bush flying
 

How´s it going everyone!

This is my first post on pprune so bare with me :}

I watched an episode of "Flight Path" on Canadian Television recently which was about a few people flying in Africa, I believe it was a twin engine Cessna and a Caravan and they were flying humanitarian aid mission.

This made me curious as to how easy it would be to get a job like that and where, and what qualifications would I need?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Dave

Since your in Canada. get your Commercial Multi and Instrument. Get a job as a Freightdog in Canada for a couple thousand hours. Then come back to the site and you can certainly be in demand in Africa.......
Its a beautiful place, but so is Canada...also not as many Health Issues in CN

Hi B Sousa,

thanks for your reply. But I was thinking of smaller airplanes, smaller organizations if those exist.

Cheers, Dave

What you need is your CPL and preferably IR, current medical alot of money and a pair of balls.

You've probably got all of the above so here we go.
Research the forums on bush flying and bear in mind you have to be at the companies door for them to give you a job with low hours. They have a special file for resumes called the trash can.

try Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi and Tanzanier. Talk to the pilots as you go around and you might get lucky.

If you have low hours though your probably better off trying to build some in Canada as an instructor or line flying in NWT first. More hours equate to greater chance of success.

Thanks Gooneybird! Ill keep that in mind and keep my eyes open.

Dave

Maun in Botswana if you have C 206 time.

Federal Air in Johannesburg if you have Caravan time and really want to scare yourself (game farm strips).

If it's humanitarian work you want, then contact AirServ in the US or, if you have at least 500 hours, send your CV to Naturelink in Pretoria (att Daan Brandt, Chief Pilot) who do their flying in Africa and the Middle East.

BTW, it's not nearly as glamorous as it looks on TV and you don't see the guys with RPGs and AK47s just waiting in the bushes....

Dave, have some other ideas too, but just out the door till 27th ish. Get back to you. Happy Christmas to all.

Hi 5Y-NOT,

thanks in advance, Ill check back here some time after the 27th.

Merry Christmas!!

Dave

goaround7-when you say "you don't see the guys with RPGs and AK47s just waiting in the bushes" do you mean they are not generally there? (a good thing) or that if they are there you don't know about it until they hit you? (a very bad thing)

Its a very bad thing. The situation changes from country to country as the years go by, but its always still a possibility.

Here a short quote form The UN, You can also browse this website and scan the hull losses in the African countries. Makes for amazing, yet sad reading.

PS. Big, clearly visible UN and WFP markings on white aircraft mean nothing to some of these guys.......

Hi All

Im also very interested in doing some flying around africa. Im just about to start my SA CPl here in good old joeys. Im 23, single white irish female with a PAIR OF LARGE BALLS and a passion for flying. Any suggestions where I could start looking for that elusive job (obviously I'll have to get a few more hours under my belt first but it does help to keep my options open).
Im not too fusy either.

126,7 - lucky guess here.... maybe they cant read:E :E :E

Thanks
BL:ok:

All this talk of 'bush' flying is a little bit purile.....lets get some facts straight here....people starting out on their pilot careers do not go bush flying...bush flying is to the uninitiated hugely dangerous....live bush pilots have an in depth knowledge of the aircraft that they're flying..and understand the very fine techniques involved in flying on the edge of....and occasionally just beyond the aircraft performance envelope.....those that don't are not in the live bush pilot category for long....they also have, over many years obtained experience of what and when to avoid even attempting certain operations....bush flying in Africa will have some similarities to bush flying in Papua New Guinea or Alaska....but each area will have its own peculiarities and if you don't have enough time in the area, you won't last long.....even if you were willing to ignore these fundamentals ....fortunately for your passengers, the insurance companies and aircraft owners would not, and applying for a bush pilots position would be about as succesful as applying for a brain surgeons position while holding a first aid certificate......We all had to start somewhere but my advice would be to focus on the possible....get some right-seat time in a half decent turbo-prop.....and take it from there....Good luck and very best wishes for 2005 and your career in the future...:ok:

Well said.
 

MungoP, well that was well said.
I agree with you that sometimes we forget that we are doning a specialized job. The hardest part is not the flying, but the staying out of the "poo" bit. If you have to do that and yo are still unsure about the flying bit, you going to come back in the newspaper, under obituaries.
Good advise, Rotateand fly, learn the flying bit first, and come and add some ducking while doing it.
Good Luck

....the walrus said..."

Bird Lady

Browse the threads on Maun Botswana. There is plenty of gen there on how to get a job in the swamps. That is one option, the other is to make a nuisance of yourself at the contract companies. If they are politically correct they will be more than happy to offer you a job due to the fact that you a female. That one is contraversial but a reality.

The guys in Maun work hard and play hard, and come away with good experience and many fond memories. Can't speak for the contract guys but it sounds interesting from the posts on this forum.

MungoP, let be real. Lots of guys and girls cut their teeth by doing bush flying. I did, and I know lots of others who started out flying a C206 between bush strips. It was great fun, and wasn't particularly difficult. Afterall its only a SE in VFR using a GPS for nav.

Try and get some C206 time before you go. I would recommend anybody to do it. Try bots, Zambia and Tanz. Stay away from unstable countries, and you won't get rpg and AK's bothering you.

There is always the inherent danger of fly SE a/c in rough terrain. Also if you are used to European standard of maintainence (I can never remember how to spell that word!!), then the "african " methods might make you cringe.

Bottomline is though, if you want the job, you'll need to be knocking doors, and be prepared to hang around for months. Best time to go is January/Feb, as the tourist season kicks in May/June, so most hiring is done Feb/March/April.

Good luck.

JF

Thanks guys!!!!

Some good advice there. I realise that I have to get some more experience under my belt. Instructing would probably be my best bet?? And to start networking - cause in this industry its not only what you know but who you know.......

If I was worried about the guys lying in the bushes with big guns I would'nt be living in Joburg. :hmm: :hmm:

Please dont get me started on the old afirmative action..... let it be said: I dont agree with the whole situation. I would like to get the job because Im good at what I do and not because I happen to be a bird (well thats debatable at times).

Happy New Year all and keep the suggestions coming.....

Ciao
Bl :ok: :ok:

Hi everyone!!

Thank you all for your advice! Im still interested in African aviation but Ill gather some time first.

Ill be back :}

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Dave

Hey Guys and Gals

I cut my teath in the bush or rather remote area operations.

First thing, it is not dangerous as most people think. It does become become dangerous when pilots start pushing their limits and the limits of the plane. To find your own limits you have to start somewhere.

Problems start when guys become familiar with their plane and play around, I have heard of guys playing around with pax onboard, which in my books is poor form. If you want to play around get an aerobatic rating, or at least don't risk others lives.

Going into and out of bushstrips is the fun part. They can be challenging, you just have to keep your wits about you and make a decision. If you are not happy remove some weight before T/O or go around and try again. Never allow any operator to force you into something you're not happy about.

If there is doubt, there is no doubt!

Keep it safe and everyone stays alive and is happy.

Good luck to you just starting out!!!

Ryco

All seems to be covered rotateandfly! As far as job opportunities, as you've read, you've got to get out here and start knocking on doors, which means bucks for living and patience in getting all relevant licences etc. Important to come with a multi IR at least. Guys have waited a year or more for an opening, others have pretty much walked in, right time, right place.
As far as experience, I'd still say you've got to start somewhere. Most operators aren't going to take you with 250 hrs and send you into a 250m strip of mud. If they do, then don't! Most 'tourist' ops operate into pretty good strips, and there's a good percentage of us with 182/206/210 time from low hours doing that. Once you've got that experience more stuff opens up.Know a coupla Canucks started off in 180s/ 185s in Northern Canada and Alaska, floats and skis etc, good experience, and probably wish they had either one or the other attached for some of the mudholes you find youself trying land in later on! Worth looking at since you're there.
Certainly if you've got the time, hours, patience and bucks to find yourself something here, a great way to make a living. Also worth thinking about what you'll be wanting to do later on, and what type of experience they'll be looking for.
Got a few contacts in Kenya, TZ, Bots, Uganda, Sudan, I'll pm you.
Best of luck.
Happy New Year to everyone!

Birdlady,

Take this the way its intended please.

If you can get a job based on your gender then take it with both hands. To get your first job is very difficult as are I'm sure you are aware, so if you have anything that gives you an advantage then use it.

Good luck.

JF

Ryco,

Hey bwana, hope you\'re enjoying Algeria. WIll drop you an email soon.

Pax aerobatics? Don\'t know what you\'re talking about officer:ok:

Cheers

Jock