Smart move.

They'd do better replicating the strong US FAA style system, compared to the :mad: of not understanding what a type rating really is.

Camping and live
 

Hello guys! I'm planning to go to Maun on March and flip the coin! Fingers crossed! So as I'm planning to stay for 3 months (Max visa) and camp around Audi or any of the other ones mentioned that are closer to Maun. However my question is: Is there any good shop to buy a decent camping tent over there? (I have a small iglu that can make the trick for some days, but if I'm going to be there 3 months I want something more decent, and those are quite heavy so not sure if make sense to buy it here in UK or just by one over there...?

The other question that arise me is the GA8 training, I'll be in US in some months and I found a couple of schools for getting some training on C206, but nothing for GA8, do any of you know any school in Florida or Europe?

Thanks in advance!

Ruben, don't bother with Audi camp, pilots don't seem to go there any more. You should go to Sedia or Motsebe for camping. Or if you would rather, for P100/ night you can get a room at Alfa Accommodation with a bed and fan.

Tents are definitely available here in a wide variety of sizes/price/quality. If I had my time again, I would probably have buy a tent in Maun and use the extra few kg of luggage allowance for other things.

I'm afraid that I can't give specific details about the Airvans, however I know that a couple of guys have been to Luxembourg to fly one. I also understand that there is at least one in the UK.

An American guy looking for work earlier this year found one for hire. He's from California. He posted a few pages back under the username Daman. Perhaps you should get in touch with him.

Good luck and see you next year.

hey anyone traveling on NOV 2014 to maun..pm

South Africa
 

Hello I'm planing go to Maun or Windhoek next November. anyone else is going there?

I realize that I'm responding to a 4 year old post, but this is the first I've seen of this thread, and I have to ask, what on earth is this supposed to mean:????


For reference, there are 191 ICAO member states, depending on how you count, there are 193-196 countries on this planet Should we take this to mean that substandard maintenance can only be found in 2-4 countries in the word? That every ICAO member state is miraculously free of incompetent or negligent mechanics?

Everyone can pull out a horror story about flying and maintenance anywhere in the world if they've a mind to.
I've worked as an engineer for both of the main GA organisations in Botswana (including Maun) and the standards were very good. There are always occasional hiccups in any trade but I doubt there's anything to be worried about if you're flying A2.
I could tell you some grim stories about the Congo though...

Right. You sort of missed the point. I wasn't questioning the quality of maintenance in Botswana. I have no basis to do so. I was questioning the notion that maintenance in ICAO nations is necessarily good, by virtue of them being ICAO members.

And yet it's an ICAO member, which underscores my point

For the love of god A squared. Find yourself a hobby.

PilotInPink,

Where in NZ did you do your training? Congratulations on your job, what were your qualifications heading over to Maun?

I know this question goes on everyones nerv...especially on mine... but what and where should be the rating be written in the logbook and WHAT?

I had for example a differential training on the c206 turbo... The Instructor signed in the logbook next to the flight and wrote "Differential Training turbo charger, his Name, and his FI Numbre"

Is that what the authority wants?

and 2.: have no hours on 172, so shall i fly 2 hours with instructor and do the same .... and what exactly should he write in my book and where? (next to the actually flight?)

sorry i am sooo confused :-(

The logbooks we use in New Zealand have a page at the front specifically for aircraft type ratings..there is also a separate form that the instructor signs and sends off to the NZCAA.

This is the form we use.

www.caa.govt.nz/forms/24061-13.pdf

For overseas authorities we can request a letter from the NZ CAA which also details the aircraft type ratings.

We also made a sticker that you can put into your logbook..Something along the lines of " This is to certify that ...[name]... has successfully demonstrated technical knowledge of a ..[aircraft].. and the ability to perform competently all normal, abnormal and emergency maneuvers appropriate to the aircraft type in accordance to the requirement of CAR Part 61"

This way you can carry a nice official looking sticker in your logbook and a signed competency sheet.

Sorry guys/girls... but didnt find that information. WHAT and WHERE exactly should the Flight instructor write the "rating" in the Logbook? and what? Any accepted words/sentences yet?

going to fly the 172 with an FI but they / I dont know what Namibia/Zimbabwe wants to write them in the logbook

thanks for the answer... I have the EASA Licence... so dont think we have such a paper... Any suggestions from EASA / Jar Licence Pilots?

As an instructor, I would personally write somewhere near the logbook entry; "[pilot name] has satisfactorily demonstrated competency in flying the [aircraft type].[my name/licence number][date]".

But at the end of the day, the specific wording doesn't matter. And if your logbook doesn't have a specific place for the sign off, then you probably don't require the type rating for Botswana and therefore the wording matters even less.

Headind to Namibia
 

I'm heading to Namibia mid-december, is anyone planning the same trip?

Hey y'all.

I'm strongly considering moving to Africa to find myself another job. I have a Canadian Class 4 Instructor Rating that expires Feb. 2015. Would this still be considered an asset to employers. I have 900 TT, 600 PIC and 120 C172 with no experience on C 200's but about 500 hrs on tail draggers. How will I look in the eyes of employers based on flight times? Thank you!

Tail Timer, if I could list those qualifications, I'd be in Maun this December. Perhaps with a stop somewhere in the U.S. for C206 time. If I were Canadian however, I'd be just as enthusiastic about a bush pilot job up there.
I suppose I should disclaim this by saying I'm not a pilot, only dream of being one, and have been gathering information for a year or so on Maun and other such places. Best of luck to you.

On another note. I love this thread, I only wish we'd hear more from pilots working in Maun.

Has someone been sprinkling fertiliser on the pilot's shoulders here they seem to be sprouting epaulets? :E

I have only seen three bars so far, must try and find my 4 bars to wear about a 'bar' in town or perhaps I should buy these:

Organic fertiliser, no doubt.

SRT Only when they are up to the neck in it :eek:

Ah...! You live and learn. Thought it was medium in which the epaulette poppy was grown.

"Sprinkling fertiliser"???

Is that just a nice way of describing management decisions as 'sh!t that comes from the top'?

Tail Timer... go to the worst place to be a pilot... Susi. You got Porter potential. (After some caravaning of course)

So its approaching November. I take it same old, same old? No change to hour requirements or stubborn immigration policies?

Whaaat???

From the Wilderness Air website:
"For Botswana applications the following flying experience is required:

500 hours total time with an instructors rating and instructors experience or

800 hours total time with a commercial pilots license"

Certainly not 250TT!

Moremi Air, Major Blue Air, and apparently now Mack Air have also said 500 hours minimum.

You can try with lower, but would need something exceptional on your CV to be noticed!

December to February is a myth. In that period 2013/2014 only one guy was hired. It was October/November and then April/May that most of the hiring happened in the last year or so. The timing will change every year.

A guy arrived yesterday with just over 500 hours and experience on both C206 and GA8. I guarantee that he will have a job offer (or three) by the end of the week. Lucky timing on his part- there's no other job seekers here!

And yes, immigration is still being a pain.

Lol

800hrs!

The problem with most African companies, is that they are run by Africans.

The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs, not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam, heck they'd probably go to TZ, where they would be treated MUCH better if they are looking to experience Africa.

I wouldn't pay any attention to that, IMO it's more timing than hours.

Haha the hiring period isn't a myth. Its a good general idea to be in town around that time.
Some get hired earlier, some get hired later. It purely comes down to when the companies need new guys. A few of the guys are leaving later now so the hiring is probably shifting to later. Although leave it too late and then you are trying to do training in the full swing of the season with full planes!

I wouldn't be too concerned about Ebola in Botswana. Nor the tourist industry because of it.
Most of the tourists that come to Botswana tend to have money and a little common sense. The camps are pretty removed from that sort of thing.
The main ones that might take a hit are the scenic flights from the overland buses.
The core business will still be there.

As for getting a gig with less than 500hrs.
You need significant time on one of the types (and not the C172) or, with one of the companies, be a good looking female with any sort of hours.

"The problem with most African companies, is that they are run by Africans."

With racist comments like that, you might not aswel have tried to get a job here.

"The folks that fly for them are about ready to LEAVE by the time they have 800hrs,"

....yeah, and this is why they prefer to hire people who would be willing to stick around and help the company grow. Anyway, didn't you have around 3,000 hours when you applied at the companies here?

I guess the problem is they didn't see all your potential because they are run by Africans.

"..not many folks with that time are going to be going to Bots or Nam..."

Except for, you know....you. But regardless of that, meh. Nothing wrong with that, the people who are here really want to be here. Namibia is not at a loss if all the Americana and European Pilot wannabes go to Tanzania instead.

It's a shocking commentary on the general level of ignorance about Africa that anyone would be concerned about Ebola in Botswana.

Most people don't recognize that the African Country were Ebola is spreading fast are much closer to Spain Italy and Greece than Namibia, Botswana and South Africa...and with hundreds of desperate people fleeing to Italy in the last few months is even more difficult to control the situation...

So for this reason at this moment is very dangerous to go build hours in Spain, Germany and USA??? No one here is saying that Ebola is a joke, but like HIV and Malaria we need to understand that we need to find a solution to live with it, now, hoping that someone will be able to find a vaccine or a treatment soon...

To add to that, infecting over one million people by end of the year to me is an exaggeration by the CDC. I stand corrected

Actually the CDC is predicting 550,000 by January. Not 1 million by December.
As for it being an over-estimate, look at the numbers...
The First case was 55 weeks ago. There are 8000+ cases now.
1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,250,500,1000,2k,4k,8k
55 weeks/14 doubling cycles is 3.93 weeks per doubling cycle, every 27.5 days.
so the next doublings are
16k,32k,64k,128k,250k,500k,1m
7 cycles (192 days, 27 weeks) to reach 1 million.
2m,4m,8m,16m,32m,64m,128m,250m,500m,1b,2b,4b,8b
Another 13 cycles (358 days - 1 year) later, and it's the population of the planet.
(the current doubling rate depends upon the country, 15 days, 27 days and 30 days are the rate for the 3 worst countries)

All of this is based on NOT doing anything to stop it beyond what's been done so far. We are seeing some new things being done, so it won't be quite this fast.

I am not trying to take over this thread, and thought seriously that I should not post here. However, NO-ONE should take this lightly.

Honestly, if I hadn't just recently got married, I'd be in Botswana this year trying for a place.

Ebola is a tropical disease associated with poverty, overcrowding and poor hygiene. Simple cleanliness and rapid medical intervention both have a strong effect on the rate of infection.

It is not expected to spread easily outside of the currenly affected areas.

OTOH it does sell newspapers.

This has been a great thread about Maun, so I'd hate to have it turn into one of the many ebola threads going in other areas of this board.
But to be fair, the wonderful medical systems in the west haven't done much better than those of Liberia or Sierra Leone, and certainly not better than Nigeria.
In the USofA and Spain, medical workers have been infected, even with all their technology and protocols.
In Nigeria, they managed to stop it without having medical professionals catch it.
And it's never been associated with overcrowding and poor hygiene until this outbreak, in the past it's been in isolated small villages, which is why in the past it's never infected this many people.

Back to Maun.
It's October, who's got tickets for next month?
Now's the time!
If you have a 2nd passport, bring it! You can get an extra 3 months by using your second passport (and re-crossing the border) after your first visa expires.

I'll be there
 

Booked my tickets will be flying from Vancouver, Canada to Maun first week of November. Hoping for the best !

First it's not racist, Africa is isn't a race and my comment wasn't directed towards blacks, whites, etc. Just directed towards the lack of having their collective :mad: together.

And yeah, most of the guys leave for greener pastures when they get close to the magic 1k number.

The companies don't pay worth beans (by Nam standards), have crazy training bonds, and it ain't like they send you to flight safety. Why would you invest in a company who doesn't invest in you?

As for me, I didn't give it much time, I found that most companies didn't want someone who wanted to grow with the companies, or who had experience, or just liked the country (and it is very beautiful) they want people who will stay because they can't get a job in their home country.

I'm not sure what a pilot wanabe is, but someone who would stick around for :mad: pay, pay out huge training bonds for sub par training on small GA aircraft, well that's not the kind of pilot I would wannabe.

From my understanding TZ treats their pilot as professionals, pay is more realistic for the level of responsibility required for the position, I'd say the only mistake I made was not heading directly over with my hours. Of course then I wouldn't have ended up in my current job.

There's a lot to like about the place, but don't fool yourself, Namibia still has much growing up to do.

Good luck. Try to avoid Ebola!

There are and have been more cases of ebola in the USA than in Botswana.