Hey everyone!!

I have read this thread with interest and I am seriously considering visiting Namibia in the New Year. Is it true that the best time to go is Jan-Mar time?
I am in my early twenties and have an EASA CPL/MEP/IR with 200hrs TT is this realistic to get a low-time job over there?

My SEP has expired I assume it will be necessary to have this renewed before going?

Any advice on the current situation and any more stories I would love to hear them! Anyone can PM be most grateful.

Hey guys, i will reply!!

No is not true.
No is not realistic
No is not necessary

Hi,

I will like to know if anyone has fresh info about job hunting in Windhoek ?

Thanks !

More Info for those (low-timers) seeking a job in Namibia
 

Hi, most of the companies hire pilots in december and january. Nothing here for now.

Are ether of you two in Namibia right now?

Hello to all.

Thanks for waste your time on me

This is the point I planned to arrived in NAM in April for try to get a job there.
Now I hace 620 hours TT and C206 rating and there I will do the C210 rating.

How is the expectative there for this year?

thansk and sorry.

Not much going on right now in namibia, might want to try bots first, especially with that 206 rating.

You lives in NNAM? can we talk by PM?

I want to try in namibia because I like the country the airplanes and ther I'll do the C210 rating for try to get a job because here in my country there isnt any 210 aircraft

Sorry again for waste the time on me

And now for something almost completely different ...

I was thinking to go to Namibia hang out for a while. I happen to be rookie with only 200+h, but with one big difference - due to heritage I do own a 206 and some money to keep me and MajaBee alive for quite a while. Will that be an advantage or will I be ripped off by the maintenance organizations there? Any idea how long I could stay without local validation?

When are you planning go to NAM? If you want I can help you to down the 206 to NAM or Bots?

I've been reading over this forum over the last year or two, finally joined. I'm very interested in the region particularly Namibia and Botswana, but how much attention should I give to the minimum required hours since the companies are increasing the hours for foreigners. And with supposed numbers of locals starting flight training on the increase, is it worth the trip for the foreigner?

Im up for possibly sleeping in a tent in intense heat, and spending days knocking on doors and shaking hands and willing to accept a lot of rejection but, as of right now, what are the conditions and outlooks like?

In Namibia, poor. No one is hiring at all.

Maybe Bots?

If you have over 1000tt and time on a van, TZ

Otherwise just fly back home, it's easier to find a job in the US (presuming you're an American) anyway

Yep I was born in the US, raised in the Caribbean. I've been interested in the area but don't want to spend thousands on a ticket just find out there's absolutely no hiring for a good while.

There's the rub.
If you go, and there's no hiring, you're out the cost of the trip, but have the holiday/vacation of a lifetime.
If you don't go, and they start hiring, you can't get there fast enough to be hired, because they've already interviewed everyone they're going to consider.
What I saw was the hiring happens across all companies at about the same time. So if you miss it, you miss it. Get there too early, you miss it, get there too late, you miss it.

Anybody who has a clue

Are there any <200h TT people that got hired (or failed trying) in Nam or Bots through the last year?

Few failed, last guy hired had a little over 500hrs.

Keep in mind it's not the hours it's how much chit you'll deal with. You stick it out there long enough and smooze the other pilots you'll eventually get it. Might be 5-6 months.

Getting some PIC time in the 210 or 206 will save you some money

hi
 

Hi all dear
I am from Iran
I hold cpl& it& instructor rating issued from iran.and 900 TT .can I find flight job at namibia or Botswana??! Plz help me.
Thanks

Hi,

I just joined this forum because the misinformation being supplied in the replies annoyed me. I'm sitting at a lodge, bored, so I thought I would reply and try and clarify things.

Firstly, I have been in Namibia now since 2011. Got a job here with 200 hours (roughly).

It is very hard these days to get work permits/visas with less than 500 hours TT. I waited months for mine to come through. There was a guy in Swakop recently who got hired, did training, test flight with DFE and everything and the DCA refused to issue him a validation. That being said, I know of two other pilots that were issued with work permits and full licences almost immediately. (One with low hours.)

James331 said that nobody is hiring here. To those reading this thread take that with a pinch of salt. There is constant movement here. I know of at least 6 guys who have started in the last 2 months. People are always leaving, moving on up, getting fired, need to be replaced.

It is all about being in the right place at the right time. Coming here is a gamble.

Being fluent in German is an advantage, especially in Swakop. The operators have to hire Namibian candidates first, after that they can begin to look at foreigners. If you want to get a job here with 200 hours as a foreigner, your CV has to be spectacular in other regards, and you have to immediately come across as the right candidate. Inquiring about work using text speech is not the correct approach.

Even if you are in the right place at the right time and you come across as a d*ck, you won't get hired.

Unlike Botswana, the operators here won't expect you to hang around and constantly visit them. On the contrary, they will get very annoyed with you.

Visit, drop off your CV, (Phone ahead of time to find out when will be good), then visit Botswana and check things out there.

PM me if you have questions.

In my experience it didn't have anything to do with your CV and I never even had anyone ask to see my log book.

It's
1) stick around for someone to get fired, quit or be upgraded

2) roll with the punches, and just keep smiling and be nice

3) go to every bar or party and become every pilots BFF, as per not being a d1ck -> NEVER talk about your prior flying experience (if you have had other jobs) just ask about theirs or talk about non-aviation stuff

4) keep your cell phone on and check your email, do the rounds once a week or so.

I can't give any updated advise as I left a month ago for a job outside of Africa. All that being said it's a AWSOME place (mainly swakop and the smaller areas outside of Windhoek), for the most part the people are nice, the meat and drinks are great and cheap and there is a ton to do if you're into hiking, hunting, skydiving or anything like that.

AGAIN, the biggest advantage that WILL land you a job, be able to stay here for 5-6 months non stop.

"AGAIN, the biggest advantage that WILL land you a job, be able to stay here for 5-6 months non stop."

This applies to Botswana and not Namibia.

"do the rounds once a week or so."

Again, as I said earlier, this applies in Bots, but just annoys the operators in Namibia. Repeatedly popping in annoys most the operators. If they told you the previous week that they do not need anybody and they have your CV on file, repeatedly popping in isn't going to change their minds.

To anyone reading this, I would suggest you take the advice of someone working in Namibia over the advice of someone who failed to get a job though.

To be fair to James though, his hours were all wrong. If an operator here is going to high someone with a few thousand hours, a thousand or so on vans and FI time, they will hire someone with local experience.

Not too sure I would say I failed, I was only there for 1.5 months and left early due to a job offer back home that I couldn't turn down. I could have for sure got a job over there had I put the time in, just was a decision on my part.

My opinion was based on my observation while I was over there.

I'm sure we all can agree that the longer one sticks around the more chance of being in the right place at the right time, case and point I had a offer in TZ shortly after I left for my current job.

And yeah, my hours were wrong for Namibia and Bots, I should have went straight to TZ, but then I wouldn't have been able to take my current job, things always work out the way they are ment to ;)

So where did we meet CAPS?

Oh no, I don't think we ever met. Just saw your CV, and this town is small so people talk. Also, had a good laugh at that little spat with the owner of Wings on Facebook. That really was quite amusing.

I can agree with the waiting around improves the chance of being in the right place at the right time. But as I continually say that applies more to Botswana then here.

All the companies that have hired in the last two months, Westair, Wings, Scenic and Wilderness all host interviews based on CV's and references, not whether the guy was in town or not.

Botswana is different.

And, if you got an offer in TZ shortly after you left for your current job, that just supports my point that they didn't expect you to be hanging around in TZ as a prerequisite.

Question
 

Hi guys

I know that no one in Namibia or Botswana replies on e-mails, but still, I sent them all my CV. One of them from Namibia replied and said to me that the requirements for any employment before any interview in Namibia is:

Safety Officer Course,
Cockpit Resource Management Course ( CRM ),
Dangerous Goods Course,
Quality Assurance Courses,
25 Hrs on Cessna 210 Type Rated

To be honest with you I have never heard of some of these courses like the quality assurance courses!!!! I really wondered if he was kidding in the beginning, but obviously he wasn't!! Are these really requirements in Namibia?

I want to go to either Botswana or Namibia, I only have 260 hours without any type rating 206 or 210. I think i should have the type rating before moving if i'm not wrong.....It feels like i don't know where to start. It is all blocked everywhere!!

Hey,

I'll PM you, it's very strange that they want you to have Safety Officer Course or Quality Assurance. I can only think of one company that would want someone with no time to have a Safety Officer course.. Check your inbox.

Hey,

I checked the inbox and replied. And yes it was the company you named :) The first thing I thought about is that maybe he said so caus he doesn't want me to contact them anymore! it is like saying go away in a polite way!

showing up at the office won't get you any better information
if they have a job available, AND they don't have any locals who have applied, then you MIGHT get an honest answer to your questions, but that's only a maybe.
From my experience, you will only get a valid answer when they have a need, and you fit the need, and you're in front of their face.

Wilderness hires Namibians first, then pilots from other countries which have already spent time working in Namibia.

Otherwise, German is a huge advantage, especially in Swakopmund.

Also, there is no right/wrong answer. The situation, and more importantly the opinions regarding vacancies, visas, licences is always changing, so what might be correct information for one company can be wrong for the next and then be completely different the next day.

Hey mates;

I always read this forum (3 years or plus), but this is my first post.


I'm thinking to move and try some flying time in Africa (CFI, IR, CPL 600+ hours and a few Single engine turbine time, Walter powered), the living conditions are quite similar (as I know) to a border city in the desert of my country which I lived some time and was a great place (so no problem for that, the problem is no aviation jobs there), and bush flying here is out of question.

But after make the next step, I'm now making some courses of CRM/ SMS/ Risk analysis and I did Human Factors courses all certificated by our national authorities (diplome). The big question is; worth the effort?, it can make a difference?, IMHO a pilot could be a asset to the development of the company with the right knowledge (and knowledge is less expensive than ratings) and cooperation spirit, but don't know if these courses are asked or are even desired.

Also, how much is the cost of a 210 rating at Namibia?, here isn't a rating and a CFI endorsement could cost up to 1500 USD (c210 hour cost between 200 - 400 USD).


Best Regards, and thanks.

Maun or Windhoek?
 

Hello guys,
Next month Im going to Africa looking for a job but I'm not sure which place will be better for find a job, Maun or Windhoek.
Anyone is going there too?
Regards

info
 

Hi guys,

just a quick question...how is the hiring situation now in WDH? I have done 10hrs in a C210 here in Italy...I hope that they can help me to find an opportunity.

safe landings to everybody

WDH is Hosea Kutako International Airport.

There are no charter companies hiring there.....

You might have better luck at ERS. Nice try though.

Lmao Caps! Play nice mate!

Low hour job!
 

Pleasure Flights and Safari's are hiring Charter Pilots:
Requirements:
CPL with current Class One Medical
Level 5 Language Proficient
SEPT/CRM/DG
and 25 hours on C210(no exceptions)

Hey guys....

So in namibia you still stand a chance with a cpl with 200+ hours ? :o
What are the ratings that can make the difference? Night vfr or floats are good there?
Also, in case, is it advisable to get those ratings there ?
Cheers

I mean, price and quality wise, woud it be better to get trained over there or in south africa ?

They prefer over 300TT but can make exception!You would need the rating to appear on your license before you get the job and you need about 25 hours on type.The rating which is essential is C210.Most new comers start on that.

I have received lots of PM's asking me how to apply.I am not a part of Pleasure Flights and Safari's.Please call them up and ask the details.I am just another low hour pilot.I found this job on a job site and posted it here.All the best:ok:

Thanks pilot4eva ! do you or anybody know the hourly cost of a 210 over there?

Zanna90, if you're in New South Wales I know of a cheap C210 to rent, albeit it's an old A variant. There are a few differences between it and the "newer" variants that you find bush flying in Northern Australia or Namibia but nothing that a good read of the POH and a handful of circuits wouldn't sort out.

p.s. I'm not the owner and don't gain anything from it, I did 10 hours in it myself before I went job hunting in tropical OZ back in 2008.

Yes, float time will definitely help you get a job in one of the oldest deserts in the world.

Well if you can snowboard down the sand dunes in Namibia, maybe you can land a floatplane there too...:}