Maun 2009/10 season
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: India
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Greetings!
@kevin757
My name is Mohit Verma. I'm an Indian National.
my experience: 1300 TT, 230 Multi, 885 Dual Given
FAA CPL, CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, IGI, Gold Seal
looking forward to some bush flying experience.
do u think i can land up with a job there?
My name is Mohit Verma. I'm an Indian National.
my experience: 1300 TT, 230 Multi, 885 Dual Given
FAA CPL, CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, IGI, Gold Seal
looking forward to some bush flying experience.
do u think i can land up with a job there?
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MAUN
Age: 36
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Coming down
That's it
Flight ticket are bought for my friend and I (not refundable !)
Arriving to maun the 13 of december direct to Audi camp.
Can't wait to arrive
Cheers!!
Flight ticket are bought for my friend and I (not refundable !)
Arriving to maun the 13 of december direct to Audi camp.
Can't wait to arrive
Cheers!!
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Flight ticket are bought for my friend and I
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MAUN
Age: 36
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Yes he is a pilot looking for a job,
we already have a job in france but we both want to experience a bit of change
It is not a competition for us but a way to have a lot of fun together.
Your coming too ?
we already have a job in france but we both want to experience a bit of change
It is not a competition for us but a way to have a lot of fun together.
Your coming too ?
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
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I just found this on another forum, I'm also planning to go find work... Just hope this permit issue won't be a problem.
From Avcom :
From Avcom :
guys,
i came to maun on 14 august this year and was fortunate enough to find work within a week.
that was the easy part, trust me!
permits, PERMITS, permits! therein lies the problem.
it took 3 months of beaurocratic red tape to get my permit, and my wife just found out that hers was declined.
this means that my salary wont be enough to cover our living expenses for the both of us, but i'm going off on a tangent now.
along with my wife who got declined, 3 other pilots who were offered jobs at the same company as me also got their permits declined, even though their applications were sent in at the exact time as mine. so i guess, i was extremely fortunate.
in short, there are lots of jobs in maun right now. people are leaving left right and centre, but the problem is this;
the botswana government is adament that no more expats will get flying jobs (and other jobs)untill all the local pilots have been employed first.
how many local pilots are there?
well, the CAAB, under instruction of the botswna government, has handed a 4 page list of unemployed local pilots to all the charter companies in maun at a meeting last week.
if you were in maun right now you'd ask where all these pilots are, and why are the charter companies reluctant to employ locals?
the answer - the newly qualified botswana pilots are sitting at home in gaberone (or wherever else). they are not prepared to do legwork and come up here like the many eager pilots from all around the wolrd who have taken the leap of faith to travel to a foreign country halfway around the world and against all odds to find work. they expect the charter companies to contact them.
in addition to that they expect to be given airline jobs with zero experience on their behalf. maun doesnt appeal to them, it's dusty, hot, hard work, 6 days a week.
i guess this is symptomatic of the whole of africa to sit and wait for the top job to come to you, and if it doesnt, create legislation to force people to do business with you.
that may be how you do business in africa, but the people who come to the delta are tourists from the 1st world who pay top dollar for that privelage, who expect 1st world service, and 1st world business practices.
the charter companies generally also have a 1st world outlook on the way they do business, and therefore they cannot employ people who have a notoriety for always being late (just look at air botswana), who have a poor safety record, or who expect to be contacted by prospective employers while they sit at home and play playstation.
it's a sad sad situation.
there are people who want to do the work but are refused permits, and there are people who dont want to do the work, but who will be given it.
so, i'm sorry to burst the bubbles of all the aspiring pilots out there, but maun right now is a total waste of time as you wont get a work and residency permit even if you have the best qualifications money can buy (not that jobs are allocated on merit anyway as someone mentioned before).
i came to maun on 14 august this year and was fortunate enough to find work within a week.
that was the easy part, trust me!
permits, PERMITS, permits! therein lies the problem.
it took 3 months of beaurocratic red tape to get my permit, and my wife just found out that hers was declined.
this means that my salary wont be enough to cover our living expenses for the both of us, but i'm going off on a tangent now.
along with my wife who got declined, 3 other pilots who were offered jobs at the same company as me also got their permits declined, even though their applications were sent in at the exact time as mine. so i guess, i was extremely fortunate.
in short, there are lots of jobs in maun right now. people are leaving left right and centre, but the problem is this;
the botswana government is adament that no more expats will get flying jobs (and other jobs)untill all the local pilots have been employed first.
how many local pilots are there?
well, the CAAB, under instruction of the botswna government, has handed a 4 page list of unemployed local pilots to all the charter companies in maun at a meeting last week.
if you were in maun right now you'd ask where all these pilots are, and why are the charter companies reluctant to employ locals?
the answer - the newly qualified botswana pilots are sitting at home in gaberone (or wherever else). they are not prepared to do legwork and come up here like the many eager pilots from all around the wolrd who have taken the leap of faith to travel to a foreign country halfway around the world and against all odds to find work. they expect the charter companies to contact them.
in addition to that they expect to be given airline jobs with zero experience on their behalf. maun doesnt appeal to them, it's dusty, hot, hard work, 6 days a week.
i guess this is symptomatic of the whole of africa to sit and wait for the top job to come to you, and if it doesnt, create legislation to force people to do business with you.
that may be how you do business in africa, but the people who come to the delta are tourists from the 1st world who pay top dollar for that privelage, who expect 1st world service, and 1st world business practices.
the charter companies generally also have a 1st world outlook on the way they do business, and therefore they cannot employ people who have a notoriety for always being late (just look at air botswana), who have a poor safety record, or who expect to be contacted by prospective employers while they sit at home and play playstation.
it's a sad sad situation.
there are people who want to do the work but are refused permits, and there are people who dont want to do the work, but who will be given it.
so, i'm sorry to burst the bubbles of all the aspiring pilots out there, but maun right now is a total waste of time as you wont get a work and residency permit even if you have the best qualifications money can buy (not that jobs are allocated on merit anyway as someone mentioned before).
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I've heard from someone currently in Maun that already there are around 30 pilots in town looking for work. That is a lot of people for not many jobs! There could easily be over 50 by the end of December, so it could become very difficult to stand out from my crowd, especially as a latecomer. Maybe it's best to wait for another year...
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Wow..that sounds great. Kinda feels like I just got socked in the gutt.
Have been going like gangbusters to get everything sorted out in time for this season but kinda sounds grimmmm.
Have been going like gangbusters to get everything sorted out in time for this season but kinda sounds grimmmm.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
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@ Potential
Who's the someone? Are they actually in Maun? having read through the past 10 years worth of posts about Maun, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 30 pilots there, but then I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't either (ie. it might just be a rumor).
According to one person who's on-line there, the "list" of pilots that are unemployed locals, that's supposedly 4-pages long, is actually 4-pilots long. But maybe it is best to wait for another year.
I'm committed, based on actions taken, to the end of January, so I'll be there pounding the dust, and when I get there I'll let you know how many pilots there are looking for work.
-Andy
Who's the someone? Are they actually in Maun? having read through the past 10 years worth of posts about Maun, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 30 pilots there, but then I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't either (ie. it might just be a rumor).
According to one person who's on-line there, the "list" of pilots that are unemployed locals, that's supposedly 4-pages long, is actually 4-pilots long. But maybe it is best to wait for another year.
I'm committed, based on actions taken, to the end of January, so I'll be there pounding the dust, and when I get there I'll let you know how many pilots there are looking for work.
-Andy
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Heres hoping it's not as bad as it sounds. Just have to let it ride a week or two and see if the same reports are coming back???
I can handle the 30-50 pilots looking for work but the permit thing is terrible news.
I can handle the 30-50 pilots looking for work but the permit thing is terrible news.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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My information that there are around 30 people in town comes direct from 3 separate people who are on the ground in Maun now.
Are you going back this year Kash? I read your thread with great interest last time round.
Are you going back this year Kash? I read your thread with great interest last time round.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Thanks Potential!
Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised either way, I've heard that some years in the past there's been as many as 60. And with all the talk here about it, and the circumstances, economy, etc., I can see where there might be more this year than last.
I'm not too worried about how many people are there right now, I'm still planning on getting there the end of January. However, I have dreamed of flying in Africa for longer than some of you have been alive, I think (first started thinking about it in 1981), been preparing for it since I got my PPL in 1991, but life happens, kids, work, etc. etc. etc. Finally the kids are all out of the house, and I am able to follow my dream. (Like any of you actually really want to hear this - but I'm leading up to something, so stick with me)
So for me, this is an adventure that will be the culmination of many years of reading, thinking, and dreaming. And if I get a job flying, well, all the better.
Meanwhile, for the rest of you, I think you should seriously consider whether or not you want to commit to the money, and the time, and the hard work that will be required to do this before you come down and reduce my chances
(I couldn't find a "tongue-in-cheek" smiley)
See you there!
PS. don't forget your cans of hairspray.
And apparently you might want to bring a machete for the black mambas in the toilets.
Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised either way, I've heard that some years in the past there's been as many as 60. And with all the talk here about it, and the circumstances, economy, etc., I can see where there might be more this year than last.
I'm not too worried about how many people are there right now, I'm still planning on getting there the end of January. However, I have dreamed of flying in Africa for longer than some of you have been alive, I think (first started thinking about it in 1981), been preparing for it since I got my PPL in 1991, but life happens, kids, work, etc. etc. etc. Finally the kids are all out of the house, and I am able to follow my dream. (Like any of you actually really want to hear this - but I'm leading up to something, so stick with me)
So for me, this is an adventure that will be the culmination of many years of reading, thinking, and dreaming. And if I get a job flying, well, all the better.
Meanwhile, for the rest of you, I think you should seriously consider whether or not you want to commit to the money, and the time, and the hard work that will be required to do this before you come down and reduce my chances
(I couldn't find a "tongue-in-cheek" smiley)See you there!
PS. don't forget your cans of hairspray.
And apparently you might want to bring a machete for the black mambas in the toilets.
Join Date: Dec 2010
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hahahahahahaah, I actually thought that I was the only one insane enough to take a leap of faith and go down there on my own...now I know that I'm not the only one and I'm glad.
I'm pretty new here (just found out about PPRuNe few weeks ago
) but I read every dam post about going to Maun and my eyes heart like hell right now...I actually wanted to come in November this year but my parents took all the funds they gave me as soon as they heard that my super plan B is to go in Africa for few months (it's pretty hard to explain to someone what does it feel like wanting to fly and not being able to do it)...now I'm waiter for the next 12 months saving money to go there...but I WILL GO THERE. The way I see it there are two possible situations:
1.)
-you spend 3 months in Maun or any other town,
-you get to know a lot of new people of which most of them are low hour CPL like you
-you all have a great time drinking, laughing and simply enjoying Africa
-you go for job hunting
-you get a job you want SOOO MUCH
2.)
-same as above but you don't get a job
-at least you can say that you tried
-you had a great experience
-you have a lot of new friends who may be in situation of helping you finding a job
-you spend some money which you don't like anyway because if you like money you wouldn't be flying airplanes...
I'm just glad that there are so many of you with this awesome genetic disorder that creates indescribable desire to fly.
I'm pretty new here (just found out about PPRuNe few weeks ago
) but I read every dam post about going to Maun and my eyes heart like hell right now...I actually wanted to come in November this year but my parents took all the funds they gave me as soon as they heard that my super plan B is to go in Africa for few months (it's pretty hard to explain to someone what does it feel like wanting to fly and not being able to do it)...now I'm waiter for the next 12 months saving money to go there...but I WILL GO THERE. The way I see it there are two possible situations:1.)
-you spend 3 months in Maun or any other town,
-you get to know a lot of new people of which most of them are low hour CPL like you
-you all have a great time drinking, laughing and simply enjoying Africa
-you go for job hunting
-you get a job you want SOOO MUCH
2.)
-same as above but you don't get a job
-at least you can say that you tried
-you had a great experience
-you have a lot of new friends who may be in situation of helping you finding a job
-you spend some money which you don't like anyway because if you like money you wouldn't be flying airplanes...
I'm just glad that there are so many of you with this awesome genetic disorder that creates indescribable desire to fly.
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Booked My Ticket
Hey Guys and Girls
So after a long time of thinking about it I have finally booked my ticket to Maun.
I will be arriving on the first of Feb. I understand that time of the year is less than ideal but I could not go earlier due to finances and I really don't want to wait until the next hiring season. So now I have 6 weeks to buy some camping gear get all my documents in order and freak out about what feels like the craziest thing I have ever done. I am leaving a well paid job as a expat in Malaysia (not aviation related) to pursue my dream career.
I think I am a little better off than most guys going to Maun in regards to hours but not by much, I have 640TT and 500pic, MECIR (not current) and instructor rating. I plan on staying up to 3 months but I believe if I use all these 3 months up I cannot return to Maun for another 12 month period. Can anyone confirm this?
So after a long time of thinking about it I have finally booked my ticket to Maun.
I will be arriving on the first of Feb. I understand that time of the year is less than ideal but I could not go earlier due to finances and I really don't want to wait until the next hiring season. So now I have 6 weeks to buy some camping gear get all my documents in order and freak out about what feels like the craziest thing I have ever done. I am leaving a well paid job as a expat in Malaysia (not aviation related) to pursue my dream career.
I think I am a little better off than most guys going to Maun in regards to hours but not by much, I have 640TT and 500pic, MECIR (not current) and instructor rating. I plan on staying up to 3 months but I believe if I use all these 3 months up I cannot return to Maun for another 12 month period. Can anyone confirm this?
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Hello everyone,
I've been keeping an eye on posts coming in for the last couple weeks but without going over all of the possible threads can anyone tell me if the permit situation in Maun has changed at all?
I apologize in advance if someone has posted an update about it.
Thanks
I've been keeping an eye on posts coming in for the last couple weeks but without going over all of the possible threads can anyone tell me if the permit situation in Maun has changed at all?
I apologize in advance if someone has posted an update about it.
Thanks
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I spoke to a mate of mine yesterday who is up there looking for work. He says there were 2 pilots who got their permit applications denied last week.... I was planning to go up in Jan but I think it will be a waste of time to go if they haven't sorted out the permit issue. 
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Hey Gust12,
Thanks for that update. Im in the same boat as you. Have my heart set on jumping the pond asap but wish I could hear something positive about the permit situation before shelling out $1200 on a flight....might have to take the chance and go for it anyways. Thanks again and let me know if you hear of any changes as it would be much appreciated.
Matt
Thanks for that update. Im in the same boat as you. Have my heart set on jumping the pond asap but wish I could hear something positive about the permit situation before shelling out $1200 on a flight....might have to take the chance and go for it anyways. Thanks again and let me know if you hear of any changes as it would be much appreciated.
Matt
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Multi CPL to Single CPL?
Hi lads,
I got a message from a young pilot who is looking to fly in the bush, however, he has a bit of a problem with his licence. He tells me that he has a JAR Multi-engine CPL but not the Single-engine version and I have sent a couple of emails off to people but none has bothered to reply with my questions. What concerns me is that even if this guy can convert his licence then he still lacks the single engine experience??
Regards
Rico 25
I got a message from a young pilot who is looking to fly in the bush, however, he has a bit of a problem with his licence. He tells me that he has a JAR Multi-engine CPL but not the Single-engine version and I have sent a couple of emails off to people but none has bothered to reply with my questions. What concerns me is that even if this guy can convert his licence then he still lacks the single engine experience??
Regards
Rico 25
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That question has already been answered - because people always open new threads, we have to answer everything multiple times. http://www.pprune.org/african-aviati...10-11-a-6.html
If you have studied Air Law for your ATP you should know that you can only validate that what is in you original license and only as long as that license is current and for a maximum of one year - so no SEP IS a problem.
A lot of you guys going down to Africa will not get in - so it is only worth going if you can afford to speculate and treat the whole thing like a vacation scenario if the job search turns out negative. That is also why a lot of people drop the idea and never actually ever turn up anyway. The aviation community down there is tiny.
If you have studied Air Law for your ATP you should know that you can only validate that what is in you original license and only as long as that license is current and for a maximum of one year - so no SEP IS a problem.
A lot of you guys going down to Africa will not get in - so it is only worth going if you can afford to speculate and treat the whole thing like a vacation scenario if the job search turns out negative. That is also why a lot of people drop the idea and never actually ever turn up anyway. The aviation community down there is tiny.