Maun 2008-2009 season

[jlpilot]

Good luck to everybody looking for a job in Africa. I´m also thinking to do the same in a few months, as situation in my company is really difficult now and seems to get worst in the near future...

Also, l think that living in Africa for a while could be one of the best, if not the best experience in my life.

I´m thinking in May/June... Is it a good period to go?

Thanks to everybody in this thread, it´s really helpful.

[Csanad007]

Just curious

How are things goin' over there in Maun?

[jlpilot]

I´ve made a few calls to different companies in Maun and other places, and things seem to be very quiet at the moment.

There are many pilots there looking for an opportunity, but no many vacancies at the moment.

[Vilasy]

I'll be there thursday evening. Figured at worst, it'll be a laugh.

What's the cheap/decent place to stay again? I don't have the energy to comb through 16 pages to find it!

[Csanad007]

c'mon

Audi camp, it's near Maun
and good luck lady
keep this thread informed

by the way, I'd be very curious on your progress down there as I've exchanged some mails with a few guys I know down there and they definitely said: NOGO

[Vilasy]

My expectations are pretty low. I think I'll basically buy the beers for a couple weeks, have a laugh, then head elsewhere. But who knows.

[ducksoup79]

Tough times

If you are comming for a holiday, great. Otherwise, you are wasting your money. The economic downturn has hit Africa, gonna be tough the next few months, can't last long though. We hope.

[Csanad007]

tough times, eh?

I'd rather be in Maun with some booze in my right than here in the office

[antigravity61]

I guess its really a bad time to go there

For the last 3 months, I was waiting for a little dint of light from there. This economic downfall is affecting everyone, specially the tourist who isn't spending big bucks N not even thinking of coming at Maun I have called almost all the companies there and yep right same reply " no go " at the moment. Hopefully it gets better in later part this year.

[waiterpilot]

Photoage

Hello again everyone - thread still going then? Blimey.

I've been meaning to post these for some time now after stumbling on them a couple of weeks ago looking over Christmas pics. I have some photos of the dusty metropolis that is Maun. What immense excitement for you all! And it is probably going to really help everyone going out there this season what with the fact that everyone is already there. Hopefully will be slightly more use to the people (which may well include me) going out next season.

Unfortunately, when I was there I didn't realise I was going to have to leave so quickly. I was packing my stuff into the truck and suddenly thought 'I haven't taken any photos!' so the only ones I took were of the drive from the house I was house sitting to the airport. I apologise profusely. I think that they give a feel for the place though, even if it is basically just pictures of a road.

They are quite big, and there are a few of them, and I don't know the rules on pprune for images so I uploaded them here to my website blog. Just scroll down all that other drivel - the pics you are interested in are at the bottom.

Sadly I'm not going out this season as I have lost my medical. Hopefully I can persuade the consultant to write a favourable report to the CAA, otherwise I might not be flying commercially ever. That would be crappy.

Good luck to everybody out there! Hope you get the jobs you want somewhere - even if ends up not being in Maun.


WP

[Csanad007]

nice to see you around

[chillbill]

I came to maun, saw the scrum of people trying in vain to get the zero jobs available and left. Low bookings (cancellations actually) for lodges and pilots wisely hanging on to their jobs are the cause of this.

In short - dont go there....at least not at the moment. Things might change but then again they might not. With the world cup being on next year maybe thats the time to grab something.

[Massey1Bravo]

Any news from Maun? How many people there are still waiting for jobs?

[Pace152]

Hey ToMCAT,

Have you got an instructors ticket amigo? If so HMaerospace in Malaysia need instructors, you need 500 hours total and 200 hours instructing experience to get in the country as an instructor.

Dont know if thats any use to you.

[777gnieob]

Gents and ladies.

This thread has given me a wealth of information. Special thanks to waiterpilot for starting it.

After going through all the posts it seems that most of you guys are from developed countries and hence are not subject to stringent Visa rules. I'm from India and need a visa before I leave. My question is to someone from a developing country who applied for a visa before leaving(denlopviper would be the best one to answer), what did you specify in the purpose of visit section? Tourism or Job Hunting?

It might be a stupid/suicidal thing for some to specify Job Hunting in your visa application but because I'm not comfortable lying in my application, I just want to make sure that it is a big NO NO in applications before I have to get uncomfortable.

I'm planning to go to Dar, Tanzania first and then will make my way to Maun(I dont know how). All this sometime in April 09.

Thanks.

[perceval]

for Tanzania , it's 'Visit' otherwise they'll ask you for a different type of visa (ie more money) .Don't worry about it , it's what everybody has done .If you need to work , your employer will apply for a business visa while you wait for your permit .Elsewhere I don't know , but as a rule I would avoid 'seeking employment 'anyway as it calls attention to you (ie more money...lol).Have fun in Dar and don't forget to visit Arusha and Mwanza (few compagnies there as well ) .good luck.

[abhi88]

what did you specify in the purpose of visit section? Tourism or Job Hunting?

Obviously tourism!!Duh Come on man you gotta be smarter than that!

[Fidelity]

another one

damn, who killed the hairspray joke, it had me in stiches!

I must say the "no-go" warnings in the last few pages are disheartening,
I am on the verge of going! (just qualified (kiwi) havent bought my ticket yet!)

keep us informed re: amount of job hunters there.. need to make
a dicision soon.

Thanks you all for the top info!

[Csanad007]

did anyone kill the hairspray? gush, these guys are just way too unserious, wait till they meet a hoopsnake

and good luck

[trousersalive]

Yet another one...

Another just qualified Kiwi here who is on the verge of buying a ticket... And ive gotta agree with Fidelity, its not sounding to flash on the ground over there. As they all say, anymore info from the crew over there is hugely appreciated!