Leaving USA for Africa flying - good move?

[SonicVIPER]

Hope some of you could help me out with an issue...
I completed my South African licenses in 2000 which included the single and multi commercial and Gr III CFI rating. Soon thereafter I came to the USA to convert those to the FAA ones. Now I'm instructing in Florida but business is WAYYY SLOW. I'm desperate for hours in seriosuly contemplating returning to South-Africa for a while just to get some time. Would this be a wise move? Over herein the States it's extremely hard to get a good turbine or jet job with less that 1500 hours total time. I envy my friends who jumped into RossAir and other turbine operators, with less than 500 total time. What should I do?

[B Sousa]

Dont know what to tell you about flying in SA, but I think If I were you, I would do a couple things before departing. Namely make sure you have a solid address in the states (for mail) and maintain a Bank Account. Its completely legal. Then everytime you visit make sure you stuff your hard earned Dollars in that account. Right now its not a bad way to hedge against the Rand.

[SonicVIPER]

Hey there -

Thanks for your reply.
I did my training in South-Africa and do long for flying over there again, or rather in Africa. I'm looking into this option as a temporary move as I am a greencard holder and would probably return to the USA after some couple hundred hours. Anyone know of a prospective employer needing turbine pilots?

[JJflyer]

Me... Well I am trying to get out of Africa. Looks like I am stuck with a bad pay and all that crap that go´s along with it. But then it could be worse. I could be seling Hamburgers in McDonalds. Anyways. When talking about Africa we are talking about a HUGE continent. Western Africa differs from Eastern Africa like night and day.
How about Southern parts. Zambia, Botswana and even Zimbabwe are quite developed. Still Africa but better than anything French ever had their hands on. Namibia. Oh yes I liked it. Very civil. RSA. Developed and very much a first world country, has technological capabilities that Europe and US can envy.
A shopping paradise for Dollar tourist or crewmeber. RSA has it´s problems with crime, but so does Miami and every big city in the world.

When I say I want to get out of Africa I am referring to the holes in the liking of Brazzaville and N´Djamena. DUH <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[126.9]

[quote]RSA has it´s problems with crime, but so does Miami and every big city in the world <hr></blockquote> Except that they experience 10% of Johannesburg's crime. Uh... oh yes; and you are 12 times more likely to be killed if your car is stolen in Johannesburg. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Gooneybird]

12 times more likely than where?
I take your point but I'm off to the RSA myself this month for similar reasons to Sonic Viper ie. to get work as a pilot. Many of the South Africans I meet in London don't seem to find the crime rate here that great either. Also does the particular problems of Johannesburg represent all of the R.S.A?

[SonicVIPER]

GooneyBird - wise move. Let me know how things go for you. I'm desperatley trying to shake my chains in the USA to go home for flying. I should have stayed in SA for flying. Thought the USA would be the Alfa and Omega for flying but turned out otherwise. I would strongly discourage anyone with less than 1500 TT and a greencard to come to the USA in search of a better flying career. Aint gona happen.

[Gooneybird]

Sonic Viper sure thing, I'll e-mail you when I get set up over there. Also thanks for the links you posted on the Botswana thread.

[ 27 December 2001: Message edited by: Gooneybird ]</p>