Swakopmund, Namibia
 

Greeting from the other side of the Indian Ocean.

From what I can tell by sitting here in front of my computer and goggle-ing general aviation in Africa, Swakopmund in Namibia seems to be the place to go for someone looking to get an entry level job in Africa.

Any pilots out there who have worked in S'mund? I am of course planning on rocking up there in person and will be in touch with companies by phone before arriving on the continent - but I was wondering when the season starts and when would be the best time to arrive there? Any other cities / countries that have a safari / GA scene as big as S'mund and would be worth checking out while on the continent?

In fact, anything at all that might be helpful for a naive, impulsive, bright-eyed youngster?

Take allong your fishing rod, I think you'll need it. Can't say for sure, but as far as I can recall, nothing happens is Swakopmunt every 20 minutes, and lasts for about an hour.

You have chosen one of the ultimate sleeping hollows our beloved earth could dish up mate ... flying wise ... uhmm I think it is a rumour out there.

If you are serious I have a friend (retired SAAF Pilot) who lives there (or shall I say fish and play golf there) :E

Cheers

Gunss

Hi guys - yeah I am serious, not necessarily about Swakopmund but Africa in general. I was thinking Namibia because it appears as though the majority of Air Safari tours depart from there but I may have it wrong.

Basically, i'm an Australian guy planning a trip to africa who'll have a couple thousand $$ with which to travel round and live off while looking for that elusive job. For someone who's bumping around 600 hours and looking for single engine piston work, where should I be headed to have the best chance of finding a job before the $$ run out?

Ok, OK...
 

This poor guy needs advice, and he took the obvious direction.

First off all, the place, vegetation looks a lot like you have there, even the variety it has, we play rugby and jobs are scarse too.....but there the main similarities end.

So unless you're really into adventure, there's actually more than the big 5 that can kill and that's not even refering to malaria and AIDS. But it has been done before...you have a family?

It really breaks my heart to share this with you, as will any real SAfricans, but that is unfortunately the current state of affairs. The place is beautiful, most people are GREAT, but I suggest you make a very WELL informed decision.

You may be right in looking at neighbouring SA but then the advice is to look at Windhoek, Namibia - FYWE and FYWH and in the Okovango Delta Maun, Botswana.

Personally I think it's wrong that you may land a easy job in any of these areas, as the locals are also finding it hard, not having the luxury of a strong currency as your's and affirmative action preventing them landing something alternatively. I think many share the sentiment, as your country is not as forgiving and as easy process in providing reciprocal's for SA CITIZENS, I say again, SA CITIZENS seeking employment in Oz.

Many a chappie have been lured by the romanticised version of the place and flying here, but the bureaucracy. This situation of "migrant" working have led to the deteriorating working standards with these "outfits" as they have a mentality of hiring and firing, as the que is long, "you don't like it, leave"!

Any doubts on this, refer to the local saying....this is Africa bru! (Here even a lion doesn't have it always easy.)

You may wonder why all of this....that's another threa(t)d, but think of Nelson the Great, flour bombs at rugby matches, but hey, you were probably not even born at that stage! :}

Ok, ready, steady, go!

Swakopmund
 

Hey Sex. Choc.

Last year Sept. we took some time of in Namibia and got a great deal on a train trip to Swakop, thought it would be a good idea to show the wife where I spend many a festive night on night stops, and had the best weiner schnitsel at Cuchi's bar. Last time I was there I was flying for UNTAG, so it is going back a couple of years.

What a changed place, it was pumping with tourists, and any thing from Paragliding to sand boarding in the dunes.... not a sleepy hollow anymore!!

We tryed to fly down to Sussos Vlei for a day trip, could not get a seat on any of the many C210's flying out of Swakop. The charter company's said that they had 2 days of sand storm and was trying to catch up on the flying.

I had a chat to one of the youngsters flying the C210 and he told me he work for food and accomodation, but the flying was full on and logging max hours every month.

If you are prepared to work - not just fly - for less then min. wage then go for it, but he also mentioned to me that getting a work permit is not that easy, have to be sponsored by a company, and as an Ozzie I think it might be a bit harder as there is some agreement between Southern African states on development and employment, so I think if you don't hold some kind of African passport you will find it tough to break in

Sure is much better then most of the other Sh!+ holes in Africa I worked in.

Good Luck.

MysticFlyer, well said, cannot agree with you more. :ok:
Sexual chocolate, I really do wish you luck, however one has to understand us rooting for the local side. This exact line of thread has been bashed over and over on this site, and you will find lots of great arguments, for..and against it, because as we are all aware, aviation is a global game, and no one can lay claim to it, even in their own home countries. Its just tht the market for young pilots in Southern Africa is so saturated, and even worse....there are hundreds and hundreds of youngsters who have begged borrowed and god forbid, even waitered to make their dream of holding a pilot's licence true. Now with no animosity to anyone in the world, I do believe that the grass roots aviation in a country, should belong to the youngsters of said country. The airlines belong to the world, and I honestly have no problem with people flying for airlines that do not belong to their own countries, but the flying in which one actually learns to be a pilot, should belong to the youngsters who live there. Where else will they find the answers. Just one question, I always see lots of Ozmates, and Kiwi's flying around in Africa. What is the market for young pilots like in Oz or NZ, and how would the locals feel if the African youth were to come and look for jobs there? That is if they were even ALLOWED to come and look for flying work down there.


PS: I heard a " RUMOUR " that the SACAA is soon going to disallow validations, with foreign pilots having to complete the full licence to be entitled to fly ZS-registered machines. I heard there is a six month grace period for current validation holders, and then ALL validations will be scrapped.

Can anyone refute these rumours?? It sure will have quite an impact on many pilots lives.

But finally I still wish you luck Choclate, as you are still a member of the great brotherhood of the sky.

Well done here too I.R. (and a double, :ok: :ok: , there you go!)

Anyone news about the validation thing? Anyone? Kiwi's on another thread asking about the conditions of ac in Maun.....work for lodging.....you're only shooting the local booitjies in the foot, your mates coming after you too, and by principal it's wrong, no reciprocal as I.R. said! He's my man now, only for now though...:E !

Where's a Strike-nav when you need one most? :suspect:

Cant help you with a Strike Nav, however, follow the Blue Bird, and you might just get what youre looking for.....:cool:

Tx for that personal update as well beta light !

Last time I was there it was the *******of the world :ok:

A friend has a cottage at Vlodskaksbaken ? spelling ? - he has a fantatsic life.

Comes into town to do the internet / drink and play golf :D

Thanks V much for your replies guys - any of you ever thinking about coming to OZ let me know and will do everything I can to help you break in here. Don't honestly know about the work visa situation but if you're prepared to hang around for 6mths waiting for a job, there is definately work here for low time pilots. Most of the scenic flights are co-located with the backpacker trail so many young english / german / french chicks can make for a wilde working holiday.

Personally, I can see where you're coming from and share your sentiments when it comes to keeping the local work for the local people..... not uncommon to find European guys in Australia who've taken advantage of the exchange rate, done their training here at 30-40% of the cost back home, paid for ratings most of us can only afford with rich parents or years of work and no social life - and then scored a job that otherwise would have gone to a local boy.

On the other hand, if someone had grown up in the cold and snowy northern latitudes, dreamt of being a pilot and one day checking out the endless deserts on the other side of the world - if someone wanted to come and fly in Aust for love instead of career or money, then far be it for me to object.

Which is kinda why I want to go to Africa. And Asia. And South America. And the Pacific and be a GA pilot in all those far flung destinations - they're the places i've dreamed of since I was a kid.

Mystic, Beta and I.R. - thanks once again. Good luck in the air over there.....

SC

You might want to check out the Maun threads as well.

Hi chockolate

Its the best place in the world to start your aviation career

I suggest you head for Windhoek the people are friendly the CAA of Namibia will validate your cpl if you find a Job and present them with a job offer from one of their local companies like Westair,Comav,Desert air,Bush Pilots,or Bay Air etc etc and a Namibian Dept of Home Affairs temporary work visa that one of those companies should orgenize for you.

Unlike RSA affirmative action is not really an issue."Chester Crocer's UN reselution 435, helped to create a Namibia that is more race friendly. You will enjoy the friendly locals just go4it!!

The Dry climate makes for good VFR flying to get you started and the

Pleasure Flights - Swakopmund
 

There is nothing pleasurable about working for pleasure flights in Swakopmund, Namibia!

Don't get me wrong, the flying is absolutely fantastic, but owner is a first class whop!!!! They only imploy lowtime non-Namibian pilots and the reason for that is............ 'cause then he's got you right where he wants you.
When you are on a work permit in Namibia you can only opperate in the sphere of the company that's stamped into your passport and if you run into some problemmo's with the crazy alchoholic german then he'll try to make shure, and he will tell you that, that you don't work in Namibia ever again!

He's got a very vindictive and sadistic nature and the only reason that i'm posting this is 'cause I know that i'm not the only one to whom this has happened and it's very important that other potential pilots of Pleasure Flights and Safari's also know that this is a guy to watch out for.

Let's see if anybody else here knows what i'm talking about....

Nee wat, boet.

Those creatures are everywhere...:rolleyes: :(

Got to move on before he shafts you just for the hell of it. Good luck!:ok:

Hey Choc

Swakop was the best 5 years of my life......never mind all these negative yahoo`s....plenty flying to be done there and a magic social life.... Go for it...!

bigmanatc.....
 

You're not PPL anymore?

Reason why, he's asking workwise....you ever worked (as in - flying - commercially) for any outfit there?

Let us know...

Mystic 1

now it will look again as if I'm picking on someone again.... :suspect:

Trubru
 

That's a pity. It seemd to be a very pleasant company when Chris and Claudia ran it. What happened ?

oTd

Hey sex chock
Give Swakopmund a try even if you don't find a job you will enjoy it.
It's all about the right place at the right time.
There are many foreigners flying all over in Nam.Many guys I flew with started on C210 and laeve with a Beech 1900 rating or even a citation (ok it is an old one)
Good luck
Ps is bigmanatc also known as joe
send me a pm

Hey tru bru
is it maybe erwie ?

MAUN
 

Hey Choc,

Mate, if you dont come right in Namibia be sure to checkout Maun in Botswana. The flying is awesome over there, flying 900 hrs a year and the people are great.

Dumela to the Maun boys!!

spike