Zimbabwe opportunities

[s1659399]

Hey I was wondering if anyone has any contacts for charter companies that may employ low time pilots in Zimbabwe. Sounds crazy to go back to Zim, but I am desperate to get a few hours, and heard that there is a shortage of pilots (and fuel, and everyday basic commodities!) any info would be greatly appreciated.

[fluffyfan]

Dont know if thats a good idea, you are talking about a country on the fast road to nowhere, my mates still living there are in dire straights, inflation over 1000% so make sure if you do find something they dont pay you in Zim $ (although its illegal for them to pay you in anything else).

The country is dying, dont know how much of a charter market is left, perhaps a few hunting operations that sort of thing

A better idea may be some of the contact companies in SA, have you tried Norse Air? or how about a trip to Maun (Botswana) I recon you would have better luck there

[SUKUMA]

Whatever goes down will come back up ,that's the way it is in Africa, I say Zim does not look good at the present but will have to improve eventually......
I have family there and would not mind going back .Any leads on jobs in Zambia , Botswana I would even risk Zim if pay was acceptable.What about conversion ?

[Ingwe]

Sorry to report but wouldn't come back to Zim. There're a few charter companies left but they're just barely ticking over.

[Treetopflyer]

Whatever goes down will come back up ,that's the way it is in Africa

Actually, I notice in Africa it is usually the opposite, i.e. "whatever goes up will come back down..."

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Sadly, too true...

All the potential in the world but something always seems to prevent that potential being realised.

[s1659399]

thanks for all the positive encouragement!! Maun isin't really an option at the moment, currently i am in Windhoek and everyone seems to have done their recruiting for the year (or so they say). met a couple people who have spent the last 6 weeks in maun and same story. so being a zimbabwean what do you do??
as far as the surviving as a low time pilot goes, low time pilots don't get paid. unfortunately i am one of those that is prepared to work solely for the experience - i am not after any form of salary, just a few hours!!
so once again if anyone does have a any contacts for zim, please let me know
Thanks

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Working for free is a pretty good way to screw up the market for others. You're not going to win any friends among those who have payments they have to make each month.

[Desperate Wannabe]

Working for hours

i am one of those that is prepared to work solely for the experience - i am not after any form of salary, just a few hours!!

Must........put........down...........screwdriver.........an d .......breathe.......deeply

[FlingWingKing]

s1659399

If you are looking for some hours, rather spend another R20000 and go get your instructor's rating in SA. There is always work for an instructor, you'll get your hours (700-900 per year), experience, a fair salary, AND you wont mess up the market for the other guys who have payments to make every month.

We have all been where you are, but giving an operator the satisfaction of "enslaving" you should not be an option.

Good luck with your decision

[s1659399]

OOPS- Sorry to cause offence by potentially screwing up the market for others!! yes i have payments to make to, but i am sure you can appreciate how getting a few hours potentially opens up the doors with many companies. Child abuse and slavery have been abolished (supposedly) but i sense a new breed of pilot-whores emerging. I am not going to encourage this - instead i will go and find a job (timber desk related), preferable near an airport, get paid bugger all and watch and drool all over my paperwork every time a plane goes by!!

I will take back my words of 'working for experience'. I didn't realise that this was such a delicate topic (even though it is a reality), and i do apologise for mentioning it.

[fourplay]

reply

s1659399 ..... Now see what you did!

I told you not to mention the war

[european champion]

I agree working for free or buying a type rating is screwing up the market but also paying for an instructor rating is similar thing,you make a flight school richer and you get to fly piston engine aircraft for 1000 or 2000 hours which are pretty much useless to an airline because they need experience on a multi crew aircraft ,also the time that u will have spent instructing until u eventually get the airline job u would have lost enough money in real salaries to pay your rating 3 times!
Calculate guys before talking,its simple mathematics.

[cavortingcheetah]

Well now, as I seem to remember from my own experiences; once you have got your instructor rating and are happily plodding along as a Grade 111 working up to a Grade 11, you will be faced with the real competition.
This consists of those chaps who have perfectly good jobs flying Executive Jets, King Airs or Big Jets, who freelance at weekends or on their days off. They need neither the money nor the hours. They prostitute for fun, because they're bored at home or, in many cases, because their little egos demand it. The flight school managers love them. It adds real cachet to say that a 747 Training Captain instructs for your company.
Anyone would buy a type rating, or what have you, if they were lucky enough to be able afford it, in order to advance their own career. Don't feel bad about that!
But these chaps, on the other hand, really do disturb a professional instructor's monthly payment planning and reduce his flying hours. (I am sure that they still love those lazy cross countries, so good for hour building - oh yes, and the flight tests as well.)
The worst of it is, of course, that some of them have been where you might be now. It's a poor show on their part!

[european champion]

I dont agree with you Cav.Cheeta,i believe exactly the opposite,i think these are the only people who should actually instruct because of their knowledge and experience,i think the system of flight schools using any instructor with less than 2000-3000 hours is completely stupid.
I agree though that keeping 2 jobs is not fair for others,they should either keep only their airline job or instruct full time.

[dr27]

Hi Fourplay
Sounds all to familiar....been there done that etc.
Understand your frustrations, and others too.
Best advise is to get your instructor's rating. Besides the hours it will give you a good foundation too. Talking
Hang in there
Cheers

[Woof etc]

Cavorting Cheetah

Don't agree. As a grd2 instructor and contract pilot with over 1000 hrs of instruction, why shouldn't I instruct and pass on my experience when I am off contract. I have earned the right to do so, have nothing to prove and figure I offer the student a lot more bang for the buck. At the end of the day the student is the customer and has the right to choose his or her instructor. Experienced pilots often make better instructors since they instruct because they enjoy doing so, not for the hours.

Then again, I can see the point you are trying to make - the whole aviation industry used to be based on a hierachial structure, sadly not anymore. Nowadays it is a case of the pilot with the most money for the type rating wins.

That said I haven't instructed in around 3 years - but don't tell me that I am in someway doing a low time instructor a diservice if I choose to do so. Back in my instruction days I sometimes mused on the fact that some of my students' golf instructors got paid more than what I was being remunerated - yet the skills I was trying to impart might make the difference between life and death! I attribute the skills taught by my instructors for saving my skin on more than one occasion.

Besides, with the dollar being what it is, even the contract pilots need the dosh (or should we say beer money at current instructors wages).

[Propellerpilot]

Just my comment about the instructor issue -

I always like to make sure I am getting the most out of my money spent for any training. This means I will go with the guy that will have the most information or experience and also has the ability to convey the information in a professional manner that is comprehensive to me. Instructors at an institution cost the same - so I get the best one availiable and that happens to be someone that usually does not solely instruct.

One way I went about it was also speaking to people and see who they would recommend. Asking my local DE for advice, I was definately advised to get someone current with practical everyday professional operations and I must say from saftey, procedural and a situaltional awareness point of view I personally have learnt a lot of valuble extra stuff from my Instructor (who is an airline captain and before he flew airlines was a CFI for many years). He does not need my money but enjoys teaching and does not waste extra time and money in the air like some other guys do. I am sometimes shocked that the average amount of hours spent by some on ie. PPL training is sometimes directly related to the instructor they trained with. There are many out there that suck and are frustrated - so I do check out someones reputation before I decide - many people do not do this or do not insist as customers - they accept the CFI's decision - I will never take a CFI's choice again as he acts on the institutions interests and not your own.

It is okay to get the Instructors rating soon but before I start teaching people I would first go out there and get some serious hours and experience so that I can convey more than is just in the books.

So go flying wherever and whenever you can even if it is in Zim - one day you might want to teach others of your experiences there.

[SUKUMA]

At this stage of the discussion s1651399 must be truly confused ( all he wants is a job!) there are far to many pilots available for the work at hand in Africa or elsewhere and operators including flying schools always had a ball at this game. It is in my opinion unsafe and unethical to do exactly what they do” inexperienced pilots teaching inexperienced prospective pilots or operators employing pilots and providing next to no training ( CRM,PDM,RECCURENT,LINE INDOC etc….)”just because they know a lot of us will just about prostitute themselves just to get the time.If you are going to college or university you will not be taught by a nineteen something .
Conversely anybody that has 30000 dollars to spend wants to become a pilot hence the vicious circle, the operator will tell you to get more time or to do stuff unnamed to mankind, and if you don’t ,Dick is waiting outside and He will do it….Africa has 3% of the global air traffic but 27% the global air accidents.
I am not trying to depict a bleak situation but more a reality, that said it is a great profession, do what you have to do to built time, instruct or else fly for free if that is the last resort( and don’t advertise it!) but above all do it safely. Don’t discourage we have all been there.

S.

[18left]

have you considered leaving southern africa,ie for west africa?in nigeria there is a growing demand for pilots and ther are not frowning at low time guys and NO pilots work for free in nigeria no matter how low time
worth checking out?