bush flying

[glacier country]

Hello all:

I left Canada in 1993 with 630 hours. I had flown a wheeled Cessna 206 for two seasons in the coast mountain range, and heard that there were a lot of twin turbine aircraft flying out of Nairobi to Somalia. I arrived with a little cash in my pocket and not much else. I was hired after a while by a South African company and flew under contract to UNICEF and the ICRC. I got my Kenyan license and flew about 1500 hours in a little more than a year and a half. The pay was abysmal, the flying was great and I got the experience I needed to get a job flying in the U.S. I now fly the Boeing 737 for Southwest Airlines.

I also was hijacked, held hostage, saw a guy get shot with an AK47 right in front of me, picked up little kids in the middle of the desert with destroyed limbs from landmines and went from one week not being able to fart with confidence to another week unable to even fart. You really get tired of dead telephone lines and failing electricity, but if your goal is flying I would say get some commercial experience and probably a U.S. license (it is widely recognized) and head for the dark continent. There are plenty of unemployed pilots in Africa, but even more in Canada. If you don't fancy Africa, try places like Irian Jaya or Papua New Guinea were nobody wants to go and fly.

You have to give up a lot to get what you want, but for me it has really been worth it.

[BAKELA]

I've enjoyed this thread so far. I've done bush flying in SE pistons for many years, granted, 90% in the military, but the one rule to stick to (that I'm sure saved my butt many times):

WHEN IN DOUBT...DON'T!

In other words, if you have to think about it, its too late, don't do it.

[Majutes]

WOW.....
Didn't know I had such a spectacular job.......
For those of you asking, I started contracts as a co-jo on a twin turbine with 201hrs total time. All the cpts you will fly with have all the knowlage and are only to happy to pass it on. Its a steep learning curve but its a lot of fun. Don't be put off by all the hype. If you realy want it just go out and do it. I've been doing it for a few years and still get a kick out of it. Its true you need a bit of luck to get ouur foot in the door but it will happen.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Problem is that most of the majors are a bit leery of taking on an ex bushie. They seem to prefer the charter types or am I just paranoid?

[Ttailed]

Hi there,

This thread certainly does bring back some memories. Bush flying is certainly a great way of building hours and getting invaluable experience. Most of the time you are making your own decisions and at the same time you are working with clients who have lots of money and can afford to stay in some of the great bush destinations. I miss that flying lots but we all want to move up the ladder. I can truly say that I saw some great things, met some of the best people and learned lots about cultures and people.

I do miss my bush and my faithfull Charlie 210 !

Good luck,

Tt

[Gooneybird]

Problem is that most of the majors are a bit leery of taking on an ex bushie. They seem to prefer the charter types or am I just paranoid?

Unless the industry has changed, I didn't realize that being picky was an option.

[itchy kitchin]

I have just arrived in Maun.
wow!

lots of planes!
Gonna start waving my license around tomorrow!

Stand by for reports! Any other prooners out here? / coming here?

Bye bye blighty!

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Gooney

The employers can be as picky as they like. There are queues of people trying to get an airline job in a market flooded with qualified applicants.

[Beechdrivr]

Problem is that most of the majors are a bit leery of taking on an ex bushie

I've got to disagree with this one, i think it depends on which company you've worked for, i have just had 3 of my mates all get into majors and they're all bush pilots! So there is hope for us all!