Co- pilots positions in Afghanistan?

[six-three Bravo]

I heard a rumour a couple of weeks ago that there was a helicopter company in Afghanistan looking for ex - pat co -pilots for Agusta 109's.

If anyone has any leads i would appreciate it if you could PM me.

Cheers

six-three Bravo

[stixtime]

i heard they only provide you with a one way ticket too.

[pohm1]

It won't be an hour building operation, it'll be for those with military experience and good life insurance.

P1

[Freewheel]

It won't be an hour building operation, it'll be for those with military experience and good life insurance.

...and their own butthole protector.

Information to hand suggests that Kabul is a zoo and the rest is a zoo without fences.


Good luck.

[six-three Bravo]

apparently no military flying experience necessary. can't be any worse than sitting in the back of a Blackhawk flying over Baghdad which i did for 12 months however this time I plan to be up front.

Anyway we disgress again, has anyone got any useful info on this for those who are interested.

Cheers

six-three Bravo

[wheatbix]

I heard a rumour a couple of weeks ago that there was a helicopter company in Afghanistan looking for ex - pat co -pilots for Augusta 109's.

Sorry to be pedantic - Augusta is the motorcycle; Agusta is the helicopter.

Having said that I'm also interested if anyone know's anything.

[SICK HORSEY]

PM me also please if those in the know are sharing the info.

Ta.

[pohm1]

can't be any worse than sitting in the back of a Blackhawk

You reckon?

If you and your Blackhawk made a forced landing, the SF cavalry would be sent to ensure your safe return, who's going to rescue a civvy contractor? Nobody....as some have found out to their cost in Iraq and The 'Stan.

Best of luck...

P1

[NZHelo]

Does anyone know if the operator will be paying the award wage?.......

[Capitain Bollywood]

You should be able to get pretty cheap food and rent so below award wage might not be such an issue over there.

[FerrariFlyer]

Does anyone know if the operator will be paying the award wage?.......

What would constitute 'the award' for flying as a co-pilot in a small multi as an expatriate whilst flying over a desert with lead jellybeans coming thick and fast from below? It would have to be a somewhat decent package to compensate for the daily and very real risk to your life.

Would have to agree with Pohm1 with the situation regarding being shot down and having no one to come help out. Not an enviable position to be in and certainly not something I would personally be keen for...with or without a job prior to applying. It might sound ok from far away sending the resume off with fingers crossed, but I think most would probably get a cold shock once they found themselves being strapped in and ready to launch once in country. Same sort of shock one gets when belted in the head with a frozen tuna...or something like that!?!

Good luck to whoever ends up in the saddle with this one.

[SICK HORSEY]

Ah come on you blokes, those Taliban folk are really friendly....just don't interupt the stoneing of their wives and the weekly beheadings and you're safe as a Bondi surfer.

Latest CIA intel has them fresh out of frozen Tuna so what are you waiting for? Get it India

[six-three Bravo]

For one who has worked as a private contractor in iraq for 12 months, and been under fire if you work as a private contractor in the badlands your every move is covered by a transponder with a panic button whether it be in an aircraft or vehicles. Once the alarm is triggered there is a quick reaction force (QRF) dispatched to retrieve coalition personel regardless if you are contractor or military usually is the form of 2 Apaches or a least a US Blackhawk.

They saved my arse on more than one occassion. Your tasking often involves escorting US military Engineers or US State Dept Personnel so the Yanks are relucant to leave you to the bad guys.

This was not the case in early 2004 when the BlackWater contractors were caught is Falluja and strung up on the city bridge. This incident prompted the system of transponder tracking and QRF by the US military being implemented to retrieve contractors in a firefight. Trust me it works.

One would hope that same system has been implemented in Afghanstan by the Coalition to track and retrieve private contractors. If you hold a US Dept of Defence, DoD Card the Americans treat you as part of their military. I can't speak highly enough how the American military treated me and my team.

Yet we are still no wiser if these co- pilots positions were or are still going.

Cheers

six-three Bravo

[NZHelo]

What I want to know is, What happened to the last co-pilot?.....

[pohm1]

What I want to know is, What happened to the last co-pilot?

The story got a bit twisted in the telling, initial reports were that he had purchased a small plot of land to rear a few cattle, turned out that the truth was he'd "bought the farm"!

P1

[Dauphin]

What I want to know is, What happened to the last co-pilot?

The story got a bit twisted in the telling, initial reports were that he had purchased a small plot of land to rear a few cattle, turned out that the truth was he'd "bought the farm"!

P1

Very funny. Made me laugh anyway.

[Ecureuil]

Presidential Airways (Blackwater) had this 4/3/09!

http://www.jsfirm.com/companydetail.asp?jobid=23744

SA 330J Puma Pilots will provide flying support for DOD Contracts in Afghanistan
Benefits: Please Inquire
Requirements: >> 2,500 hours total flight time is required >> FAA Commercial and Instrument Airman‘s Certificates - Rotorcraft Helicopter is required>> Current FAA Class I or II Medical Certificate required >> Experience with 330 type is preferred *******Presidential Airways is an EOE - M/F/D/V

[nana yabiznus]

Wow, Looks like some valuable info has been posted here. Unfortunately for Six Three Bravo though, it looks like he's had to post it all himself.
Why are some people so quick to treat everyone as though they are stupid? Sounds like he knows more than most of us (and you) about the dangers involved.
Good luck 63B.

Nana

[imrb]

Both the helicopter and motorcycle company names are "Agusta". I think that they were very closely related a long time ago.

[SICK HORSEY]

Well said Nana