Moving to Kinshasa soon, over what aircraft should I swoon?
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Moving to Kinshasa soon, over what aircraft should I swoon?
So put yourself in my place: later this year I値l move to Kinshasa, and probably have a bit of time on my hands over the next 2-4 years. I may have the chance to take some wings with me, but what?
I知 a low time FAA ASEL pilot, and Africa is nothing new耀pent 13 years in East and North, bit of time in the south as well. NBB is of course incredibly active on the GA side, and were I still there plenty of options exist. But in DRC no. Right now my goal is to have fun, build hours, just enjoy aviation. No vocational aspirations, though that could change. I知 in process of doing the FAA-JAA conversion, so soon will have the ability to fly European-registered a/c.
I figure Kinshasa is kind of light on FBOs and GA services. Additionally it sounds like avgas costs as much as table wine. In view of these factors, what would you do?
My inclination is to bring over an LSA (the CTLS?) which uses a Rotax幼an burn mogas + avgas (this will average out the paraffin/water potentially in the mogas ;-) ), land virtually anywhere and has a good avionics set. I can do a bit maintenance myself, and this engine is a lot easier to ship out for repair than an IO-360 if it comes to that.
An older 182 with the STC for mogas could work, I suppose, but that may be a bit more plane than I need right now. I know MAF has 182s with the SMA diesel, and that Deltahawk will be on scene shortly. While JetA would be reliable and available, for the price of entry (the SMA conversion) and the uncertainty of the new design (Deltahawk) mitigate against these choices.
Possibly I知 missing something, so I壇 be pleased to hear some other opinions.
I知 a low time FAA ASEL pilot, and Africa is nothing new耀pent 13 years in East and North, bit of time in the south as well. NBB is of course incredibly active on the GA side, and were I still there plenty of options exist. But in DRC no. Right now my goal is to have fun, build hours, just enjoy aviation. No vocational aspirations, though that could change. I知 in process of doing the FAA-JAA conversion, so soon will have the ability to fly European-registered a/c.
I figure Kinshasa is kind of light on FBOs and GA services. Additionally it sounds like avgas costs as much as table wine. In view of these factors, what would you do?
My inclination is to bring over an LSA (the CTLS?) which uses a Rotax幼an burn mogas + avgas (this will average out the paraffin/water potentially in the mogas ;-) ), land virtually anywhere and has a good avionics set. I can do a bit maintenance myself, and this engine is a lot easier to ship out for repair than an IO-360 if it comes to that.
An older 182 with the STC for mogas could work, I suppose, but that may be a bit more plane than I need right now. I know MAF has 182s with the SMA diesel, and that Deltahawk will be on scene shortly. While JetA would be reliable and available, for the price of entry (the SMA conversion) and the uncertainty of the new design (Deltahawk) mitigate against these choices.
Possibly I知 missing something, so I壇 be pleased to hear some other opinions.
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An older 182 with the STC for mogas could work, I suppose, but that may be a bit more plane than I need right now. I know MAF has 182s with the SMA diesel, and that Deltahawk will be on scene shortly. While JetA would be reliable and available, for the price of entry (the SMA conversion) and the uncertainty of the new design (Deltahawk) mitigate against these choices.
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I do not want to prick your bubble, but before you make a fool of your self I would like to point out a couple of facts to you.
Foreign registered aircraft are not allowed to fly within the DRC unless they have been entered onto an operators AOC.
This involves a payment of $12000 usd per month fee.
You will find the CAA very difficult to deal with as everything has a price (high) and will make your idea, expensive as already pointed out.
So called Qualified mechanics for GA aircraft are not to be trusted, if you want ICAO FAA standards.
My advise is;
1) Stay at home
2) Save your money to fly where there are proper ATC. SAR. FBO's A&P's inter alia.
Foreign registered aircraft are not allowed to fly within the DRC unless they have been entered onto an operators AOC.
This involves a payment of $12000 usd per month fee.
You will find the CAA very difficult to deal with as everything has a price (high) and will make your idea, expensive as already pointed out.
So called Qualified mechanics for GA aircraft are not to be trusted, if you want ICAO FAA standards.
My advise is;
1) Stay at home
2) Save your money to fly where there are proper ATC. SAR. FBO's A&P's inter alia.
out of that Join Date: Aug 2009
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life cost in DRC
life cost in Kin is pretty high, if you want to mantain an European standard.
house: 2500-3000 $ per month is just an example.
only beer,cigarettes and local food are cheap over here...
house: 2500-3000 $ per month is just an example.
only beer,cigarettes and local food are cheap over here...
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80% of all goods in the DRC are brought in by plane, i.e. the magazines you read, the ketchup you eat and the fabric for the sheets you sleep on. There are only about 300-600 km of paved road in a country the size of Western Europe. Stuff is pricey. Additionally, unlike in the States, you will have to pay landing fees, airport fees, handling fees, ATC fees, navigation fees, etc etc. Also, when you land, you will get "ramp checked" by any number of greedy, slimy, yellow eyed "official" who will find something to fine you for. If not a fine, then you will need to pay $100 for the inspection(WTF? I said the same thing). On top of all this, you can't just buy fuel and file your own flight plan. The fuel truck is one company, the fuel in the truck is another company. They will all nickle and dime you to death. The flight plan needs to be filed well in advance(normally) and you will need overflight permits that normally require a flight planning company or a handler which equals more $$$. Not to burst your bubble man but you are in the worst place in the entire world for GA. If you really wanna fly around in the DRC, hook up with Russians or Ukrainians and they'll take you around. It got so bad there that we stopped flying to Kinshasa altogether and now only go to Brazzaville which is bad, just not as bad as Kinshasa.
Many better places to build hours..are you joking?