2000TT Revolution in Namibia
 

Last week Home Affairs implemented a new rule for foreign pilots: No more visas for pilots with less than 2000 hours.

This new measure means that aprox 80% or 90% of the small operators pilots should leave the country. Some of us are already grounded and the rest will be in the same situation as soon their visas expire.

Apparently AOPA Namibia had a meeting with the ministry yesterday, but is gonna be a looong discussion, cause the only they got was a new appointment for the end of the next week.

Don't you think 2000TT is way too much to fly a C210 for 8000R?
No one with that experience is gonna come here!!!

And of course, the locals are thinking in jumping to Air Namibia directly!



Any info will be appreciated!

Just had a conversation with a bloke in the tourist industry last night. According to him the bill is "in discussion", not yet passed. However the department hadling visas is, again, witholding visas and permits as a "precautionary" measure, since it's possible the bill will pass.

Rumors are rampant here!

If all the operators in Namibia meet with the government and explain the situation, and that 35% of the nations entire GDP is tourism, there will either be unheard of unemployment and poverty in Namibia, OR the government will begin issuing visas/permits.

I am hoping for the latter. Sitting here at the box, wondering if I should even go to the airport as planned today... Save the N$32 round trip cab fair... Or go there optomistic that it will all clear up within the next couple of months...

well that just about figures for these african countries who cant figure out economics.


hopefully it doesnt pass.

darkroom, how many pilots are in Nam right now and what is there general experience levels?

Looks like I might return to NAM with my 2000+hrs and even get a decent salary for it and feel work's a holiday :)

soakingpilot,

There is not to much happening in Nam and plenty of pilots have been through looking for work already. I see these African countries are not great at economics, pretty rich coming from a yank and the country that caused the world recession.

The guys in Nam are waiting to meet you, the few I know have been doing some reading of your Maun posts, told you!

You have gone quiet on the Maun thread now, tail between legs I guess.:D

I know of about 15 waiting.
I know of 10 already hired this year between August and now.
So there's maybe another 5 positions left?
I also know of 4 Namibians who have been turned down at the charter operators for some reason or another.
So the season might actually be over for expats already. Or it might not.
Depending on what happens with Air Namibia and their new jets, and whether pilots leave the charter operations. In other words - it doesn't matter how many are here, there are more here than jobs for now, and with HA enforcing 2000 TT, it's bleak.
But, if the operators can't convince HA to change it's ways, there could be a massive crunch in the tourism industry here, and that could mean a HUGE cut in GNP.

And propeller pilot
N$ 8000 per month is 800 euros or 1120 US dollars per month. We're not talking 8000 US dollars per month. So it's not a great salary. Rent here, in a place that's safe is at least N$2500 per month for a "bachelor flat" which is called a studio in the US. Electric and water NOT included. I'm having a hard time on N$250 per week for food, and I get free breakfast where I'm staying. I think it will be very hard to save up enough for the return flight over a two year period.
Some of the operators are having people sign 3 year contracts - they say it's a one year contract, but then they add a year for every N$ 10 000 that they "invest in you". You have to have 25 hours in type and 400 TT for the insurance companies, and they "charge" for every training class like security, SOP's, etc. so many pilots end up with a three year "bond" contract.

Not to sound too negative, and of course you could read this knowing that I'm here hoping for a job and the more pilots here the worse my chances.

So there is good news. I haven't met a Namibian here I didn't like.
I was able to say I hadn't met anyone I didn't like until the other day, when I met an American and a Brit that forced me to change that. (I was born in England and raised in America, so I am embarased by this statement)

Here's the thing, and it's related to flying and the "never met a Namibian I didn't like". You can't come here expecting a job, nor can you expect things to be the same as wherever you're coming from. It's Africa, things are different here (I am no expert, but even I can see that things are different). Come to enjoy the people, the sights, the animals. Be prepared to go home without a job. I've seen several guys run out of money and go home in the past two weeks. But there are still many who have what seems to be an unlimited supply of money.

@darkroomsource: dude I am sitting here holding thumbs for you - I was joking a bit cause I already wear the Namibian T-shirt and know almost every corner of it! Been there, done that. I have a different goal at the moment and I am praying I will be just as lucky with this as I was back then in Nam.

Just hang in there and move around. Try Swakop...

Anyone knows something else?

Last week was 2 meetings between AOPA and the goverment... but nothing new!

Grounded!!!

Haha, don't expect news that fast.

I spent my time in Namibia and yes it is very difficult. 8000 a month is nothing. The prices of food and other things are going up like crazy but the wages are not rising with them.

In any case, the problems with the visas are not new. Last time I was there I had to wait a month for my visa at one point. Collegues also had problems, having to wait anywhere between 2 weeks to a month. Some companies don't give you a salary while you wait so that gets you in a heap of (financial) trouble. Better have some spare cash stached away if you go there (which I didn't, thanks mom and dad :ugh: ).

I used to chase those people around but you have to be very lucky to even get someone to pick up the phone. I also grew tired of the sentance 'call back tomorrow' :mad:
I believe I only got one visa on time out of 7 or so.

2000 TT requirement would effectively shut down 90% of all the charter operators. They don't understand what that means for their tourism. But the visa problems are not only for the pilots. When I was there I read an article on the issue and lot's of other industries are having the same problem (mining, construction, fishery,...) They just don't have enough trained Namibians to do all the expats' jobs yet, but they just don't seem to understand. All they want is to get that 50% unemployment figure down but that cant be done with these stupid measures... It needs a good long term vision on educating the peoples.
Maybe we should let them shoot themselves in the foot, maybe then would they understand... But only maybe though... No guarantees in Africa :\

Glad it's not my problem anymore but I still have many friends down there and I wish them and all the other guys who need one good luck with their visa's. But asking for some common sense is asking for a lot.

On the bright side, flying in Namibia is the best thing I have ever been able to do. Flying there is wonderfull, especially through the different seasons. Heat, cold, drought, rain and floods, dangerous flying and boring flying, talking **** when your boss isn't flying, teaching ATC how to seperate planes, landing without the gear,... Aah, memories.
I would recommend anyone who has the chance to go fly there. Try not to get demotivted by the officials, and/by enjoying every second in the air!
Cause when youre gone again, it's all you'll think about...

Hey MKA how many hours were you putting away in Nam anyways. WDH or Swak?

....cos the good once all have left.:{

Just got into WDH and I will say right off the bat that having steady hot water and a washing machine is awesome after 3 months of none of that though I'll be missing the Brai's.. I'm heading to the airport tomorrow wish me luck.
:ok:

You have 2000 TT soaking?
if not, why did you bother?

thanks for the wish for good luck.

do you have 2000 hours? why are you still in Windhoek otherwise?

because O I dunno you have to try try try maybe?

Been reliably informed that home affairs are prepared to evaluate prospective pilots with less than 2000 hrs TT on a case by case basis. Seems there may be some hope for the low time guys looking for work in Nam. Best of luck chaps and girls

It would be overly cynical to anticipate the release of some sort of tariff sheet from the authorities? But it is so helpful to have the correct small change about one's person. Best of luck though, that's quite a hot tip, treat it as a gratuity?

Awesome awesome! I cant wait to check it out, just got to get myself some interviewing shoes today. Thanks for the updates all!
:ok:

I'm here, actually in Swakop now, because I came before the decisions about 2000 TT, if I'd known before about this situation, I would not have come to Namibia.

I've just heard that most of the existing requests are going to be processed, but there is no guarantee about future requests.

Here in Swakop, Pleasure Flight is "in need of pilots" but have a "company policy of hiring only Namibian citizens or South African Citizens".

Hi soak!
Good news from your interviews?????

Still no one visa issued. At least I didn't hear anyone telling he/she got a visa.

Last info I had is that home affairs should be revising one by one... maybe renewing the ones for the people that was already flying, maybe giving new ones for pilots with some experience (no fixed requirements) and apparently... they are gonna reject the newcomers with low experience.

THIS IS A RUMOUR!
I'm just trying to know if someone got the same info from another source!



Happy landings..... for the lucky ones flying!

I've heard numurous rumors.
1. Supervisor at DCA (won't mention name) must approve each application individually, although the first several were sent on without his approval, so they have to come back and be signed by him.
2. The first ones were to come through Friday (yesterday) - none did.
3. Parliament has been discussing this in open session all week, so Home Affairs will do nothing until after a resolution in gov't.
4. companies are now scrounging for non-grounded pilots, sharing across companies at an alarming rate, and some are even turning away customers (not very often)

But this is Africa (or at least that's what I'm told - I've also been told it's just Africa for beginners) so who knows what the real story is.

I have heard nothing about "low timers being turned down", but then define low timers.

Light twins in Nam
 

So if a guy had 2000 TT or more, but wanted to fly something bigger like a C421, PA31, King Air and such, on which companies' doors would he have to go knockin...

With rules like these, soon Nam will have the highest paid 210 drivers in the world.

Man, if this does happen and I can find a operator that will pay me my old contract salary to go drive a Van and actually have FUN again...i'll dump my aircon'd autopilot-job TODAY!

well, at the moment I have FUN :)

They are paying between N$ 5 000 and N$ 9 000 depending on the season. That's 500 to 900 euros a month.

as flying bigger planes - try Gaberone Botswana, there's one operator there, but he wants 5000 hours.

Other than that, there's only one here in Namibia, and they want you to have flown with them for 3 years before you can fly their twins.

thx darkroomsource
I have been looking around on the internet for operators that fly light twins anywhere in southern africa really.
finding them is relatively easy, knowing which ones are actually looking is the trick...so if anyone knows...

Now THAT'S FUNNY!

Each of us gets a different story every time we talk to any operator. To be clear, if I go into an operator on one day I get one story, three days later another story, and later yet another story, whereas when one of the other guys goes in on the same day, they get a fourth story.

The fact that the government is playing around with work visas makes it even worse, then compound that with the worst three years in tourism in southern Africa ever, and what you get is - no-one is hiring, right now.

Will anyone be hiring in the future? who knows? But the outlook is bleak at the moment.

I know it was kind of a naive question maybe...always good for a laugh though ay...

What i meant was: anyone in any company in any country where they are actually looking (and not necessarily finding) the right drivers.
Yes there might be one or two out there.

I for one work for a company (in India) who cannot find Avanti drivers or Citation drivers and I know of other companies who have similar problems. Now does that have anything to do with people not really being keen on coming to India? I will leave that as a rhetorical question.

This is my breakdown:
FAA ATPL with 6000 TT 2200 ME 1800 C208B

cheers

News regarding 2000tt revolution?

News?
Maybe.

Some pilots, with more than 2000 hours, have received visas. These are pilots who have been online for some time, but have been grounded as a result of this mess.

Some pilots with less than 2000 hours have received letters which authorize them to fly without a visa, and are supposed to be able to get their actual visa in the very near future. These are pilots who have been online for some time, but were grounded as a result of this mess.

No-one knows if ALL online pilots will get their visas.

No-one knows, or is even willing to guess, whether or not visas will be issued for new pilots who have not already been online.

The first two test cases are at Scenic Air. But they were "hired" before the 2000 TT policy was implemented.

We'll see if any new hires will get visas. However, this is probably the last year for foreign pilots in Namibia because the government is stepping up it's training program for Namibian citizens. And if they understand the outcome of the meeting, then they recognize they must train new pilots to 300 hours, not 200 as they have been doing. But, this is Africa, so who knows?

At this point, all the operators are saying basically the same thing - we don't know if we'll be able to get visas for any new pilots, and besides we've had three bad years, so we're not pressed to hire pilots at this time.

They have been trying this for years. Most of the former underprivileged guys and gals get sponsored to train at NATA however the average candidate has proven quite some difficulty in passing the CPL theory exams or attaining a high enough commercial flying proficiency to pass the check rides - quite a waste of public and private funds. The ones that did, all got sucked by Air Namibia pretty quick. I can not imagine they will solve this issue by forcing the operators to take incapable locals - because they won't (please note that I am not saying that each and every one of them falls into that definition, as there are some very capable individuals! but they remain to be few.)

As long as it is economically quite, there will be nothing the operators can't handle with the resources they still have - at least that is what it sounds like.

All in all it is an old subject, they just try and solve the so called expat problem slightly differently as time goes by. The way the patronizing officials treated us taxpaying expatriates finally made me decide to leave three years ago, the attitude just sucked my patience dry. Something you can either accept and deal with or leave.

Thanks for updating..

Anybody know how they came up with the magic number of 2000hrs? If they start now to implement a scheme to train local crew, it will be maybe 6 months before you get 1 or maybe 2 very bright freshly rated comm pilots, now will they have to have a 2000hr TT mark before allowed to work, don`t think so, and by the time they reach that mark they will have been scooped up by Air Namibia as mentioned in a previous post! Who will fund this training scheme? Decisions like these are not beneficial to the operators and like usual the pilots who made the effort to go there and find a job to earn a few pennies and hours a month get the worst end of the deal!:ugh:

Malagant...

I believe the 2000hr restriction is just for expats. In that way they force the operators to hire local guys.

There is already a funded training scheme: NATA has existed for years and is a partially government funded and partially privately funded by mostly German development sponsors. I am not sure how many candidates get selected to become commercial pilots per year, per class - bottom line is that only a very few actually make it to the end and are able to feed the market. In principle NATA has continuously failed to reach it's target numbers and goals.

NATA is the easiest and cheapest way to become a pilot, (even if your parents are rich - makes no difference you will still get funded), you just have to be a Namibian citizen and pass the assessment test and the door is opened for you. Under such beneficial conditions the output numbers are plain sad.

Every couple of years, there is yet another cunning plan coming from the government's direction trying to force the previously disadvantaged pilot cadets into the charter market, where most of them actually don't want to be. At the moment it looks like Air Namibia is taking most of them in. It's cheaper for them to pay these guys & galls a salary than paying the penalties for being non-AA compliant.
Similar story happened in Bots last year or the year before? Didn't last very long though, did it?

any clue on the story in Nam these days?

@soaking: sorted

Csanad... Is that sorted for good meaning that there will be ex-pat pilot jobs for those who turn up? Or is it just sorted for this year?

it seems it was just the typical "chest beating", as you once said, and yes there will be jobs. Wings Over hired a couple of newzees with 250 hours and they got their visas and are online and happy.

things seem back to normal.