ost (Ditch) wrote in message ...
I have this kernel of a romantic dream of flying
around Africa for a couple of years for some relief
agency or something.

Check out www.airserv.org
They even pay as opposed to jaars, which is volunteer.


Yeah, these guys look cool, though their requirements
mean that this adventure would be set back several
years:

MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS

PILOT QUALIFICATIONS
Captain of Aircraft US License PIC Turbine PIC ME PIC
Single Engine Recip FAA CPL/IR 1200
Single Engine Turbine FAA CPL/IR 1500 100
Multi Engine Turbine FAA CPL/ME 1800 100 500


At 220 hours, I've got a ways to go. I guess I was
imagining seeing requirements in the 500 TT range.

It's not clear if they have lower FO requirements,
however.

I had a talk about this with my instructor (many thousand
hour ATP rated codger type) over lunch
the other day, and he seems to be of the opinion that
these requirements for such lowly and dangerous jobs are
ludicrous, and that the invisible hand of economics will
swing back and adjust them to more reasonable levels --
as more would-be pilots realize that it's not worth it.

I wonder, though if the lure of aviation is just so
great that it will continue to swamp rationality forever.
After all, it has with me. On the other hand, I really
don't plan to make my fortune in aviation. I just don't
want to lose it that way.

-- dave j