Voyageur Pilots Robbed Under Gunpoint In Africa.

elitewingman · Post by **elitewingman** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:05 pm

Heard from a friend that a couple of Voyageur UN guys got robbed under gunpoint a few days ago in Africa. Luckily no one got hurt. It's all fun and games till you are looking down the barrel of a gun. Anyone have any more info? Thanks.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:11 pm

Must have been very frightening, but boy, have those villains ever been misinformed (cue the Voyageur-bashing music).

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:10 pm

Naw, that can't be true Africa is very civilized and safe to roam around in.

Why even the big cities like down town Johannesburg is so safe you can maybe make it right from one side of the city to the other without being robbed.....Luanda is even safer, hell you can wander around after dark without a worry in the world about being robbed.

Then again those Voyageur guys were lucky they weren't killed.

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:23 pm

Dumbass Africans robbing UN pilots; who're they gonna rob next, flight instructors???

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:05 pm

Naw, that can't be true Africa is very civilized and safe to roam around in.

I feel safe in my BMW

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11 ... 0x180.html

cloudcounter · Post by **cloudcounter** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:39 pm

you work for alligators you get wet

Here we see the supreme moral authority of the United Nations.

About half of the 4,500 companies in the U.N. oil-for-food program paid $1.8 billion in kickbacks and illicit surcharges to Saddam Hussein’s government, according to a U.N.-backed investigation obtained by The Associated Press.

The report—to be released in full Thursday by the committee probing claims of wrongdoing in the $64 billion program—indicates that about 2,200 companies participated in extensive manipulation of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq.

The investigators reported that companies and individuals from 66 countries paid illegal kickbacks through a variety of devices while those paying illegal oil surcharges came from, or were registered in, 40 countries.

The names will be included in Thursday’s report but were not in the key findings obtained Wednesday by the AP.

But buried down the page is this little nugget.

But Saddam, who could choose the buyers of Iraqi oil and the sellers of humanitarian goods, corrupted the program by awarding contracts to—and getting kickbacks from—favored buyers, mostly parties who supported his regime or opposed the sanctions.

He allegedly gave former government officials, journalists and U.N. officials vouchers for Iraqi oil that could then be resold at a profit. ..right-thinking.com

nothing has changed

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:41 pm

Why werent they packing heat?
Perhaps they havent heard of Crazy Scuds Discount Munitions and Muklucks

This Weaks Special 100 Round Mag for your Glock 17

dashx · Post by **dashx** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:09 pm

Did your friend mention which mission these "pilots" were in? Africa is a big place. Were they on duty or were they doing something after hours on their own???? Did this happen in a larger city or out in the country? If you go overseas to work then you learn quickly how to clean your nose clean (not to mention other parts as well). I have seen AME's and pilots get beat up and robbed overseas (not just Africa) because of ignorance and stupidity. The UN is in these countries for a reason you know.
Besides don't people get robbed in North Bay? How about the young CDN killed in Mexico just recently? You think that is going to stop anyone from going there? Doubt it. If you look for trouble you will find it.
Now on a serious note If Voyageur gives their crews per diems on a regular basis and the locals figure it out well put two and two together...The locals live in extreme poverty and they just and watch and observe. When they see a chance they take it.

[quote][/quote]

cloudcounter · Post by **cloudcounter** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:22 pm

The mukluks sound like the ticket:
walk softly and...
cc

. wrote:Why werent they packing heat?
Perhaps they havent heard of Crazy Scuds Discount Munitions and Muklucks

This Weaks Special 100 Round Mag for your Glock 17

Nightflight · Post by **Nightflight** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:31 am

Man am I glad to hear nobody got killed. I grew up in West Africa and robberies can easily end up bad. The law isn't anything like it is in the developed world. Murderers dont get caught 99% of the time. Sure am glad as a few of those guys down there are close friends.

Kadugli · Post by **Kadugli** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:59 am

Well, if it did happen recently

it didn't come down the pipe to the rest of us!.
Just about all the guy's here (any of the bases) have rotated through a few times and know better than to be high profile or piss of the locals (and that's not hard to do when you fly for the U.N Peace Keeping, or just the U.N for that matter).
The incident in question was a long time ago and, as it was, the Ugandan forces were the one's who did it, doesn't matter how safe you try to be sometimes over here S#@T still happens. You don't walk down a dark street in Toronto at 2:00am so why would anyone try it here!.
Then again, have you seen the wages!, chances are it was a Voyageur guy robbing a local!!!!

2024 · Post by **2024** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:05 pm

so, from the sounds of it, you work for voyageur, and you are in Sudan, or are one of the unlucky people who have been there. well then, give us the low down on the company, and the Africa operations. all of the people who read these things are dying to find out what the real deal is.

qwerty · Post by **qwerty** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:56 am

yeah, come on give us the goods. i wud like to go overseas but i need things to do. whats it like over there?

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:47 am

Which African country were they in?

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:50 pm

. wrote:Why werent they packing heat?
Perhaps they havent heard of Crazy Scuds Discount Munitions and Muklucks

I still haven't received my muklucks.. and I sent you three cases of cool dr. pepper a month ago!

I want my pop back!

Mightymouse · Post by **Mightymouse** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:46 am

Kadugli wrote:Well, if it did happen recently it didn't come down the pipe to the rest of us!.
Just about all the guy's here (any of the bases) have rotated through a few times and know better than to be high profile or piss of the locals (and that's not hard to do when you fly for the U.N Peace Keeping, or just the U.N for that matter).
The incident in question was a long time ago and, as it was, the Ugandan forces were the one's who did it, doesn't matter how safe you try to be sometimes over here S#@T still happens. You don't walk down a dark street in Toronto at 2:00am so why would anyone try it here!.
Then again, have you seen the wages!, chances are it was a Voyageur guy robbing a local!!!!

From what I have come to learn this incident happened very recently like within the last 2 weeks. Not sure about location, but probably Entebbe or Bukavu. Why don't you ask your management for the details? In the interrest of safety of course. Then something might come down the pipeline. Be careful out there boys and girls!

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:52 pm

Rowdy I sent them to you Via the Vietnamese postal service they should be there in 2-3 weeks

2024 · Post by **2024** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:00 am

why is it that the general public has more info on this company than the employees? does the company even care, or know that their staff was robbed at gun point? something to think about.

MrFantasticDude · Post by **MrFantasticDude** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:13 am

Kadugli wrote:Well, if it did happen recently it didn't come down the pipe to the rest of us!.

Of course it didnt. How long have you been working for VAL? Even if you started yesterday you would know that they like to keep this sort of thing extremely hush hush so it doesnt affect new applicants. Hard to find slaves these days you know, especially when they find out they might be used for target practice by the locals. I laugh when I see their ad for Africa. Sure sounds like you are going to make muchos dineros. Do some reasearch and you'll find that these guys are at the low end of the payscale for UN contract pilots. The standard perdiem for UN work is $100/day. VAL is paying $50/day. Wonder what VAL is charging the UN? Hmmmmm? Rest assured that these contracts are extremely lucrative for companies. Add to this slave wages for dangerous work and you get the picture. I wonder if there is a bank vault big enough in North Bay? Think about that next time you are trying to outrun a bullet.

Kadugli wrote:The incident in question was a long time ago and, as it was, the Ugandan forces were the one's who did it, doesn't matter how safe you try to be sometimes over here S#@T still happens.

Case in point. This piece of news didn't get out much did it? Hush hush!
Oh and you heard it here first boys & girls, the Dash 7 is now in East Timor. Kidnappings anyone?:smt100

Kadugli wrote:Then again, have you seen the wages!, chances are it was a Voyageur guy robbing a local!!!!

Wouldn't surprise me if it was management disguised as robbers.

Bitter? NO! Just against exploitation!

ajet32 · Post by **ajet32** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:22 am

OK since your the expert, we get the whole deal when we are in for example Bukavu. 50 PLUS 50 US that adds up to a bit more than the 100. The robbery was in Entebbe, guys were walking around at night and got stuck up. No one played here and all they lost was a few bucks. I think if you walk around YYC or YYZ in the wrong place worse could happen. It has to me. Yes I am writing this sitting in Africa right now. It was warm and sunny one place and raining like the great flood in the mountains. Like I have said before if you don't want to come here and have fun stay home and go fly for JAzz at their meager ,paltry wages.
Jambo

JZA · Post by **JZA** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:23 pm

ajet32 wrote:Like I have said before if you don't want to come here and have fun stay home and go fly for JAzz at their meager ,paltry wages.
Jambo

Don't know if you are trying to poke fun at someone in particular....but there's no need to slam Jazz here.

If you want to work in Africa...I'm sure the money is good...good for you.

If you want to be home with the family...Jazz is an awesome company...good for you.

ajet32 · Post by **ajet32** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:29 pm

Apology delivered with , there was no intention to slam anyone, or any company.

2024 · Post by **2024** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 1:08 pm

$100 USD per day? really? wonder why VAL only pays out $50 USD per day. some of those guys should start asking questions!

untucked · Post by **untucked** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:51 pm

This $100 /day per diem issue really provides a shining insight into the inner workings of Voyaguer management. Before I begin I should comment that I enjoyed myself, for the most part, while I was working at said operation. I met alot of good people, saw a part of the world that I would not have otherwise seen and had some relevant career progression. However I decided to move on and am happy with my decision. A big part of my moving on had to do with the overwhelming evidence that whoever was really in charge (not the CP) didn't have your back at all, and rather viewed you more as a sweat shop empolyee than a professional pilot.

Case in point. In my interview it was explained to me that while I was in Africa I would be making time and a half, would recieve $100 / day in US cash for per diems and would be in for 8 weeks and out for 4. Sign me up! Well I got my travel itinerary and saw I was scheduled to go in for 10 weeks. Nobody said anything about that! Then I find out that your travel to and from country is not work, those are included in days off. So forget 4 weeks off at home, try 3 weeks and a day or two.

And back to the point of the original post. After I've signed on it is brought to my attention that instead of $100 / day I'll only be recieving $50. Why? Well becasue in Uganda you can walk around.

This sort of thing is not something that one would expect of a reputable company. In fact this is what seperates companies like Voyageur from others like Jazz, Wasaya, Borek, North Cariboo; companies that you consistently hear good things about.

MrFantasticDude · Post by **MrFantasticDude** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:49 pm

"untucked", thank you for your excellent and insightful post. It is a story that seems to repeat itself time and time again at Voyageur. The way you get treated there is anything but professional. Looks like the corporate culture there is very flawed and the sad part about it is the fact that it is going to be impossible to solve these problems with the same thinking that created them in the first place. Perhaps when they have no more pilots they will realize the value of them.

Voyageur Pilots Robbed Under Gunpoint In Africa.

Voyageur Pilots Robbed Under Gunpoint In Africa.

Nothing through the grape vine

Re: Nothing through the grape vine

Re: Nothing through the grape vine

VAL

Re: VAL

Jazz