Select at random, one of the popular anti malaria medications, and read the package insert with all the warnings and cautions. Pretty scary stuff. Most are intended for very short term use (weeks, not months) Air France, which does a lot of bid-ness there has lost several crewmembers to malaria in recent history.
Full disclosure: I've spent a good bit of time on the African continent in the past year. It's ok in small doses, as long as you are fully aware of what you are getting into. Africa (anywhere North of Jo'berg) is NOT a place to be taken lightly.
Fly Safe out there
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What was the name of that truck driving school?
Yes, indeed the picture is DGAA, just outside the VOR to runway 21. The file name "Nigeria2009Lagos250.jpg" just happens to be the name it got after picture number 249, taken in Nigeria.
The DC-9 jcapt obs I know pay $8.0 per month (or more), with housing, transportation, medical, air fare and recurrency training costs paid for.
cliff
NBO
hey thanks for all the info. It looks like I have a chance at a base in Lagos. Nigeria. Anyone have any clue as to the living conditions? etc
I have done contract work before, and always made sure that I was housed in a five star hotel. Any such animal in Lagos?? I ve never been.
so lemme get this straight, he has a paid driver? or is it just his shuttle that picks him up to and from the airport for his scheduled flights?
He has a paid driver, that takes him to/from the airport, shopping, etc. I don't think you go anywhere in Lagos without your armed driver/escort.
Also , what is his or your roster ie how many days in country, then days off.
I think he is 1 month off/1 month on (I was supposed to be 6 months on/1 off, but they were short guys, so I didn't go home after my 6 months). Other contracts are 6 wks/2 wks, 2 mos/1 month, 2 mos/2 wks, 5 mos/1 month, and 12 months straight, then off.
What is your monthly pay?
The DC-9 capts I know make $8.0/month+. The most I have heard is about $16/mo, but that is in the Middle East, where the pay is higher. The highest pay I have heard of is in Africa was $10/mo., but that was back in the early 1970s at Wilson Airport in NBO.
Do you have them pay you in advance?
Some places do pay in advance, some pay late all the time, others pay whenever they feel like, etc. The worst I heard is a guy flew for 2 years without pay, and then ended up leaving, with no pay for that 2 year period.
How rough is it in Lagos? does he leave the hotel ? Any advice on what I need to negotiate before I sign on the dotted line.
I am glad I am in Nairobi, and not Lagos.
Any advice is very much appreciated. PS how much per diem do they give you?
I think my buddy just gets all his meals paid for at the hotel. I get perdiem if gone overnight (which hasn't happened), I think $50 or so.
Situations vary MASSIVLY depending on your airline/organization/contract, etc. West Africa flying, in general, is pretty tough (compared w/ N, E, or S Africa). No radar, crappy radio communications, REALLY crappy weather, LOTS of holding, and coordinating with other pilots to ATC yourselves into various places.
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