Single Engine Opportunities for low-time pilots (primarily Bush Pilot focused)

[PilotSVK]

Hello all,

In the first place thanks to all for the great advice and information that has been put on this forum!

To date I have read the posts on Botswana, Namibia and a lot of the others (also outside of Africa). Since I couldn't find any thread actually summing up the big picture of the opportunities with up-to-date information for low-time pilots (say 400-1000 TT), I have made this one. Majority of the (bush pilot) opportunities are in Africa, hence I chose to post it over here, but it would be a pity not to include also information on good opportunities for low-timers on other continents.

Being an outsider aspiring to come to Africa from October 2016, I will be grateful if those experienced are able and willing to adjust this information (likely the requirements may vary also based on the operator and current needs as well as given government's regulations, but it would be a great help to have a rough idea). Ideally this should be focused on single engine, but wouldn't mind if there are some serious multi engine opportunities for low-timers (which I do not suspect many, if any).

Structure of the below lists is: Country, (City or Place), Minimum hours required, Most common type(s) flown initially, (Type(s) to advance to with more hours) - Additional info/remark as applicable

AFRICA (Probably they do not accept e-mail applications and require walk-in):

Selected most "popular" and seemingly safe (& English speaking) places:

• Botswana (Maun), 500 TT, 206, (208)
• Namibia (Windhoek, Swakopmund), 400-600 TT, 210, (208)
• Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar), 500-1000 TT, 206, (208)
• Zambia (Livingstone, Lusaka), 500 TT, 206, 210, (208) - may be more stricter
• Malawi (Lilongwe), 400 TT, 206, PA28, (PA32), ???
• Uganda (Kampala), ??? TT, 206, (???)

In some of the locations they seem to also use C172s, C182s, PA28s as well as GA8s. This above seems as if it would be the "typical" bush pilot primarily serving tourists.

Selected other opportunities in Africa but likely restricted to more hours needed and/or as twins:

• Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls, Harare), 500 TT, 206, (208) - may be restricted to Zimbabwe nationals only
• Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa), 1000 TT, 206, (208) - not possible to get work visa as a pilot due to many local CPL holders
• Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) - not much general aviation and single engine opportunities - perhaps as a 2nd job option

From my perspective somewhat dangerous places which I didn't research further (would be happy to change my perspective based on someone's experience):

• Central African Republic
• DRC
• Nigeria

There must be definitely other places in Africa where there are similar good opportunities for pilots (for example as medevacs or other type of work) that are also reasonably safe. Also there could be some French-speaking places with good opportunities for low-time pilots so if someone has some information, please post it.

OUTSIDE OF AFRICA (Probably they do not accept walk-ins):

• Indonesia, (Jakarta - Susi Air), 750 TT, 208, (Porter)
• Australia, (Darwin, Cairns, Jabiru), 400-500 TT?, 172, 182, 206 - anyone knows? - it should be fairly easy to get 1 year work & travel permit for a person up to and including 30 years of age
• New Zealand - Limited possibilities for non-kiwis
• Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia (there must be definitely some flying, although perhaps not for low hour pilots?) - anyone has some info?
• Caribbean - didn't find any but there surely must be some! Would love to go to the Caribbean
• Canada - perhaps could be an option for those lucky ones from Commonwealth
• USA (without work permit only possible to flight instruct at an approved part 141 academy with F-1 Visa), 250 TT, 152, 172, PA28 - need to do CPL+CFI and then flight instruct for up to 12 months; Alaskan Bush Pilot seems to be tough to get in even for Americans or for those with work permit
• Southern America - I have no information; likely need to be Spanish/Portuguese speaking

Also my understanding is, that to help to get a bush pilot job it is good to do the instrument rating (which is also for one's safety) and an instructor's rating as well. PIC hours are what's important and counts (no-one is going to give you an airplane with passengers without sufficient previous command experience). Multi-engine rating is not really important to get the job, but is going to be a factor few years down the road in case that you want to move to twins. Also it is good to speak English well (lvl 5 or 6 preferably - if you don't, please do improve as you owe it to yourself as well as to your fellow pilots - otherwise we can hear even in "big airline flying" English incompetence which can get dangerous...).

To have MCC/JOC/CRM is not that important, and could be even viewed negatively at some places (ah...this guy/girl just comes here to build up some hours and then he is gone to the jets).

But perhaps the most important => one needs to have a good attitude, be a team player and a good guy/girl to hang out with. And come in person to Africa with a lot of patience and persistence to get that job!

So, that much about my collecting information I found on PPRuNe, blogs or online search, and would be really glad if those insiders that are currently doing these jobs or (already moved elsewhere) could update the above information. I may be wrong in many places and would be glad to change my perceptions - my goal is to get an understanding of the big picture. I will be updating the information in the list afterwards accordingly.

Appreciate to all for helping!

[theSOD]

New Zealand - no information, but is there something?

....Really?

[254HEAVY]

Kenya - IMPOSSIBLE to get work visa these days! Too many CPL locals eyeing for the same low hour jobs.

[PilotSVK]

Reply

@theSOD, well I just didn't find any (readily available) information for low-timers. Do you know anything, please?

@254HEAVY, would it be possible to get a work Visa for another job in Kenya and then come knocking on doors with work Visas and FAA (or another) CPL? If so, what would be the minimum hours?

Thanks a lot both!

[lilflyboy262...2]

There is 0 chance of a job in NZ unless you are a resident. Even then its not good. Hence why there are so many kiwi pilots worldwide.
Pilot Career Center will give you a lot of the information that you are seeking.

[PilotSVK]

Reply

@lilflyboy262...2, thank you for your answer and I have amended the list accordingly. In fact I have used the www.pilotcareercentre.com to compile some of the information together with other posts and blogs I found. However, I was not able to find one easy and current overview of the opportunities for low-timers hence I have prepared this. Do you perhaps have also any info whether the remainder of the post is correct and have some new info (ideally also on Africa), please? By the way, I liked your video on Youtube!

Thank you and I will keep updating the original post so that we have comprehensive big picture of the opportunities.

[baleares]

The big picture appears to be that there is very little work available, worldwide, for low time pilots and, it seems, there is no lack of supply of pilots.

[PilotSVK]

Reply

@baleares, thanks and fully understood. However, there must be some places and opportunities that are easier (or even remotely possible) and then there are also some "bush pilot" opportunities simply for those who are interested going this route. It is a given that it will be hard to get a job in the industry.

[linkebungu]

I'm curious what criteria you are using for "dangerous". I would not put Rep. of Congo on the same list as Nigeria/CAR/DRC.

Rep. of Congo generally is very safe and stable. That may change with next years elections, but for the meantime, Nigeria/DRC are in a league of their own. CAR is obviously hampered by a civil war at the moment.

[PilotSVK]

Reply

@linkebungu, thank you so much for your post! This is exactly the reason to have this thread to be able to adjust it based on information from people actually there (or those that were there) rather than just what someone somewhere said or written. Appreciate.

Can you please let me know what would/could be the opportunities and their minimum hours of TT in the Republic of the Congo, please? Do you also perhaps have information on any other low-timer opportunities (or even those "2nd job" opportunities), so that I could change the list(s) accordingly?

[linkebungu]

I can really only speak to Brazzaville, not so much Pointe Noire, although I don't expect it to be too different.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of aviation in Brazzaville. The flag carrier is operated and staffed by PrivatAir (Switzerland). The smaller turboprops that I've seen were operated under contract (Kasas Ltd of Kenya provides Dornier 228 on charter from Brazza to Odzala National Park). Other small operations (have seen 1 or 2 Caravans) seem to be contracts with South African companies & crews. Small bizjet ops seem to mostly be staffed by French pilots.

Really not much potential jobs - at least that I've seen - in the country. If they developed their tourism industry (beautiful country, so much potential) they could have a lot more bush opportunities. But for the time being, no joy.

[PilotSVK]

Reply

@linkebungu, thank you for the supplementary information. So if I understood correctly then it would be more suitable as a 2nd job and then also only in twin operations. Edited accordingly and created a new section.

[PilotSVK]

Possibilities to update

Hello all,

do you think that anyone would be able to update on the opportunities for low-timers, please?

Thanks a lot in advance to all those contributing!