Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.

[zoneout]

Originally Posted by Exascot

How many until you could land it smoothly

Great question...I think firstly at 50 hours, then I lost it, then got it again at 200 hours, then I lost it again at 500 hours then got it back, dunno when, and then I think it stayed (but thats just my opinion)

How many ex Maun pilots have returned looking for real flying again?

[rmball]

I always found the 206 would humble me every couple of months. Just when I thought I had it down she'd bite me. haha

[K.O.]

Please excuse this off topic post. I need some help.

Can anyone please help me by getting the email address from the nice lady at the front desk at Kesmo Lodge. The email addresses listed on every site that i've found, just bounce back 3 days later or immediately, indicating a failed delivery. I struggle with the accent. I can't understand what she says but its definitely English. The email address she gave me...well rather the one I copied down was: "[email protected]". I emailed it and got a failed delivery message immediately...so I obviously didn't understand her and copied it down wrong. I call [phone].

If anyone is in Maun and can do this for me, I will buy you beers when I arrive.

[PilotInPink]

It's not an easy accent to understand!
Try "[email protected]"

[lightning bird]

She sounds lovely..Ive taken the details..

[lightning bird]

So it looks like another pretty dry episode for the delta, the peripheries will be drying next year..goodbye Lake Ngami..you will be missed...until the next 20 year cycle..although becoming more breif... A while ago I took soil samples across the periphery of the delta...I expected to find a gradient of increased salinity towards the delta, as water bodies shrink the have deposits, but I didnt find this, anyway this is aviation what am I babbling on about

[lightning bird]

Anyway a huge inland sea did once exist, but it did not engulf the okavango delta..it existed more south..and the river boteti probably filled it...because above that there is no evidence of a huge sea..according to my soil observations..it has always been an unstable fluctuating area..

[Exascot]

LB the lake you refer to evaporated many millennia ago in the pans.

As we are all interested in the future of tourism (aviation) in the Delta your observations and and prognosis are welcome.

The Boro seems to be very low at the moment but better than four months ago. We are 40km out of town on the Boteti which is low but not too bad.

[lightning bird]

All good but when your university has given you the equipment to test potassium, nitrates etc in the soil,,and you come back and say, there is no positive corelation, the delta just is..well

[lightning bird]

I tested the drinking water in maun as a stable..it was so saline I had to use the river water, and distill it myself...god the salty maun water
Just to clarify I wasnt looking for an inland sea..I was looking for evidence that the delta had once been, I have found nothing within my observations that can sustain this point, my samples and methods are welcome to scrutiny.

[lightning bird]

Why is this important..because walk along the boteti now, and you will come across so many stone age tools, this was a place of great signifacnce in the past, in terms of stone age tools...and not so proliphic within the upper reaches of the delta....why settle down unless you have a reliable water source, look at the banks of the boteti, it used to carry so much more water..but all along there was a great tool making culture...just go down and you will find a crafted stone..

[samraat kaushal]

add me to your watsap group mail id [email protected]

Kind attention K.O.

add me to your watsap group mail id [email protected]

and number 9988244944

[Beech58]

TMI

Hey guys just after some info on making the move to Africa chasing work, there isnt much happening here in Aus and was wondering what type of work I could get with 1800 hours mostly charter in the remote NT bush and 250 twin hours.
Have heaps of airvan and C210 time 400-500 of both. Especially interested in getting on a caravan and how long would that take?
So much info to troll through
Thanks
Beech

[wevanniekerk]

Hi Beech58

I've never worked in Maun, but will be making my way there early next week. With your experience you should be able to find something, just regularly check sites like Avcom and Facebook pages like bush pilots for updates.

Regarding the sending of CV's, I emailed my CV through to some of the companies, stating that my intentions was to make my way up to Maun with the GA8 and C208B on my license. I have a total of 750hours and was one of those people who didn't do any homework after my cpl and pitched up with a total of 215hours beginning of 2013.

Never the less I was unlucky and didn't get employed, but now after two and a half years(and doing various contract jobs) with some instruction in between and very difficult to find additional 535 hours I'm finally heading back. Twin time doesn't really count I would think only towards your total time.

Getting on the caravan would depend on other pilots leaving, as you would have to start at the bottom of the ladder. If I had to guess around 2 years. Anyways I can think of worse things to do than flying airvans into the delta while waiting to get onto a Caravan.

It's always been my dream to fly in the bush, being a game ranger previously and the Caravan is very high on my priority list, so I would definitely stick it out for three years. I'm also very lucky that I was able to get a position over a skype interview and will be flying for Safari Air. Just need to renew that instructor's rating on Friday and then making my way.

To everyone seeking information, the only advice I can give is READ. There is alot of info on Maun and the requirements.

This is my first PPRUNE post and hopefully not my last. To those who want to pursue a career in bushflying never give up. Where there is a will there is a way!!

Cheers
Wynand

[Beech58]

Type ratings?

thanks for all that info and good luck over there!

Just a question on the type ratings as I've read on previous posts you need them to fly different planes over there.

In Aus all you have is a single rating under 5700kgs and a twin rating for a bit less kgs (can't remember amount as rules only just changed and before you needed a rating for each twin and each turbine you flew)

So with my experience on the air van and the 210 and 172 etc would I still need to do a rating to prove proficiency?

Beech

[cavortingcheetah]

Irrespective of a rating requirement, which question I believe has been answered already on this page, I would hope that any prospective employer would put you through a written test and also insist upon a full flight check before letting you lose in the sublime skies of Botswana, just to prove that you were proficient?

[Beech58]

I would say that would be required no matter what for insurance purposes, was just wondering on a African Aviation Law side of things.

[Beech58]

After re reading found the info for the type ratings etc. (admittedly did skip a bit with so much info and the screen blurring from tiredness last night)

thanks guys I would like to get a job at Mack air, I have hundreds of hours on all their aircraft except the c208. After coming over and hopefully gaining a job, with my hours 1800tt, how long would I be on the 210s before the c208 and would I need to self sponser my c208 rating and would this be cheaper over there? In aus its around 5000 USD.

Thanks again guys

[PilotInPink]

1 1/2 to 2 years minimum. At that stage the company will pay for the rating, though you will be bonded for another year at least. Everyone starts at the bottom of the seniority list.

[Beech58]

Ok thanks, trying to weigh up if I want to wait 2 years to get on a van or drive a truck here in aus and make 100k until Aus industry picks up.

A year I could probably handle, Im guessing the best case scenario would be they lose a few van pilots and then Im one of a few with time over 1000tt.

Thanks guys, me gots some thinking to do