A few rambling thoughts about a guy who doesn't know anything
Hey hey
I have read this thread or should I say book and have found it very interesting, unfortunately it has gotten a little out of control and it now seems that everybody and their dog plans on heading out to either Maun or Windhoek. So I thought I would try and give you some advice before all the charter companies have more pilots than clients turning up at their door. I’m not saying don’t go; just maybe think before you go.
First off if you have high hours please don’t go to Africa chasing jobs that operators are willing to give to low time guys. These jobs are for low time guys starting out and if you have worked before as a paid commercial pilot you have a much better chance at getting a job in your own country than the low time guys, and although the job market is tough at the moment you will be first in line when the job market in your own country picks up. I have even read of airline pilots planning to go over there because they are getting bored of sitting in an aircon flight deck all day. People on this site would kill to have your job.
Second. If you are going over to build hours to get into an airline, single engine VFR hours are probably not going to be the best sort of hours to get. You will still need to get another job flying IFR multi, and yes I know they are hard to get. The best way to do this is to fly as instructor and then move on to either multi IFR instructing or a multi job attached to the flight school, this is how all of my friends got into the airlines. My friends who went the single VFR GA way have either given up flying or are still stuck there doing it.
Third. If you are from Australia or NZ there are jobs available for low time guys in the Northern Territory during the mustering season or during the wet season when the roads are impassable. Just go over there and start knocking on doors at the airport in Darwin, it’s a lot cheaper, safer, easier and you will make a lot more money than in Southern Africa. Similar situations can be found in Canada or Alaska, just spend six months knocking on doors and you have a good chance of finding work. You have just as must chance of finding work in these countries if you go door knocking than you have in Africa.
Fourth. If you are going over for an adventure think very carefully. A lot of guys say it was the best time of their lives but they tend to remember only the good times, and those times look pretty good compared to their lives now, which consist of wives, kids, mortgage repayments and little time if any to hang out with their mates and drink beer without a care in the world. The reality is that you will be living in a developing country and you will see some horrible sites, and will have to deal with extreme heat, pushy rich tourist and have to work flat out six days a week in a year of forced celibacy while freaking out every time a mosquito comes near you. Don’t get me wrong, there will be absolutely awesome times but it won’t all be one long party.
Look I’m not saying don’t go, it’s not my place to tell you what to do with your life or career, I’m just saying there may be easier ways to progress your career. If you have a “calling” to go to Africa and a bush pilot is all you ever wanted to be, by all means go, just think very carefully before you go, I would rather not see people over there for selfish reasons, or having not tried really hard to get a job at home first. I wish you all the best. Good luck.
