TonyWilliams

New pilot candidate for Afghan Jet International:

FlyingNasaForm

Tony,

How are you going to keep the cabins cool on the ground? CLT on a 33C day was horrible, I can't imagine it during a 40C sunny day.

TonyWilliams

Excellent question. We're not. The plan has been to replace these aircraft with other more capable aircraft. They were purchased to start the airline.

Another big issue with this aircraft is high / hot. Kabul is almost 6000 feet elevation in very mountainous terrain. Loads will be adjusted accordingly.

Final big issue is relatively long distances to the alternate (common third world issue) requiring extra fuel.

Dirtrider101

Cool pics Tony! I flew out of OAKN during my time over there... Looks like a great visibility day.

I also wanted to make a side note and state that I believe any more comments about the danger in Afghanistan are pointless/overkill. I commented early in this thread about my thoughts on the job, and Tony also expressed his thoughts as well. Based on everything I've read, I applaud you for not dishing out BS on the lifestyle and offering a realistic outlook on how things are overseas. My main concern when you originally posted this opportunity was guys/gals not understanding the potential danger involved with working in Afghanistan; But hell, if you tell people how it really is and they're still ready to go, then I say good for them!

So Tony, thank you for your time as a Devil Dog, for shootin' straight on this whole gig, and for posting an opportunity some people will enjoy and benefit from!

FlyingNasaForm

Ha! Well at least you're honest! Hopefully the flight crew uniform is shorts and a t-shirt.

TonyC

It's interesting that you chose SkyWest as an example. Of course, your mention of "Right to Work" state is a red herring, as you are well aware that ALPA represents pilots under the RLA in several "Right to Work" states such as FedEx in Tennessee. Even if you chose not to be a member of the union, you would be protected by all the provisions of a Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated by your Collective Bargaining Agent. Having a choice to not join the union is irrelevant.

It's also interesting to learn that a U.S. pilot who fails to upgrade at your 3rd-world airline should expect the same treatment you received from SkyWest when you failed to upgrade -- no representation, no recourse, just "See ya!" Never mind the great efforts that were made or resources expended to commit to the airline -- your airline doesn't have any commitment to support the pilot in return.

What happened to you at SkyWest was on one level perfect karma (since you fought against the union vote so vociferously), but on another level it was really too bad. ALPA has been known to negotiate provisions in training protocols focused on training to proficiency in place of the "X strikes and you're out" policy that you experienced. Under these more enlightened kinds of rules, your job could have been saved; you could be in a much better place today.

It's even more interesting to learn there's a different class of employees at your 3rd world airline who should expect more understanding treatment based on their language skills. Perhaps U.S. applicants should invest in Rosetta stone.

Given this sort of discrimintation, I can almost understand why you've gotten your knickers into such a twist by people having the audacity to ask about the compensation package they might expect.


Was this post foreshadowing?
Good luck with the upgrade.






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ckelley

Tony C,

"All that hate's gonna burn you up kid." -Red Dawn

TonyWilliams

You're all class! Maybe a karma will fall on your head and make perfect karma. You're frequent use of "3rd world airline" makes me think that you think Afghanistan is 3rd world? Who knew? Thanks for your valuable insight.



Nothing extraordinary planned. You summed it up perfectly; hit the bricks. Unlike a puppy mill regional airline in the USA, I don't honestly foresee many problems. Thanks for your concerns.

No comments on the super dangerous country?



Sure, why not? I recommend the Dari (Farsi) language. I started learning the language, and honestly, it seems pretty easy to learn. Knowing the local language in any "people" industry is definitely a plus, much like already having a CL-65 type rating.



Yep, I'm a big discriminator!!! it seems your knickers are also bunched up over my knickers which could easily foresee the crazy BS that would spew out if this job was not $500k per year to fly a 50 seat aircraft. Even without that info, there's still bellyaching!!! I'm confident I made the right choice., and again, we currently have enough resumes / CV's. After a long gap of not even peaking in this forum (years), I don't miss this crap.



An improper use of terms, as the airline will get different aircraft to either outright replace or in addition to the CRJ-200's. No luck needed.

That's not an "upgrade", but a full "initial" for any pilot that is not typed in the new aircraft, or "differences" training for any CRJ700-1000 aircraft.

TonyC

Since you didn't have any substantive response to my points, I'll assume I'm not too far off base. SO, on to your concerns about the semantics ...

Oops. Sorry if I offended you with that term. Do you consider it a big step up from your job in Nigeria, which you described on several occassions as 3rd-world? Are you now 2nd-world or 1st-world?




OK. Good luck with the training.



You ended a 22-month absence (we missed you) last August when you came looking for a job after a 3-year "break" from flying at your 3rd-world airline in Nigeria. You said it "looks like there might be some bottom feeder hiring."


Looks like you found it.






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TonyWilliams

Looks like you have it all figured out. Best wishes.