Life in Botswana

[15SQN]

Hi All
I was wondering what it was like to fly and live in Botswana and I have a few open questions. If was planning to go there after my SA CPL, I hear the best thing to do is to go to each of the operators there and ask for work. There have been a number of treads suggesting what qualifications to get before you go but I was wondering what happens when you get the job.
Where do you say?
Do you ride in the right hand seat for the first week or are you thrown in the deep end and told to get on with it?
Would it be worthwhile getting my Caravan rating before leaving for Botswana?
Any information about your first 6 weeks or so in Botswana would be great
Thanks
15

[flybyshark]

You might spend your first 6 weeks looking for a job and if you get one you will spend at least another 6 weeks waiting for your papers to come through.

[15SQN]

even if you're South African do you still need a visa / paperwork

[Mark J B]

Yes you do. Time consuming unfortunately. When you have a job the company will take you through a training period which can be quite intensive. You will get very good experience in hot and high conditions and bush operations, just keep to the safety standards, as many who knew better did not live to tell the tale.

[passionforflying]

15SQN,

it might be a good idea contacting the companies before hand. Just ask for the chief pilot/ ops manager or any pilot who s got some time on their hands to answer your questions.
Then send a basic CV ( one page) including total time/ time on type and ratings etc. Maybe call them again to make sure CV didn t get lost...;)

Yes, S.A. residents also need to apply for a work permit, the company will do that for you once you are hired. That can take up to 3 months!! So do not come with empty pockets!!
During this time the guys usually get trained, in the sense of familiarizing with the area. During this time you do sit right hand seat, so "No throwing into the deep end!"

As for your van rating..... a fine thing to have, if you are rich.... but most likely- being a pilot- you are not.... and since you won't be able to get onto a van until you have at least 1000hrs total time, maybe invest money somewhere else. By then most companies will probably want to brush up your knowledge again anyway and will bond you for training and groundschool again.
Definately do an IF-com/ if you have the money, a twin rating isn t a bad thing. Several companies do have Islanders. It would be a shame if the lack of a twin rating would stand between you and some twin hours one day. Then again, that could be an option for your renewal after a year as min. hours for the twin are usually also 700-1000.....

If you want to do something useful with your hour building, maybe get a C 206 rating. 5 hours on type will make it easier and cheaper to have it put into your Bots license. Then again, I know it's rather tricky to find a C206 in S.A. So don t go out of way, if a company wants to hire you, they ll do that with or without 206 rating!
Most companies take guys with 200hrs +, one company would like a min. of 250hrs, saying that, exceptions seem to be the rule.

As for the first six weeks in Maun.... depending on what month you are planning to head up there, camping is probably the cheapest option, though I believe right now it might a be little frosty, but then again- it s all about determination, isn t it?? ;)

If you are from S.A., my advice, pack your car- if you have one- with food (no, you can get everything in Maun, but it's cheaper out of Mum's fridge) and tent and sleeping bag and drive up there.
If people like you- unfortunately ( or maybe fortunately) this is how it works in Maun- you'll bump into so many pilots that after a couple of days you either get offered a ( or at least half a) sofa to crash out on, or someone will ask you to house sit for them (looking after plot/ car/ cats & dogs while owners are away...)
What definately is a good investment, if you haven't got one already, a gps!!

Hope this will answer some of your questions.
Good luck!

Oh, forgot to mention.... live is great fun in Maun, and the flying you do, the most awsome.....

[flybyshark]

Mark J B: Talk fair buddy, thats a sweeping statement to be sure!! Dont say things like that unless you know whats to know :bored:
I was there for a year, dont know anyone that copped the big pie, DO YOU?

Passionforflying has it spot on, good advice!

[Joe Yellow]

Hi,
I am considering heading to Maun towards the end of this year and i was just wondering if someone could produce a list of the current operators and the types they operate.

Cheers.

[lokione]

I did two years as a swamp rat in Maun and it was the best two years of my life! No experience will ever match it. GO FOR IT. The advice from passionforflying is spot on. Take it to the word. Be tenacious and patient when you get there - DONT rub the pilots up the wrong way, take a healthy liver to destroy ( and lots of beer money) and be willing to work hard and not complain. Good luck. :ok:

[passionforflying]

<P>Sefofane: caravans/ 206</P>
<P>Moremi Air: Caravan/Islander/210/206/172</P>
<P>Kavango Air: Caravan/206/172</P>
<P>Northern Air: 206</P>
<P>Mack Air: Caravan/Airvan<IMG alt=0 src="http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/smilies/badteeth.gif" border=0 smilieid="12">/210/206/172</P>
<P>Safari Air: Babyvan/Islander/Airvan/207/206</P>
<P>Delta Air: Islander/210/206</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>

[passionforflying]

ooops! Sorry guys, don't know what happened there!
So here we go again:

Sefofane: Caravan/ 206
Moremi Air: Caravan/Islander/210/206/172
Kavango Air: Caravan/206/172
Delta Air: Islander/210/206
Northern Air: 206
Mack Air: Caravan/Airvan!!/210/206/172
Safari Air: Babyvan/Islander/Airvan/207/206

[Mark J B]

Flybyshark

It has been about 3 years since I was there so maybe there hasn't been any incidents recently. However, the last one I am aware of was a Moremi C206 which went in doing wingovers at low level. I spent 3 and half years in Bots so I should have some idea of what I am talking about don't you think?:hmm:

[flybyshark]

Mark J B
Its great that you know what you are talking about, its nice that you make it sound like planes go down on a frequent basis with fatalities..........very responsible?

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:

With a slightly quizzical smile one wonders whether there is a connection between safety in the swamps and the fact that Botswana DCA is advertising for so many vacancies, including that of Director-Flight Safety?:confused:

[Mark J B]

Flybyshark

I think you should brush up on your reading skills. At no time did I say that accidents were a frequent occurrence. I said, if new pilots don't stick to the rules they are likely to get into heaps of trouble. Any of the old Maun guys would agree with that sentiment, although things are alot better now days since most of the strips in the Delta were upgraded. You seem to be rather sensitive about this issue I would say!

[flybyshark]

Mark J B Says "as many who knew better did not live to tell the tale."

Touchy? Me? Surely not lol

Your point is a good one though, if a touch dramatic :ok: