DRS Even if we do get a case in Maun, I heard today that the medical authorities here are confident that they can deal with it :D

So why is it if you are suspected of having maleria do your heath insurance company aeromed you straight to JNB? Must be more infectious!

Ahhh, no not really hey. Just at the smallest operations. And the foreigners.

You see, this is where you are pitifully mistaken. Most companies do want someone who can grow with the company and they do want some one with experience. You are right, they don't want someone who "just likes the country."

They don't want people who will stay because they can't get a job in their home country, no one wants those people. Unfortunately they resort to coming here, then get pissed off and troll the internet when it turns out some of the companies here actually do have standards.

The other mistake was not heading over when everyone here suggested that is what you do.

Ah, yes, another mistake might have been giving advice on manners one of the company owners on Facebook, then immediately sucking up once you realised she was the owner. Very transparent.

Did you maybe realise that maybe the companies didn't want to invest in you because you came across as a cocky American with the attitude that we don't have our collective :mad: together?


Anyway, the point I am trying to make is this; to anyone reading these threads, don't take what any one poster says at face value, there are always motivations and agendas behind the scenes.

Yes there are companies that use and abuse their pilots, but there are also companies that take care of their crew. Like anywhere they are some bad apples.

I wouldn't suggest taking any advice from people who make broad sweeping statements like "the problem with Africa is it's run by Africans". Scorn like this reeks of a singed ego, and not constructive advice.

Honestly I would have never though she was a owner of any business with how childish and rude she was to that other commenter on facebook, I called her out and just asked that she be nice or STFU.

I never sucked up to her, heck up until someone pointed it out to me, I forgot all about it (as I said based on her actions I thought she was a nobody), I put in a CV, if she opted to trash my CV because I pointed out to how she was being very rude to someone, well that just reaffirms my initial thoughts on FB.

Ether way, no skin off my back and her loss.

Sooo... Moving right along...

Job seekers are starting to arrive. By my count there's 6 at the moment.

Any chance that we have a wannabe pilot coming to Maun from the US this year/ early next year?

I'm sure someone must be lurking in the shadows... Please send me a message if you do exist!

My headset is falling apart, the replacement part is easy enough to buy online (gotta love Amazon!) but shipping to Maun is ridiculous. Hoping someone could deliver it from the US to here.

capslock1, you're in nam? Who do you fly for? I used to be a Nam guy..

Personally, I think the hiring period is kind of :mad:. They hire whenever they need someone. Generally I'd say if there was such thing as a hiring period, it happens around Feb, March, April. However, the company I worked for recently lost a few people in August. I would say that the worst time to go would be during mid summer (northern hemisphere) as the spots are generally filled since that is usually the busiest time of the year. Though strangely, I flew my a$$ off last October. The companies want to be well stocked for summer, and generally try to have you online by the beginning of june. This means that the end of april would probably be the latest they're going to hire in large numbers with the occasional 2-3 people after that.

The mistake James made was that his time was too high. Yes, too high. Most of the companies (excluding west air and bay air) expect you and want you gone by around 1,000 hours unless there are other planes (caravans, twins) that you may have the opportunity to fly. In other words, come to build time, have fun, and drink cheap beer with good people. If you get offered a position on another aircraft, decide if that is what will be the best for your career. I left after reaching 1,300 because I didn't want to fly in :mad: weather in old broken planes that all happen to be grounded now. Thank god they're replacing the fleet soon... Granted, it was fun while it lasted. The experience you get in these countries is invaluable, and will be looked at very highly by other operators around the world.

Lastly, when a new guy would show up, we kinda "knew" who would and wouldn't make it. My advice, go to the Chameleon. Lots of guys flying there still go to the bar there. Make some friends and ask for some HONEST advice about your character. If you're a rich kid looking to travel and don't really care, the operators can sense that...NEXT. If you go and you're goal oriented, good at making friends, and can hold your own when it comes to drinking, you'll be fine.....oh and being a good pilot helps too.

doubts regarding visa
 

Dear friends im sathyan from india as i wanna reach maun by end of november i applied for botswana visa they issued me only for 14 days suppose if i reach maun is there any possiblities to extend to stay for 90 days from there if possible please help me out with the procedures...

The visa situation is quite different for Indians than for most of us, so I'm not sure about the answer your questions.

When you get here, seek out the Indian pilots and ask for their advice. You'll find one at Moremi Air, and two at Major Blue Air.

Hi Aus_SQ.

I've only a third of your gliding time, I did put it on my CV when I was down in Bots (around Feb 2013). The deal back then was 300h TT min for work visa. I had only two-hundred something hours on powered acft back then, however if summed up with the gliding hours I'd have over 300. Asked the operators if that'd be of any help, got directed to the 'agency' dealing with work visas (outfit by the name of Jambalaya or something like that) - they said it's 300h on powered acft minimum and my gliding hours won't help me.

That was almost 2 years ago though, so I'd imagine the situation might've changed a couple of times by now :P good luck!

Sure Flight hours are just that - Flight Hours?? Gliding is much more challenging than powered flight in my opinion.

Adding gliding etc. time to a CV makes it easier to present a candidate to immigration and, in the case of some companies, to the (non-pilot) boss. They don't know the difference- it's all flying time as far as they're concerned.

I've seen quite a few CVs come through that include ultralight and gyrocopter hours in their total time, so I don't see why gliding should be any different.

Hell, the guys even include simulator hours in their total time over here! (One "450hr" pilot turned out to have over to 150 hours in a simulator, and people seemed surprised that his line training took about 3 times longer than expected *head-desk* ).

Do I agree with the practice? Short answer, no. But it is what it is.

So by all means include gliding in your total, but I would recommend you break it down into aeroplane and glider. Something like: x hours total (x aeroplane + x glider), x hours Pic (x aeroplane + x glider)... There's nothing that annoys me more about CV's that I see than having to work out someone's hours or not having the full picture. You would be surprised how often the 'single engine' total and 'multi engine' total don't add up to the grand total of flight time. (Side note: why tell us what your multi time is? There's only single engine aircraft in Maun.)

for PilotInPink
 

Do you know if could send my resume to some company and waiting theire interest,before go there and knock to some doors?
I'm 50 years old and experienced,I would like avoid go there and waste time.
Thanks a lot,I will appreciate your opinion.

has anyone been hired in the last month?

No time is wasted here! Yes is a kind of waiting game, but the people you meet, the flight you can go on and all the rest makes it "no wasted time"! You have to be willing to spend few weeks/months of your life to chase your dream! It is worth it? Yes 100%!!!
In the last month, if our info are not wrong, two pilots have been hired...

for abezzi
 

Thank you for your info;I appreciate

Guys, there is very little recruiting going on here at the moment. The redicolous Ebola scare has hit the tourism market. We just do not know what the bookings are going to be like for 2015.

To repeat what has been said here many times. You do not get a job here without sitting at the airport. If you can afford it, come here for a month. Get known and fly with all the companies. Find out when they think that they will be recruiting and come back. That is the only way forward.

Hi there,

I was thinking on coming last year as I previously said in the post but I postponed it to this year as I had the opportunity to increase my total flight time working as a Tug pilot. I had some fun and did about 600 t/o's and landings but just 140h. Fortunately I am passing 500h now and so I am finally coming. Hope Ebola doesn't become a huge issue with the hirings. I ve flown the C206 and the GA8 and will get there by Dec the 6th. I have just gotten updated with the post to see what the differences from last year are. Looking forward to see you all!!

Hi guys,


I have 310 hours and my intention is to come overthere in the first week of Januari,but I thinks that I do not have enough hours to apply, so what do you thinks? info about the last recruitment requirements are welcome.


thanks in advance

I saw a advert from Mack Air Charters. They are looking for two junior pilots with 300-500TT. So you have a chance. You need send application to 24 Dec and have a two rating from three (c172, c206 or c208). Contract is for a five years.

I would send an email to the recruiting person at Mack Air before to rush on sending cv, it looks like that for now all hiring operations have been put in a standby mode!

I have received an email from mack air couple of weeks ago!Here is the email:
Hey
Mack Air is no longer accepting CV's from Foreign Pilots for 2015.
Only Botswana Citizens (local pilots) may continue to apply for Pilot
positions at Mack Air.
Currently we have filled all our Crew requirements.
Any recruitment advertising indicating a Pilot position at Mack Air is
FALSE. The only advertising will be done via our website or Facebook page.
Many thanks to those who applied and good luck with your job search.
Mack Air Recruitment.

Despite all the 'doom and gloom' comments here, I believe six guys were hired in the last 3 weeks (by 3 different companies). All had over 500 hours.

You're right!:ok:

abezzi you tart :p But well done.

Guys, forget it under 500 hrs.

Happy Christmas and a safe aviating New Year to all you intrepid and brave airborne drivers.

No PFLs going on over our lagoon today hopefully you are all busy landing with the machine burning and turning :ok:

Good luck to those who are trying to follow in their footsteps.

Hi guys happy 2015,


Any news overthere guys about the jobs?

By my count, 9 pilots have been hired over the November/ December period. They are now working through the paperwork for licence validations and work permits.

For now, the companies all seem to be well stocked with pilots, but things change all the time. No one knows what tomorrow may bring.

However, if you are not adverse to preying on the bad luck of other pilots, there has been an interesting development which has the potential to create an opening or two... The CAAB has written two new papers for the law exam, one of the first steps in the lengthy validation/permit process. The old exam papers have been well used and the answers circulated for some time, but these new ones are a bit of an unknown quantity and proving a bit of a challenge for some of the new hires. Like many ICAO countries there is a rule that if you fail three times you will be suspended from sitting again for a specified time period. If this happens, you are effectively unemployable to any company in Maun. There's a couple of guys going for their third attempt soon. I hope it woks out for them.

Hello kind folks :)

I have a plane ticket booked for Africa next week, arriving in Maun on Sunday the 18th or the Monday. Any recommendations for camps to stay at are kindly appreciated! Looking forward to meet all of you! Feel free to PM me if you are currently in Maun, would like to meet ya.

Cheers

Guys,
What is the monthly salary of Pilots joining companies in Bots and Namibia?Is it the same in the rest of the neighbouring countries?Is there a difference if the person is hired to fly twins instead of SEP?
Thanks.

Theres about P4000/month difference between the highest and lowest paid newbies in Maun. Refer to the first page of this thread. Add P2000 for the highest, subtract 2000 for the lowest. Who would've thought the average pay would go down?!

As for twins in Maun, also refer to the first page, and exclude the BN Islanders from any fleet list- they've all been sold/ mothballed.

You'll be able to survive on it, but that's about it.

From my experience, many of the locals in Windhoek (Nam) drive late model cars, quite a few higher end makes, the pilots drive POSs or carpooled.

The companies figure you're there because you can't get a job back "home", and have never worked in the aviation industry before, the pay reflects this.

It's still a great place for low time 250-500hr pilots to go and break into the industry, but don't think you're going to be living large (or even medium lol) over there.

James, you have a real negative view on Africa. It obviously wasn't a place suited for you.
In regards to the cost of living, the pay is actually quite good. I lived quite well when I was in Maun.
The pay was comparable to an entry level airline job in Canada or USA with a much lower cost of living.

But the overall standard of living, as in sheltering in a camp site with an astonishing lack of comfort women, was surely lower than it would have been in continental North America?

Been a while since I came in here to play.

Cavortingcheetah : how are you doing mate?

I was watching this whole Maun affair on some TV documentary a while ago, with some walking orifice being interviewed and his opening line was "Well, failure is not an option…."

There's not a shiny-jet recruiter on the planet who'd even bother with Question 2 at the interview.

"Actually son, it is. See ya!"

Shades of the glorious past!
'failure is not an option'.....so may success attend your every moment and great things achieved be your destiny.

Guys,
I am likely to start on a C206 with a company.What is the progression like?After we build hours on SEP and MEP do companies hire these pilots for Turboprop(ATR42/72 or B1900) first officer?

Maun is all SEP plus a very small number of C208s.
Your chances of flying the Caravan are very small unless you stay for a very long time.

Quite the contrary, I loved Africa, and probably will be back in December for the skydive boogie, that said this ain't my first BBQ and I'm not wearing rosy glasses.

So who were you working for where you had a union, benefits and made 36,000USD per year?

I can't speak for Maun, but Namibia...

If you go to the mall or most markets in Windhoek, pull into the parking lot and tell me how the cost of living is so low, look at all the over priced pickups all over town, all the rovers, Benz, BMWs, new imports, etc. You WILL be making less than the average person in Windhoek, and that's just math.

Cell phones cost more and a plan is more than in the US, gas is a little more, clothes are ALOT more, rent is about the same as where I used to live on the coast, and you're making about 2k USD per month.

The only things which are less would be booze and meat.

AGAIN, it's a great experience and a very good idea for that first job, if you're going to live below average, better to be below average in Windhoek and hang out with all the pilots, it beats living below average back home and the flying in Africa will put you ahead of the folks back home.

It's a great place but this ain't the "promised land" for green horn pilots.

Pretty sure all the operators there aren't paying 36k. And for the size aircraft you are flying there, getting 36k is criminal as it is.
I was getting 65k on the Caravan in Canada.

Most of those people that you are comparing yourself to, are not average people either. They are the well to do's.
Windhoek and Swakop are certainly not your average African city. Swakop certainly was the rich persons retreat over xmas and new years.

Cellphones in botswana cost around $15 a month for a normal plan. For those of us from the rest of the world, that is more than reasonable.

Rent when sharing a house is around $400 a month. Pay is around $1800. Cost of living there on out depended on what you wanted to eat and do. Most of that cost around 200-400 a month.
I was saving around $1000 a month. I know that's not huge, but when I left that place after 2 years, I had around 15k in the bank and 2000hrs in my logbook, and I didn't have to pay for any of my ratings, or work horrendous hours.

But that was just my experience.

Wish I knew about that plan when I was over there, I was approaching 80-90USD per month with MTC and those dumb refills and data and smart phones were more than in the US, hell in hind sight I should have bought a dozen old iPhones off Craig's list and sold em over there.

I know guys in Namibia aren't paying 36k, on your previous post you said operators in Africa pay the same as a entry level 121 OP stateside, well 36k ain't hard a hit as a greenhorn in a 121 job in the US.


You're experience isn't the norm, most work their asses off and don't have much free time, I'd put money on the fact that most ain't saving anywhere near 15k over 2 years. But it does seems most are logging near 1k a year over there.


Look it's a great place for newbies, but NOT EVERYTHING about it is great, I don't know why that seems to offend you SOO much, you get a commission or something for every kid who goes over there lol