work for low hour pilot in africa?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: london
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
work for low hour pilot in africa?
Hi, I have an FAA COMM/MULTI/INST with about 300hrs TT (50 Multi). A uni graduate (for what it's worth) and I'm 23. I really would like some advice on people who've been there, done that, to tell me if I'd stand a chance of getting a job out in Africa-doing pretty much anything-flying job that is (for any smart asses out there!!) If so, where and who do I contact and could someone please just shed a little light on how to go about such a job. I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Kempton Park, South-Africa
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well if you're looking for "any flying job" I'd say give bush flying a shot. There are operators in Botswana for instance who fly C206's and I hear those guys log some serious hours - even though it may not be turbine time. You're biggest concern should be the license conversion. Now I cant tell you what converting to the Botswana license will entail but I know it's not a hard and elongated process. Once you have more flight time you could give turbine operators a shout and just like anywhere in the world, if you make a good impression on the chief pilot and he likes your hours, you may just get the job. I can tell you that flying in Africa is a whole lot of fun. I guess like it use to be in the olden days...
Go tho this url and select the country in Africa you're interested in. You'll find a list of charter and service operators. Then do individual searches on them to see of they have websites; <a href="http://www.guides.com/acg/guide/operators/bylocation.asp?area=4®ionname=Africa" target="_blank">http://www.guides.com/acg/guide/operators/bylocation.asp?area=4®ionname=Africa</a>
Go tho this url and select the country in Africa you're interested in. You'll find a list of charter and service operators. Then do individual searches on them to see of they have websites; <a href="http://www.guides.com/acg/guide/operators/bylocation.asp?area=4®ionname=Africa" target="_blank">http://www.guides.com/acg/guide/operators/bylocation.asp?area=4®ionname=Africa</a>
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FAA Commercial, 300 hours and in Looonden? OK, heres one of those smart ass answers.
Go back to where you got that FAA commercial and get an FAA CFI/CFII/MEI. Most schools will hire you back at a small wage while you build time. Time and aircraft complexity are important while looking for work.
So while your doing that and using your University degree to look through the job market, your are increasing your marketability and your doing it with some kind of income..
Just because its Africa does not mean they hire low timers any faster.
Good Luck.
Go back to where you got that FAA commercial and get an FAA CFI/CFII/MEI. Most schools will hire you back at a small wage while you build time. Time and aircraft complexity are important while looking for work.
So while your doing that and using your University degree to look through the job market, your are increasing your marketability and your doing it with some kind of income..
Just because its Africa does not mean they hire low timers any faster.
Good Luck.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Kempton Park, South-Africa
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bert, don't you think "Gangsta" would be posting in the North America room if he was interested in working under his FAA credentials? I think so. Maybe his interest in flying in Africa stems from a desire? I dont understand why there's always this one guy who tries to be the pesimistic smartass. I can tell you that you have no idea what the job market is like in the States right now, nor Europe. Unless you've been there, looking for a job recently... I hold a SA Comm and GRIII CFI rating as well as FAA Comm and CFI/CFII ratings. I'm returning to South Africa with low-time because the market is in my favor over there right now. I think right now Africa is the place to be for adventure-seeking, low-time pilots.
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, SonicDude, dont get your shorts in a bunch. I thought it was an honest answer. You HAVE your CFI so maybe you can use that in Africa to give BFRs for a few Rand. I will bet you a Castles or five, times wont be that easy when you get there, but I wish you well. Other things that were not mentioned is work permit and your NOT going to work in Africa with the FAA stuff for sure.
Hes got 300 hours, I assume you have more than that. Anyway Im more into Helicopters than Fixed Wing and also low time 6000+, so the market is a bit different....Besides anyone running with the street name of "gangsta" wont be working for any company I know.
Is that better, are you relaxed now....How about a Castles and Mampoer chaser....
Hes got 300 hours, I assume you have more than that. Anyway Im more into Helicopters than Fixed Wing and also low time 6000+, so the market is a bit different....Besides anyone running with the street name of "gangsta" wont be working for any company I know.
Is that better, are you relaxed now....How about a Castles and Mampoer chaser....
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Kempton Park, South-Africa
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll surely accept the Castles! The round has to be on me though...I apologise for my previous posting. I've been trying to be succesful in this aviation game since I started and I'm just having a hard time getting those hours. Didn't mean to be rude.
Well you're surely playing with the machines I dream of flying! Hope you still have a blast doing it...
Well you're surely playing with the machines I dream of flying! Hope you still have a blast doing it...
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FWIW I tried asking the same kind of question here about six weeks ago and have gone precisely nowhere.
--
BTW I am 13,000 TT and Multi, 7,000 Turbine, 4,000 Islander command, 4,000 Twin Otter command, 3,000 Dash-8 FO, bags of rough terrain and short field experience. Even a couple thousand on the Twin Otter under single pilot regs.
No Instructor ratings or time, but worked like a mule for my most of my career.
--
Anyway, between that post and somewhere around 300 resumes later (around the world) I did get what I can now only describe as a prank email from a guy who said he was the Ops Manager of a South African operator and saw my posts here. We exchanged two emails in which he expressed an interest in my services, and since then he refuses to respond to anything.
My subsequent efforts involved seven emails to various addresses in that company and a fax to the company's Head Office (after all that I did get just one reply from the MD's secretary verifying that the gentleman did in fact exist). All I was asking for was a response from him, but I could not even get that.
Since what he proposed required the investment of somewhere around US$6,000 - on my part - to satisfy licensing requirements I have decided not to pursue it (mainly because I have been burned twice already on the last year by bastard employers taking advantage).
It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth - but at least I know there is one company in Africa I would rather NOT work for.
If anyone wants to know the name of this company and the person who contacted me I would be happy to supply it in response to a direct email. After all, that's what this Forum is here for, isn't it?
Write to me direct at: [email protected]
--
BTW I am 13,000 TT and Multi, 7,000 Turbine, 4,000 Islander command, 4,000 Twin Otter command, 3,000 Dash-8 FO, bags of rough terrain and short field experience. Even a couple thousand on the Twin Otter under single pilot regs.
No Instructor ratings or time, but worked like a mule for my most of my career.
--
Anyway, between that post and somewhere around 300 resumes later (around the world) I did get what I can now only describe as a prank email from a guy who said he was the Ops Manager of a South African operator and saw my posts here. We exchanged two emails in which he expressed an interest in my services, and since then he refuses to respond to anything.
My subsequent efforts involved seven emails to various addresses in that company and a fax to the company's Head Office (after all that I did get just one reply from the MD's secretary verifying that the gentleman did in fact exist). All I was asking for was a response from him, but I could not even get that.
Since what he proposed required the investment of somewhere around US$6,000 - on my part - to satisfy licensing requirements I have decided not to pursue it (mainly because I have been burned twice already on the last year by bastard employers taking advantage).
It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth - but at least I know there is one company in Africa I would rather NOT work for.
If anyone wants to know the name of this company and the person who contacted me I would be happy to supply it in response to a direct email. After all, that's what this Forum is here for, isn't it?
Write to me direct at: [email protected]
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you think you were had by some jerk....Out him here on the forum. If hes a phoney you will get response from others and if hes real he will rebutt your comments....Just dont let someone else be had by some idiot...
[ 21 January 2002: Message edited by: B Sousa ]</p>
[ 21 January 2002: Message edited by: B Sousa ]</p>
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: london
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a US Green Card and could gain employment in the US-so thats not the problem. I'm not sure on what the hiring is like inthe US at the moment. I'd think that it's real bad. Even at instructor level-anyone want to put me right on that idea?? The idea of Africa appeals to me, but I appreciate the advice on the instructing too. Being a wannabe ALL and ANY advice-however critical is crucial and important to me so thank you all. Without getting political or anything (I bear no grudges!!) Though I'm british, my folks are from Pakistan-I've this preconception that my being of an 'arab look' (I've no beard and am as british as they come) may be taken negativly for now in the flying industry in the US. It may work against me. I hope I'm wrong I really do. But from my shoes, I hope you guys can advice on alternatives. Hence the land of Africa. Comments always appreciated. Thank You.
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can say hiring in the US with a commercial and 300 hours is non-existant unless your Dad owns the company.. .You ever consider flying in Pakistan? I should think now with all the relief efforts going on that you could get a right seat job somewhere, especially if your are multi-lingual. Try looking for a U.N. or Red Cross website and then see who is doing the contract work.. .You have the ratings and the desire, get going on knocking on doors.. .If you need help finding a site, my email is good.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: london
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've tried looking on the UN and red cross website and can't find anything in regards to employment..can someone please post a link if the can find anything. Thanks.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: NFI...
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't think the UN and ICRC hire pilots nor own any of the acft that do the stuff you are interested in. What they do is contract out their work to companies such as Rossair etc. There is a start- go search, but you will be also well off by searching for Botswana and Maun on this Forum- plenty of gabble out of there <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> . .Happy Trails and all that,. .HJ
