Maun 2009/10 season

[ragdragger]

When I converted my FAA CPL in Maun last year I never had to show my FAA medical. I paid for one just before I left the States but never needed it. Don't know if things have changed since.

[soaring.high]

@CavortingCheetah,
Thank you very much sir for your inputs.They have helped me a great deal.I dont think getting a Bots CPL would be a difficult task provided the individual puts in some effort and hard work and I am up to it.What I am confused about it wether I would be able to convert my FAA licence to the Bots CPL with my current FAA licence status(i.e.valid but need one flight to carry pessangers).I could travel to US and do that easily but I really want to save my self a trip (and lots of $$$) to US for just a few flights as well as I do not want to miss out on the next hiring season(So staying in US for a lil longer and doing Instructor rating getting ruled out!!).Any FAA recognised flight schools in Africa?? doing part 61/141?.As far as getting a FAA Class-I medical is concerned it can be obtained here in India as well so I donot have any problem getting one.
Anybody else with some suggestions or better options which could help make my life a bit easier??!!!!

Regards
S.H

[soaring.high]

@RagDragger,
Can you inform me about how did you convert your FAA licence to the Bots one?You must have obviously read my previous posts,do you think I would be able to convert the licence with its present status?(i.e.I havent flown since Nov08).Do you think I stand a chance in the recruitment process with my present status?Check your PM.Thanks

Regards
S.H

[Vortex Thing]

Give us some info then if you want help?

What country are you from/in?
What did you study at university?
What type of work are you looking for?
Are you a pilot?
Do you want to be a pilot?
We are always willing to help the new guys a little but you have to ask a question with a slightly better focus if you expect a sensible answer!

VT

[soaring.high]

@VortexThing,
I assume you last post was directed towards me.I appreciate your kind intention to provide a helping hand.I do agree you require certain information from my end in order to give me a correct advise but sir seems you have not read all of my previous posts in which I have tried my best to provide as much info as I can.Any how since you have asked for it I would not hesitate providing the information one more time if it could help me serve my purpose by anymeans!!!
I am an Indian citizen presently residing in India.Yes sir I am a commercial pilot.I hold an FAA CPL along with Instrument & Multi Engine ratings.I have about 273 Hrs TT(yes yet another low houred entry level pilot!!).I did my last flight in Nov'08 and planing to show up at Bots for this hiring season and knock the doors of the operators.I know that my licence is not an expired one for sure but I do not know wether any operator would show any interest in hiring a person who did his last flight in Nov'08 and if by any chance I get hired I would be able to get it converted to the Bots CPL or not.I can always plan to travel to US and do the required flights but I dont think its a viable option (1.Obtaining a visa of US is a pain in the rear!! 2.Travelling costs too high compared to the time I am going to be spending there and 3.Chances of missing out on the hiring season).I am quite serious about traveling to Bots and I have already started the procedures for obtaining a Bots Tourist Visa.(Yup being an Indian citizen I have to apply for a tourist visa well in advance!!).I think this pretty much sums up my story.Let me know if you need any further information from my end.
P.S : I hope the operators across Bots & neighboring countries are equal opportunity employers and they dont have anything to do with nationality/race/religion as long as one knows how to fly a plane!!

Regards
S.H

[lilflyboy262]

The way of converting a licence here in maun has been posted over and over again. You need to go back through the posts and spend some time reading what is in here.

You need a valid ICAO licence.
Once here, you sit a Botswana air law test. A botswana type technical on the aircraft you will be flying initally.
You get a Class 1 Medical from botswana.
You then do 5 hours flying and a C of T test (equivelent to a PPL standard).

Get a tourist visa, since you have to apply in advance, get a 90 day visa first off. Once here, you can extend it with immigration, but you will need to talk to them about that.

There is a huge mix of pilots here, White & Black. No indian or chinese yet though... although there is a large indian and chinese community in Maun.

The best thing you can do before you get here is to do a few hours flying. You still have time to get out and do some work for a few weeks, and then go get up to speed. If a operator is interested in you, they will take you on a check ride. You don't want to be rusty then.

Don't be tooooo concerned though, once you get here, you try to get on empty seats out into the delta (they do it for free for pilots looking for work), if there are any dead legs (empty sectors) then the pilots might let you pole for a while then.

But please, please, please do yourself a favour and read all the threads on here about africa and maun. You will get all the information there that you need.

[soaring.high]

@LilFlyBoy262,
Excellent post my friend.Thanks a million.I have read your previous posts as well and I have to say they all are quite informative!! Appreciate your effort to help out the unemployed guys of our freternity.
I apoligise,I havent read all the posts of this thread with my brain fully functioning and definitly will give a thorough reading in the near future!!! I shall try and do a few flights before heading towards Botswana but do you think I would be able to convert the licence if I did not fly before coming to Botswana?(The FAA CPL still remains valid ).As you said there arent any Indian pilots working there in Maun, can you tell me the reason? Do you think (just asking about your openion) that the operators would show any interest in hiring an Indian pilot? I assume obtaining a tourist visa for Bots is going to be a pain in the neck depending upon some research I did !! The Bots Highcommission here in India are asking for letter of Invitation(????How am I suppose to get it I know no one in Bots!!),Hotel booking details (Contacted a few hotels/camps via e-mail regarding the same and no reply yet),Passport Copy of the host and sworn statement of the host done at a Police Station in Bots or at The Bots Immegration dept.along with few other things.I have no clue how am I going to get the prescribed documents.I am so committed towards showing up at Maun this hiring season and might even travel to US if thats necessary but along with other stuff (like operators showing any interest in hiring an Indian person etc) I am also worried about getting a Bots tourist visa.
Regards
S.H

[ragdragger]

There are a couple of Indian pilots working for Sefofane, but they are working with either Botswana, Kenyan or SA passports.

Try contacting someone at the Bridge Backpackers, Audi Camp, or Okavango River Lodge and see if they can arrange an invitation letter. Or try a travel agency in India, they may know how to organize tourist travel. I have definitely seen Indian tourists in the Delta so they are getting Visas somehow.

I don't see why having recent flying experience should have anything to do with getting your license converted, your FAA license is still valid. To get a job you are going to be expected to fly an airplane with a certain amount of confidence which may be difficult for a low time pilot who hasn't flown for several years.

[soaring.high]

@RagDragger,
Thank you very much for providing me some vital info.Well I have mailed Audi camp and waiting for their response (Its been almost a week now). They can/might provide me with the invitation letter but there are still certain documents which I am sure they would not be willing to provide me.I doubt there are any travel agencies who will arrange for my tour and tourist visa.How ever if there are any tour operators carrying out tours to botswana,they will be all group tours and I shall have to travel with the group where ever they go!!!I will still try and find some one out!!
Well I think you are right about recent flight experience.I will try and log a few hours (If possible C206 included) before heading towards Botswana!!Thanks again for your inputs.Keep me updated.
Regards
S.H

[AutopilotEngage]

Hey do you guys reccomend the Audi Camp or The Old Bridge Backpackers. The prices on their websites are quite similar however I hear the Audi is cheaper if you mention your a pilot, is this still correct?

Also anyone have any experience with the bus between Gaborone and Maun?

[superserong]

DOG and AFE...You will be missed.

Just heard AFE got murdered close to Kasane...that makes two.

Many of of us worked for Moremi Air and I am very proud of my time there. There was a time when Moremi was top notch. What the hell is going on there?! When I hear things like this it makes my blood boil. I hope the person in charge will take note and restore the right culture. And if any of you b@st@rds puts a scratch on TEN...

Fly safe

SS

ps. No, really do not touch TEN

[lilflyboy262]

Not too sure what actually happened, sounds like either fuel contimation, or starvation as it still had fuel onboard. There was nowhere to go where he went down, about 4miles short of 08 at Kasane. If the engine had lasted another 30seconds he would have made the road at least.
Left wing got taken off by a tree where the strut joins the wing, before hitting a tree on the very inboard of the right wing that made the tail point to the heavens and digging the nose into the earth.
He did a damn fine job all things considered and that shows by everyone walking away alive.

So nothing is going on at Moremi. **** happens.

P.S. TEN may have been a nice plane 10yrs ago. In bad need of a makeover now!

@ Autopilot. Audi does special rates for pilots. Old Bridge has a better bar.

[Gmpo]

Namibia in January 2011

Hello guys,

I am planning to go down to Windhoek next January to look for a Job?Anyone going down at the same time?

I have about 1000 TT in SEP and MEP.I don“t have any flight time in C-206.

Does anyone know if there is any chance to get hired with no time on the C-206?

Thank“s in advance

[varg]

Maun and Kasane airport

As an old Maun pilot of early 90s I have been asked to do a Charter with an A319 to Kasane. I was told a while back that Kasane and Maun was under improvement to handle B737 & A320 size aircraft. can anyone tell me how this is progressing and when it is supposed to be complete?

[lilflyboy262]

Unsure what the current runway at Maun can handle, but the new one is still under construction. They haven't even started laying the tarmac yet. Still strengthening and compacting the base. No idea on when its going to be completed, but can probably say not this year.

As for Kasane... I don't know what is was like in the past, but I can't see any signs of recent runway extensions, and none at the moment either.

[luangwablondes]

Are there any microlight for hire in Maun?

[Meathead Pilot]

Not sure about maun.. But there are a couple of microlights in swakopmund, namibia...

[gluvsleeds]

Age & multi/ifr

Hello all

I'm new to the forum and have extensively read this & previous years threads but have a couple of questions to ask on Maun.

I have a Canadian CPL with around 220 hours. I'm seriously thinking of trying my luck this coming season in Maun but before I go I'm considering getting a multi/ifr rating before i go.
Can anyone tell me please if this is worthwhile/beneficial or is it a better idea to save my £££££ and do it another time?

Do the operators have any age preferences? I see that most of the pilots out there are fairly young and me being 37 I'm wondering if this will go against me?

Thanks

[Rico 25]

Multi/IFR rating

All the flying around Maun and the Delta including going into Livingstone, Zambia and Vic Falls in Zimbabwe is pretty much flown under Visual Flight Rules, so not really necessary as such. The only operators of twins are Moremi Air and Delta Air-these being BN2 Islanders. I recently read somewhere that Safari Air had stopped flying their Islander although others on here may confirm. You could get yourself a basic MEP rating without the IFR if you want, however, a lot of pilots here are starting on the C206 and C172 and sometimes staying on to fly the C208 Caravan.

As regards the issues about your age it is true that the average Maun pilot is around the 25 year mark but I was 38 when I started flying around the Delta so you certainly aren't the oldest. What they want is someone who is one of the lads who can have a laugh and a drink down the local watering hole.

I would suggest getting in contact with some of the Chief Pilots by phone (as well as any pilots) and if you make the decision to look for a job then fly out to Maun and have a look around (say 2 or 3 months)-you need to have a look at the place to see if you like as well. You would do well to find out the situation regarding working in Botswana ie. Work/Residence permits as these may have changed over the past few months.

If you do decide to go then buy yourself a portable GPS-I used a Garmin 196 with yoke mount but other types are suitable. These are very useful in the bush but are very handy when you need to divert around dodgy weather, however, you will need your maps/charts handy as well.

Good luck and safe flying,

Rico 25

[gluvsleeds]

Thanks for all the info Rico I'll get onto the work permit requirements and see what the score is.

Dan