Bush Flying Jobs

[Coventrian]

Hi guys,

What's the current stance on bush flying jobs in South Africa/Africa/Australia etc? I'll hold a JAR ME CPL/IR (with ATPL theories) but only have around 250 hours, about 80 dual ME, and 5 of those ME "P1" (PIC/US).

I'm highly interested in getting some real hands on flying to build my hours towards airline employment, and I think I'd enjoy a few months in one of those countries, even though I've heard about the bad maintenance and risks that are out there.

Also, are there any particular countries I want to steer well clear of (such as those where there's a lot of rebel conflict etc).

Regards,

Ben

[Flying Mechanic]

In most of those places it takes a few months to get a visa.
I had hours like u, went out to oz on BACKPACK visa, and flew in the bush for 2.5 years.It took 3 months of hanging around to get a job.In todays current climate, its the way to go.Personally I would head to Africa.Good luck, my 2000 hours of bush flying was the most exciting i ever did.Now its boring flying 8 hours ILS to ILS!!

[Coventrian]

Hehe, thanks, I'll definitely be looking into it.

Does anyone know the licensing requirements? Do I need to convert my JAA licenses, or are they recognised out in Africa?

[Nearly There]

Some good info and advice on this thread..:ok:

http://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/342268-maun-2008-2009-season.html

[redsnail]

Ben,

Things to consider.

Visas and right to work. (Definitely needed in Australia)
How hard is it to convert the license? What's required? Check with the CAA and the prospective country.
Vaccinations. Definitely required for Africa. Check World Health Organisation or Medaire for info.
Get a First Aid certificate if you haven't got one.
Language skills, a lot of Africa is French speaking.
Study the prospective area, eg, Kimberley region in Oz = tourism/scenics as well as govt charter. Find out what the main flying is.
Make copies of every thing. Leave them with someone responsible in the UK.
Inform someone official (Foreign Office, Embassy etc) where you are and contact details. If they need to get info to you or get you out, it's easier if they know approx where you are.
Research the "hot spots" for trouble.

Keep a spare credit card or funds available to get you home quickly.

Have a look on the African and D&G forums. There was a big shortage of suitable pilots for the scenics, not sure how that is now. Maintenance? I know CASA has cleaned out many of the rogues. Get a feel for the area and you'll soon pick up who's dodgy and who's not. Don't compromise yourself. It's better to be out of work and alive versus being dead employed.
You'll learn so much and more importantly, have a really good time.

Good luck, many of us have started out as bush pilots. :ok:

[antigravity61]

Could you please provide me some informations about bush flying in Australia, like where to look for a company etc,
sincerely leo

[uysn]

Hi flying mechanic
Where did you hang out in Oz to get a bush flying job?
Are there still jobs available?
I've got 800 hrs ppl flying time, but had to stop due to increase
in hourly rates.
Thanks
Nico:ok:

[AVIATOR1982]

Hi guys,

To be honest there is not much happening with bush/charter jobs in Australia at the moment, that is to say there are a few around however they mostly wan't around 800-1000 hrs total with some command hours on the type they are using along side some previous bush time. Then there are the issues with visa's and licence conversions, probably not something you wan't to try and get into with a working holiday visa. to convert your JAA you will need to first pass the CPL air law exam (not too hard with a week or two study). Then pass the irex exam and complete a check ride to validate your IR. There also would be issue's as most larger airports require an ASIC card to be worn at all times, it can take a couple of months to get passed all the red tape and get one issued.

I would suggest you would need 6-8 weeks to get the conversion done plus however long it takes to get the security clearance for the ASIC card. A 12 month working holiday visa allows you to work and/or study for a maximum 3 months, so you may get a couple of weeks in flying if you are lucky and you would have to be very lucky..

[corsair]

I'm surprised no one has yet pointed out to Ben that the likelyhood of a 22 year old newly minted pilot with 250 hours with no experience of rough strips and tropical weather getting a bush pilot job is slim. Particularly in the current climate when there's surplus of pilots with plenty of hours and experience. Once upon a time it might have been possible. But I doubt it now.

It's worth a try but don't bet the house on it.

My own particular job while not bushflying has certain similarities in that it's single pilot often off rough short strips. My boss has a stack of CVs from 250 hours pilots in his in-tray, who would work for nothing or less. As he never tires of reminding me. But he knows and I know that he could never trust an hour building kid with his aeroplane particularly after some harrowing experiences.:eek:

So that's what you're up against.

If you did get a 'job'. I would be very careful. I think it was Groucho Marx who said 'I wouldn't join any club that had me as a member'. The same applies to certain flying jobs.:ok:

[CathayBrat]

I'm surprised no one has yet pointed out to Ben that the likelyhood of a 22 year old newly minted pilot with 250 hours with no experience of rough strips and tropical weather getting a bush pilot job is slim.
Not quite true, there are lots of opperators in Africa who will take a low baby pilot, but the life expectancy will be LOW! And most of them will be north of the Limpopo. In Africa some companies want 'seat warmers' due to insurance req's saying 2 crew on nearly everything, we have had to have co-jo's on king air 200's, 100's, islanders and even a C210 for a while! The other things you have to look out for is B.E.E (affermative action) in RSA, and similar things in the rest of the continent, which is fair i guess. However there are always ways around this. Been bush flying all over Africa for over 8 years, it gets in your blood and you will learn to fly, not that stuff you learn in school, but real flying, hands on, no computers to go wrong! Just monster storms, rebels shooting at you, power cuts the norm, dont drink the water, loads of cool disease's (malaria, ebola, hep a,b,c, dysentry etc) lousy maint, crappy planes ( to start off ) and on and on and on......
BUT I LOVE THE BLO:mad:DY PLACE
People you work with can be some of the best in the world (few crooks excepted), you get paid tax free so GB cant touch your money, night flying is rare so sundowners at the pub when you land, beer is always cold and cheep, you get to see amazing places, and siht holes, some contrcts are 6 on, 6 off and they cover all costs to and from home, where ever that may be. True the language can be a problem, but mainly you only need english or french for 80% of the place, its not that hard to learn.
With the license conversion it depends on where you go. When i first came here i had a FAA cpl me/ir. Now i have a kenyan cpl (expired), tanzanian cpl (expired) RSA atpl, FAA atpl, JAA atpl and a congo atpl (was hard that one!:E) all current, (got a few more, but using them as door stops, wobbly table etc). Have flown piston singles into 500m dirt strips in the jungle, twins into int airports, had holes put in planes by the popular russian export, carried all sort of cargo, live, dead, SLF, things that go bang, gold, gems, crates of money.... Now flying DC8 and king airs, jolly good fun 50 ft off the beach!
If you think you can come and hack all the bull siht that various CAA's will give you, and then do the rounds knocking on doors, come on down and have the best flying you will ever do. I have met guys who were in the airlines and chucked it to go back to real flying, because they were bored flying 8 hours ILS to ILS!! in a presurised cigar tube.
Hope this has helped in anyway, any other questions DO NOT pm me, put them in the thread so others can see.
Got to go, beach and beer time.
Cheers
Brat:ok:

[er340790]

monster storms, rebels shooting at you, power cuts the norm, dont drink the water, loads of cool disease's (malaria, ebola, hep a,b,c, dysentry etc) lousy maint, crappy planes ( to start off ) and on and on and on......

Sounds just like Quebec!

[07sschyff]

Hi CathayBrat.

I have just finished my SACAA SE IF Comm 210 Tot. Going to head up Africa in search of my chance to do some bush flying. However have found a lack of info on operators and their where abouts for anywhere North of Zambia (I have looked at all the threads and can't find any info). So was hoping to pick your brain.

What companies operate in the Congo, Malawi and Angola?

What is the likely hood of a Low hour guy being employed?

Are there any surveying companies operating there?

When is the peak/low seasons and when is the best time to head up?

How tough is it to get licences in the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania and Angola?

Any advice on how not to get screwed with a newby like myself heading up there?

Thanks any advice would be a great help:ok:.

[CathayBrat]

What companies operate in the Congo, Malawi and Angola?
Lots of bad ones, a few good ones, helps if you fly and talk russian in DRC and little congo and angola. Not sure about Malawi, there was a small operator there a while ago, cant remember the name. But alot of embraer's in angola as well, local reg but some SA pilots there, maybe through nature link.

What is the likely hood of a Low hour guy being employed?
Depends. If you go with eyes open and mouth shut (about maint, living conditions etc), fairly good, as seat warmers needed. Also alot of companies up here like SA pilots as they usually know which way is up! Unlike some of the guys i've come across. But your best bet is to do the rounds at FALA, been a big increase of contract work so guys are looking for pilots, but with low hrs be prepared to beg, plead or sell your 1st born child! Aero service here may be looking soon, fly casa 212, bn2, c404, c402, but learn french.
Are there any surveying companies operating there?
Yup, loads, but all SA companies like fugro, so u will have to go through them is SA
When is the peak/low seasons and when is the best time to head up?
If you stay out of the touristy places like Bots, there is no season. Most of the companies fly for the mining/oil industries which are 365 days a year. And most baby pilots head to bots as that was where alot of people got their first job, so compatition is huge.
How tough is it to get licences in the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania and Angola?
$$$, paperwork, leg work and $$$. But TZ was a nice suprise, very easy, but the nice lady behind the counter will be a pain to you, untill she issuses the license, then shes v nice.
Any advice on how not to get screwed with a newby like myself heading up there?
Luck. you will need lots of it, to be in the right place at the right time. And dont come north of the limpopo thinking africa is the same as south, unlike some babys i've met, or it will be a big surprise. Eyes wide open, perserverance, and an easy going attitude.

Will answer any other questions later, off to the beach to recover as paddys day was fun, and the boss gave me a day off.
Cheers
Brat:ok:

[CaptGalaxy]

@CathayBrat > (http://www.pprune.org/members/108962-cathaybrat)
sounds crazy!:D wow. can you guide me how to get started ?:O

[Prophead]

I take it the pay is very low for this kind of thing? Has anyone done this kind of work with a family back in the UK to support or is it just a single mans game.

[07sschyff]

Thanks cathay brat great info:ok:.

Going to start my job search of africa from the 1st of next month, will keep in mind-eye's wide open and mouth shut :ooh:. Do you have any info on Uganda and Cameroon, with regards to operators and where to look, have heard that a few pilots have started there flying out that side. How do you apply for the jobs further north ? Is it a case of get there and chat to the operators?

[lpokijuhyt]

Why not get entrepreneurial and get a seaplane and head out for Somalia's coast? There is no functioning government, so you don't have to worry about duty times, licenses, hours, etc. Meet a couple local pirates and work out a deal where you transport food and ammunition between land and the mother ship. Maybe you could work out an agreement where you cut yourself in for a decent percentage of the ransoms? You could make a lot of money, write a book, then live the good life. :E

[albertaboy]

Why not get entrepreneurial and get a seaplane and head out for Somalia's coast? There is no functioning government, so you don't have to worry about duty times, licenses, hours, etc. Meet a couple local pirates and work out a deal where you transport food and ammunition between land and the mother ship. Maybe you could work out an agreement where you cut yourself in for a decent percentage of the ransoms? You could make a lot of money, write a book, then live the good life. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gif

Now there is an idea for an aspiring pilot! I bet you would only need the 7 hour float rating too! Now, can the C-180 on floats outrun an apache? Only one way to find out.:ok:

[Wyle E Coyote]

can the C-180 on floats outrun an apache?

It doesn't really matter, the Americans are so handicapped by their own rules of engagement that you can continue with your piracy under their ever watchful eye. As the Somalis have quickly learned.

Could be one of the safest ways to get some experience in Africa.

[Wildpilot]

Forget the helicopter gunship the waves will out run you in a 180 best get a Beaver on floats, loads of room in the back for loot and hostages etc.;)

[StarChaser]

How come this thread died???

What can I say? Cathay Brat certainly paints a romantic picture!

Personally if I wanted to fly commercially, bush flying would be the only thing I would be interested in now.

Like a lot of wannabes I don't have a lot of money and BAs FPP seemed like the only way in, until I called them and they confirmed I was too thick to apply! (No A levels or degree...)

However, I am learning to fly and am in the middle of doing my PPL and I've got to say I love it! I know airline pilots and work on airliners myself; I really can't get over how it isn't what I expected. I want hands on adventure and romance!

So to all those bush pilots, tell me all the stories of what it's like out there in the jungle, how you acquired your licenses and how much fun it is!

I need more enticing! Oh, and money I guess...

SC

[redsnail]

Starchaser, we've done this a couple of times. Try a search :)

If you don't like the PPRuNe search, use Google.
site:pprune.org and then the search query.
It works better than the PPRuNe search engine.

[Vcten]

Which operators look for seat warmers? Can you name some examples? Where is the best place to obtain a list of bush flying operators who look at low hour pilots?

[Flying Mechanic]

For bush jobs, best to go knock on doors, u will never get hired from a emailed cv. If you can't figure out how to get a list of operators, u stand little chance.

[AQVILA]

Hi, I was recently in the DRC for a year. Take some wild guesses why it was only a year. It was awesome flying and I went out there with only 300 hours or something like that. I was with these guys doing voluntary work: Start Page (http://www.wings-of-hope.org/) Based in America and I'm British. I have several videos of some of my flying too.

Near-miss with bush on landing (Wembo-Nyama) - YouTube

Very low level over Tshumbe - YouTube

Low pass over village and road/runway at dikongo - YouTube

There are more on my channel too. Inbox me on youtube or reply here with any questions. Cheers.

[Alpha Tango Romeo]

HI,

I am planning to go to africa this November to bots, Just wanted to know if that is the best time for a low timer like me to go there :rolleyes: any advice or suggestions are highly appreciated :) also the chances of finding a job with cpl/me 250 hrs

thanks all