Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.

[CPLPilot87]

Well it's just that if it's impossible to comply with the gov. under 350hr it's better to use that money and time to build up more hrs in somewhere else. At this moment in Maun people couldn't get anything under 300 and one guy with 300 got a job and went back to SA to build hrs to please the gov.
This is just the info I got from one fellow aviator whos now in Maun, also he told me that attitudes against foreign pilots have gotten tighter.

[stewmath]

I think thats why the original author of the thread said to go there with a tourist visa while your trying to find a job, then once you have a job lined up with a company they can sponsor your working visa.

[Boeingdream]

Guys And Girls

Only one company is having trouble with work permits with pilots under 300hrs and that is Wilderness, every other company will again be hiring as per normal come OCT - FEB. Yes more hours is better but you still have a chance with 200hrs. It is a risk but nothing in life can be guarantee.

For those that do get hired it will take some time to get the permit approved and company's are now asking for the pilot to wait back home for the permit to arrive.

Good luck to everyone who makes the journey over.

[taxistaxing]

What is the age range of pilots in Maun? From the TV show in the UK I'm guessing it ranges from early 20s through to mid 30s. Would someone in their early 30s be more or less likely to get a job than someone younger?

Also how to people typically find the experience is viewed by airlines? In the UK at the moment it seems that SEP hours (however obtained) aren't particularly favoured by airline recruiters...

Would be grateful for any thoughts.

Cheers.

[lilflyboy262...2]

Well if you watched the show you saw one guy getting into Qatar.

Hours are hours.

Age is nothing.

[taxistaxing]

Good news. It looks absolutely mindblowing, big balls flying. I have a mad fantasy of jacking everything in next year when I finish my training and head on over... Looks more fun than instructing trial flights and PPLs in the UK anyway.

[Zim_Invader]

First up, a big thanks to lilfly for going through the trouble of setting this up n being so kind as to still keep tabs on it...This has been extremely helpful! - i've heard some real horror stories of ppl that have gone to places, like aus, and toughed it out for 4 yrs and only come out with a bigger debt and a very morbid expression. It doesn't really help convince one's parents that it'll be ok and I WILL FIND WORK.

i'm just finishin up some SEIR and MEIR stuff now and will be looking to scoot over late sept and early october - wish me luck

Aaah, it has been a good 8 yrs since i've lived in afrca for more than 6 weeks... i'm looking forward to it.

I wonder... i've got a degree from the university of auckland - BSc in Biology. Do degrees even help much when applying for jobs or is it just something else that decorates that cv?

I'm flying in from NZ so wanna keep the bags n luggage to a minimum. - chances are i'll be dropping off random food items and gifts in Zimbabwe on my way through.. are there good quality tents to be bought in Maun? or would it still be a better idea to bring one with me beforehand.

Any chance you guys have some home-videos of your own flights in and around the delta? care to hit us up with a few links? It'd be nice to see a few "real" vids...

and wow... this is one hellova thread to read in one night.

[Zim_Invader]

Also, forgot to mention... but surely there must be a few part-time jobs to be had around the place that one could get to help keep themselves afloat while on the job hunt...or is that something that's frowned upon slightly?

And how expensive/advisable is it to maybe invest in a bicycle or little scooter/motorcycle as a means of personal transport..? or are the combis n taxis just more convenient in general?

thanks

[Exascot]

.....are there good quality tents to be bought in Maun? or would it still be a better idea to bring one with me beforehand.

Yes there are two main suppliers. Also Riley's Garage do some good end of season sales on tents around October.

....surely there must be a few part-time jobs to be had around the place that one could get to help keep themselves afloat.

None that are legal unless you have a 'work permit', sorry to use those two words guys and girls

[Ixixly]

Hey all,

Quick question, i'm an Aussie Pilot, just over 1120hrs total, got 97hrs ME, MECIR Current, flown Airvans, 207s, 206s and 310 doing Skydiving, Scenic and Charter. What i'm wondering is, would having this amount of hours work against me getting a job in Maun? I'm really considering taking the plunge as the job market over here isn't great and i'm pretty keen on a new adventure!! I know there are some places that would look at my hours and worry that i'll leaving too soon, would those of you whom have been involved over there see this as being the case?

[Zim_Invader]

Awesome... thanks mate. I look forward to seeing you soon-ish.

[n.dave]

Ixixy, haha if you think you are over qualified then I'm well under qualified! Just 331tt, cpl and sep! (i/r and mep will be expired by then) I'm planning to go there in jan and feb 2013.

[Ixixly]

Hahaha, not overqualified, I've just had the situation before where people look at me having more hours than the usual candidates and become worried that i'm not going to stick around long enough to make it worth their while with training and such! So when i'm looking at most people going over there like yourself with around 300hrs I get a little worried and just thought i'd check it if would work against me!!

[n.dave]

i'm also worried too! There are guys like you with thousand hours. You got the experience but i do not have! You probably get less training and be put on line very quicky. I probably need more training and be on line slighty longer! Haha. You have your advantages and I have mine. Just have to see what decisions the recruiter makes.

[Ixixly]

We could just duel with pistols at 20 paces? The gentleman's way to cut down the competition!

[lilflyboy262...2]

I don't see why either of you would require more or less training? Just saw one of the new company co-pilots at my new job blow 4 tyres on a king air while trying to stop to make a turn off with thousands of feet of runway remaining..... and he has thousands of hours from instructing.

The biggest advantage that Ixixly will have is that it will be easier for him to get work permits. Also Ixixly, if you do not get a job in Maun, I would suggest Zambia and Tanzania.
Both do the same sort of flying, but there are twin jobs to progress into. And you need over 1000hrs for a work permit there.

[n.dave]

ixixly, the deal is on! But, i'm no gentleman and i will shoot you before the paces are done lol.
Lilflyboy, thanks for some useful info. regarding to work permits. I have being reading 'Low time flying jobs in africa' and very little info. about it.

[Ixixly]

You're going to get a rude shock when you go to fire and discover the blanks I put in there... Hahaha!!

Same from me Lilflyboy, appreciate the advice!!

[Bealzebub]

Well if you watched the show you saw one guy getting into Qatar.

If you watched the show even more carefully, you would have seen a clue on the front of that guys logbook, which might have better explained how he got into Qatar. A lot of people where he trained found the same destination.

[lilflyboy262...2]

Not so much where he trained, but the type of licence he holds.
Qatar are also after guys with their ATPL's. The time here counts towards your ATPL's. So yeah...