Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PL
Age: 38
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Well, a month without news, so I might as well bump the thread a little.
To rephrase the question that had already been asked - is anyone in the know on the number of folks that tried vs the number of jobs landed? Info would be much appreciated, the more the better - including perhaps when the bulk of hiring happened.
(I do know between Nov and Feb is the season, the reason I'm asking is that I still need to save up for the reminder of the training AND do the training before I go... and one month DOES make a difference...)
Thanks in advance!
To rephrase the question that had already been asked - is anyone in the know on the number of folks that tried vs the number of jobs landed? Info would be much appreciated, the more the better - including perhaps when the bulk of hiring happened.
(I do know between Nov and Feb is the season, the reason I'm asking is that I still need to save up for the reminder of the training AND do the training before I go... and one month DOES make a difference...)
Thanks in advance!
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northampton
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Quick Q to any Maun employed pilots who read this if you please 
I'm CPL SE, about 470 hrs TT at this time, most of it VFR low level aerial photography in 172s. I'm doing a ME/IR around June/July, who knows even /August, bottom line being I'll no longer be a 500 hr virgin.
I'm addicted to flying into new and weird short and challenging strips, not ready or interested in the failing airline market just yet, would Maun 2012/2013 be a decent idea?
I would lose the crappy full time job back home, which is both a benefit and a drawback...
Cheers
p.s. I'm single...
I'm CPL SE, about 470 hrs TT at this time, most of it VFR low level aerial photography in 172s. I'm doing a ME/IR around June/July, who knows even /August, bottom line being I'll no longer be a 500 hr virgin.
I'm addicted to flying into new and weird short and challenging strips, not ready or interested in the failing airline market just yet, would Maun 2012/2013 be a decent idea?
I would lose the crappy full time job back home, which is both a benefit and a drawback...
Cheers
p.s. I'm single...
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: a spinning rock
Age: 34
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honestly, bring more than enough. Think about it this way, if you plan to stay for 3 months, and get a job right at that 3 month end date, how long will it take for the work visa to go through? how will you support yourself for the period after that initial 3 months? --and 3 months really isn't that long. be prepared to wait for up to 6 months! 
Bring around $1000USD per month. You probably won't end up spending that much, but at least you'll have some sort of reserve incase you get into any trouble.
Bring around $1000USD per month. You probably won't end up spending that much, but at least you'll have some sort of reserve incase you get into any trouble.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: north-south of nowhere
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lol yeah. the duration of the trip ultimately depends on the budget i set for the trip. so if its a low budget, it would mean a shorter trip 
but hey atleast i could claim i lived in africa for a xx amount of time
but hey atleast i could claim i lived in africa for a xx amount of time
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Planet Tharg
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...they just don't give a **** whether you come from the US, Australia, Europe or anywhere else in the world...
Yup. The least they could do would be to throw a ticker tape parade to welcome their saviours.
A tender juicy mzungu like you, you're lucky you didn't end up in a pot with a necklace of herbs and clutching a couple of veggies.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: a spinning rock
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Learning to fly is not cheap. And I'm learning that getting a job isn't cheap either. To keep your sanity, remember that people can easily spend $20,000usd/semester going to university. That's roughly $40,000/ year. We have decided to put our money elsewhere. I'd rather be upset not finding a job in something that I love than finding a shi* job doing something I hate. There is something going on EVERYWHERE; keep your eyes open.
It seems like most have spent $40-60,000 on their ratings and qualifications (year and a half of college LOL). Honestly, if you're not an instructor, of course you're 'another prostitute'. You'll be upset and down for awhile, but just remember that patients is key. If you're going home, and there are sky diving companies around, be there. It's relatively inexpensive to get to them if they're close, and you'll make your face familiar. It's the same thing that you were doing, just closer. All I can say is that anything is possible. Stay focused and GO after what you want; it's only a matter of time........and money haha. "What do you do when you can't do anything? . . . you do what you can."
This all may sound happy-go-lucky, and it is. Ask yourself how are YOU going to get YOUR job? What makes you the favorable prostitute? How badly do you want to do it?
It seems like most have spent $40-60,000 on their ratings and qualifications (year and a half of college LOL). Honestly, if you're not an instructor, of course you're 'another prostitute'. You'll be upset and down for awhile, but just remember that patients is key. If you're going home, and there are sky diving companies around, be there. It's relatively inexpensive to get to them if they're close, and you'll make your face familiar. It's the same thing that you were doing, just closer. All I can say is that anything is possible. Stay focused and GO after what you want; it's only a matter of time........and money haha. "What do you do when you can't do anything? . . . you do what you can."
This all may sound happy-go-lucky, and it is. Ask yourself how are YOU going to get YOUR job? What makes you the favorable prostitute? How badly do you want to do it?
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Age: 37
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Africa is as safe as you make it with the flying. I do not recall any situations where I couldn't climb.
A few where I was climbing slowly... but none where I couldn't climb!
It sounds like you are trying to justify the reason you are going home. If you had a job there you would have been having the time of your life.
What is with the sense of entitlement of pilots? Just because you have a license, it doesn't mean you should be hired. Look at how many educated and qualified people are out of work throughout the world.
You have to remember how many guys are coming to see the chief pilot every day, and that he also has a job to do.
Could they be a little nicer about it? Maybe.
Should he be laying out the red carpet and making you feel good about yourself? No.
You have a very long and hard road in aviation ahead of you. I left there with 2000hrs and I wasn't welcomed with open arms to every company I applied at. Hell, I only heard back from two.
I hope you enjoyed your time in africa and at least took the opportunity to get out and see the sights while you were there. You did just have an experience that you probably would have never had if you had not got into aviation in the first place.
A few where I was climbing slowly... but none where I couldn't climb!
It sounds like you are trying to justify the reason you are going home. If you had a job there you would have been having the time of your life.
What is with the sense of entitlement of pilots? Just because you have a license, it doesn't mean you should be hired. Look at how many educated and qualified people are out of work throughout the world.
You have to remember how many guys are coming to see the chief pilot every day, and that he also has a job to do.
Could they be a little nicer about it? Maybe.
Should he be laying out the red carpet and making you feel good about yourself? No.
You have a very long and hard road in aviation ahead of you. I left there with 2000hrs and I wasn't welcomed with open arms to every company I applied at. Hell, I only heard back from two.
I hope you enjoyed your time in africa and at least took the opportunity to get out and see the sights while you were there. You did just have an experience that you probably would have never had if you had not got into aviation in the first place.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Age: 37
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Getting there. Have a job as a co-jo on a Kingair.
Just having issues with license conversion. Every time I think I am done, there is something else that comes up.
Sometimes I wish I was still in Africa, things were so much more simple!
Just having issues with license conversion. Every time I think I am done, there is something else that comes up.
Sometimes I wish I was still in Africa, things were so much more simple!
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: crapoland
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what do you prefer
1-have a "job" where you have to pay to fly , you can not make a living even when working 18h a day.
You struggle just to fill your miserible logbook.worse than a slave...
2-have no job and the pocket plenty of money! employers beg for you to come to give them your money , but you tell them they can shave their
and you don't give a ****, because jobs will come one day...
1-have a "job" where you have to pay to fly , you can not make a living even when working 18h a day.
You struggle just to fill your miserible logbook.worse than a slave...
2-have no job and the pocket plenty of money! employers beg for you to come to give them your money , but you tell them they can shave their
and you don't give a ****, because jobs will come one day...
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Paris
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I might have said bull**** in my previous post. I guess i'm a bit tired after 2 months of ass-kissing and not even a single interview. But i don't blame anybody, i take responsibility and i expected that in some extent.
Good luck
Good luck
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Planet Tharg
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Quite so. Problem is it's a skewed market. Flying schools sell the dream and promise the moon to qualified candidates. The reality is that there are a lot of new CPL holders and few jobs so they're pretty much a captive market for those with no scruples to abuse as they like. For all their faults, the Maun operators at least agree to pay a salary for a fair day's work, unlike the shonky P2F crooks. Those going the P2F route are bolstering this practice, knowing full well that the next in line is right behind them and at the end of the day they still won't have a paying job because the operator will just get the next desperate sucker to pay to fly when his time is up. All this increases the debt burden among new pilots.
How to fix this? No idea. Maybe worth getting the word out there re actual job availability, thus getting fewer new CPLs on the market by adding reality to the dreams sold by the schools. Of course the trickle down effect will then mean the schools will cease to be a worthwhile investment and some will fold, meaning even fewer jobs available. It's a vicious circle and there's no real way out of it without a fair bit of pain.
How to fix this? No idea. Maybe worth getting the word out there re actual job availability, thus getting fewer new CPLs on the market by adding reality to the dreams sold by the schools. Of course the trickle down effect will then mean the schools will cease to be a worthwhile investment and some will fold, meaning even fewer jobs available. It's a vicious circle and there's no real way out of it without a fair bit of pain.