Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: in the sky
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I have received an email from mack air couple of weeks ago!Here is the email:
Hey
Mack Air is no longer accepting CV's from Foreign Pilots for 2015.
Only Botswana Citizens (local pilots) may continue to apply for Pilot
positions at Mack Air.
Currently we have filled all our Crew requirements.
Any recruitment advertising indicating a Pilot position at Mack Air is
FALSE. The only advertising will be done via our website or Facebook page.
Many thanks to those who applied and good luck with your job search.
Mack Air Recruitment.
Hey
Mack Air is no longer accepting CV's from Foreign Pilots for 2015.
Only Botswana Citizens (local pilots) may continue to apply for Pilot
positions at Mack Air.
Currently we have filled all our Crew requirements.
Any recruitment advertising indicating a Pilot position at Mack Air is
FALSE. The only advertising will be done via our website or Facebook page.
Many thanks to those who applied and good luck with your job search.
Mack Air Recruitment.
But well done.Registered User **
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Botswana & Greece
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Happy Christmas and a safe aviating New Year to all you intrepid and brave airborne drivers.
No PFLs going on over our lagoon today hopefully you are all busy landing with the machine burning and turning
Good luck to those who are trying to follow in their footsteps.
No PFLs going on over our lagoon today hopefully you are all busy landing with the machine burning and turning
Good luck to those who are trying to follow in their footsteps.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bots
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By my count, 9 pilots have been hired over the November/ December period. They are now working through the paperwork for licence validations and work permits.
For now, the companies all seem to be well stocked with pilots, but things change all the time. No one knows what tomorrow may bring.
However, if you are not adverse to preying on the bad luck of other pilots, there has been an interesting development which has the potential to create an opening or two... The CAAB has written two new papers for the law exam, one of the first steps in the lengthy validation/permit process. The old exam papers have been well used and the answers circulated for some time, but these new ones are a bit of an unknown quantity and proving a bit of a challenge for some of the new hires. Like many ICAO countries there is a rule that if you fail three times you will be suspended from sitting again for a specified time period. If this happens, you are effectively unemployable to any company in Maun. There's a couple of guys going for their third attempt soon. I hope it woks out for them.
For now, the companies all seem to be well stocked with pilots, but things change all the time. No one knows what tomorrow may bring.
However, if you are not adverse to preying on the bad luck of other pilots, there has been an interesting development which has the potential to create an opening or two... The CAAB has written two new papers for the law exam, one of the first steps in the lengthy validation/permit process. The old exam papers have been well used and the answers circulated for some time, but these new ones are a bit of an unknown quantity and proving a bit of a challenge for some of the new hires. Like many ICAO countries there is a rule that if you fail three times you will be suspended from sitting again for a specified time period. If this happens, you are effectively unemployable to any company in Maun. There's a couple of guys going for their third attempt soon. I hope it woks out for them.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada
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Hello kind folks 
I have a plane ticket booked for Africa next week, arriving in Maun on Sunday the 18th or the Monday. Any recommendations for camps to stay at are kindly appreciated! Looking forward to meet all of you! Feel free to PM me if you are currently in Maun, would like to meet ya.
Cheers
I have a plane ticket booked for Africa next week, arriving in Maun on Sunday the 18th or the Monday. Any recommendations for camps to stay at are kindly appreciated! Looking forward to meet all of you! Feel free to PM me if you are currently in Maun, would like to meet ya.
Cheers
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: in the sky
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Guys,
What is the monthly salary of Pilots joining companies in Bots and Namibia?Is it the same in the rest of the neighbouring countries?Is there a difference if the person is hired to fly twins instead of SEP?
Thanks.
What is the monthly salary of Pilots joining companies in Bots and Namibia?Is it the same in the rest of the neighbouring countries?Is there a difference if the person is hired to fly twins instead of SEP?
Thanks.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bots
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Theres about P4000/month difference between the highest and lowest paid newbies in Maun. Refer to the first page of this thread. Add P2000 for the highest, subtract 2000 for the lowest. Who would've thought the average pay would go down?!
As for twins in Maun, also refer to the first page, and exclude the BN Islanders from any fleet list- they've all been sold/ mothballed.
As for twins in Maun, also refer to the first page, and exclude the BN Islanders from any fleet list- they've all been sold/ mothballed.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Around
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You'll be able to survive on it, but that's about it.
From my experience, many of the locals in Windhoek (Nam) drive late model cars, quite a few higher end makes, the pilots drive POSs or carpooled.
The companies figure you're there because you can't get a job back "home", and have never worked in the aviation industry before, the pay reflects this.
It's still a great place for low time 250-500hr pilots to go and break into the industry, but don't think you're going to be living large (or even medium lol) over there.
From my experience, many of the locals in Windhoek (Nam) drive late model cars, quite a few higher end makes, the pilots drive POSs or carpooled.
The companies figure you're there because you can't get a job back "home", and have never worked in the aviation industry before, the pay reflects this.
It's still a great place for low time 250-500hr pilots to go and break into the industry, but don't think you're going to be living large (or even medium lol) over there.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Age: 37
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James, you have a real negative view on Africa. It obviously wasn't a place suited for you.
In regards to the cost of living, the pay is actually quite good. I lived quite well when I was in Maun.
The pay was comparable to an entry level airline job in Canada or USA with a much lower cost of living.
In regards to the cost of living, the pay is actually quite good. I lived quite well when I was in Maun.
The pay was comparable to an entry level airline job in Canada or USA with a much lower cost of living.
Está servira para distraerle.
But the overall standard of living, as in sheltering in a camp site with an astonishing lack of comfort women, was surely lower than it would have been in continental North America?
The Cooler King
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Been a while since I came in here to play.
Cavortingcheetah : how are you doing mate?
I was watching this whole Maun affair on some TV documentary a while ago, with some walking orifice being interviewed and his opening line was "Well, failure is not an option…."
There's not a shiny-jet recruiter on the planet who'd even bother with Question 2 at the interview.
"Actually son, it is. See ya!"
Cavortingcheetah : how are you doing mate?
I was watching this whole Maun affair on some TV documentary a while ago, with some walking orifice being interviewed and his opening line was "Well, failure is not an option…."
There's not a shiny-jet recruiter on the planet who'd even bother with Question 2 at the interview.
"Actually son, it is. See ya!"
Está servira para distraerle.
Shades of the glorious past!
'failure is not an option'.....so may success attend your every moment and great things achieved be your destiny.
'failure is not an option'.....so may success attend your every moment and great things achieved be your destiny.
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Guys,
I am likely to start on a C206 with a company.What is the progression like?After we build hours on SEP and MEP do companies hire these pilots for Turboprop(ATR42/72 or B1900) first officer?
I am likely to start on a C206 with a company.What is the progression like?After we build hours on SEP and MEP do companies hire these pilots for Turboprop(ATR42/72 or B1900) first officer?
Join Date: Mar 2014
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James, you have a real negative view on Africa. It obviously wasn't a place suited for you.
In regards to the cost of living, the pay is actually quite good. I lived quite well when I was in Maun.
The pay was comparable to an entry level airline job in Canada or USA with a much lower cost of living.
In regards to the cost of living, the pay is actually quite good. I lived quite well when I was in Maun.
The pay was comparable to an entry level airline job in Canada or USA with a much lower cost of living.
So who were you working for where you had a union, benefits and made 36,000USD per year?
I can't speak for Maun, but Namibia...
If you go to the mall or most markets in Windhoek, pull into the parking lot and tell me how the cost of living is so low, look at all the over priced pickups all over town, all the rovers, Benz, BMWs, new imports, etc. You WILL be making less than the average person in Windhoek, and that's just math.
Cell phones cost more and a plan is more than in the US, gas is a little more, clothes are ALOT more, rent is about the same as where I used to live on the coast, and you're making about 2k USD per month.
The only things which are less would be booze and meat.
AGAIN, it's a great experience and a very good idea for that first job, if you're going to live below average, better to be below average in Windhoek and hang out with all the pilots, it beats living below average back home and the flying in Africa will put you ahead of the folks back home.
It's a great place but this ain't the "promised land" for green horn pilots.
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Pretty sure all the operators there aren't paying 36k. And for the size aircraft you are flying there, getting 36k is criminal as it is.
I was getting 65k on the Caravan in Canada.
Most of those people that you are comparing yourself to, are not average people either. They are the well to do's.
Windhoek and Swakop are certainly not your average African city. Swakop certainly was the rich persons retreat over xmas and new years.
Cellphones in botswana cost around $15 a month for a normal plan. For those of us from the rest of the world, that is more than reasonable.
Rent when sharing a house is around $400 a month. Pay is around $1800. Cost of living there on out depended on what you wanted to eat and do. Most of that cost around 200-400 a month.
I was saving around $1000 a month. I know that's not huge, but when I left that place after 2 years, I had around 15k in the bank and 2000hrs in my logbook, and I didn't have to pay for any of my ratings, or work horrendous hours.
But that was just my experience.
I was getting 65k on the Caravan in Canada.
Most of those people that you are comparing yourself to, are not average people either. They are the well to do's.
Windhoek and Swakop are certainly not your average African city. Swakop certainly was the rich persons retreat over xmas and new years.
Cellphones in botswana cost around $15 a month for a normal plan. For those of us from the rest of the world, that is more than reasonable.
Rent when sharing a house is around $400 a month. Pay is around $1800. Cost of living there on out depended on what you wanted to eat and do. Most of that cost around 200-400 a month.
I was saving around $1000 a month. I know that's not huge, but when I left that place after 2 years, I had around 15k in the bank and 2000hrs in my logbook, and I didn't have to pay for any of my ratings, or work horrendous hours.
But that was just my experience.
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Wish I knew about that plan when I was over there, I was approaching 80-90USD per month with MTC and those dumb refills and data and smart phones were more than in the US, hell in hind sight I should have bought a dozen old iPhones off Craig's list and sold em over there.
I know guys in Namibia aren't paying 36k, on your previous post you said operators in Africa pay the same as a entry level 121 OP stateside, well 36k ain't hard a hit as a greenhorn in a 121 job in the US.
You're experience isn't the norm, most work their asses off and don't have much free time, I'd put money on the fact that most ain't saving anywhere near 15k over 2 years. But it does seems most are logging near 1k a year over there.
Look it's a great place for newbies, but NOT EVERYTHING about it is great, I don't know why that seems to offend you SOO much, you get a commission or something for every kid who goes over there lol
I know guys in Namibia aren't paying 36k, on your previous post you said operators in Africa pay the same as a entry level 121 OP stateside, well 36k ain't hard a hit as a greenhorn in a 121 job in the US.
You're experience isn't the norm, most work their asses off and don't have much free time, I'd put money on the fact that most ain't saving anywhere near 15k over 2 years. But it does seems most are logging near 1k a year over there.
Look it's a great place for newbies, but NOT EVERYTHING about it is great, I don't know why that seems to offend you SOO much, you get a commission or something for every kid who goes over there lol