Namibia, Bots, Malawi Q/A's 2010/11
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NM, USA
Age: 55
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Wait or circulate?
I sure appreciate the input of you guys with experience!
Couple questions:
1. When you go over, do you pick one location and then wait there until you get a job or do you circulate amongst the locations (Maun, Swakopmund, Windhoek, etc...)? I understand the concept of bugging the employers at one location every day until they hire you. However; other than rolling the dice, I am unsure how to pick one of the locations to sit and wait.
2. When you get a cell phone in one of the above locations, does it work all across the continent (assuming signal coverage)?
Thx!
P.S. I should add that I am a Commerical SE/MEI am have 1250 TT and 1100 PIC. I am trying to figure out what location to try. I am very easy going and my only real goal is to fly and enjoy life.
Couple questions:
1. When you go over, do you pick one location and then wait there until you get a job or do you circulate amongst the locations (Maun, Swakopmund, Windhoek, etc...)? I understand the concept of bugging the employers at one location every day until they hire you. However; other than rolling the dice, I am unsure how to pick one of the locations to sit and wait.
2. When you get a cell phone in one of the above locations, does it work all across the continent (assuming signal coverage)?
Thx!
P.S. I should add that I am a Commerical SE/MEI am have 1250 TT and 1100 PIC. I am trying to figure out what location to try. I am very easy going and my only real goal is to fly and enjoy life.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nowhere
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Guys - you must always remember that there are no guarantees - the only way is to go there and try like everybody else.
I always recommend to go there and treat the whole thing as a vacation - take a look at the country and show some general interest, gain some local knowledge. If you do not get a job in the time you have set, then it is just tough I guess, but hey - it still was a cool vacation - go home and keep the good memory. If you land a job, well then: congratulations.
There are so many factors and variables that are important here and there is no general rule - you can be the best person in the world, but if they don't like your nose, you will not get in. If you don't speak the right language, you will not get in ETC ETC. With most operators in these areas, it is a gutt decision combined with your experience and qualifications - and everyone that rocks up there has a license...
If you depend on being successful too much, the chances of being very disappointed grow exponentially.
If the pay would not be as bad, I would actually opt to return, but without the possibility of feeding anybody else exept myself, it is not really an option...
I always recommend to go there and treat the whole thing as a vacation - take a look at the country and show some general interest, gain some local knowledge. If you do not get a job in the time you have set, then it is just tough I guess, but hey - it still was a cool vacation - go home and keep the good memory. If you land a job, well then: congratulations.
There are so many factors and variables that are important here and there is no general rule - you can be the best person in the world, but if they don't like your nose, you will not get in. If you don't speak the right language, you will not get in ETC ETC. With most operators in these areas, it is a gutt decision combined with your experience and qualifications - and everyone that rocks up there has a license...
If you depend on being successful too much, the chances of being very disappointed grow exponentially.
If the pay would not be as bad, I would actually opt to return, but without the possibility of feeding anybody else exept myself, it is not really an option...
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NM, USA
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PropellorPilot,
I must not be communicating very well.
I understand all that you said. I am not asking you to plan my trip. I am not looking for guarantees.
My questions remain. Sitting on this side of the pond, it seems reasonable to arrive there, get a local cell phone and then hit all three of the locations that I listed, staying 3-4 weeks in each spot. I would like someone with experience to clarify if this really is a reasonable approach.
Thx,
I must not be communicating very well.
I understand all that you said. I am not asking you to plan my trip. I am not looking for guarantees.
My questions remain. Sitting on this side of the pond, it seems reasonable to arrive there, get a local cell phone and then hit all three of the locations that I listed, staying 3-4 weeks in each spot. I would like someone with experience to clarify if this really is a reasonable approach.
Thx,
Join Date: May 2006
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Q2NM - don't worry, I was not planning your trip in any way and I also did not adress you specifically in my post - it was just a general contribution to what others including you where asking.
Now to answer your questions personally:
1. What you do is go see each company personally one after the other - no point in staying there longer, better to move on i.e. if there is no demand or you get a negative response, there is no point in waiting. If they say they might have demand in 2 months time - tell them you will be back, then keep that in the back of your head and go to the next place. Then go back there after 2 months if you are still searching. Always try to make an initial appointment via phone if you can, always better than just rocking up there, when the man in charge has thousands of other things on his mind (it may even be good communicate your intention of visiting before you even travel, it will give you a feeling of the situation). So it is not about sitting and waiting - the only time you want to wait is if there is a positive chance i.e. when someone literally tells you to wait - but do other useful stuff while you are waiting. Bugging people is not the way to do it...
2. Signal coverage is avialiable in the vicinity of most towns cities , but not always out in the wild. While I was in Namibia, the MTC network rapidly expanded and many outback places suddenly had reception. I don't think you will have a problem there. I can't speak of other countries, but I never had a problem there with reception, exept when being located on some guest lodge far away from civilisation.
Now to answer your questions personally:
1. What you do is go see each company personally one after the other - no point in staying there longer, better to move on i.e. if there is no demand or you get a negative response, there is no point in waiting. If they say they might have demand in 2 months time - tell them you will be back, then keep that in the back of your head and go to the next place. Then go back there after 2 months if you are still searching. Always try to make an initial appointment via phone if you can, always better than just rocking up there, when the man in charge has thousands of other things on his mind (it may even be good communicate your intention of visiting before you even travel, it will give you a feeling of the situation). So it is not about sitting and waiting - the only time you want to wait is if there is a positive chance i.e. when someone literally tells you to wait - but do other useful stuff while you are waiting. Bugging people is not the way to do it...
2. Signal coverage is avialiable in the vicinity of most towns cities , but not always out in the wild. While I was in Namibia, the MTC network rapidly expanded and many outback places suddenly had reception. I don't think you will have a problem there. I can't speak of other countries, but I never had a problem there with reception, exept when being located on some guest lodge far away from civilisation.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: through the door, left
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@Q2NM
As a general rule regarding the cell phone issue: if you don't have residence, you won't get a contract. All you could get is a prepaid sim card. These cards usually don't work on roaming (=when in another country)
What you might want to do, when you get an 'we might have need for pilots in a few weeks time', explain to them, that you will go to another country and leave your e-mail address. There are enough internet shops in town, be it Maun, Swakopmund or Windhoek.
Since the hiring seasons differ from Bots to Nam, it is unlikely that you will miss out on a Bots job while having coffee with a Nam operator.
I am not sure about those seasons anymore, but you will find them posted here, if you page back a little or go to an older thread.
As a general rule regarding the cell phone issue: if you don't have residence, you won't get a contract. All you could get is a prepaid sim card. These cards usually don't work on roaming (=when in another country)
What you might want to do, when you get an 'we might have need for pilots in a few weeks time', explain to them, that you will go to another country and leave your e-mail address. There are enough internet shops in town, be it Maun, Swakopmund or Windhoek.
Since the hiring seasons differ from Bots to Nam, it is unlikely that you will miss out on a Bots job while having coffee with a Nam operator.
I am not sure about those seasons anymore, but you will find them posted here, if you page back a little or go to an older thread.
Join Date: May 2006
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MTC also works in Bots. So does Vodacom and MTN from S.A. work there and in Namibia Roaming just needs to be activated...
Otherwise prepaid cards cost about a dollar or two, so you might just want to get one in each country so that people can call you locally and vice versa.
Otherwise prepaid cards cost about a dollar or two, so you might just want to get one in each country so that people can call you locally and vice versa.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Maun, Botswana
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Start off in Windhoek for a week to meet everyone.
Come to Maun in November/December/Janurary, if no luck then head back to Windhoek for Feburary/March/April. That should tie you in with the hiring seasons.
Come to Maun in November/December/Janurary, if no luck then head back to Windhoek for Feburary/March/April. That should tie you in with the hiring seasons.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Red Sky Ventures Aviation
You want good info about african flying and especially Namibia, check out Red Sky Ventures Aviation, very helpful and have written some dedicated articles and books about Namibia and aviation there. Well worth checking them out at redskyventures.org
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Namibia
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Yes the Nam Air Law is there.
I can vouch personally the best and worst Namibian Air Law books are there...
Since they're the only ones - PPL, CPL, ATPL, ATC, and most importantly - Namibian runway directory forth edition with a major revamp - not mine, but looks so cool I wish it was.
(I didn't post this!
)
Will also shortly upload the CATS on the site. Also some great Cessna 210 stuff there -
If you're going to Windhoek or Swakop - not sure if it's been said already or if I'm stating the obvious - but you need to know the C210!!!!
Since they're the only ones - PPL, CPL, ATPL, ATC, and most importantly - Namibian runway directory forth edition with a major revamp - not mine, but looks so cool I wish it was.
(I didn't post this!
)Will also shortly upload the CATS on the site. Also some great Cessna 210 stuff there -
If you're going to Windhoek or Swakop - not sure if it's been said already or if I'm stating the obvious - but you need to know the C210!!!!
Join Date: May 2006
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No disadvantage at all - hardly anyone speaks German there anymore exept a minority. German is however a plus to cater for the very frequent German tourists - nice to have but not essential.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Hey all.. so I have booked a ticket for Dec! and am just wondering if you really should bring a tent? 
or can you just buy all that stuff in maun as the 20KG limit is a bit of restriction, for me a least...
Cheers for any info...I am pretty sure all my many other questions have already been answered
or can you just buy all that stuff in maun as the 20KG limit is a bit of restriction, for me a least...Cheers for any info...I am pretty sure all my many other questions have already been answered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
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actual season
So from Lılflyboys post ıs ıt offıcıal that the tıme to vısıt bots and nam are "offıcıally" - ın quotes please note,
thanks guys... let me know so ı can book a tıcket 
Maun in November/December/Janurary, if no luck then head back to Windhoek for Feburary/March/April
I guess ıll be late gettıng there ın December but you wın some you loose some.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Maun, Botswana
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Please dont quote me on that! Every year is different. This year looks like november/december is the time to hit bots. As for Nam, last year when I was looking, was told to come back in March. As for this year Im not sure.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Hi all. Been reading the forum for a while and thought I'd finally introduce myself and start contributing to the convo.
I'm located in Chicago and have an FAA commercial license with MEL and instrument, and about 250 hours. Just sold all of my stuff and moved to a super cheap apartment to start saving some $$, but may not be able to make it out until Feb., which I suppose might be a bit late
I also speak German, which sounds like it could help some in finding a position.
Anyway, looking forward to reading more and solidifying my plans.
I'm located in Chicago and have an FAA commercial license with MEL and instrument, and about 250 hours. Just sold all of my stuff and moved to a super cheap apartment to start saving some $$, but may not be able to make it out until Feb., which I suppose might be a bit late
I also speak German, which sounds like it could help some in finding a position. Anyway, looking forward to reading more and solidifying my plans.