Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Está servira para distraerle.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: In a perambulator.
So and in that case, might one be excused sometimes for feeling that Maun, in the minds of some starter pilots, is a dumping ground for those who cannot hack the hocus pocus in their country of aeronautical origin?
Registered User **
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Botswana & Greece
Now look what I have started. They don't wear flying boots down there (currently in Greece) but at least they don't dress like this.
For the record I have done a lot of right hand seat with these guys and it may not be dangerous but it is very challenging and jolly hard work. I usually only do half a day and then need a beer at Bon Arrivee whilst they do yet another sortie.
No way would I qualify, the initiation ceremony at the Sports Bar is worse than most in the military. I prefer my eggs cooked!
For the record I have done a lot of right hand seat with these guys and it may not be dangerous but it is very challenging and jolly hard work. I usually only do half a day and then need a beer at Bon Arrivee whilst they do yet another sortie.
No way would I qualify, the initiation ceremony at the Sports Bar is worse than most in the military. I prefer my eggs cooked!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: South Africa
Fact is that each company have slightly different requirements, clearly look at the Company websites and only apply if you have the correct requirements. If not dont send your CV and dont expect an answer back.
500 hrs with the relevant ratings is needed, + Instructors rating is also and added bonus.
I know Mack Air, Safari Air and Wilderness Air are not hiring at all for the rest of the season.
Good Luck!
500 hrs with the relevant ratings is needed, + Instructors rating is also and added bonus.
I know Mack Air, Safari Air and Wilderness Air are not hiring at all for the rest of the season.
Good Luck!
Está servira para distraerle.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: In a perambulator.
Highly unlikely as the socks are white without tassels and are of an unequal height and too short. Also, the sandals fasten from left to right whereas German sandals fasten from right to left.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 0
From: Planet Tharg
Ah, but notice one stipulated Bavarian rather than German, Mr Cheetah. Those carefree lackadaisical scamps are much less hidebound than their cousins. Must be the climate or something in the water...
To be honest, the most frightening fun I've had was with a crowd of Bavarians after a few jars. They go from staid citizens to lunatics with sparks coming out of their ears in about 20 minutes.
To be honest, the most frightening fun I've had was with a crowd of Bavarians after a few jars. They go from staid citizens to lunatics with sparks coming out of their ears in about 20 minutes.
Tsamaya sentle
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Germany
To be fair, Mr. Twotter, one must admit that they can drink about three times the amount of beer in 20 minutes as anybody else. 
Proper Bavarian socks (and shoes - one has yet to meet a Bavarian in sandals...), usually not be found amongst Maun pilots:
Proper Bavarian socks (and shoes - one has yet to meet a Bavarian in sandals...), usually not be found amongst Maun pilots:
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 0
From: Planet Tharg
Ah, but their choice of music is sublime, Mr Hopper. This has got to be the catchiest ditty one has heard in years. Of course, the tall brunette at 02:08 is guilty of blowing one's socks right into orbit....
A Bavarian flashmob in Munich. [VIDEO]
A Bavarian flashmob in Munich. [VIDEO]
Last edited by Solid Rust Twotter; 11th May 2013 at 19:19.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Right seat
Going to africa soon will i able to get job
I have Bdca ICAO license i have tt 540 hours and on c-208B i have 320 hrs will i be able to get job if i go der in maun. i dont have c-208 rating on my license becoz belize(BDCA) dosen't need rating to fly single engines which is below 5600 kgs will this be problem for me in maun wen i apply please help me out thanks...
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Canada
That company sounds awfully like Wilderness VC10
Anyway. If anyone in interested in the day in the life of a Botswana pilot...
Sorry if you are trying to watch it on a Ipad or Iphone. Youtube got a little s**** about me using some songs with the video.
Anyway. If anyone in interested in the day in the life of a Botswana pilot...
Sorry if you are trying to watch it on a Ipad or Iphone. Youtube got a little s**** about me using some songs with the video.
Last edited by lilflyboy262...2; 6th June 2013 at 12:24.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 84
From: Brisbane, Qld
Out of interest lilflyboy, can you remember what sort of strip lengths you were operating out of around Botswana and such? From what I've seen most of them have pretty clear areas off the ends of them, not many one way strips or tall trees sitting at the ends, would that be correct?
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Canada
There is a few that have tall trees, one of them is in this vid. Whether it is one way or not is entirely up to the pilot I guess.
The strips on average are 1000m long. Usually lose quite a bit to the floods.
Some are 800m and a rare few are 600m.
Landing length is not the issue. Its the performance on take off out of them that eats up the runway. You can see with the grass runway that I am barely clearing the end.
I think that was filmed around April/May so warm temps.
All of the runways have "escape" paths out of them, usually following a river or some such.
The strips on average are 1000m long. Usually lose quite a bit to the floods.
Some are 800m and a rare few are 600m.
Landing length is not the issue. Its the performance on take off out of them that eats up the runway. You can see with the grass runway that I am barely clearing the end.
I think that was filmed around April/May so warm temps.
All of the runways have "escape" paths out of them, usually following a river or some such.
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Lat..x Long..y
Video of life in a day flying in Maun
Quite a thrilling view...though gave me the bends a little! 
What is the average sector altitude? Have there been any incidents of scraping vegetation on some of these short strip approaches?
Are D-VORs and NDBs sufficiently reliable if GPS fails or is it dead reckoning?
How difficult is flying close to dusk?Am sure no nighties!
I notice engine idling during transits even when pilot leaves his office (to take a leak in the bush perhaps?
Nice work mate! It looks not as picturesque as I thought it might...may be due to the dry season.
Any encounters with hungry pack of Lions on landing? How do you tackle that?
Kudos for a commendable effort lilflyboy
What is the average sector altitude? Have there been any incidents of scraping vegetation on some of these short strip approaches?
Are D-VORs and NDBs sufficiently reliable if GPS fails or is it dead reckoning?
How difficult is flying close to dusk?Am sure no nighties!
I notice engine idling during transits even when pilot leaves his office (to take a leak in the bush perhaps?
Nice work mate! It looks not as picturesque as I thought it might...may be due to the dry season.
Any encounters with hungry pack of Lions on landing? How do you tackle that?
Kudos for a commendable effort lilflyboy
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: canada
lilflyboy: This is my first post on here but I have been following your thread for over a year, you're the man. Thank you.
I have read this thread from top to bottom at least 3 times now, so it's not out of laziness that I'm asking this:
I know a year or two ago I would have had a decent chance of landing a job with only a CPL (canadian) and 300 TT, but in light of the rumours in the last few pages of this thread, would that still be enough to give me a realistic chance if I went down in November? I know some people have been saying 500 TT is the new minimum, but I was wondering if anybody could give an update on this issue.
My second question: If it is still possible to get a job with only 300 TT, how much of a difference would having an instrument rating make? and what would be better, an instrument rating, or an instructors, and by how much? I am asking because I still have 3 months that I could spend getting one of the two, and want to know if it is worth it.
Thanks again.
I have read this thread from top to bottom at least 3 times now, so it's not out of laziness that I'm asking this:
I know a year or two ago I would have had a decent chance of landing a job with only a CPL (canadian) and 300 TT, but in light of the rumours in the last few pages of this thread, would that still be enough to give me a realistic chance if I went down in November? I know some people have been saying 500 TT is the new minimum, but I was wondering if anybody could give an update on this issue.
My second question: If it is still possible to get a job with only 300 TT, how much of a difference would having an instrument rating make? and what would be better, an instrument rating, or an instructors, and by how much? I am asking because I still have 3 months that I could spend getting one of the two, and want to know if it is worth it.
Thanks again.