TonyWilliams

One thing different than many third world experiences is that most people speak english. And this third world country has lots of oil money.

Finally, it was formally (until 1961) a british colony, so there are lots and lots of english speaking ex-pats roaming around.

And don't forget the happiest people on earth!

Tony

embflieger

So, snappy comebacks, yes, but no direct knowledge?

TonyWilliams

Arik has canceled their Oct 17, 2008 interview assessments for the CRJ.

I wouldn't expect that hiring to start up again until they actually have the CRJ's enroute from Montreal, sometime in early-ish 2009.

embflieger

That's rather odd. A few days ago I received a call, asking whether I'd like to have my interview date moved from Nov 20th to October 19th. I declined, in light of the extra cash it'd cost me for tickets, I'm selling my house, and the fact that I had no idea what would be going on over there. Probably should've gone. In any case, I'm a CRJ guy with a few hundred hours in the Airbus. My understanding is that I'm going for the 900 job, and there's been no indication of a hiring hiatus. But then, I don't know everything. As things stand, if called, I can disappear within hours. It's kind of a weird feeling.

aviatorisu

CAE is still holding assessments for Arik Air on all their platforms...weird.

Z

TonyWilliams

CRJ... Airbus... EMB name?

Still interviewing/hiring for Hawker, B737NG, and Q400.

Tony

TonyWilliams

The tax issue has recently been "reinterpreted" by our friends at IRS who have to raise 1 trillion for wars, and another trillion or so for bailout.

First, you have to meet the overseas residency requirements. That's either 330 days outside the U.S., or a resident visa in the country you're working in. Arik will probably not meet either of these requirements, because more than likely, you'll go home to the U.S. on your 28 days off every 56 days, and you'll probably have a work visa in Nigeria, not a resident visa.

Second, they've determined (IRS) that your time over international waters doesn't count. And, since you have no way to determine how much of a particular leg is at the overseas country, and how much is over international waters, they just disallow the whole thing. Sure, take 'em to court. They have LOTS of time (and your money).

While this second issue may not apply at Arik on the -900/-1000 CRJs, it may on the other aircraft that are doing longer haul stuff.

This is no joke. Folks are getting audited right now who are pilots who have expat overseas money on their tax returns.

embflieger

Well, dammit. Tony, I've just received the following:

Unfortunately I have just been informed that all CRJ recruitment is now on hold at Arik Air, this includes all candidates that are booked on assessment or that have passed assessment. Therefore your assessment has been cancelled.

As for the EMB, I started out airline pilot life on the Embraer 145. 3,000 hours later I went off to the CRJ, without ever getting typed on the 145. Then I went off to a major, to almost immediately get f'ed. So on to something else now. . .

TonyWilliams

I guess that probably means me, too.

Oh well, there's always plan X, Y, and Z.

embflieger

To quote Will Smith in Bad Boys II (come on, what pilot hasn't wasted days watching Michael Bay movies), this is definitely plan C. Lovely Beth from the crew leasing compay called this morning to see if I'd fly something else. Well. . .yeah. Maybe I'll get the 737 or Q400. She's supposed to "get back to me." I think I had a date like this once. The upshot is that it seems dead in the water and it's back to square one.