Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
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C206 Operating Notes
It is a few years since I operated a C206. Just doing a little bit of swotting up. Do you ace bush pilots have any comments on the below. Agreements or disagreements. I appreciate that different companies have different SOPs. This could be a worthwhile discussion for those heading down there for jobs.
www.associatedpilots.com/documents/C-206_operating_notes.pdf
www.associatedpilots.com/documents/C-206_operating_notes.pdf
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Elevation around there is 4000' odd IIRC, so leaning for taxi to prevent plugs fouling may not be a bad idea. Be aware of a possible rich cut if reducing power at altitude. Apart from that most places should have SOPs regarding this stuff and a bit of line training is the norm before releasing pilots to fly on their own.
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flying club in botswana
hello friends ..
i heared that some foreign company is going to open a flying training and charter company in maun?? has anyone heard of it?? heard that they have got clearances to bring c172 airplanes .... ??
i heared that some foreign company is going to open a flying training and charter company in maun?? has anyone heard of it?? heard that they have got clearances to bring c172 airplanes .... ??
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... how many pilots are there?
I bet none of you guys have a trip that starts off with 9 hours on a ship though, starting the day after tomorrow and only getting there after over a week.
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In response to comments requested on the 206 information.
A few comments. Instead of holding power on landing I like to think of it as holding RPM's. All of my 206 time came from flying a jump plane so I was always within glide of the airport (except on the up wind). I was told never to go to idle unless I had the airport made. Also - according to my friend who crashed a 206 - never turn the aux pump on to change tanks. Its not a f-ing Piper. The aux pump is for starting and restarting if you run a tank dry.
OK - one more thing. When empty and I mean nothing but the pilot and the pads for the sky divers and ten gallons of fuel - never land with full flaps - max 15 degrees.
I would imagine that the delta pilots have their own tricks.
A few comments. Instead of holding power on landing I like to think of it as holding RPM's. All of my 206 time came from flying a jump plane so I was always within glide of the airport (except on the up wind). I was told never to go to idle unless I had the airport made. Also - according to my friend who crashed a 206 - never turn the aux pump on to change tanks. Its not a f-ing Piper. The aux pump is for starting and restarting if you run a tank dry.
OK - one more thing. When empty and I mean nothing but the pilot and the pads for the sky divers and ten gallons of fuel - never land with full flaps - max 15 degrees.
I would imagine that the delta pilots have their own tricks.
Last edited by scarrymike; 31st Oct 2011 at 00:38.
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okies ... the news is that, a new flying training school is expected to open in Botswana, most probably they would put there base in maun and may require flight instructors.... has anyone heard about this business venture???
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Also heard that there may be a flight school opening in Francistown 
I am in shock to think that somebody believes that there is even remotely a market for flight training in Francistown of all places!!!
On top of that surely they have to consider that they can only really take a student to PPL level. From there its to SA because, at our wonderful CAAB, there is simply no infrastructure to make doing a CPL possible...its a joke IMHO.
This is of course all 'hear say' If they struggle to make it in Gabs then they will struggle anywhere...
I am in shock to think that somebody believes that there is even remotely a market for flight training in Francistown of all places!!!
On top of that surely they have to consider that they can only really take a student to PPL level. From there its to SA because, at our wonderful CAAB, there is simply no infrastructure to make doing a CPL possible...its a joke IMHO.
This is of course all 'hear say'
If they struggle to make it in Gabs then they will struggle anywhere...
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Sorry for anyone that has been trying to get in touch with me, for some reason (not banned!) I cannot post in either private or public.
Just got back from holiday and having nothing to do for the next couple of weeks so look forward to meeting some of the new guys and girls in town!
In reply to SRT's question,
There is a huge demographic for training all the botswana pilots that are being sent to SA instead of completing their training in Bots.
Its a sad waste of hours that could be going to local pilots. An average class of 10-20 pilots is between 2000-4000hrs, per year.
From what I have heard, it is destined for francistown as there is more space, both on the ground and in the air, and a better lifestyle there. More tempting to bring the pilots from Gabs as opposed to them having to move to maun.
Just got back from holiday and having nothing to do for the next couple of weeks so look forward to meeting some of the new guys and girls in town!
In reply to SRT's question,
There is a huge demographic for training all the botswana pilots that are being sent to SA instead of completing their training in Bots.
Its a sad waste of hours that could be going to local pilots. An average class of 10-20 pilots is between 2000-4000hrs, per year.
From what I have heard, it is destined for francistown as there is more space, both on the ground and in the air, and a better lifestyle there. More tempting to bring the pilots from Gabs as opposed to them having to move to maun.
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From what I have heard, it is destined for francistown as there is more space, both on the ground and in the air, and a better lifestyle there. More tempting to bring the pilots from Gabs as opposed to them having to move to maun.
OTOH whoever invented that theory had obviously never been to Orapa.
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Gabs was the a**hole of africa
Home to ATH on a ship for 9 hrs then DXB, JNB no problem until Air Bots takes control
We are pretty sure that they purposely left them off to put bags on from a previous flight which was full and they didn't have room on the ATR.
Hopefully Old Bridge Backpackers by Weds afternoon if we survive the drive or ever get our luggage.
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As to whether the lifestyle in Francistown is better than Maun...well thats debateable. I dont know what factors they use to make that decision
If there is a huge demographic then why hasnt the CAAB improved their infrastructure such as facilitating a proper course structure from PPL to CPL and instructors. In order for a training organisation to be profitable they cant have their students going just to PPL!
I am not disputing the fact that there is a demographic but the way it is right now there is surely no way they can make a profit out of 10-20 PPLs which is 500-1000 hours per year...even so that amount of students will make it hard to survive as it is IMHO.
If there is a huge demographic then why hasnt the CAAB improved their infrastructure such as facilitating a proper course structure from PPL to CPL and instructors. In order for a training organisation to be profitable they cant have their students going just to PPL!
I am not disputing the fact that there is a demographic but the way it is right now there is surely no way they can make a profit out of 10-20 PPLs which is 500-1000 hours per year...even so that amount of students will make it hard to survive as it is IMHO.
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You've been in Botswana for long enough to realise how things work here.
Why should they take the time to set up a system that has no rewards for them when they can just go down to SA and then come back for and get a validation?
Sefofane (or it was at the time) set up a CPL training scheme complete with all the theory and practical syallabus, but was then shafted by the government and they just gave it away.
Francistown has a lot more going for it than Maun. As a training environment it is perfect as the air traffic is much much less, facilities on the ground are better. And the town itself is seen as a town, rather than "a cattle post" as I have so often heard Maun referred to as.
Why should they take the time to set up a system that has no rewards for them when they can just go down to SA and then come back for and get a validation?
Sefofane (or it was at the time) set up a CPL training scheme complete with all the theory and practical syallabus, but was then shafted by the government and they just gave it away.
Francistown has a lot more going for it than Maun. As a training environment it is perfect as the air traffic is much much less, facilities on the ground are better. And the town itself is seen as a town, rather than "a cattle post" as I have so often heard Maun referred to as.