Air Serv International

[Nick5600]

Does anyone have any info on Air Serv International. Is it hard to get on with them. I understand the pay and qol is bad, but I think benefit would be worth it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Flyerjosh]

I know three people that have flown with them, one of which is over there now flying Caravans single pilot. PM me and I can get you an email address and get you in touch. He gets on the net about once every couple of days.

 

[JTrain]

Does anyone have any info on Air Serv International. Is it hard to get on with them. I understand the pay and qol is bad, but I think benefit would be worth it. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Nick,

I am thsy friend of FlyerJosh's, currently flying the Caravan in the Congo & logging in from Africa to respond to this.

Air Serv is an interesting experience. Check out the website - www.airserv.org for more detailed information on the company. To summarize what Air Serv does - we shuttle around relief workers/NGOs and supplies to quite remote areas of disaster prone parts of the world. Currently Air Serv has aircraft in the Congo, Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mozambique, and Uganda thru a sister company. The experience level you have coming in will determine where you'll be sent. Air Serv operates at present C208 Caravans, Twin Otters, King Airs, E120s (using contract crews with Naturelink) and I think one C210 but this might have been phased out.

Know what you're getting into before you sign up and don't come here only to build time. Like many others flying here, I had other options in aviation but right now I'd rather be with Air Serv, doing my wee bit to make this world a better place, than flying stateside. Pay is average but consider we are not paying federal/state taxes since we're out of the US and have no medical copayment/month and that slides up what we're making. We also get 4 weeks vacation/year (6 after year 2). You'll find Air Serv pilots from all different backgrounds. I am an Independence Air refugee, but at present among others we have a retired USAir guy, an ex-EAL guy, a longtime American Eagle guy, a few corporate types, as well as a myriad of others from a variety of places. Just because you are low time is not a bad thing; one of our recently upgraded DHC-6 Capts in Chad came here not even a year ago, flew the Twin Otter for a while as an FO, transitioned to the Caravan for a while, and now is back in the Twotter as a captain so if you are sharp and motivated, the opportunities will be there.

In terms of pay/qol - I don't know what you were thinking but expect to work hard when you come here. As in loading airplanes (I've fit over 2000lbs cargo on the Caravan), pax briefings, filing flight plans, dealing with authorities everywhere you go, dealing with incessant b.s. and corruption, flying to destinations with minimal wx reporting facilities, challenging approaches, terrain, density altitude, and a whole lot more. You're going to sweat a lot and the days will really wear on you - but I knew that coming in and have no complaints. Also - if working 6 days in a row or busting your ass to do the countless other little things that make our flights safe fazes you - maybe you shouldn't put in an application.

Come here if you are interesting in seeing the world and helping the myriad of folks out there less fortunate than we in North America. You'll learn to like it - I do. This is by no means a career place for me but it is a wonderful chance to see the world through aviation and do something positive with your piloting skills. I figure I'll be here a couple years before I think about heading back stateside fulltime.

PM me with any more q's.

jt

 

[JTrain]

And would somebody please explain to me what Air Serv is doing in the CARGO section!

jt