Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bots
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Whaaat???
From the Wilderness Air website:
"For Botswana applications the following flying experience is required:
500 hours total time with an instructors rating and instructors experience or
800 hours total time with a commercial pilots license"
Certainly not 250TT!
Moremi Air, Major Blue Air, and apparently now Mack Air have also said 500 hours minimum.
You can try with lower, but would need something exceptional on your CV to be noticed!
December to February is a myth. In that period 2013/2014 only one guy was hired. It was October/November and then April/May that most of the hiring happened in the last year or so. The timing will change every year.
A guy arrived yesterday with just over 500 hours and experience on both C206 and GA8. I guarantee that he will have a job offer (or three) by the end of the week. Lucky timing on his part- there's no other job seekers here!
And yes, immigration is still being a pain.
From the Wilderness Air website:
"For Botswana applications the following flying experience is required:
500 hours total time with an instructors rating and instructors experience or
800 hours total time with a commercial pilots license"
Certainly not 250TT!
Moremi Air, Major Blue Air, and apparently now Mack Air have also said 500 hours minimum.
You can try with lower, but would need something exceptional on your CV to be noticed!
December to February is a myth. In that period 2013/2014 only one guy was hired. It was October/November and then April/May that most of the hiring happened in the last year or so. The timing will change every year.
A guy arrived yesterday with just over 500 hours and experience on both C206 and GA8. I guarantee that he will have a job offer (or three) by the end of the week. Lucky timing on his part- there's no other job seekers here!
And yes, immigration is still being a pain.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Around
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Lol
800hrs!
The problem with most African companies, is that they are run by Africans.
The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs, not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam, heck they'd probably go to TZ, where they would be treated MUCH better if they are looking to experience Africa.
I wouldn't pay any attention to that, IMO it's more timing than hours.
800hrs!
The problem with most African companies, is that they are run by Africans.
The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs, not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam, heck they'd probably go to TZ, where they would be treated MUCH better if they are looking to experience Africa.
I wouldn't pay any attention to that, IMO it's more timing than hours.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
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Haha the hiring period isn't a myth. Its a good general idea to be in town around that time.
Some get hired earlier, some get hired later. It purely comes down to when the companies need new guys. A few of the guys are leaving later now so the hiring is probably shifting to later. Although leave it too late and then you are trying to do training in the full swing of the season with full planes!
I wouldn't be too concerned about Ebola in Botswana. Nor the tourist industry because of it.
Most of the tourists that come to Botswana tend to have money and a little common sense. The camps are pretty removed from that sort of thing.
The main ones that might take a hit are the scenic flights from the overland buses.
The core business will still be there.
As for getting a gig with less than 500hrs.
You need significant time on one of the types (and not the C172) or, with one of the companies, be a good looking female with any sort of hours.
Some get hired earlier, some get hired later. It purely comes down to when the companies need new guys. A few of the guys are leaving later now so the hiring is probably shifting to later. Although leave it too late and then you are trying to do training in the full swing of the season with full planes!
I wouldn't be too concerned about Ebola in Botswana. Nor the tourist industry because of it.
Most of the tourists that come to Botswana tend to have money and a little common sense. The camps are pretty removed from that sort of thing.
The main ones that might take a hit are the scenic flights from the overland buses.
The core business will still be there.
As for getting a gig with less than 500hrs.
You need significant time on one of the types (and not the C172) or, with one of the companies, be a good looking female with any sort of hours.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Namibia
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"The problem with most African companies, is that they are run by Africans."
With racist comments like that, you might not aswel have tried to get a job here.
"The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs,"
....yeah, and this is why they prefer to hire people who would be willing to stick around and help the company grow. Anyway, didn't you have around 3,000 hours when you applied at the companies here?
I guess the problem is they didn't see all your potential because they are run by Africans.
"..not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam..."
Except for, you know....you. But regardless of that, meh. Nothing wrong with that, the people who are here really want to be here. Namibia is not at a loss if all the Americana and European Pilot wannabes go to Tanzania instead.
With racist comments like that, you might not aswel have tried to get a job here.
"The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs,"
....yeah, and this is why they prefer to hire people who would be willing to stick around and help the company grow. Anyway, didn't you have around 3,000 hours when you applied at the companies here?
I guess the problem is they didn't see all your potential because they are run by Africans.
"..not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam..."
Except for, you know....you. But regardless of that, meh. Nothing wrong with that, the people who are here really want to be here. Namibia is not at a loss if all the Americana and European Pilot wannabes go to Tanzania instead.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Maun
Age: 59
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Most people don't recognize that the African Country were Ebola is spreading fast are much closer to Spain Italy and Greece than Namibia, Botswana and South Africa...and with hundreds of desperate people fleeing to Italy in the last few months is even more difficult to control the situation...
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Maun
Age: 59
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So for this reason at this moment is very dangerous to go build hours in Spain, Germany and USA??? No one here is saying that Ebola is a joke, but like HIV and Malaria we need to understand that we need to find a solution to live with it, now, hoping that someone will be able to find a vaccine or a treatment soon...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
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Actually the CDC is predicting 550,000 by January. Not 1 million by December.
As for it being an over-estimate, look at the numbers...
The First case was 55 weeks ago. There are 8000+ cases now.
1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,250,500,1000,2k,4k,8k
55 weeks/14 doubling cycles is 3.93 weeks per doubling cycle, every 27.5 days.
so the next doublings are
16k,32k,64k,128k,250k,500k,1m
7 cycles (192 days, 27 weeks) to reach 1 million.
2m,4m,8m,16m,32m,64m,128m,250m,500m,1b,2b,4b,8b
Another 13 cycles (358 days - 1 year) later, and it's the population of the planet.
(the current doubling rate depends upon the country, 15 days, 27 days and 30 days are the rate for the 3 worst countries)
All of this is based on NOT doing anything to stop it beyond what's been done so far. We are seeing some new things being done, so it won't be quite this fast.
I am not trying to take over this thread, and thought seriously that I should not post here. However, NO-ONE should take this lightly.
Honestly, if I hadn't just recently got married, I'd be in Botswana this year trying for a place.
As for it being an over-estimate, look at the numbers...
The First case was 55 weeks ago. There are 8000+ cases now.
1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,250,500,1000,2k,4k,8k
55 weeks/14 doubling cycles is 3.93 weeks per doubling cycle, every 27.5 days.
so the next doublings are
16k,32k,64k,128k,250k,500k,1m
7 cycles (192 days, 27 weeks) to reach 1 million.
2m,4m,8m,16m,32m,64m,128m,250m,500m,1b,2b,4b,8b
Another 13 cycles (358 days - 1 year) later, and it's the population of the planet.
(the current doubling rate depends upon the country, 15 days, 27 days and 30 days are the rate for the 3 worst countries)
All of this is based on NOT doing anything to stop it beyond what's been done so far. We are seeing some new things being done, so it won't be quite this fast.
I am not trying to take over this thread, and thought seriously that I should not post here. However, NO-ONE should take this lightly.
Honestly, if I hadn't just recently got married, I'd be in Botswana this year trying for a place.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
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Ebola is a tropical disease associated with poverty, overcrowding and poor hygiene. Simple cleanliness and rapid medical intervention both have a strong effect on the rate of infection.
It is not expected to spread easily outside of the currenly affected areas.
OTOH it does sell newspapers.
It is not expected to spread easily outside of the currenly affected areas.
OTOH it does sell newspapers.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
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This has been a great thread about Maun, so I'd hate to have it turn into one of the many ebola threads going in other areas of this board.
But to be fair, the wonderful medical systems in the west haven't done much better than those of Liberia or Sierra Leone, and certainly not better than Nigeria.
In the USofA and Spain, medical workers have been infected, even with all their technology and protocols.
In Nigeria, they managed to stop it without having medical professionals catch it.
And it's never been associated with overcrowding and poor hygiene until this outbreak, in the past it's been in isolated small villages, which is why in the past it's never infected this many people.
Back to Maun.
It's October, who's got tickets for next month?
Now's the time!
If you have a 2nd passport, bring it! You can get an extra 3 months by using your second passport (and re-crossing the border) after your first visa expires.
But to be fair, the wonderful medical systems in the west haven't done much better than those of Liberia or Sierra Leone, and certainly not better than Nigeria.
In the USofA and Spain, medical workers have been infected, even with all their technology and protocols.
In Nigeria, they managed to stop it without having medical professionals catch it.
And it's never been associated with overcrowding and poor hygiene until this outbreak, in the past it's been in isolated small villages, which is why in the past it's never infected this many people.
Back to Maun.
It's October, who's got tickets for next month?
Now's the time!
If you have a 2nd passport, bring it! You can get an extra 3 months by using your second passport (and re-crossing the border) after your first visa expires.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Around
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With racist comments like that, you might not aswel have tried to get a job here.
"The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs,"
....yeah, and this is why they prefer to hire people who would be willing to stick around and help the company grow. Anyway, didn't you have around 3,000 hours when you applied at the companies here?
I guess the problem is they didn't see all your potential because they are run by Africans.
"..not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam..."
Except for, you know....you. But regardless of that, meh. Nothing wrong with that, the people who are here really want to be here. Namibia is not at a loss if all the Americana and European Pilot wannabes go to Tanzania instead.
"The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs,"
....yeah, and this is why they prefer to hire people who would be willing to stick around and help the company grow. Anyway, didn't you have around 3,000 hours when you applied at the companies here?
I guess the problem is they didn't see all your potential because they are run by Africans.
"..not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam..."
Except for, you know....you. But regardless of that, meh. Nothing wrong with that, the people who are here really want to be here. Namibia is not at a loss if all the Americana and European Pilot wannabes go to Tanzania instead.
together. And yeah, most of the guys leave for greener pastures when they get close to the magic 1k number.
The companies don't pay worth beans (by Nam standards), have crazy training bonds, and it ain't like they send you to flight safety. Why would you invest in a company who doesn't invest in you?
As for me, I didn't give it much time, I found that most companies didn't want someone who wanted to grow with the companies, or who had experience, or just liked the country (and it is very beautiful) they want people who will stay because they can't get a job in their home country.
I'm not sure what a pilot wanabe is, but someone who would stick around for
pay, pay out huge training bonds for sub par training on small GA aircraft, well that's not the kind of pilot I would wannabe. From my understanding TZ treats their pilot as professionals, pay is more realistic for the level of responsibility required for the position, I'd say the only mistake I made was not heading directly over with my hours. Of course then I wouldn't have ended up in my current job.
There's a lot to like about the place, but don't fool yourself, Namibia still has much growing up to do.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Currently San Diego
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Ithinkaviation
I'll be there
Booked my tickets will be flying from Vancouver, Canada to Maun first week of November. Hoping for the best !
I'll be there
Booked my tickets will be flying from Vancouver, Canada to Maun first week of November. Hoping for the best !