Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: DRC/Lanseria
@ lilflyboy - agreed to all of the above. Just charge the rate of an initial issue CPL for the validation and there you go...at the same time as shafting anybody who tries to change it 
Still begs the question though, can a training organisation still survive on 20-30 PPL's a year (or even 50)?
With regards to Francistown as a training area I totally agree...added to that is a brand new airport and great runway costing MANY millions of Pula with little to no use! So it wouldnt be a bad idea to try increase utilisation especially because as you say, Maun is overrun at the moment.
Ive lived in both 'town' and 'cattle post'
...one longer than the other and I can tell you socially and entertainment-wise Francistown is pathetic in comparison to Maun! There is literally nothing to do and nowhere to go for a few drinks! Yes, It may be more developed with more infrastructure but living wise its not much different with most draw backs found in Maun here too. Im pretty indifferent about both of them...
Still begs the question though, can a training organisation still survive on 20-30 PPL's a year (or even 50)?With regards to Francistown as a training area I totally agree...added to that is a brand new airport and great runway costing MANY millions of Pula with little to no use! So it wouldnt be a bad idea to try increase utilisation especially because as you say, Maun is overrun at the moment.
Ive lived in both 'town' and 'cattle post'
...one longer than the other and I can tell you socially and entertainment-wise Francistown is pathetic in comparison to Maun! There is literally nothing to do and nowhere to go for a few drinks! Yes, It may be more developed with more infrastructure but living wise its not much different with most draw backs found in Maun here too. Im pretty indifferent about both of them...
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Netherlands
Language wise I was wondering where it would be most beneficial with regards to landing a job. I speak Dutch(Afrikaans), German, French and of course English. Is this a distinct advantage in Windhoek or Maun. On this (very helpful) forum a bit is written about German but the other languages are a bit of a mystery to me
Anyway I would love to meet up with all you guys, have been reading the posts with a sense of wonder and a big smile. Pm me, I'm in windhoek the 19th of Nov and then heading up to Maun, since hiring season already started over there and WH starts a bit later
Can anybody advise me about the chameleon backpackers in WH, is it any good. Also the old bridge backpackers in maun ?
See ya soon
Anyway I would love to meet up with all you guys, have been reading the posts with a sense of wonder and a big smile. Pm me, I'm in windhoek the 19th of Nov and then heading up to Maun, since hiring season already started over there and WH starts a bit later
Can anybody advise me about the chameleon backpackers in WH, is it any good. Also the old bridge backpackers in maun ?
See ya soon
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: DRC/Lanseria
German and Afrikaans - will help you in Namibia especially Swakopmund operators (dont know about Windhoek but lets say, it wont be a disadvantage)
French - huge advantage in North/central African countries (ie Senegal, DRC, Ghana and so on)
Botswana - not so much...
French - huge advantage in North/central African countries (ie Senegal, DRC, Ghana and so on)
Botswana - not so much...
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Netherlands
Thank you very much, heading into Maun anyway (If all else fails it's gonna be a nice holiday) but will also check Swakopmund.
Btw for some reaon the Congo doesn't really sound like a good place to hang out for a year or more
Btw for some reaon the Congo doesn't really sound like a good place to hang out for a year or more
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
CharlieVictorSierra , when you said
Did you mean - no it`s not gonna be of any help - , or did you mean - we hate frog eaters - ?
French - huge advantage in North/central African countries
Botswana - not so much...
Botswana - not so much...
Está servira para distraerle.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: In a perambulator.
It's because Bechuanaland was once a British protectorate and so is more inclined towards chips on the shoulders. This contrasts with the French island, known as Devils Island, where French fries were preferred.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: India
reached maun and started hunting !!
got into maun finally... all the way from India !!! met with some chief pilots already. the initial response is quiet disappointing !! looks like they are changing the std level and need 300+ hrs with instrctr rating now on...!!! anyways gonna stick around and believe in ' there is no harm in trying' !! hopin for the best
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: PL
Lilflyboy,
I assume your 'yes' was an answer to whether they recognise JAA and FAA instructor ratings.
Can you also relate to the supposed raise of requirements to 300h TT + instructor rating?
Cheers!
I assume your 'yes' was an answer to whether they recognise JAA and FAA instructor ratings.
Can you also relate to the supposed raise of requirements to 300h TT + instructor rating?
Cheers!
Last edited by MichaelPL; 15th November 2011 at 17:42. Reason: typos :)
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere
Hmmm F/Town. No maintenance organisation. No traffic - surely some sort of exposure to other aircraft in the sky is beneficial to a training PPL?
Don't think anyone will travel to F/Town for training either - hell, most wouldn't even travel to Maun for a job interview.
Best of luck. Hope it all works out.
Don't think anyone will travel to F/Town for training either - hell, most wouldn't even travel to Maun for a job interview.
Best of luck. Hope it all works out.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Barcelona
This thread is fantastic, very usefull. I am a low timer (fATPL, 200hrs) with a nice job at operations, but struggling to find my first flying job. I did a lot of online research about bush flying in Africa, and decided to come to Maun next winter (got to first save and get a big buffer...) if I have no luck te coming year. I also plan to take a bush flying course in South Africa coming spring. Do you think that is - besides an amazing and usefull experience - a good investment and will give me an advantage as a job seeker?
And another question: I heard from a Namibian pilot that logged simulator hours count as actual hours, is this true?
And another question: I heard from a Namibian pilot that logged simulator hours count as actual hours, is this true?