Bush Pilot Pay
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Bush Pilot Pay
Just wondering what one could expect as weekly pay as a bush pilot throughout Africa having just completed a CPL, Twin Engine endorsement with IFR. (200hrs total)
Thanks
Thanks
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At 200 hours your pay will be 0 USD. It might actually be worse then that you might actually need to pay someone to let you fly, or buy your own plane. Off the top of my head I can't think of a place that has paid their pilots when they have had less than 400 hours. Then again don't know many that would take a pilot with less than 400 hours.
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I always love this - Budding pilot (not without reason) thinks: Conditions in Africa are dangerous and crap. Logically for people to put up with this, the pay must be great! {Looks for job on contract}
In reality, Africa is both dangerous and crap - and the pay is terrible. The scenery is nice though!
Good luck!
In reality, Africa is both dangerous and crap - and the pay is terrible. The scenery is nice though!
Good luck!
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If it wasn't for the Scenery I wouldn't be here. 
Then again it's a great place for Good old fashioned seat of teh pants flying, no pesky computers telling you what to do and a real chance to interact with nature.
Then again it's a great place for Good old fashioned seat of teh pants flying, no pesky computers telling you what to do and a real chance to interact with nature.
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SRT,
There is nothing boring about a tsra night at Corfu in proceedural IF or an eyeball shaking split arsed authorised unstable approach into samos. What does get boring is the mindnumbing cabin crew whinging which is like anti viagra, or the "who is paying for what cos i only had a starter" game on nightstops.Once youve ate the pie the menu gets old.
As for those pesky computers mentioned by the other chap.....Why use an abacus when you have a calculator.
wet landable in sudan or braking action poor, blowing snow and reindeer on 2500meters in lapland. Same sh1t different depth.
There is nothing boring about a tsra night at Corfu in proceedural IF or an eyeball shaking split arsed authorised unstable approach into samos. What does get boring is the mindnumbing cabin crew whinging which is like anti viagra, or the "who is paying for what cos i only had a starter" game on nightstops.Once youve ate the pie the menu gets old.
As for those pesky computers mentioned by the other chap.....Why use an abacus when you have a calculator.
wet landable in sudan or braking action poor, blowing snow and reindeer on 2500meters in lapland. Same sh1t different depth.
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A 206 rating might possibly be handy there too...
I had to laugh at the 'happy clapper' part for a MAF job (oo-er!):
[Scene: A MAF interview]
Interviewer: Well, your technical knowledge is good, you seem like a stable fellow who can handle himself - just one more thing - we, er, need see you clap. We'd like to get an impression of how 'happy' you are when you do it. Can't be too careful these days you know! {laughs}
Interviewee: Eh? WTF? {walks out muttering...}
I had to laugh at the 'happy clapper' part for a MAF job (oo-er!):
[Scene: A MAF interview]
Interviewer: Well, your technical knowledge is good, you seem like a stable fellow who can handle himself - just one more thing - we, er, need see you clap. We'd like to get an impression of how 'happy' you are when you do it. Can't be too careful these days you know! {laughs}
Interviewee: Eh? WTF? {walks out muttering...}
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JB
you want cash? well, i want a gold toilet seat, but its just not on the cards.
if you're hoping to start on a turbine, most contract companies do take low time guys. i think the pay is about $1000 a month, if you're lucky. and if someone cocks up in accounting, or anywhere else for that matter, its your fault, even if you were in tibuktu at the the time. they will eventually bond you for a rating, if you can handle the 6months or so of abuse. my advice, keep a tube of lube handy. but hey, some guys get lucky and things happen faster, especially if you pay your own rating.
even tho i went the gofer (excuse me, 'operations ASSistant) route, i like the idea of bombing around the delta. you'll learn what you're made of very quickly, and rumor has it the lifestyle is fantastic. also, with some PIC time, you won't need 3000 hours before you can get an ATP. 6months of PIC flying in the delta vs 6months at a desk at lanseria? no brainer.
whatever you do tho, don't fly for free. thats bullsh$t! pick a minimum you're prepaired to work for and stick to it.
and remember the 5 D's of dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge
Patches
you want cash? well, i want a gold toilet seat, but its just not on the cards.
if you're hoping to start on a turbine, most contract companies do take low time guys. i think the pay is about $1000 a month, if you're lucky. and if someone cocks up in accounting, or anywhere else for that matter, its your fault, even if you were in tibuktu at the the time. they will eventually bond you for a rating, if you can handle the 6months or so of abuse. my advice, keep a tube of lube handy. but hey, some guys get lucky and things happen faster, especially if you pay your own rating.
even tho i went the gofer (excuse me, 'operations ASSistant) route, i like the idea of bombing around the delta. you'll learn what you're made of very quickly, and rumor has it the lifestyle is fantastic. also, with some PIC time, you won't need 3000 hours before you can get an ATP. 6months of PIC flying in the delta vs 6months at a desk at lanseria? no brainer.
whatever you do tho, don't fly for free. thats bullsh$t! pick a minimum you're prepaired to work for and stick to it.
and remember the 5 D's of dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge
Patches
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Jay Bo - To answer your question: Depends very much on what you company and aircraft you start with. I would say work on anywhere between $700 and $1500 per month. Some contracts include food others do not. You might also have to pay for your own renewals, medicals and dangerous goods and CRM. That hard bit is to get that first job and get the all important experience.
Then you can work your way up the ladder and eventually get to become the Captain and then the money starts to pay for the bills. I am not sure what the exact contract captain salaries are, but they should be in the $3000 to $5000 per month bracket for a turbine twin. And most of the time only paid while out flying only. So the more you work the more you will earn.
Good luck!
KESHO
Then you can work your way up the ladder and eventually get to become the Captain and then the money starts to pay for the bills. I am not sure what the exact contract captain salaries are, but they should be in the $3000 to $5000 per month bracket for a turbine twin. And most of the time only paid while out flying only. So the more you work the more you will earn.
Good luck!
KESHO
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2high2fly
Have you actually been to Maun?????
Not too many C210s and C310s there....
Elgon Air once had a C210, but that was many moons ago.
A C206 rating is all you need. The grandious ideas of getting straight into a
C208, Skyvan or Islander just won't happen. Commit 1-2 years with a company and they'll stump up the conversion costs for a further commitment. Whoever said things were easy, but there are worse places to spend a few years.....
Have you actually been to Maun?????
Not too many C210s and C310s there....
Elgon Air once had a C210, but that was many moons ago.
A C206 rating is all you need. The grandious ideas of getting straight into a
C208, Skyvan or Islander just won't happen. Commit 1-2 years with a company and they'll stump up the conversion costs for a further commitment. Whoever said things were easy, but there are worse places to spend a few years.....
Está servira para distraerle.
Interesting thread this! Attitudes move on, although not necessarily in a vertical direction. So let's play hand grenades for a moment here.
The multitude of times I have flown into Maun on the AB schedule and hung around waiting to fly back to Gaberone are numerous.
The standards that were demonstrated by the bush pilots seem hardly to have changed at all with the passage of time. (Those were in the days of the G111 and sky blue 206s, you understand?)
There was then no way in which I would have sat anywhere other than the front seat with any of the standard cowboys and cowgirls operating from that hot and dusty place. There was no way, using that hackneyed barometer of excellence and airmanship, and entrusted my family to the tender care of those whose flying skills seemed to have been addled by a combination of grandiose self - adulation, bush fever or plain incandescent idiocy.
Seems like time stands still in the jungle and that the only thing that moves on are the natives.
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hey guys, does anyone know how it is with bush pilot jobs
when you have about 1500 hrs on dash8 300and 400 and how it is payed.
i do not know where to apply at all...
thank you very much.
when you have about 1500 hrs on dash8 300and 400 and how it is payed.
i do not know where to apply at all...
thank you very much.
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Hmmm intresting, will do that thanks SRT.
Thrustyoucantrust: Abacus? I know the planes arn't exactly new, but would love to see a calculator try and fly. Take off, 500 feet AGL autopilot on, yipee.
Still prefer to fly by my own hands but I guess I got to kick the habit if I want to fly for an Airline
Thrustyoucantrust: Abacus? I know the planes arn't exactly new, but would love to see a calculator try and fly. Take off, 500 feet AGL autopilot on, yipee.
Still prefer to fly by my own hands but I guess I got to kick the habit if I want to fly for an Airline
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Original question
Originally Posted by Jay Bo
Just wondering what one could expect as weekly pay as a bush pilot throughout Africa having just completed a CPL, Twin Engine endorsement with IFR. (200hrs total)
Thanks
Thanks
The salary was too small to be calculated on a weekly basis... I think it equated to around USD 350 per month at the time. But hey, that covered the bar bill alright! And I lived in a safari lodge, food & accommodation provided!
Pretty soon - after just under 200 hrs of the most challenging and beautiful flying - Bob started ranting, the tourist stayed away, no more flying, no more safari lodge food & accommodation, no more avgas, salary in local "smurkian foopies" devalued to around USD 175 per month, inflation hit over 100%.
A year of aviation unemployment followed... In short: the best time of my life, would recommend it to anybody. Not for sissies.
Follow the advise above: Maun; job hunting season is in January. Aim for a 206. Don't even worry 'bout the rating. Be a nice guy and no sissy. Don't mention the money.
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Maybe my idea is not that stupid ....
So, after reading the whole thread, my stupid idea to pay a visit to Botswana in December/jan is not that crazy.
I wonder how a JAA frozen ATPL with 1500 TT and 800 Turboprop could manage to find a job in a reasonable time frame.
Any input ?
Thkx !
I wonder how a JAA frozen ATPL with 1500 TT and 800 Turboprop could manage to find a job in a reasonable time frame.
Any input ?
Thkx !