Mercenary flying or Flying Contraband
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Cat Driver
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Mercenary flying or Flying Contraband
Would you take a very high paying job as a Mercenary in a foreign country or a job flying contraband such as arms and hardware??
Last edited by Cat Driver on Tue May 10, 2005 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield...W. Buffett-
Cat Driver
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Teacher, lets try again....
...Lets just say that you would be paid $5,000.00 USD per trip ( one day return ) would that sort of help ease the pain of not being able to log the time?
Remember Paul Martin and his gang of thieves would not see one red cent of your pay as it would be in cash with a zero paper trail. By the way USD's come from the banks in small paper bands holding $10,000.00 per band. Very compact and easy to carry. I just love getting 100 copies of Franklin's picture wrapped real tight in those bank bands.
Cat
...Lets just say that you would be paid $5,000.00 USD per trip ( one day return ) would that sort of help ease the pain of not being able to log the time?
Remember Paul Martin and his gang of thieves would not see one red cent of your pay as it would be in cash with a zero paper trail. By the way USD's come from the banks in small paper bands holding $10,000.00 per band. Very compact and easy to carry. I just love getting 100 copies of Franklin's picture wrapped real tight in those bank bands.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
If you pay me $5000USD I could tell you where I flew Pablo Escobar.... ahhh those were the days. Exiled dictators, low level contra flights and more ammunition than the Canadian military - I guess that isn't much though.Cat Driver wrote:Teacher, lets try again....
...Lets just say that you would be paid $5,000.00 USD per trip ( one day return ) would that sort of help ease the pain of not being able to log the time?
Cat
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200hr Wonder
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I have been offered to lots and lots of money to fly around some of BC's finest... very tempting... enough money to pay off my student loans and get out of debt.
Though the risks do not justify the rewards... I want to have a long and illustrius career in aviation not a short and stupid one just to become bubbas bitch.
Cheers.
Though the risks do not justify the rewards... I want to have a long and illustrius career in aviation not a short and stupid one just to become bubbas bitch.
Cheers.
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I_Drive_Planes
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This question made me think a bit. My initial reaction would be "no" But I would have to say that, if the cargo didn't involve drugs, the flying wasn't to be done in North America, and if it wasn't something that would cause me trouble with the Canadian authorities I would seriously consider it. I would look at the organization requiring the flying to be done, and see what they are doing, if its something that I can live with being a part of then why not?Would you take a very high paying job as a Mercenary in a foreign country or a job flying contraband such as arms and hardware??
It would certainly be exciting, and if you didn't break any Canadian laws you could still log the time! (when you got home). You'd have some great stories to tell your grandkids, and a fair chunk of change to boot. But as I said above, it would depend on a lot of factors. I don't think many of those organizations would want someone that asks questions about what it is they are doing, so I doubt I'd have many opportunities in that field.
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Jaques Strappe
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We all work for crooks in aviation anyways. What would be wrong with not pretending for once.
I would pull any airplane out of any hangar for the right $$.
I would pull any airplane out of any hangar for the right $$.
"FLY THE AIRPLANE"!
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
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Panama Jack
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Depends on what it is. Plenty of people have done this for nothing-- or better said, for something they believe in. I know a few guys who used to fly for the Contras back in the 1980's. However, one has to be careful-- one man's freedom fighter is another guy's criminal. Hermanos al Rescate, an anti-Castro Cuban group in South Florida is only one example.
One thing is for sure though, you are risking everything. I know of one guy who served in the Air Force and was ordered to bomb insurgents in his own home town. 20+ years later, many still hold a grudge against him-- he lived in exile for many years . . . never flew again.
One thing is for sure though, you are risking everything. I know of one guy who served in the Air Force and was ordered to bomb insurgents in his own home town. 20+ years later, many still hold a grudge against him-- he lived in exile for many years . . . never flew again.
“If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it.”
-President Ronald Reagan
-President Ronald Reagan
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Cat Driver
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"and if it wasn't something that would cause me trouble with the Canadian authorities I would seriously consider it. "
Well if you want to do something besides fly and you want to be able to break the law with impunity in Canada you can become a politition but remember you will have to hang out with Svend and Jean and Alfonso and that crowd.
Cat
Well if you want to do something besides fly and you want to be able to break the law with impunity in Canada you can become a politition but remember you will have to hang out with Svend and Jean and Alfonso and that crowd.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Not sure what most of you think flying Contraband is all about. Lots of comments like, "if it doesn't cause me any harm", "if the risk is low". Doesn't sound to me like you really have the stomach for it so don't worry, you won't be called!
A had a friend who used to fly DC-3's out of the jungle strips in Colombia at night overloaded and then head low level across the salt water for the coast of Florida. Everything was going great, making lots of money, living on the edge until one night when they landed and the authorities were waiting for them. Long story short, he ended up laying in the dark jungle bleeding from the 3 bullet holes he had in him after he bailed out of the DC-3 and took off running for cover. He healed up, did quite a tour in a Colombia prison, just about bankrupted his family paying brides to get out of prison and the country.
He said when he was laying in the dark cold jungle bleeding to death, he knew it was time to take a long hard look at his life and where it was heading!!!!
It's real easy to sit behind a computer with you morning coffee and say yeah I would do that. Reality is much different, so anyone considering it had better take a moment and think about where their life is heading.
A had a friend who used to fly DC-3's out of the jungle strips in Colombia at night overloaded and then head low level across the salt water for the coast of Florida. Everything was going great, making lots of money, living on the edge until one night when they landed and the authorities were waiting for them. Long story short, he ended up laying in the dark jungle bleeding from the 3 bullet holes he had in him after he bailed out of the DC-3 and took off running for cover. He healed up, did quite a tour in a Colombia prison, just about bankrupted his family paying brides to get out of prison and the country.
He said when he was laying in the dark cold jungle bleeding to death, he knew it was time to take a long hard look at his life and where it was heading!!!!
It's real easy to sit behind a computer with you morning coffee and say yeah I would do that. Reality is much different, so anyone considering it had better take a moment and think about where their life is heading.
You Can Love An Airplane All You Want, But Remember, It Will Never Love You Back!
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Cat Driver
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Zlin :
" OK, Cat, I'm game. PM me the details and the cargo. I expect to be paid in cash, small US bills only, with non-sequential serial numbers. "
Lesson number one, if you are going to work flying contraband and you can carry your pay in small bills you are to stupid to even consider that line of work.
USD's in hundreds are the only sensible way to transport money, once in a civilized country you transfer it to an account that is safe from the Canadian Tax bandits..there are very few places left now but I know of at least three that are safe.
You set up an account in a company name such as "Loyal Canadian Ventures Ltd. " there is a managing fee in the foreign country that takes care of your account, then you are issued a credit / debit card on a bank such as Barkleys in England.
Once set up you can use the cards most anywhere on earth. This works like a charm and you have the satisfaction of determining where your hard earned money goes, rather than letting Paul and the good old boys use it for you.
One caution, when entering Canada you must remember that if you have 10,000.00 in USD on you you are over the limit and it becomes manditory to declare it...In Canada the $10,000.00 limit is in Canadian dollars, so with US currency you will be over the limit and if they decide to search you and find it you lose it.
If you want to bring in more than $10,000.00 Canadian and not declare it you need to have a girlfriend or someone you trust mule it for you.
In the USA, I always declare any amount over $10,000.00 USD, it is no big deal you are just sent to another customs/ immigration person and you declare the amount you have on you and that is that, all they are looking for is that you declare it and they have a record of it.
There is a lot more to living the good life that you should learn but those are the basics.
Cat
" OK, Cat, I'm game. PM me the details and the cargo. I expect to be paid in cash, small US bills only, with non-sequential serial numbers. "
Lesson number one, if you are going to work flying contraband and you can carry your pay in small bills you are to stupid to even consider that line of work.
USD's in hundreds are the only sensible way to transport money, once in a civilized country you transfer it to an account that is safe from the Canadian Tax bandits..there are very few places left now but I know of at least three that are safe.
You set up an account in a company name such as "Loyal Canadian Ventures Ltd. " there is a managing fee in the foreign country that takes care of your account, then you are issued a credit / debit card on a bank such as Barkleys in England.
Once set up you can use the cards most anywhere on earth. This works like a charm and you have the satisfaction of determining where your hard earned money goes, rather than letting Paul and the good old boys use it for you.
One caution, when entering Canada you must remember that if you have 10,000.00 in USD on you you are over the limit and it becomes manditory to declare it...In Canada the $10,000.00 limit is in Canadian dollars, so with US currency you will be over the limit and if they decide to search you and find it you lose it.
If you want to bring in more than $10,000.00 Canadian and not declare it you need to have a girlfriend or someone you trust mule it for you.
In the USA, I always declare any amount over $10,000.00 USD, it is no big deal you are just sent to another customs/ immigration person and you declare the amount you have on you and that is that, all they are looking for is that you declare it and they have a record of it.
There is a lot more to living the good life that you should learn but those are the basics.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Cat Driver
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CLguy said :
" It's real easy to sit behind a computer with you morning coffee and say yeah I would do that. Reality is much different, so anyone considering it had better take a moment and think about where their life is heading. "
Exactly, nothing in life is predictable so each person has to decide what they really want to do.
It is not my intent to encourage or suggest what anyone does, most here are old enough to tie their own shoes, if not then they are to young to make any decisions anyhow.
Cat
" It's real easy to sit behind a computer with you morning coffee and say yeah I would do that. Reality is much different, so anyone considering it had better take a moment and think about where their life is heading. "
Exactly, nothing in life is predictable so each person has to decide what they really want to do.
It is not my intent to encourage or suggest what anyone does, most here are old enough to tie their own shoes, if not then they are to young to make any decisions anyhow.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Cat...
I remember watching "60 Minutes" a few years ago about the civil war in Sierra Leon, Africa. It was the classic "Government troops vs. the Rebel forces" type of struggle.
The Sierra Leon Government had bought an old single-seat Russian attack helicopter (Afghanistan era) with a truck-load of ammunition and hired a Russian mercinary pilot to fly the thing. He would wake-up every day, jump in his chopper, head across the front-line, and blow the sh1t out of anything he could find. A couple hours later he'd come back for more fuel and ammo. and then do it all over again.
They were paying him US $500 a day whether he flew or not. And the best part was it was all tax free!
That'll get the student loans paid-off quick!
G
I remember watching "60 Minutes" a few years ago about the civil war in Sierra Leon, Africa. It was the classic "Government troops vs. the Rebel forces" type of struggle.
The Sierra Leon Government had bought an old single-seat Russian attack helicopter (Afghanistan era) with a truck-load of ammunition and hired a Russian mercinary pilot to fly the thing. He would wake-up every day, jump in his chopper, head across the front-line, and blow the sh1t out of anything he could find. A couple hours later he'd come back for more fuel and ammo. and then do it all over again.
They were paying him US $500 a day whether he flew or not. And the best part was it was all tax free!
That'll get the student loans paid-off quick!
G
"Slow and steady wins the race"
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Cat Driver
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Greenwich :
When you look at corruption and civil strife in any country there are generally three things that drive it, crooked politicians, religion or money. Sierra Leone is about diamonds.
With the right connections and luck you can buy, transport and sell diamonds in Antwerp or Amsterdam and do quite well.
One word of caution though, you will stand out like a hard on in a nunnery in Freetown and you may not live long unless you are connected and street smart in the ways of Africa.
Cat
When you look at corruption and civil strife in any country there are generally three things that drive it, crooked politicians, religion or money. Sierra Leone is about diamonds.
With the right connections and luck you can buy, transport and sell diamonds in Antwerp or Amsterdam and do quite well.
One word of caution though, you will stand out like a hard on in a nunnery in Freetown and you may not live long unless you are connected and street smart in the ways of Africa.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Beaver Driver
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When I was younger and bullet proof I used to think I would like do that sort of thing. I even talked to the guys who spray dope fields. Not that spraying dope fields is mercenary or contraband, but it is high paying edge of your seat type flying.
Now that I'm older and wiser I'm happy being an armchair mercenary. I've read "Air America", and "The Ravens". It's about time I picked up another book along those lines, and sugestions?
Now that I'm older and wiser I'm happy being an armchair mercenary. I've read "Air America", and "The Ravens". It's about time I picked up another book along those lines, and sugestions?
Flying a twin only doubles your chance of having an engine failure
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Cat Driver
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Hey guys, I just got another e-mail about the Dutch thing and have to go to my friendly travel agent to see how close to the 18 th. I can get a quick ticket.
But before I go I would like to point out another comforting fact to you.
If you decide to take a crack at life in the other lane you need never again worry about getting PPC's instrument check rides and all that bureaucratic B.S. because you can buy bogus licenses that give you any rating you want.
Remember it is always cheaper to ask forgiveness than ask for permission. Especially in your socialistic victimazation (sp?) country...remember Svend?
Cat
But before I go I would like to point out another comforting fact to you.
If you decide to take a crack at life in the other lane you need never again worry about getting PPC's instrument check rides and all that bureaucratic B.S. because you can buy bogus licenses that give you any rating you want.
Remember it is always cheaper to ask forgiveness than ask for permission. Especially in your socialistic victimazation (sp?) country...remember Svend?
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
...except for the whole killing part, $500/day isn't too bad.
As a low time instructor one of my students came to me with a "job" offer and a warning. Money would have paid my entire dept load off in one day, the warning was once I work for these fellas, I can't just disapear, they will want to know where I am from then on. And if they call for my services again, it would be smart to co-operate.
The pay was 5K/Key of columbias finest, amazing pay but not worth my career or my life.
Needless to say it was not for me.
I have heard of one job working for the insurance companies where you go to central/south america and re-steal stolen planes. I could imagine how much fun (and dangerous) that would be.
Cheers.
As a low time instructor one of my students came to me with a "job" offer and a warning. Money would have paid my entire dept load off in one day, the warning was once I work for these fellas, I can't just disapear, they will want to know where I am from then on. And if they call for my services again, it would be smart to co-operate.
The pay was 5K/Key of columbias finest, amazing pay but not worth my career or my life.
Needless to say it was not for me.
I have heard of one job working for the insurance companies where you go to central/south america and re-steal stolen planes. I could imagine how much fun (and dangerous) that would be.
Cheers.
The feet you step on today might be attached to the ass you're kissing tomorrow.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
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Cat Driver
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KAG..
"except for the whole killing part, $500/day isn't too bad. "
Hell I make more than that instructing, flying any in high risk areas starts at $5000.00 USD per day.
I am still undecided about the smuggling drugs thing, so far it has been something that I will not do, but a few years ago we were having lunch in the air terminal in Jeddah and a German DAR who was signing off an airplane for us to ferry put up a convincing argument to support drug smuggling.
So far I haven't really been convinced.
Cat
"except for the whole killing part, $500/day isn't too bad. "
Hell I make more than that instructing, flying any in high risk areas starts at $5000.00 USD per day.
I am still undecided about the smuggling drugs thing, so far it has been something that I will not do, but a few years ago we were having lunch in the air terminal in Jeddah and a German DAR who was signing off an airplane for us to ferry put up a convincing argument to support drug smuggling.
So far I haven't really been convinced.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Hey Cat,
You omitted one part of my post when quoting it: "
"
Not to put too fine a point on it, but my remark was purely tongue-in-cheek. The fact that I know nothing about clandestine aviation work is not exactly a bad thing, in my view. Still, your response was interesting, and enlightening. Thanks.
You omitted one part of my post when quoting it: "
"Not to put too fine a point on it, but my remark was purely tongue-in-cheek. The fact that I know nothing about clandestine aviation work is not exactly a bad thing, in my view. Still, your response was interesting, and enlightening. Thanks.
Understanding begets harmony; in seeking the first you will find the last.
