South African Rands and what to expect
 

Hello all

After due consideration its looking likly that I will be taking the plunge to become a Pilot in South Africa, in about 8 weeks, what I wanted to know how is the currency there and what would be a apporximate daily expenditure, I dont drink Alcohol I dont really visit Bars or Clubs, my course includes my accomodation so what I really need to spend on is really Food and Toiletries. I have 4000 British Pounds as spending money and I expect to be in south Africa for `10 months I used the internet to convert 4000 Pounds into Rands and it came up to something like 44000 rands is that enough to live on for 10 months and what is a meal cost in south Africa the school am going to said I should really budget for 14 rands a day for food is that an accurate assumption or should I bargain for more.
Any help regarding south africa would also be appreciated as I have heard soo much about the country and I have my heart set on becoming a Pilot so I am taking the South African Route as being the most cost effective then coming back to england to convert my CPL/IR and to take my ATPL ground school, I hope to hear from anyone who is in the Know and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

hi air lebanon,

i did my cpl/ir and multi in south africa about 10 years ago,the training was the best i ever received,i can safely say that because,i thought i was a better pilot with 220hours then many of my colleagues that trained in the states and returned home with kool looking certificates and much more flight time then myself...
As far as flight training is concerned,always budget for a little bit more then what the school quotes you, that way you wont fall short just in case..
i went to a school which was located in the general flying area, had its own living campus and was far from the distraction of the city life,so i did not occur any un nesessary expences which i think is wht you are planing for...
please do not hesitate to contact me if you need to.....

no more 406pilot

air lebanon

If you really don't drink and go out, that type of thing, that will be sufficient, however suggest that you get your hands on more money in case you have to stay longer or want to buy something nice for yourself. Have a great time, you are going to love it!! :ok:

Dear Stephen and 406PILOT

Many thanks for your advice, I am looking at cape flying Services they are owned and run by the Todd Family in Cape Town they are also far away from the City to ive been told and they also have thier own Rooms and student Recriational facilities.
They are quoting the course at about 17k Roughtly and I am looking at taking with me abother 6k for food and any unforceen cercumstances, Please if you have any recomendation about this school or any other school also if you have any more recomendation you can give me for my time in SA, I am soo much looking forward to going to a new Country and also I am looking forward to going to the African Continent the Birth place of me and My parents, Thanks again for your advice and If you can tel me the cost of a cost of a meal and also toiletries how much are they.

Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

Toiletries such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, bogroll and mouthwash shouldn't set you back more than about 10 quid a week. A reasonable burger can be had for about 2 quid and a pizza will set you back about 3 to 5 quid. Meat isn't as expensive as the EU and a steak, chips and salad should go for around 5 quid at current rates.

Good luck with your course...:ok:

Is that Quids as in British sterling or Quids as in SA Rands, as 10 Pounds a week on Toiletries sounds a bit harsh lol, do they not have Tesco Branded stuff down, you get get 10 Bogrolls for like 1 pounds down here and like toothpaste forlike 60 pence and deoderant for like 1 pounds, as for food I dont plan on eating take away junk everyday I am planning to cook my Own food as that is the cheapest thing to do, and also The best food is home cooked food, But thanks for the info It has been taken on board I will ask accordingly,

Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

Airlebanon,

I think he was referring to Quid as in the GBP. A tin of Deo costs between R10-R18. Toothpast between R4 and R10. A burger/chips will set you back between R20-R30. Pizza is between R20-R50. Steak/chips about R35-R70. A pack of ciggies is somwhere between R12-R20 (I don't smoke). Visit Pick 'n Pay to check out the local shop which is pretty much the equivalent of Tesco's.

Shout if you need any other info on SA...

URC

I dont smoke Ciggarets either, But I do enjoy some Argile as we call it in Lebanon I think westerners know it as Hubbly Bubbly or Sheesha, I have my own that I smoke like once or twice a month and it costs nothing.
This Pick and save stuff seems very interesting in the product they offer and Prices also. I believe that with today's current exchange rate I am now able to get around 12 Rands per 1 Quid, and for 4000 Quid I can get like 44000 Rands is that Suffiecient enough to live on for 10 months or do I need more than That, I thank you very much for your help URC and please if you can provide any other information that you think I will find helpfull please let me know, Many Thanks.

Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

hi again air lebanon,

cape flying services and the Todd family seem to be one of the pioneers in aviation trainiing in south africa,they have certainly been there for quite some time now,but i really have never been there so i dont know the quality of flight training available there.
Personaly i did my comm @ Progress flight academy which was really nice.

no more 406pilot

ps:stay with the "no name brand" from pick'n pay and you will be ok...make sure you get invited to one of those south african bbq's called "the braaii"

just be careful with cape flying services.

if you search on the wannabies forum there has been alot said about the place.

i have been to both cfs and progress in port elizabeth...and i would recommend the latter...

just be careful and do you homework!

If you're serious about doing your training in SA, there is only one facility that you should consider, if you can get in during the period you have in mind, and that's 43 Air School in Port Alfred.

Search PPRUNE and you'll find horror stories about the other residential training facilities, including the one you say you have selected.

Check out 43 Air School at www.43airschool.com. It is part of National Airways Corporation, so you know there's real financial muscle behind it.

If you can't get onto a course at 43 Air School at the time you want, it would be worth postponing your visit until you can.

Good luck.

Hello Guys


Thanks for the Information you have privided it has been proving very valuable, as for CFS I really thought it was top stuff in terms of its Prices and Facilities but I will read the bad press about it on here to see for my self before I make any decision, as for 43 air school It was recomended to me like 3 years ago by a former teacher of mine who went there, They are really the market leader in RSA in terms of Flight training, I will have to email them to ask the price of thier courses.
By the way I hate insects are there any man eating ones in RSA and if so what does it look like and how would one avoid it I have a phobia against anything insect or crippy crowly, Thanks again for this information, and I hope that you carry on giving me information am soo Excited.

Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

Hate insects, eh?

Boy, you is in deep, deep trouble........:E

Looks like you may be spending more than 10 squids a week on bug spray.

Hello Puff

Aint there no secret local recepi to get them evil things away from me I will just die and I mean Die if some big insect type thing was to land on me I am a 20 year scared babe when it comes to these Bugs and Insects and snakes and stuff, my god am scared now and I hear its summer down there this time of year meaning worst time to do Hot weather meaning more Man eating insects.


Kind regards
AIRLEBANON

Anyone else smell something here?
:suspect:
vermin patrol.
and cents.

air leb...

let me give you some advice...

in south africa we have have creatures you have never even heard of...the long-tailed monkey squirrel, the small toothed frog-fish, the most deadly spider called the giraffe spider(gets its name by attaching itself to giraffes and killing them), we also have some terrible sea life...the salamanda fish- which has a leathol bite...

but i will tell you the one i hate the most...the goggle eyed blackspotted flying mongoose...that thing is scary!

beware of all the nasties living here in south africa, i advise you to look in some books about what we have here and what time of year they are most active...

good luck!

south coast
 

If rumours are true I do believe that you are dating one of those "goggle eyed blackspotted flying mongoose`s " at the moment ?

Airlebanon,

Welcome and thanks for choosing SA to do your flying. You will love it.

Numerous threads and posts have been typed and argued along the way re who is the best school.

I will not go the way to shoot down anyone as they are all good in their different ways.

If I where you - I would have definately chosen CFS and the Todd Family's great School.

My son did his PPL there (and hopefully his CPL soon as well). I will do my licences there (one day) :E Earlier this year I send 6 students across and not only did they do well but they love SA and it's people, Gerorge and of course flying.

It is a great part of the country and although it is on the "tourists route" it is still cheap. The restaurants is fantastic. If you play golf - mate it s heaven. Surf ... it is all there.

Have a fantatsic time and do not remember to also ENJOY it in SA !

:ok:

air lebanon

I didn't realise that CFS was the one that you're looking at. I did my CPL IR ME there, and was a flight instructor at CFS for almost two years. It really is a fantastic little school, I had a blast and would highly recommend it. You will find the atmosphere friendly and the people welcoming. I do my renewals there, with hopefully the odd PPL test :} Give it a shot, I think you'll find that it is the place to fly.

Regards

SS

Rand$,

Got the same smell. Something is not good with Air Lebanon's posts.

Anyway, to the list provided by South Coast :ok: I also add Kietermahonkies and Knormagorkies. Really bad little creatures that keeps you from sleeping! Scabs don't have a chance against them. :}

Def: "Kietermahonkie" - A really small, ten-legged, two headed, seldom seen creature that gets attached to you when you arrive in Africa, goes to live in your navel and comes out after dark (or whenever you create artificial darkness around your navel) and then starts barking at your balls.

Def: "Knormagorkie" - A really small, two-legged, ten-headed, seldom seen creature that gets attached to you when you arrive in Africa, goes to live between your balls and comes out going apesh!t...screeming, ranting, fighting and raving when it hears a Kietermahonkie bark.

You try and sleep with that.:E :E :} :}