Mozambique Coast, Zambezi and Okavango Delta Info??!

[AeroBatfink]

As a follow on to my previous post "Cross-Border Private Hire & Fly SA" (18/12/01), I have ammended my plan a little...

To jog your memories, I'm from the UK, I did my PPL in SA and I'm going back in May to do my renewal and a few more hours. I realise some of you may not have the greatest opinion of GA/Private Pilots, but I'm trying to plan the trip properly, do something interesting to hour build - and we all have to start somewhere...

The new proposed route is: Jo'burg - Swazi - Maputo - Beira - Tete - Kariba - Livingstone/Vic Falls - Okavango Delta - Gabarone - Jo'burg. The problem is that I'm having real problems finding charts for anywhere north of Beira or Livingstone, and to be honest, I don't even know if that part of the route will even be possible (or any of it, apart from SA!).

I think it's essential to properly plan a route like this, but it's proving extremely difficult to do it at distance from the UK, so I'm appealing to this forum for help again.

Thanks
AB :)

[4HolerPoler]

Get yourself a Jeppesen trip-kit - <a href="http://www.jeppesen.com" target="_blank">www.jeppesen.com</a> - the kit you need is SAF04-10 - Southern Africa Airway Manual Trip Kit Basic (a snip at 76.50 Euros) and a Michelin Southern Africa map or two - you want # 955 - check it out at <a href="http://catalogue.viamichelin.com/eng/catalogue/indexdest.pgi?type_rattachement=LI&lieu=C40&langue=2." target="_blank">http://catalogue.viamichelin.com/eng/catalogue/indexdest.pgi?type_rattachement=LI&lieu=C40&langue=2.</a> There are a hundred ways to skin this cat - this is my best suggestion. Enjoy your trip.

4HolerPoler

[B Sousa]

Good Luck, as flying wont be your only problem.
Jepps are good, but Im pretty certain they are better for IFR folks. Albeit they should have current Airport info and Frequencies which are VERY necessary. Us VFR types (Helicopters) prefer the ONC charts. Im sure you can get them in the UK cheaper than SA. The price was so expensive when I was there last,that I get them in the states and leave them with friends after Im done. (www.sportys.com)
Lots of other things you should put on your list of excess weight.
If you want to talk about it, my email is good.
Some other group that may be helpful is (www.hanksaero.com) give them an email for suggestions. Didnt I mention that before??

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: B Sousa ]

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: B Sousa ]</p>

[AeroBatfink]

Thanks guys! Yes you did mention Hanks Aero before - I've had a bit of trouble getting the page to load up though; I'll keep trying. I've looked into the Jepp option and from what they faxed to me (Thanks Angela!), it does seem more appropriate to IFR flying.

So I've ordered the ONC charts in this country, and also the Aviation Directory of Southern Africa and an aero chart of Zimbabwe from the <a href="http://www.wingsnthings.co.za" target="_blank">Wings 'n' Things</a> shop at Lanseria, and a set of six 1:1mil World Aero Charts covering the area as far north as Beira from the <a href="http://w3sli.wcape.gov.za" target="_blank">South African Dept of Land Affairs</a>, both of which take credit cards and seem to have fairly reasonable postage rates. So all I need now is a WAC of the area around the mouth of the Zambezi up to Tete.

By the way, can anyone envisage me having any problems with ATC, Customs, Immigration and/or airspace in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia or Botswana??

It seems to be coming together, anyway...

Thanks again!
AB

[White Knight]

If you're a fairly new pilot, do the trip at the beginning of the dry season. That way you'll have superb visibility and won't encounter any large nasty CB's.
Take a GPS.....I once tried to navigate a Baron58 from Beira to Maputo on a hazy night using only the Southern Cross. Interesting to say the least.
The flight along Lake Kariba - esp. low level is outstanding and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
If you would like more info please e-mail me as I'm well genned up with flying in that area.

[AeroBatfink]

Thanks White Knight!
BTW when is the rainy season - I'm booked to go in May, and there's not much I can do to change that date...
Cheers,
AB :)

[4HolerPoler]

Posted from yet another thread Aerobatfink has opened in his quest:

[quote]Please, please, puurleeeease can somebody point me in the right direction to find some VFR Charts for Mozambique? Jeppesen don't seem to do them and the ONC ones don't show airspace and are about 20 years out of date. Come on... somebody must know!

I've found ICAO World Aeronautical Charts for the Maputo and Inhambane areas, and I know there are ones for the central and north of the country (numbered 3153, 3175 and 3176), but I just can't find anywhere to buy them. I refuse to believe that Mozambiquan pilots rely on charts that are 20 years out of date!

Thanks!! :) . .AB<hr></blockquote>

Try and keep it all in one box please batfink <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[AeroBatfink]

Oops, rumbled... sorry!

:) . .AB

[Stage3]

When I was flying in Botswana, which was admittedly sometime ago, pre-gps, the best maps were the standard government road maps.

[Metro man]

I spent 4 years in Mozambique ,1990s using pre independence (1975?) charts.A lot of places had changed their names so be careful as some of the locals don't like you using the old colonial names.There hasn't really been much deveopment so the charts aren't as out of date as they sound !

Carry plenty of US$ in 5,10 and 20 denominations,difficult to get change for higher and sometimes refused as too many forgeries around ,landing fees can be exhorbitant ,make sure you have a clearance for EVERYWHERE ,AVGAS sometimes hard to find and don't crash as search and rescue is virtually non existant.

English will get you by in the airport ,not widely spoken outside.Don't expect much to be working and what is to be very slow.Sure you want to go ? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">