Great Opportunity...or not?

Viking_01 · Post by **Viking_01** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:40 am

Looking for some experienced pilot's insight...

I've had an offer to work for a company called SAS (Sahel Aviation Services) in the capital of Bamako in Mali Africa. I'm a 300hour wonder, and they are offering an opportunity for me to fly right seat on a Beech 1900. The Legal documents/tests etc...are/will be taken care of, and this is not my concern. Neither is their safety record as they are associated with another organization which I trust.

I'm mostly curious as to what my hiring potential would be upon return to Canada with about 1300hrs total time, 1000hours of which is on the 1900. Not just potential to be hired into a similar situation (ifr co-pilot), but actually into some vfr operator where I could built PIC time. What do you think?

I need to have a final "yes" or "no" by tomorrow...Friday the 20th. I really appreciate any non candy coated comments, suggestions, or other...

Thanks!

pika · Post by **pika** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:42 am

Do it. Safe travels.

EDIT - Don't forget your camera. - EDIT

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:44 am

Viking_01 wrote: but actually into some vfr operator where I could built PIC time. What do you think?

Sure, 206 driver...

Parachute dropper, sight seeing, instructing, some other stuff.... Yup possible..

app flap · Post by **app flap** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:08 pm

do it - how often does an opportunity like that come around? i don't know about you, but i got into this biz to see the world... just haven't managed to get out of the 'upper prarie region' yet.

if your satisfied with the safety, job security and pay - then what do you have to loose?

worst comes to worst, that 1900 time will land you a job on pretty well anything similar (king air, jetstream, metro, etc.)

go for it, and keep us posted so i can figure out how to get there too!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:10 pm

Viking....go, Bamaco will be an experience you will treasure forever.

Have fun, it is not that bad a place..

Viking_01 · Post by **Viking_01** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:14 pm

A concern is leaving the company I'm at now. INcredible company. None other like it in Canada. Boldly enough, I was able to chat this over with the Chief pilot and as I suspected, if I wanted to come back, I would have to start over again on the ground (he was awesome, not baised, and incredibly understanding). And it is a company like the one I'm at now that I would want to return to. And I know that they don't hire out of company copilots...makes sense. hmmm, such a time cruncher on the decision date.

Viking_01 · Post by **Viking_01** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:16 pm

Have fun, it is not that bad a place..[/quote]

Temperature may kill me

ski_bum · Post by **ski_bum** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:19 pm

If you came back with 1300 hours, 1000 turbine ifr co-pilot, I'd say you'd have a pretty good chance getting yourself a navajo job... Companies are hungry for drivers that have over 1000 hours for the single pilot IFR stuff.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:20 pm

Temperature may kill me

It didn't kill me.

ahramin · Post by **ahramin** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:34 pm

Most important question (other than are they safe): What is the pay. If the pay makes sense, then everything else probably will too. If the pay doesn't make sense, don't expect all the other things to be much help either.

stopsquawk · Post by **stopsquawk** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:06 pm

Leave, and don't plan on coming back to that company. If the CP has that attitude, you deserve better. You shouldn't have to work the ramp with 1200 hrs and turbine time. (don't burn your bridges tho:)

If you're happy with the foreign co's operations, go for it, and good luck. You never know what opportunities might come out of that sort of job.

Viking_01 wrote:A concern is leaving the company I'm at now. INcredible company. None other like it in Canada. Boldly enough, I was able to chat this over with the Chief pilot and as I suspected, if I wanted to come back, I would have to start over again on the ground (he was awesome, not baised, and incredibly understanding). And it is a company like the one I'm at now that I would want to return to. And I know that they don't hire out of company copilots...makes sense. hmmm, such a time cruncher on the decision date.

Four1oh · Post by **Four1oh** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:47 pm

if you're already working for an incredible company, why ruin a good thing? You can always visit Africa some other time. Not a whole lot of good info you gave us for our opinions... you're really going to have to weigh-in yourself what's right for you.

185/310 · Post by **185/310** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:53 pm

Viking_01 - Do it, after you get some time, and you come back to Canada you'll be more then able to get yourself a left seat navajo job and build some multi PIC time.

lyncher · Post by **lyncher** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:25 pm

hell, if you dont do it, give me the name and phone number and I will!

Scuba_Steve · Post by **Scuba_Steve** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:47 pm

Go - let me know if they need any captains, I'm current on the 1900

cheers

Dash-Ate · Post by **Dash-Ate** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:59 pm

"I wanted to come back, I would have to start over again on the ground "

One thing I have learned in life is to never ever go back or backwards. They don't call it Getting Ahead for nothing . Why return to something old? If it is that good then why are you even considering leaving. Something to think about. I have never looked back anywhere I have left from...I started off for low low wages then 5 years later something mid-range.

twotterflogger · Post by **twotterflogger** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:55 pm

As long as you know what your getting into, i say go for it! I hope you know what your in for....... Africa is and can be a beautiful place, but its not for everyone...
MudHuts, poverty like you've never seen before, crap beer (Although I believe Mali is ''booze free" if I remember correctly) corruption, etc, etc...
Go for it, its multi-turbine and thats gold IF you have a good chap, who's going to teach you the skills and not just let you flog the ship.

I just hope your Capt'n isn't South African....

I hate to make a steriotype up here, but EVERY 1900 crew I've met up to now in Africa has a 4 bar SA son of a bitch who thinks he's god's gift to the world....

Twotterflogger (Hope's that will change one day)

airwrench · Post by **airwrench** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:00 pm

You can get beer at the hotels in Bamiko, was thru there in January.

AW

tundratire · Post by **tundratire** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:08 pm

Why do people complain about the pay in the industry when only two people who posted on this topic asked about it?

Viking_01 · Post by **Viking_01** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:55 pm

You see....Strangely enough, I want to end up doing vfr stuff. 185's, caravan, twin otters on floats etc...eventually. So, call me picky, but the navajo type job upon return to canada is not exactly the direction i was hoping for.
BUT, I do know the 1900 opportunity, and africa is a great one. I will not be type rated on it, because it's not needed in africa...apparently. So, i will come back not checked out on it.
One more night to think about it.
And I really appreciate everything that everyone has typed on this thread. Thanks.

groo · Post by **groo** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:54 am

I'm with the rest of the guys on this, go...

Here would be the deciding factor for me, if things go wrong (war, disease, you think you might get arrested) how do you get out, fast, and can you afford it. Once you have that plan in place everything else becomes easy.

If you decide to go, PM me and I will tell you tell you about some of the things you need to ask before you go.

For those that are rated and looking for a 1900, try 2AG or Air Affairs Gabon. I hear they lost a couple guys and they have nice machines and pay good.

Great Opportunity...or not?

Great Opportunity...or not?

Re: Great Opportunity...or not?