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-   -   Maun, Botswana. The essential guide. (https://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/433420-maun-botswana-essential-guide.html)

Solid Rust Twotter 7th May 2013 05:45

Got to start somewhere...:ok:

cavortingcheetah 7th May 2013 06:18

So and in that case, might one be excused sometimes for feeling that Maun, in the minds of some starter pilots, is a dumping ground for those who cannot hack the hocus pocus in their country of aeronautical origin?

Exascot 7th May 2013 06:33

Now look what I have started. They don't wear flying boots down there (currently in Greece) but at least they don't dress like this.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...-and-socks.jpg

For the record I have done a lot of right hand seat with these guys and it may not be dangerous but it is very challenging and jolly hard work. I usually only do half a day and then need a beer at Bon Arrivee whilst they do yet another sortie.

No way would I qualify, the initiation ceremony at the Sports Bar is worse than most in the military. I prefer my eggs cooked!

The Ancient Geek 7th May 2013 08:02

Definitely not a picture from Maun, there is no comb tucked in the socks.
:rolleyes:

nyathi 8th May 2013 09:10

Fact is that each company have slightly different requirements, clearly look at the Company websites and only apply if you have the correct requirements. If not dont send your CV and dont expect an answer back.

500 hrs with the relevant ratings is needed, + Instructors rating is also and added bonus.

I know Mack Air, Safari Air and Wilderness Air are not hiring at all for the rest of the season.

Good Luck!

Solid Rust Twotter 8th May 2013 13:42

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...-and-socks.jpg


I was about to identify the wearer as a Pomgolian, but the hide doesn't match the pale hue of the socks. Perhaps a lederhosen clad Bavarian?

cavortingcheetah 8th May 2013 20:58

Highly unlikely as the socks are white without tassels and are of an unequal height and too short. Also, the sandals fasten from left to right whereas German sandals fasten from right to left.

Solid Rust Twotter 9th May 2013 04:34

Ah, but notice one stipulated Bavarian rather than German, Mr Cheetah. Those carefree lackadaisical scamps are much less hidebound than their cousins. Must be the climate or something in the water...


To be honest, the most frightening fun I've had was with a crowd of Bavarians after a few jars. They go from staid citizens to lunatics with sparks coming out of their ears in about 20 minutes.

EDDNHopper 11th May 2013 10:45

To be fair, Mr. Twotter, one must admit that they can drink about three times the amount of beer in 20 minutes as anybody else. :}

Proper Bavarian socks (and shoes - one has yet to meet a Bavarian in sandals...), usually not be found amongst Maun pilots:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...psaa0f431b.jpg

cavortingcheetah 11th May 2013 12:14

Bavarians of my acquaintance have different tastes.

Solid Rust Twotter 11th May 2013 19:09

Ah, but their choice of music is sublime, Mr Hopper. This has got to be the catchiest ditty one has heard in years. Of course, the tall brunette at 02:08 is guilty of blowing one's socks right into orbit....


A Bavarian flashmob in Munich. [VIDEO]

EDDNHopper 11th May 2013 19:33

Yes, some things ARE better in Munich than in Maun... ;)

Solid Rust Twotter 11th May 2013 19:48

Can't beat that, even with a big stick...:ok:

dianed 27th May 2013 05:46

multi time
 
Is there any way to get multi time on the BN2 if you have over 50 hours multi engine logged but not a valid instrument rating?

prasannakumar 1st June 2013 05:03

Going to africa soon will i able to get job
 
I have Bdca ICAO license i have tt 540 hours and on c-208B i have 320 hrs will i be able to get job if i go der in maun. i dont have c-208 rating on my license becoz belize(BDCA) dosen't need rating to fly single engines which is below 5600 kgs will this be problem for me in maun wen i apply please help me out thanks...

lilflyboy262...2 6th June 2013 12:23

That company sounds awfully like Wilderness VC10

Anyway. If anyone in interested in the day in the life of a Botswana pilot...

Sorry if you are trying to watch it on a Ipad or Iphone. Youtube got a little s**** about me using some songs with the video.

Ixixly 15th June 2013 09:57

Out of interest lilflyboy, can you remember what sort of strip lengths you were operating out of around Botswana and such? From what I've seen most of them have pretty clear areas off the ends of them, not many one way strips or tall trees sitting at the ends, would that be correct?

lilflyboy262...2 16th June 2013 02:38

There is a few that have tall trees, one of them is in this vid. Whether it is one way or not is entirely up to the pilot I guess.
The strips on average are 1000m long. Usually lose quite a bit to the floods.
Some are 800m and a rare few are 600m.
Landing length is not the issue. Its the performance on take off out of them that eats up the runway. You can see with the grass runway that I am barely clearing the end.
I think that was filmed around April/May so warm temps.
All of the runways have "escape" paths out of them, usually following a river or some such.

Vc10Tail 22nd June 2013 12:20

Video of life in a day flying in Maun
 
Quite a thrilling view...though gave me the bends a little! :ok:

What is the average sector altitude? Have there been any incidents of scraping vegetation on some of these short strip approaches?

Are D-VORs and NDBs sufficiently reliable if GPS fails or is it dead reckoning?

How difficult is flying close to dusk?Am sure no nighties!

I notice engine idling during transits even when pilot leaves his office (to take a leak in the bush perhaps?:p

Nice work mate! It looks not as picturesque as I thought it might...may be due to the dry season.

Any encounters with hungry pack of Lions on landing? How do you tackle that?:E

Kudos for a commendable effort lilflyboy:D

kikofc 27th June 2013 23:01

lilflyboy: This is my first post on here but I have been following your thread for over a year, you're the man. Thank you.

I have read this thread from top to bottom at least 3 times now, so it's not out of laziness that I'm asking this:

I know a year or two ago I would have had a decent chance of landing a job with only a CPL (canadian) and 300 TT, but in light of the rumours in the last few pages of this thread, would that still be enough to give me a realistic chance if I went down in November? I know some people have been saying 500 TT is the new minimum, but I was wondering if anybody could give an update on this issue.

My second question: If it is still possible to get a job with only 300 TT, how much of a difference would having an instrument rating make? and what would be better, an instrument rating, or an instructors, and by how much? I am asking because I still have 3 months that I could spend getting one of the two, and want to know if it is worth it.

Thanks again.


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