (despite the corruption, poor infrastructure and language differences). That's just me. And why not? It is probably correct to characterize Africa as the "last frontier" and you can always later get a job flying at EasyJet, Monarch or Norwegian (100 737NGs + 100 Neos on the way) and fly among the European hubs and onward to the Spanish/Greek/Turkish resort cities. That flying is great - but African flying would probably offer many more diverse experiences that you could apply later in your career. You never know...
If I were a little younger, single, typed and able, I would look at it as more of an adventure and possibly a great aviation learning experience. Hope it turns out that way and they get some good applicants!!!!
Obviously this job would not be for everyone. Plus, your pilot base better be located in a "safer" city than in a known, dangerous place. Otherwise, just expect locals to apply who don't mind the corruption, danger and difficult living conditions in certain cities.
That said, if reasonably safe accomodations were secured and possibly included in the package, I could see how this could be a good first job for the scads of Europeans who either work 3 jobs or bleed their parents' bank accounts to get their ratings up through the Airbus type. That assumes FastJet hires experienced left seaters who can provide wisdom for operating in very challenging weather and infrastructure/language conditions. Yes, I have several friends from various parts of Africa and I am aware of the rough conditions in certain parts.
If I were younger, single (I now have a young family) and Airbus typed, I'd probably apply for a job at FastJet to do for a few years. Spending say 3 years flying around Africa would be both eye-opening from a cultural standpoint and probably a great learning experience from a flying standpoint. Again, assuming it was run as a safe operation, I would be attracted to the opportunity to fly around the vast African continent (despite the corruption, poor infrastructure and language differences). That's just me. And why not? It is probably correct to characterize Africa as the "last frontier" and you can always later get a job flying at EasyJet, Monarch or Norwegian (100 737NGs + 100 Neos on the way) and fly among the European hubs and onward to the Spanish/Greek/Turkish resort cities. That flying is great - but African flying would probably offer many more diverse experiences that you could apply later in your career. You never know...
If I were a little younger, single, typed and able, I would look at it as more of an adventure and possibly a great aviation learning experience. Hope it turns out that way and they get some good applicants!!!!
Last edited by Iver; 14th Jul 2012 at 16:54.
There are plenty of suitable, type rated & current A319/320 pilots soon to become available following the closure of their Iberian base. Provided the package reflects the expertise that they will bring, I don't think FastJet will have any trouble filling the seats on both sides of the flightdeck
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The ex MAD pilots will at least be used to primitive and dangerous ATC and their self preservation skills will be very high. I would think it would be tempting for some of the younger pilots but I suspect that it will be very difficult to recruit very experienced Captains and Trainers that will be vital for a clean and safe start. I wish I was 30 years younger!
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"Happiness is V1 at LOS"
Anyone could find where you can submit your application?
It can't be worse than flying in India or China
It can't be worse than flying in India or China
LOS (Lagos) is NOT some kind of cool adventure, it's real survival in a totally corrupt and dangerous third world country, teetering on the edge of a religious conflict which could lead to civil war.
As for starting an airline in Lagos, two memorable quotes come to mind;
1) "If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline." by Richard Branson, and,
2) "Happiness is V1 at LOS"
If you want to see the future, just look up "Virgin Nigeria."
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Iver,
All agreed - absolutely if you're a young chap, no ties, and wish to get some experience in a very challenging environment - then I would say knock yourself out. I think you touch on a very pertinent point (and I guess my post related to this as much as anything else) by saying that they are going to need some pretty hardy and experienced skippers to ensure the operation is run safely.
Its the kind of gig that will attract a very particular type of applicant due to all the reasons noted. Its just when there are jobs going up the road in the sandpit, why would the experienced guys want to subject themselves to sub saharan living standards...
Never a truer word spoken. The place is horribly unstable, aggressive and human life has a very low value placed on it - yours included.
All agreed - absolutely if you're a young chap, no ties, and wish to get some experience in a very challenging environment - then I would say knock yourself out. I think you touch on a very pertinent point (and I guess my post related to this as much as anything else) by saying that they are going to need some pretty hardy and experienced skippers to ensure the operation is run safely.
Its the kind of gig that will attract a very particular type of applicant due to all the reasons noted. Its just when there are jobs going up the road in the sandpit, why would the experienced guys want to subject themselves to sub saharan living standards...
LOS (Lagos) is NOT some kind of cool adventure, it's real survival in a totally corrupt and dangerous third world country, teetering on the edge of a religious conflict which could lead to civil war.
Last edited by Finals19; 15th Jul 2012 at 09:31.