Maun Season 2010-2011-2012
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Guys, SURELY there is enough information out there by now to actually make up your own mind as to whether or not you will make the journey. Honestly it doesnt matter how many people are there or if 'pilots will be leaving' or any of that rubbish! 
Last year:
If you need to be spoon fed just to make the trip you are definately gonna struggle to find a job!!! Maun is not a place for sissies!!! 
Had to get that off my chest...
Last year:
- One company said they would not hire any more pilots, a certain guy arrived and within a week he was offered a job becuase the chief liked him! Simple...
- Another certain individual sayed there for many months with plenty of hours and never got a job (that is for another discussion)
- Another company promised a certain pilot when a job was available they would call him back, which they subsequently did do. Another company did the same if I am not mistaken??
- over 50 pilots came and many left with no job but some got a job
- The waiver/tender story is a thorn in the side for all Maun pilots...as EVERYBODY knows!
If you need to be spoon fed just to make the trip you are definately gonna struggle to find a job!!! Maun is not a place for sissies!!! Had to get that off my chest...
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CVS :
Well I guess you did then 
You have a job there. For some of these guys it is a big decision to invest in a trip to Maun and possibly end up without a post. There is no harm in trying to look for reassurance. I know the market there but am not an expert. I must say that Lilflyboy is very patient with some of the recurrent questions and extremely helpful. Your post was not
BTW, I can't find your word 'gonna' in the Oxford English Dictionary. Please define.
Had to get that off my chest
You have a job there. For some of these guys it is a big decision to invest in a trip to Maun and possibly end up without a post. There is no harm in trying to look for reassurance. I know the market there but am not an expert. I must say that Lilflyboy is very patient with some of the recurrent questions and extremely helpful. Your post was not
BTW, I can't find your word 'gonna' in the Oxford English Dictionary. Please define.
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One more thing...it WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER happen again that the situation will be: Your chances of getting a job are guaranteed, get here as quickly as possible...we need you!!! So dont ask the question over and over because the answer is the same. The only time that may happen is if/when the minimums for an expat get to 1500 hrs...in which case the pool of potentials will shrink exponentially! And damn it people if you have 1200 hours on a 206, 3000TT with Grade 2 instructors and a masters degree in astrophysics...obviously your chances increase! Again...INITIATIVE and COMMON SENSE!
Right thats my 2c worth...
Lilflyboy you have a heart of gold ha ha ha I would have got over this long ago...hats off to you bugger
Right thats my 2c worth...
Lilflyboy you have a heart of gold ha ha ha I would have got over this long ago...hats off to you bugger
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gonna - 'going to'. I sincerely hope that was not sarcasm at its finest...
I understand but how much reassurance does one need???? Nobody can hold your hand and if you read my post properly you would notice that what i was trying to say is that you never know...it will always be a risk coming here! Nobody can assure you of everything...and besides that the information is there! Really
BTW - yes i do have a job in Botswana, but not in Maun and on something a slight bit faster than a 206 or van
I understand but how much reassurance does one need???? Nobody can hold your hand and if you read my post properly you would notice that what i was trying to say is that you never know...it will always be a risk coming here! Nobody can assure you of everything...and besides that the information is there! Really
BTW - yes i do have a job in Botswana, but not in Maun and on something a slight bit faster than a 206 or van
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Haha i just clicked to who you are! Happen to be flying a BE55?
In that case speed isnt everything
. Lets see you fit 12 in there
P.s. There is heli jobs here. Check out helicopter horizons, They fly b206s and a r44. And also wilderness operates a few b206s.
In that case speed isnt everything
. Lets see you fit 12 in there P.s. There is heli jobs here. Check out helicopter horizons, They fly b206s and a r44. And also wilderness operates a few b206s.
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BE55 - very nice, but you are right Lilflyboy I checked on the spec look at the speed: BEECH - BE-55-D55A aircraft
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Afirm...thats me ha ha ha you win the microwave lilflyboy Damn it...No I dont have capacity for 12
But I also dont have 
either...heard it can get a bit rough
The BE55 isnt the only machine I happen to be playing around in though...and regardless of its speed its still faster 185 kts on ave. isnt so bad is it?
@ Excascot - what aircraft are you currently operating? Are you in Africa?
ha ha ha you win the microwave lilflyboy Damn it...No I dont have capacity for 12 But I also dont have either...heard it can get a bit rough The BE55 isnt the only machine I happen to be playing around in though
...and regardless of its speed its still faster 185 kts on ave. isnt so bad is it?@ Excascot - what aircraft are you currently operating? Are you in Africa?
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CVS, I have retired from flying, now a tour operator in Greece and Botswana. We are there for the summer, from November for 6 months this time. My last jet was the A300-600 before that the VC10 (RAF) mainly Royal and VIP but they made me get into some action a few times 
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Dearest lilflyboy:
Sorry for the late reply. Mmm...vaguely but please refresh my memory over another beer and braai! I must admit I do miss that about Maun. ha ha ha ha ha ha bosses toyboy 
Care to explain...
Anyway Im not too interested in comparing whose daddy is stronger or being nasty We are both much too mature for that The whole point of my initial posting on this thread lilflyboy (And I may have been having a bad few days) is to back up what you said in the very first post along with your fantastic guidelines.
My point is that once you actually read thorugh this thread people are still asking so many of the same questions that are continuously being answered a few pages back in the thread (and in other blogs/websites)...and the worst being: What are my chances? Can a fresh comm get a job? What are the minimum requirements? We both know very well that those questions are impossible to answer!
People : If there is some appreciable change in the constitution, min requirements regarding expats, something worth posting about etc. I promise you Lilflyboy or somebody in the mix will post a thread...is that not so?
This is not being negative is it?
We all know how hard it is there right now and nothing is certain anymore...I understand people want reassurances but they dont exist, not in Maun.
Anyway, I feel like im going around in square circles here Good luck to the pilots venturing into Maun this 'hiring season'! Its what you make it...have a blast! Drinking/socialising will DEFINATELY help your cause, making a toss out of yourself while drinking/socialising will not.
See...how nice and positive was that!!! Ive made my confession and all is forgiven
Now I refuse to post on this thread EVER again
I must admit I do miss that about Maun. ha ha ha ha ha ha bosses toyboy Care to explain...Anyway Im not too interested in comparing whose daddy is stronger or being nasty
We are both much too mature for that The whole point of my initial posting on this thread lilflyboy (And I may have been having a bad few days) is to back up what you said in the very first post along with your fantastic guidelines.My point is that once you actually read thorugh this thread people are still asking so many of the same questions that are continuously being answered a few pages back in the thread (and in other blogs/websites)...and the worst being: What are my chances? Can a fresh comm get a job? What are the minimum requirements? We both know very well that those questions are impossible to answer!
People : If there is some appreciable change in the constitution, min requirements regarding expats, something worth posting about etc. I promise you Lilflyboy or somebody in the mix will post a thread...is that not so?
This is not being negative is it?
We all know how hard it is there right now and nothing is certain anymore...I understand people want reassurances but they dont exist, not in Maun. Anyway, I feel like im going around in square circles here
Good luck to the pilots venturing into Maun this 'hiring season'! Its what you make it...have a blast! Drinking/socialising will DEFINATELY help your cause, making a toss out of yourself while drinking/socialising will not. See...how nice and positive was that!!! Ive made my confession and all is forgiven
Now I refuse to post on this thread EVER again
Last edited by CharlieVictorSierra; 21st Sep 2011 at 14:28.
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The bosses toyboy
Remember that convo at my braai?
Remember that convo at my braai?
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Maun
Hi guys! How's it lookin for a 300Hour aussie bloke with some 210 time?? As soon as I sell my caravan (ehm, actual caravan that you live in), I'll be there with bells on! So look forward to meeting you all in the coming months!
Cheers!
Cheers!
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Botswana
Hello Lilfly boy, thank you for posting the information on bush flying in Botswana . I am flying to Botswana in December. I have my FAA CPL. SEL INST/MEL INST, Advanced Ground Insructor with complex and high performance endorsements....not a lot but 425 hours under my belt ...hope I get a job if i qualify and meet the standards of the operators.
Thanks once again for all the info posted here. God bless you bro.
. I am flying to Botswana in December. I have my FAA CPL. SEL INST/MEL INST, Advanced Ground Insructor with complex and high performance endorsements....not a lot but 425 hours under my belt ...hope I get a job if i qualify and meet the standards of the operators.Thanks once again for all the info posted here. God bless you bro.
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Am in Maun at the moment. Not much happening. Wilderness Air are not interested unless you have 500 plus hours unfortunately. Just enjoy the months of camping and socialising. If you stick it out hopefully they will begin to notice you. I just live for the occasional flight in the right hand seat. That will keep me here until they throw me out the country Will stay as long as it takes! With regards to the hours thing.. I have low hours but I wont go anywhere i will stay here for years building hours.. but will the guy with 1500 hours do that? or get a few hundred more and move on?
Will stay as long as it takes! With regards to the hours thing.. I have low hours but I wont go anywhere i will stay here for years building hours.. but will the guy with 1500 hours do that? or get a few hundred more and move on?
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Hi Buskilzboeing.
Heading out to Maun tommorow, gonna try and stick it out until beginning of Jan. I think theres quite a few low time pilots going this year, including me.
Will just have to make the best of it..
Heading out to Maun tommorow, gonna try and stick it out until beginning of Jan. I think theres quite a few low time pilots going this year, including me.
Will just have to make the best of it..
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I'm planning to come down to Maun soon, hopefully next month.
How are things looking at the moment? Are there many job hunters in town already? Are there any suggestions that the hiring season may be earlier/later than normal this year and if there are likely to be more/less jobs available than in recent years?
How are things looking at the moment? Are there many job hunters in town already? Are there any suggestions that the hiring season may be earlier/later than normal this year and if there are likely to be more/less jobs available than in recent years?
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There are 9 guys that I know of who are here at this time. The companies claim we are here too early and that the best time to come is in January because thats when most of them employ. Personally I would rather be here when there are 8 other guys pestering for jobs rather than 50. :/ Come stay at the Sedia hotel!
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Right place, right time.......This was obviously not the braai i was at, was it? I cant think of any other reason why I got the job...I had the right attitude and qualifications which also helped.
I think if you had met/ever meet my bosses you would not be saying im the bosses toyboy....what exactly do you mean by this lilflyboy? I hope its not in an inappropriate sense...
I cant think of any other reason why I got the job...I had the right attitude and qualifications which also helped.I think if you had met/ever meet my bosses you would not be saying im the bosses toyboy....what exactly do you mean by this lilflyboy? I hope its not in an inappropriate sense...