Between heaven and earth.
Between heaven and earth.
That day, our pilots appear in the centre of any scandal.
Terrorists take them in hostages, the authorities of the various states throw in
Prison, at them select cargo, they arrest the plane, at last, simply
Are missing. "Power" has decided to understand, why it so does not carry.
"On May, 12th of this year. In Angola around Luzamba, a province Northern Lund,
Civil plane An-26 has been brought down... The Russian crew has been grasped
The National union oppositional to the Angola government for the full
Independence of Angola (UNITHAT)... "According to this statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,
The Russian pilots - commander A.L.Zajtsev, second pilot S.K.Zaharov,
Flight engineer S.I.Chestjakov - worked on Angola airline "п п п я п " and
Transported quite peace cargo. Now the Russian diplomats try
To find out, that with them happens. According to all available information, all are live. Leaders
UNITHAT, obviously, will try to use captured for pressure on
The government of Angola and the international organisations. To pilots has largely carried:
Unlike set of their colleagues they have a chance to return home.
According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only for last ten months and only
In Angola have been brought down and seven planes were missing; from them four - with
The Russian crews. How they there have flown? Certainly, not from the good
Lives.
In the West the civil pilot - not less prestigious trade, than,
For example, the director of the large company. The salary of the American pilot
Reaches $18 thousand at the commander of the ship, $10 thousand - at other members
Crew. Pilots from the CIS, having the same qualification, agree to fly
For three-five hundreds dollars. In comparison with the salary of the domestic pilot
And it is a lot of: in Russia and the CIS countries pilots receive $50-100 (and, how
It is known, not always pay).
Naturally, pilots are glad to any contract. One former military pilot from
Moscow suburbs has told as it has got to Africa. Has learnt somehow from the
Colleagues, that the pilot for three months is necessary to small Angola airline.
Has contacted her. Then took holiday at own expense and has gone. Was going to
To earn on the new car, and it has turned out so, that has earned and on apartment,
And on the car. It is ready to return to Africa as soon as possible.
According to Association of flight structure of the Russian Federation - the trade union uniting
Civil pilots of Russia and other CIS countries, today in Africa work
About 15 thousand aviation experts from the former USSR. From them nearby 10
Thousand - Russian. Find such job through friends, colleagues or in
The Internet also fly, as pilots, on "scrap metal" - for job speak in
To Africa the companies get often on cheap stuff the written off planes, for a long time
Fulfilled the resource.
"Scrap metal" and small, on the world standards, the salary - half-troubles.
The main trouble that the choice at pilots is not present, and they agree on the such
Conditions on what their any western colleague never will go.
With gross spelling mistakes made contracts, the doubtful cargoes, any guarantees
Safety and the insurance, except "word of honour" of the employer. As a result
Talib captivity, the African or Indian prison and - the long list
The pilots who have got to a trouble.
In August, 1995 pilots of Kazan airline "Aerocamp" have forced
All Russia to start talking about the Afghani movement "Taliban" which has grasped them
In a captivity. Then it was still vnove, and to destiny of pilots have attended not only
The Russian authorities, but also the American senate. Eventually, after a year
Captivity, pilots managed to run (on one of versions, for a chain of "casual"
The coincidence which has made this runaway possible, Russia has laid out the round sum).
On January, 8th, 1996 at capital Zaire airport Ndolo at launch
The flea market has run away and has failed on overflowed with Africans,
Located directly at a runway, the transport plane
An-32. It belonged to "the Moscow air airlines", and Russian
The crew worked under the aegis of airline "Afriken ejruejz" and made flights
Under firm "SSIBE-ZAIR" licence. An-32 propahal trading numbers and, having hurt
The case, has blown up in crowd of Africans. 300 persons, still were lost from above
Some hundreds have got heavy burns and wounds. In Zaire has been declared
Mourning.
That became a cause of the tragedy, till now is not established. The representative
Department of air transport of Russia, soon the visited Zaire, has declared,
That the plane running into the market, should not fly up at all, as
Activity of "the Moscow air airlines" the named department
Has suspended some days prior to tragedy. Thus airline
It is responsible for all cars, including leased.
Nobody has proved fault of pilots, nevertheless they have appeared in African
To prison. Our diplomats several times in day brought it potable water and
Meal. According to Nikolay Hizhnjaka, the representative of the Federal aviation
Services of Russia, participating in job of the commission on investigation of the reasons
Air crashes, it "had to collect on dollar money from the Russian
The pilots working in Zaire to provide a living wage for
Prisoners ".
The Russian pilots would sit and to this day if in Zaire has not happened
Military coup d'etat. Parts of insurgent leader Lorana Dezire Kabily have occupied
Kinshasa also have dethroned the government of Zaire. The country has been renamed in
Democratic republic Congo. The first and, similar, unique
Democratic reform consisted that insurgents have opened prisons and
Have let out all who there sat. Crew An-32 managed to run.
But so carries not all. On December, 24th, 1997 should take off home
Six pilots from Kishinev: in the end of 1997 they worked on п п -72 on
To the contract with Congolese airline "Ejr the Pelican" also were engaged, as
Representatives of the company, "transportation of the goods confirm now
National consumption in the African continent, including Congo,
Angola, the republic of South Africa, That, the Cat-d ` Ivuar ". However they have not returned to Kishinev. On
To the statement "Ejr the Pelican", on December, 22nd, 1997 this An-72 has taken off for Namibia.
Investigation which was spent by airline RENAN - the owner of the plane -
Has shown, that on December, 22nd, 1997 An-72 has landed at airport Andulo
(Angola), whence next day should take off for Abidjan, capital
The states the Cat-d ` Ivuar, with cargo of diamonds. Further traces are lost. The authorities
Angola to all inquiries respond, that this plane in their territory is not present.
About the plane, about crew - Anatolii Lemeshkine, Paul Gorchinskom, Valerys
Kulagin, Michael Safronoviche, Alexander Kolesnikov, Peter Kristeve, about
Five passengers - citizens of Lebanon, it is not known.
That who like should be engaged in destiny of our pilots - Associations
Flight structure of Russia, it is not enough that about them is known. And it is clear why. In a course
Rapid development of market relations in territory of the former USSR has appeared
So much small airlines what to follow them there is no possibility.
Half of such firms to avoid necessity to pay high taxes,
Are registered abroad - in the African countries, Iran, Bangladesh. Yes
They also are not interested in giving about themselves the information. Often such
The enterprises are created under the concrete customer for transportation of the weapon,
Drugs etc. Anybody thus does not think of pilots. Has earned on
Apartment - be happy; has disappeared in prison - in the market of the CIS suffices
The professionals, ready to undertake any job.
Here three years sits in kalkuttskoj to prison "Prezidensi dzhejl"
The Latvian crew which accuse of illegal transportation of the weapon. To pilots
Life imprisonment or death penalty threatens. At them very typical
History.
In the middle of November, 1995 company "п п я п п п п " has offered crew
Captain Alexander Klishina to work under the contract to Bangladesh. Pilots
Should overtake in capital Bangladesh Dacca plane AN-26B, which
"Latavia" has sold local airline "Kerol Ejr Servisez", and then
To execute some transport flights in region.
Pilots have agreed. Five days prior to a start the heads "Latavia"
Has presented them the actual owner of the plane - a certain Kima Peter Devi,
One of heads "Kerol Ejr Servisez". It should fly together with
Them. Before a start from Riga have aboard shipped aviaspare parts and devices for
Long job of the plane far from repair base. Documents aboard the plane and
Cargo made out the Davy.
Have departed. In penultimate point of a route - Benares (India) -
It was necessary to be late: Dacca has not confirmed the permission to planting. Four
Day pilots have spent in hotel "India" in Benares. Then the Davy has offered them
To fly to Karachi (Pakistan) and to work on its firm there. In Karachi it
To someone has called and has then informed pilots that it is necessary to deliver urgent
Some equipment from Bulgaria to Bangladesh. To release the plane,
Spare parts have unloaded - to Bulgaria have departed nalegke. At the Bulgarian airport
Burgas under instructions of the Davy was aboard loaded by any wooden boxes,
Sealed up and marked as "the technical equipment". Documents on
Cargo were as it should be: the customs and boundary service of Burgas have passed it
Without remarks. When the plane has arrived to Benares, the Indian customs also
Anything suspicious onboard has not found.
In some hours п п -26 has headed for Bangladesh. When the plane
There was over territory of West Bengal (India), the Davy has ordered to dump
Cargo in area Purulija. Pilots have tried to protest, but the Davy has threatened
The weapon. Have decreased to the minimum height and boxes have dumped. Then
Lodge safely in Bangladesh.
Three days later, on a return way from Bangladesh, pilots have obtained the order
The dispatcher of the airport of Bombay: immediately to come in the land. Have sat down in Bombay. There
Crew have arrested and have flung in prison. Here a third year proceeds
Proceeding.
In the chamber the temperature does not fall below 50 degrees, high humidity.
For three years at one of pilots the tuberculosis of both lungs, another has developed
Has transferred two heart attacks, all five - heavy diseases of a liver and others
Bodies. Everyone has lost in weight from 9 to 20 kg. Having decided, that can and not live
Till the end of court, in March of this year pilots have gone on hunger strike "before end
Hearings of witnesses of charge ". After a week the prison heads
Has tried to feed them compulsorily. Pilots have shown resistance and
Have been beaten. At one of them, Oleg Gajdasha, two edges, and on a forehead - are broken
Deep trace from a boot horseshoe. At the others - grazes, bruises,
Bruises, tumours.
Later at the desire of our diplomats hunger-strike has been stopped. "Pilots
Hope for clearing, but really estimate the state of health and
Understand, what is it summer can not go through ", - has declared recently visited in
To Calcutta the vice-president of Association of flight structure Alexander
The Agrikoljansky.
As to most Kima the Davy wonderfully it was possible to it
To disappear. Subsequently it was found out, that its already long time searches
The Interpol. The present name of the Davy - Nejls Christian. He is engaged many years
Weapons smuggling, and also consists in members of separative grouping
"Anand marg" ("a pleasure Way"). This organisation conducted the armed
Actions against the government of West Bengal. Just for "Ways
Pleasure "the weapon from ill-starred boxes also intended: automatic machines
Kalashnikov, grenade cup discharges, pistols, ammunition and an ammunition of the Bulgarian
Manufactures.
As shows experience, the Russian pilots can take part in destiny
Pilots only after with them already something happens. Western
Colleagues our problems interest only on the one hand - commercial.
The international federation of associations of linear pilots - international
The trade union of pilots - considers as strikebreakers of those who agrees to fly
It is less, than for $2000. They even trace such pilots and dispatch them
Lists on airlines so that then them did not take on job in developed
The countries. But to our pilots it without a difference: them and so do not take.
The Russian flight certificates have no international status. That
To receive even theoretical possibility to fly in the USA or Switzerland,
It is necessary for Russians to pass a course of retraining which $8000 cost. For
The bill. However, some airlines from the developed countries agree
To pay for retraining. At them the benefit: then the pilot should return
The money spent for its training (this condition of the contract) and to send it
It is possible anywhere - in any hot point.
But job in the decent companies - destiny of few lucky persons. The others
Survive, as can. On October, 23rd, 1997 in the second-large city
Congos - Puent-Nuare - have been detained 11 Russian pilots: crew п п -32
The Kazan engine-building association, employed by the company "Transcharter-party
aerolajn ", and crew of the plane from Voronezh private airline" Weeds ".
They worked under the contract with the Belgian aviafirm - transported
The foodstuffs. The authorities of Congo have accused pilots of traffic in arms. Any
They could not present proofs, but 22 days the Russian citizens
Have spent under arrest. Then our diplomats managed to agree, and
Pilots have released.
It would be desirable to finish: all of them have safely returned home. But is not present,
Anything similar. Right after clearings two from 11 pilots - the commander
One of crews Michael Favourable and technician Konstantin Jatskevich -
Have declared, that remain in Puent-Nuare and will continue job on the contract with
The Belgian aviafirm. They have given a subscription, that in case of occurrence of the new
Complications take responsibility on itself. If they once again get in
Prison to help them it will be simple nobody. However, as well as to the majority
The others.
OLGA NIKUSHKINA.
Our pilots easily find job worldwide. They have the high
Qualification, agree the cheap salary, and their death to the employer and
At all it is possible.
To receive purely theoretical possibility to fly to the USA or
Switzerland, to our pilot it is necessary to pass a course of retraining, which
There are $8000. At own expense.
//* an information Source: the Businessman (weekly journal), 15.06.99
//* Reg. Nom. - 1090600178.20-------------------------------------------
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