Bush Pilot Pay

[Jay Bo]

Just wondering what one could expect as weekly pay as a bush pilot throughout Africa having just completed a CPL, Twin Engine endorsement with IFR. (200hrs total)
Thanks

[bush van]

peanuts, i have over 1200 hours and 300 hours medium-twin time and get paid less than $2 000

[Soap Box Cowboy]

At 200 hours your pay will be 0 USD. It might actually be worse then that you might actually need to pay someone to let you fly, or buy your own plane. Off the top of my head I can't think of a place that has paid their pilots when they have had less than 400 hours. Then again don't know many that would take a pilot with less than 400 hours.

[Shrike200]

I always love this - Budding pilot (not without reason) thinks: Conditions in Africa are dangerous and crap. Logically for people to put up with this, the pay must be great! {Looks for job on contract}

In reality, Africa is both dangerous and crap - and the pay is terrible. The scenery is nice though!

Good luck! :ok:

[Soap Box Cowboy]

If it wasn't for the Scenery I wouldn't be here. :}

Then again it's a great place for Good old fashioned seat of teh pants flying, no pesky computers telling you what to do and a real chance to interact with nature. :E

[406pilot]

he he is pay really important at 200-400 hours?

keep it up there fellows,

no more 406pilot

[Solid Rust Twotter]

You can keep it.

Can't wait for that job where I get to sleep in my own bed and have to learn to deal with the boredom of procedural IF.:ok:

[thrustucantrust]

SRT,
There is nothing boring about a tsra night at Corfu in proceedural IF or an eyeball shaking split arsed authorised unstable approach into samos. What does get boring is the mindnumbing cabin crew whinging which is like anti viagra, or the "who is paying for what cos i only had a starter" game on nightstops.Once youve ate the pie the menu gets old.
As for those pesky computers mentioned by the other chap.....Why use an abacus when you have a calculator.

wet landable in sudan or braking action poor, blowing snow and reindeer on 2500meters in lapland. Same sh1t different depth.

[Shrike200]

A 206 rating might possibly be handy there too...

I had to laugh at the 'happy clapper' part for a MAF job (oo-er!):

[Scene: A MAF interview]

Interviewer: Well, your technical knowledge is good, you seem like a stable fellow who can handle himself - just one more thing - we, er, need see you clap. We'd like to get an impression of how 'happy' you are when you do it. Can't be too careful these days you know! {laughs}

Interviewee: Eh? WTF? {walks out muttering...}

[Patches O'Houlihan]

JB

you want cash? well, i want a gold toilet seat, but its just not on the cards.

if you're hoping to start on a turbine, most contract companies do take low time guys. i think the pay is about $1000 a month, if you're lucky. and if someone cocks up in accounting, or anywhere else for that matter, its your fault, even if you were in tibuktu at the the time. they will eventually bond you for a rating, if you can handle the 6months or so of abuse. my advice, keep a tube of lube handy. but hey, some guys get lucky and things happen faster, especially if you pay your own rating.

even tho i went the gofer (excuse me, 'operations ASSistant) route, i like the idea of bombing around the delta. you'll learn what you're made of very quickly, and rumor has it the lifestyle is fantastic. also, with some PIC time, you won't need 3000 hours before you can get an ATP. 6months of PIC flying in the delta vs 6months at a desk at lanseria? no brainer.

whatever you do tho, don't fly for free. thats bullsh$t! pick a minimum you're prepaired to work for and stick to it.

and remember the 5 D's of dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge:ok:

Patches

[KESHO]

Jay Bo - To answer your question: Depends very much on what you company and aircraft you start with. I would say work on anywhere between $700 and $1500 per month. Some contracts include food others do not. You might also have to pay for your own renewals, medicals and dangerous goods and CRM. That hard bit is to get that first job and get the all important experience.
Then you can work your way up the ladder and eventually get to become the Captain and then the money starts to pay for the bills. I am not sure what the exact contract captain salaries are, but they should be in the $3000 to $5000 per month bracket for a turbine twin. And most of the time only paid while out flying only. So the more you work the more you will earn.

Good luck!

KESHO

[Solid Rust Twotter]

TUCT

Beats getting shot at....:ooh:

[break dancer]

2high2fly

Have you actually been to Maun?????

Not too many C210s and C310s there....

Elgon Air once had a C210, but that was many moons ago.

A C206 rating is all you need. The grandious ideas of getting straight into a
C208, Skyvan or Islander just won't happen. Commit 1-2 years with a company and they'll stump up the conversion costs for a further commitment. Whoever said things were easy, but there are worse places to spend a few years.....

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:
Interesting thread this! Attitudes move on, although not necessarily in a vertical direction. So let's play hand grenades for a moment here.
The multitude of times I have flown into Maun on the AB schedule and hung around waiting to fly back to Gaberone are numerous.
The standards that were demonstrated by the bush pilots seem hardly to have changed at all with the passage of time. (Those were in the days of the G111 and sky blue 206s, you understand?)
There was then no way in which I would have sat anywhere other than the front seat with any of the standard cowboys and cowgirls operating from that hot and dusty place. There was no way, using that hackneyed barometer of excellence and airmanship, and entrusted my family to the tender care of those whose flying skills seemed to have been addled by a combination of grandiose self - adulation, bush fever or plain incandescent idiocy.
Seems like time stands still in the jungle and that the only thing that moves on are the natives.:p

[4000mrwyfordash8]

hey guys, does anyone know how it is with bush pilot jobs
when you have about 1500 hrs on dash8 300and 400 and how it is payed.
i do not know where to apply at all...
thank you very much.:O :O :O

[Soap Box Cowboy]

4000mrwyfordash8: I'll trade you, you can come fly my Van and I'll go fly your Dash-8 :ok:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

A couple of Kenyan companies are looking for DHC8 drivers. Do a search on this forum for more info.

[Soap Box Cowboy]

Hmmm intresting, will do that thanks SRT. :ok:


Thrustyoucantrust: Abacus? I know the planes arn't exactly new, but would love to see a calculator try and fly. Take off, 500 feet AGL autopilot on, yipee.

Still prefer to fly by my own hands but I guess I got to kick the habit if I want to fly for an Airline :(

[Roger Copy Charlie]

Just wondering what one could expect as weekly pay as a bush pilot throughout Africa having just completed a CPL, Twin Engine endorsement with IFR. (200hrs total)
Thanks
When I completed my CPL/ME/IR with 200 hrs I was very lucky to get a job on a 206, rating paid for. It did cost me over USD 2000 in bribes for a work permit and to sustain myself whilst everything came on-line (said work permit, training, etc.).
The salary was too small to be calculated on a weekly basis... I think it equated to around USD 350 per month at the time. But hey, that covered the bar bill alright! And I lived in a safari lodge, food & accommodation provided!
Pretty soon - after just under 200 hrs of the most challenging and beautiful flying - Bob started ranting, the tourist stayed away, no more flying, no more safari lodge food & accommodation, no more avgas, salary in local "smurkian foopies" devalued to around USD 175 per month, inflation hit over 100%.
A year of aviation unemployment followed... In short: the best time of my life, would recommend it to anybody. Not for sissies.
Follow the advise above: Maun; job hunting season is in January. Aim for a 206. Don't even worry 'bout the rating. Be a nice guy and no sissy. Don't mention the money.

[Papacharlysix]

So, after reading the whole thread, my stupid idea to pay a visit to Botswana in December/jan is not that crazy.

I wonder how a JAA frozen ATPL with 1500 TT and 800 Turboprop could manage to find a job in a reasonable time frame.

Any input ?

Thkx !

[thrustucantrust]

4holier poler or who ever you are.Why do you keep removing my posts. Is it because I'm black? They are not offensive, just a bit of banter. maybe I should start another patronising offensive thread about the behaviour of Africans on aircraft. You didnt have a problem with that one did you. That speaks volumes. Spare me the thankless job nonsense as well its your choice to moderate.

[Jetdriver]

4holerpoler is not removing your posts, I am.
I do not care what colour you are only that you conform to the rules and standards of the site. If you do not then your post goes.

Your "banter" as you call it amounts to little more than abuse and if it is a case of having to tolerate it or make two clicks with a mouse have a guess which action will prevail.

You can either take the hint or take the comments to another site, your choice.

[tinpis]

This is GOOD stuff !

More please :D

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:

Perhaps the powers that be should have a thought to the creation of a new site enumerating the worst of Pprune, entitled:

'Pprune's Poignards.'

There, the most witty and apposite insults that have flown around these august pages could be displayed for the edification and amusement of all who come hereafter.

A 'poignard' for those less well informed that I, is a lightweight, elegant and deadly dagger.

Off to Moscow. Toodle Pip!:D