Darkroom, this must be the typo of the month !! :D:D:D

@agus_85

Sorry, I don't want to be rude but it seems, see your questions, that you don't have a clue how life in African countries is. Do you think this is gonna be right for you then?

@ ct2003

you are right!! i dont know too much about African Countries life.... thats why i have made the post if not i wouldn´t have done it... dont you think so?? I am just a person who has listen about this a month ago more or less... and never before had think about this posibility.... so i am beginning from 0!! i just want some help... the idea is just to get inform to see if it is something interesting or not at all.... but thinking of it for the next year 2012, because like you said... their too many things to learn about this.... i wrote that i was thinking of going their in february to generate some interest in someone to help me learning about it... so if you can.... i would be all hears!!
thank you!

So, Agus,
search PPrune for one or all of the following
Maun, Namibia, Botswana, Windhoek, Swakopmund, Gaberone
the threads go back to about 2002, and there are 2 or three threads for each year from then to now
there are thousands of posts (it will take you a long time to read it all), go through them all, there is far more information than you imagined you would ever need.
There's a thread, for example, that's everything you want to know about flying in Maun, by lilflyboy, it's an excellent STARTING point.
Then, go read the newspapers for the countries and cities you're thinking about. Then go read about the governments. Get involved in some other forums, there are several that are dedicated to Africa, and in particular African aviation.
Go to the library and get some books on Africa, and read them.
Check out the health statistics.
All of this stuff can be found through google, or the library.
I'm not going to give you a list of links, because this endevour should not be something "handed" to you, it wasn't handed to most of the pilots who are there now.
Good luck.

Can anyone confirm
 

I PMd a pilot on here, he said he went to Africa and said not to come, that all the jobs were being offered to expats only if they had 500tt or more. The reason he said is because by requiring 500 hrs the operators could say they could not find any native pilots who qualify, so the 500 hr was being used as justification to not hire a native, or at least not search forever to find one with low hours,so raise the hours and say there is no one native that qualifies.

I have PMd him twice asking for additional information like, which country. How long did he stay etc. but no response.:ugh:

Anyone weigh in on this, I am interested in Namibia myself...

Anyone? Anyone?

I do not think you can get a job with 190-250 without having a good contact just by knocking at the doors and showing your face. I would not try with less than 400 hours which is the minimum flight time required by Scenic air.
Aviation in Nam has also felt the impact of recession and there is not that many pilots moving on to the next jobs lately which means that you do not only need to considered that there are not that many jobs offered but you also need to compete at the moment with high experience guys who know how to fly a 210 and make miracles with a Leatherman;).
@ Csanad007 : have fun!!!

Well that's a bummer.
I'll be there anyway on Saturday. Too late to change plans now.

Hola Somatiko, miss you man! Hope you have fun as well ans there isn't too cold. Just broke my Leatherman...
Things change fast at the moment, so those coming might end up in a 210, but will need perseverance.

First Post, so Hello Everyone!
I was wondering if the information in those older threads is still up to date?
There are threads recommended that date back to 2002.
So do todays questions get answered by those old threads?

Another question. What about bush flying courses? Will they do any good to get hired?

I'll get my licences around april or may this year and I planned to go to Namibia right when I'm finished with flight school here. But by then I figure hiring season will just be over.
So could you recommend me to go anyways? I'm thinking of building hours and getting some ratings in Namibia. Rather there than here in cold Germany, I think?

Speaking German helps.
Having low hours doesn't.

Again, all info is on here.

What about 5 year old infos on here? Times are changing fast and people who are down there now could give more up to date information.

I was thinking reading those old threads might give me information that is long overdue?

No - nothing fundamental has changed there in all this time - the processes and hiring procedure is always the same - it's still the same companies and people running the show.

Obviously all the other variables also move in cycles (like everywhere else on the planet) - like the whole economy - if there are many pilots, requirements to fulfill on your part will go up, if there are more saftey, immigration issues they will go up too. If there is a recession or the fuel price goes up - it influences everything. If someone quits and needs to be replaced, then chances go up, if not - tough luck for you.

If you want information - read ALL the old threads first - please.:ok:

Just hit Namibia. :uhoh:

Hi everyone!

I'll arrive in Windhoek next Wednesday. Looking like many others for a job.
What hostel do you recommend? I've a FAA CPL single and multi with an IR and 270 TT

Who is already there? Please PM me.

Thanks and a good day everyone,

Chameleon Backpackers
 

Hi Antoni,

I would 100% recommend these people, the boss Jackie is very helpful.

Cheers

N

Chameleon City Backpackers
 

I have to agree with nastynik about chameleon-stayed for about a week although this was a couple of years ago. Smart and clean rooms but you have the option of using a tent if need be. It has an outdoor breakfast bar and there is also a swimming pool if you want to take a dip. Alternatively they also have a room with bunk beds if you're on a tight budget and don't mind sharing with others. You are also located close to the shopping centre and this is about a 5 or 10 minute walk (just take care at night). Windhoek is a small but modern city-very different to other parts of Africa.

Good luck!

Rico

Hiring 2011
 

Hello everyone!
This is my 1st post on pprune and I'd like to introduce shortly myself to everybody! Thanks for this really huge and precious amount of info stated throughout all those years covering low-timers job opportunities in southern Africa.

My question for now is:

Is there anyone having any fresh information of hiring situation in 2011 in southern Africa? Maybe Csanad? (BTW, I love your blog, man! And really congrats that you've finally made it!)

Wings over Africa are the dogs of Namibian Aviation. They pay bad and treat you like crap. They must have the highest rotation of crew i've ever seen. I was one of them . .Bad safety record and also nearly had their licence taken away several times. Only a few stuck it out and walked away with twin or jet ratings.
stay away . . . .!!! Nothing against women in any capacity, but the one running the show there has a serious chip on her shoulder. . . . I left due to safety concerns (for my own life) due to bad maintenance.

Thanks for all the great info, I plan to visit Namibia this fall!

Hi everybody,

Just for info the 400 h is just not true...
I have been looking for a job in Jan and never my 300 hours came as a problem.
In Swakop it was more about not speaking German.
And don't go to Swaop office of Scenic,wings over and other comp. having an office in windhoek they will just tell you to go to the Windhoek office...

For the 210 rating they don't care.. if you are hired you can do the rating here. So don't waist money on 210 time or 206.

I did time on 206 for Botswana and landed with a job in Nam on 210 and have to do the rating on the 210 now...

And I know 3 or 4 pilots hired in Nam with less than 300h...

For the "Native list" it is true, the company have to hire a native pilot before any other if he is looking for a job. But most of them don't want to fly small a/c...

And for the e-mail CV.. they don't look at them you have to come here and be prepared to stay for minimum two to three weeks for Nam and reaaaaly longer for Botswana most of the pilots I met in Bots where there for more than 3 month already and still no job...

For all other info you will find it in the forum, it is a mine of info.:ok:

And if you decide to come, take it as a holiday and enjoye it so if you don't find a job you enjoyed the time here !