Duly noted.

I'll be there on the 31st and I'll most likely be at the old bridge backpackers. See you all then.

C206 Operating Notes
 

It is a few years since I operated a C206. Just doing a little bit of swotting up. Do you ace bush pilots have any comments on the below. Agreements or disagreements. I appreciate that different companies have different SOPs. This could be a worthwhile discussion for those heading down there for jobs.

www.associatedpilots.com/documents/C-206_operating_notes.pdf

Elevation around there is 4000' odd IIRC, so leaning for taxi to prevent plugs fouling may not be a bad idea. Be aware of a possible rich cut if reducing power at altitude. Apart from that most places should have SOPs regarding this stuff and a bit of line training is the norm before releasing pilots to fly on their own.

Hi guys how many pilots are there currently in Maun looking for work +- ?

flying club in botswana
 

hello friends ..
i heared that some foreign company is going to open a flying training and charter company in maun?? has anyone heard of it?? heard that they have got clearances to bring c172 airplanes .... ??:confused:

ohhh really?? then its a good chance ... how many pilots are there?

We hope to be leaning on the bar at Backpackers by Wednesday 9th Nov approx 16.00. So that's another two :E

I bet none of you guys have a trip that starts off with 9 hours on a ship though, starting the day after tomorrow and only getting there after over a week. :eek:

Like
 

In response to comments requested on the 206 information.

A few comments. Instead of holding power on landing I like to think of it as holding RPM's. All of my 206 time came from flying a jump plane so I was always within glide of the airport (except on the up wind). I was told never to go to idle unless I had the airport made. Also - according to my friend who crashed a 206 - never turn the aux pump on to change tanks. Its not a f-ing Piper. The aux pump is for starting and restarting if you run a tank dry.
OK - one more thing. When empty and I mean nothing but the pilot and the pads for the sky divers and ten gallons of fuel - never land with full flaps - max 15 degrees.

I would imagine that the delta pilots have their own tricks.

okies ... the news is that, a new flying training school is expected to open in Botswana, most probably they would put there base in maun and may require flight instructors.... has anyone heard about this business venture???

And what would be their student demographic?

good question

Also heard that there may be a flight school opening in Francistown :ugh::ugh:

I am in shock to think that somebody believes that there is even remotely a market for flight training in Francistown of all places!!!:rolleyes:

On top of that surely they have to consider that they can only really take a student to PPL level. From there its to SA because, at our wonderful CAAB, there is simply no infrastructure to make doing a CPL possible...its a joke IMHO.

This is of course all 'hear say':E If they struggle to make it in Gabs then they will struggle anywhere...

Sorry for anyone that has been trying to get in touch with me, for some reason (not banned!) I cannot post in either private or public.
Just got back from holiday and having nothing to do for the next couple of weeks so look forward to meeting some of the new guys and girls in town!

In reply to SRT's question,
There is a huge demographic for training all the botswana pilots that are being sent to SA instead of completing their training in Bots.
Its a sad waste of hours that could be going to local pilots. An average class of 10-20 pilots is between 2000-4000hrs, per year.

From what I have heard, it is destined for francistown as there is more space, both on the ground and in the air, and a better lifestyle there. More tempting to bring the pilots from Gabs as opposed to them having to move to maun.

When I was in that neck of the woods there was a popular theory that Gabs was the a**hole of africa and Francistown was a long way up it.
OTOH whoever invented that theory had obviously never been to Orapa.

Thanks for the gen. Sounds like a govt funded in house kind of thing. If it works out it may affect expat hiring quite a bit.

Just arrived there sans luggage.

Home to ATH on a ship for 9 hrs then DXB, JNB no problem until Air Bots takes control :mad:

We are pretty sure that they purposely left them off to put bags on from a previous flight which was full and they didn't have room on the ATR.

Hopefully Old Bridge Backpackers by Weds afternoon if we survive the drive or ever get our luggage.

As to whether the lifestyle in Francistown is better than Maun...well thats debateable. I dont know what factors they use to make that decision :rolleyes:
If there is a huge demographic then why hasnt the CAAB improved their infrastructure such as facilitating a proper course structure from PPL to CPL and instructors. In order for a training organisation to be profitable they cant have their students going just to PPL!

I am not disputing the fact that there is a demographic but the way it is right now there is surely no way they can make a profit out of 10-20 PPLs which is 500-1000 hours per year...even so that amount of students will make it hard to survive as it is IMHO.

You've been in Botswana for long enough to realise how things work here.
Why should they take the time to set up a system that has no rewards for them when they can just go down to SA and then come back for and get a validation?

Sefofane (or it was at the time) set up a CPL training scheme complete with all the theory and practical syallabus, but was then shafted by the government and they just gave it away.

Francistown has a lot more going for it than Maun. As a training environment it is perfect as the air traffic is much much less, facilities on the ground are better. And the town itself is seen as a town, rather than "a cattle post" as I have so often heard Maun referred to as.

Heading up to Windhoek and then Maun in about 2 weeks, anybody there at the time, have a little drink ?

@ lilflyboy - agreed to all of the above. Just charge the rate of an initial issue CPL for the validation and there you go...at the same time as shafting anybody who tries to change it :ugh:Still begs the question though, can a training organisation still survive on 20-30 PPL's a year (or even 50)?

With regards to Francistown as a training area I totally agree...added to that is a brand new airport and great runway costing MANY millions of Pula with little to no use! So it wouldnt be a bad idea to try increase utilisation especially because as you say, Maun is overrun at the moment.

Ive lived in both 'town' and 'cattle post' ;)...one longer than the other and I can tell you socially and entertainment-wise Francistown is pathetic in comparison to Maun! There is literally nothing to do and nowhere to go for a few drinks! Yes, It may be more developed with more infrastructure but living wise its not much different with most draw backs found in Maun here too. Im pretty indifferent about both of them...

Language wise I was wondering where it would be most beneficial with regards to landing a job. I speak Dutch(Afrikaans), German, French and of course English. Is this a distinct advantage in Windhoek or Maun. On this (very helpful) forum a bit is written about German but the other languages are a bit of a mystery to me
Anyway I would love to meet up with all you guys, have been reading the posts with a sense of wonder and a big smile. Pm me, I'm in windhoek the 19th of Nov and then heading up to Maun, since hiring season already started over there and WH starts a bit later
Can anybody advise me about the chameleon backpackers in WH, is it any good. Also the old bridge backpackers in maun ?

See ya soon

German and Afrikaans - will help you in Namibia especially Swakopmund operators (dont know about Windhoek but lets say, it wont be a disadvantage)

French - huge advantage in North/central African countries (ie Senegal, DRC, Ghana and so on)

Botswana - not so much...:ok:

Thank you very much, heading into Maun anyway (If all else fails it's gonna be a nice holiday) but will also check Swakopmund.

Btw for some reaon the Congo doesn't really sound like a good place to hang out for a year or more :ouch:

CharlieVictorSierra , when you said

Did you mean - no it`s not gonna be of any help - , or did you mean - we hate frog eaters - ?

:p:p

It's because Bechuanaland was once a British protectorate and so is more inclined towards chips on the shoulders. This contrasts with the French island, known as Devils Island, where French fries were preferred.

reached maun and started hunting !!
 

got into maun finally... all the way from India !!! met with some chief pilots already. the initial response is quiet disappointing !! looks like they are changing the std level and need 300+ hrs with instrctr rating now on...!!! anyways gonna stick around and believe in ' there is no harm in trying' !! hopin for the best:)

" looks like they are changing the std level and need 300+ hrs with instrctr rating now on."

How about this? Do they recognize instructor ratings from JAA and FAA?

Yes

(used to fill in word requirement)

Thank you!

Lilflyboy,

I assume your 'yes' was an answer to whether they recognise JAA and FAA instructor ratings.

Can you also relate to the supposed raise of requirements to 300h TT + instructor rating?

Cheers!

Lilflyboy,

While your checking.....

Does it matter the potential CP only has a Glider Instructor License?

Well its up to the operators what the want. If they want you, they will take you.

As for mikes comment.... What?

Man, you would deserve a decoration (and at least a million bucks) for your patience...

whats the current situation of hiring in Maun right now?

Hmmm F/Town. No maintenance organisation. No traffic - surely some sort of exposure to other aircraft in the sky is beneficial to a training PPL?
Don't think anyone will travel to F/Town for training either - hell, most wouldn't even travel to Maun for a job interview.

Best of luck. Hope it all works out. :)

This thread is fantastic, very usefull. I am a low timer (fATPL, 200hrs) with a nice job at operations, but struggling to find my first flying job. I did a lot of online research about bush flying in Africa, and decided to come to Maun next winter (got to first save and get a big buffer...) if I have no luck te coming year. I also plan to take a bush flying course in South Africa coming spring. Do you think that is - besides an amazing and usefull experience - a good investment and will give me an advantage as a job seeker?

And another question: I heard from a Namibian pilot that logged simulator hours count as actual hours, is this true?

is hiring done for this season?

Flying_Claire

You'll be better off spending your money on a C206 rating rather than a bush flying course.