Air Serv

[Bertie Wooster]

Air Serv does humanitarian aid work all over the world particularly in Africa. THey use 206's king airs etc. Last I knew Lucinda Martin was in charge of hiring. HQ is in Redlands California. Minimum time requirements are very high. Almost all the pilots have bush experience. Interview is one week long with videos etc . Kind of a reality check. Great company. Good maintainence.

Try a search on PPrune for more info. Hope this helps.

 

[airspeed]

Air Serve

Had a job offer from the awhile ago. BE200 based in Afghanistan. At the time I couldn't do it, too many things on the homefront. Last I talked with them they had an opening coming up in Jordan in a BE200 to fly from Jordan to Iraq everyday. The pay is Very low, like 2400/mo for a BE200 Capt. I just couldn't see flying into a war zone for that kinda pay. Very nice people though. BTW- they are in Warrenton VA, no longer in CA.

 

[80/20]

Air Serv Intl called me in 1993 for a background check on a pilot. He got hired with them, and flew in Africa for one year. I met him later, and this is what he told me about their operation:

"Air Serv Intl. is a humanitarian non-profit organization that prefers pilots that would like to make our world a better place. They want people not only motivated by money. They are not the best paying humanitarian operator in the "business". Other commercial humanitarian operators pay better. Air Serv Intl are, however, still one of the most serious humanitarian operator, with good maintenance, health insurance and so on. (Non-profit unlike several other commercial humanitarian operators)."

My friend flew in Kenya, Africa, where they had Twin Otters, KingAirs and Caravans. Co-pilot pay was 1400 USD @ month and Capt 2000 + food & housing. I also know another pilot who flew with Air Serv Intl. for several years. He said nice things about them. (He is now with SoutWest).

I got a good feeling for their chief pilot when he called me.
Just heard that they are setting up a humanitarian operation to help out, once the people of Iraq are liberated. Search and find their website to confirm this and other details.

 

[TurboS7]

I interviewed with AirServ when they started years ago. About 25 of the guys that used to work for me went with Airserv. Great organization, the reason they don't pay that well is that they really want pilot's that are "called" to what they are doing and not into money. I went with MAF instead as I had 5 kids at the time. When I retire from this mess and get the kids out of the house I WILL be knocking on their doorstep or the doorstep of Samaritian Purse.

 

[Toy Soldier]

Good Luck!

Good luck with the "serving others"! It is a noble profession. I too have been bitten by the bug, however, going overseas isn't really an option now.

However, you can also help in the following charities to "give back to the community". I do all of these. There are MANY others, but these are cloze to my base.

1. Angel Flight Southeast transplant pilot.
2. Christian Air Ministry Pilot/member
3. Boy Scout aviation merit badge counselor
4. Army Aviation Heritage Foundation pilot
5. Civil Air Patrol pilot
6. AOPA mentor for the Project Pilot program

There are also some "missionary pilot" schools and organizations, however, they usually want you to have your A&P, etc...

 

[80/20]

Noble choice FlyChicaga! Good luck, will you let us know how it goes?

 

[414Flyer]

There is also Aviation Exploring, which is through Scouting. Its high school age up to 21 year old, people that have an interest in aviation. You can call the BSA office in your city and see if there is an unit already.

 

[TurboS7]

Welcome to Iraq, you'll be flying out of Jordon. Unless they move you to Africa and use their more exprienced crews in the war zone. Hope you have a strong stomach as you'll see some pretty nasty stuff.