Can this happen?

sorrygottarunway

sorrygottarunway

Well-Known Member
A guy walks into the flight school today and starts talking to me about flight training for his brother... from Africa. He is not a pilot, needs to do an "intensive and fast" program at our flight school to get his PPL, IFR, COMM etc... The guy then told me that he needs it fast because he has a "job offer" back in Africa flying 737-700s for the airlines, he just needs to train himself to the standards for it. And if we're nice, he'll write us a nice letter of recommendation for the instructor after the training is done.


does this sound strange or what? Is this a common occurrence for Afrika? Should I be concerned?

I mean, while I'm here at the FBO slogging through my ratings the best that I can, someone without even one hour of PPL or any idea what an ATIS is, has a job waiting for him?

Heck, I'm moving to Africa!

-B
 
Conversationally question this guy.

A guy showed up for the jumpseat on an Eagle flight in FWA once, and the FA noticed something just wasn't right. He had a beard, 3 or 4 carry-ons, and just didn't 'sound' like a pilot. She told the guy to head on up and talk to the crew (this was on an ATR so he had a ways to walk) she called up the guys and told them a jumpseater was on his way up to talk to them, but she thought he was bogus. Sure enough, as the crew 'talked' to him, he couldn't carry on an 'airline pilot' conversation. He tried to run, but airport security caught him outside of the front doors of the terminal, and he was hauled off to jail.

Ask him what airline he has this offer with, specifically what kind of training their looking for. What charts do they use? Where will he be based? What is their schedule/trips like? What is the company structure? Who is the president of the airline? If pressed for enough details, he will either be legit, or he will show his true colors.

If you suspect something serious, call the proper authorities IMMEDIATLY.
 
I will, he gave me his number. He identified himself as a captain for MESA airlines, looking for training for his brother who is still in Africa awaiting a visa to come over here? (or maybe he already has one?)

1-866-GA-SECURE

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As others have said, mesh him and see if he knows what he's talking about.

I was attending a MAJOR flight school in FL prior to 9/11 and trained with a zero-time Middle-Eastern individual who was going to fly corporate iron for his dad: perfectly legit (they checked up on him). Test alternative hypotheses, and if you still think it's suspicious, alert your local field office/resident agency office.

J.
 
Maybe one of the Mesa guys on the board here could verify this guys statement of being a Mesa CA.

I don't know, I don't like to be suspicious, but this just sounds weird. What airline hires guys with no time, and tells them to go find their own training & come back and fly for them? Some forgien airlines do have ab initio hiring, but their training programs are run, or at least in some way facilitated, by the airline.
 
I know the opportunites in Africa are much better than here. A friend of mine moved there (he was african) and was able to get into a kingair slot after graduation with about 300 hrs or so.

A lot of overseas pilots (i.e. UAE, Saudi) come to places like Phoenix East Aviation and give them a lump sum and say "get this done".

Sounds freaky but it happens - not totally uncommon.

~wheelsup
 
Check it out to be sure. I talked to someone in Singapore who is looking to get her private ticket, and you know how much that will run? It will run her about $20K Singapore, which is around $12K US.

So she emailed me and asked me if I thought she could get her private ticket here in the US during a two week trip here. I said it would be tough, but I guess she could if she flew every single day for at least three or four hours.

Now, imagine that woman being an Indian guy (there's a pretty big population of Indians in Singapore) and showing up at the local FBO and asking the same question.

I'd say check it out, see if his story flies, and see what's up. Also, keep in mind that we really shouldn't be doing the real checking here. That's something that the police should be doing, so if you think something's a little weird, I'd call them and let them handle it.
 
I've seen students who would come in to flight school and behave as if they have a 747 job waiting for them. That always created some sort of interest or hush-hush around them in the pre 9/11 days.

I don't think there is anything unusual in that. I do seriously doubt that he/she has a job waiting for him. If he did, he probably wouldn't be talking about it. The reason he is braging about it is cause he is unsecure and wants everyone to be jealous of him.
 
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