|
Question For You?
Kash,
Very pleased to hear you've turned the corner on being blue and now have a more positive outlook. Feels great to be able to reach out to someone half way round the world and offer words of encouragement to a complete stranger that you now feel as though you're part of his hopes and fears, wishing I were there doing it too! I do wish I was there and have been planning to try and do something similar myself. I have a burning question though, I have a FAA CPL IR with a Mulit rating I'm just finishing up. I can see from your other posts you had an FAA license first too before you got you JAA ATPL. Can you tell me if they'd look at someone with the complete package of FAA licenses or is it all guys with JAAs that get hired? The reason I ask is I'm in the middle of my ATPLs (not trying to avoid them) but keen to get working somewhere while I finish them up. Keep up the good posts. Many thanks, Muddy Boots |
It' s Africa.
As long as you know how to fly a plane, the colour or the logo on the license doesn't matter. It would be interesting to know what kind of operators are being approached down in M. Is it GA/airline/NGO and light or larger turboprops? What was your reason for choosing Botswana over for instance Nigeria? Congo is interesting with many recent start-ups including SAA regional and Brussels Airlines' Korongo. Only that I' m not sure about the political stability of the country at the moment. I recently read that there were some localised exodusses to neighbouring countries due to local tensions. For those interested in working for NGO' s in Africa, visit "aviation without borders" websites: www.aviationwithoutborders.org http://www.asf-fr.org/ http://www.asf-spain.org/ http://www.luftfahrtohnegrenzen.de/ http://asfbelgium.org/ http://www.pzg.nl/ Some of them are looking for volunteering pilots. Some of them (UK and NL) are about to purchase aircraft. Volunteering for a good cause beats pay-to-work-and-still-jobless-after-that. Good luck to all. |
Morning Ladies and Gents,
Sorry about not posting yesterday, have had a stomach bug which had led me to stay in bed. Feel a little better today. Anyway hope you are all well and good. Yesterday arrived at the airport bright and early and carried on helping the operators with some more computer stuff and general help around the office. It's quite cool helping around the operators even though the wanabe lads give me a bit of friendly grief. But it's all fun and games. Arrived back at Audi about 4 pm after picking some stuff up from Spar for dinner. But as soon as i got back i took a turn for the worse. But i tell you what the staff at Audi and the lads could not have done a better job to help me recover. I felt like royalty!! Some more guys have turned into Maun, but it's ok everyone is welcome. At first it used to worry me about how many people are coming buut now it doesnt bother me at all. I have shown my face around and done my best to know and get on with people just as i would have done back home. There is nothing else that can be done. Each day seems to by the same here, and everyday you hope that today will be today. But this is how Maun is. And there is nothing you can do to change it. I see Maun as a place similar to Purgatory. I've not heard back on any of the leads i was following but i still have hope. I do wish sothing from anywhere comes through quick. I have my heart set on flying anywhere in the world and im sure allot of you do too. Im not asking for a right hand seat on a 747 just a seat in a cockpit. But i dont deserve it above anyone else. So ill just sit my time out and wait like the rest of you. Anyway as always i hope you are well and things are going well for yourselves. And again thank you for taking the time out for reading and posting on this thread. With out you this thread would have not been possible. If you have any leads please please please PM me. Take care!! |
Gday Kash
Great to hear of your adventures in Africa. It's great to read your posts and see what you have been up to and if the tables are turning in your favour or not. It can be a tough long road at times but you mustn't give up. One thing that kept me going through all the training and then finding that elusive first job was a quote I heard somewhere along the lines of "so many people accept failure when they never knew how close to success they were". Admittedly it was different 3 years ago and some of us have been very very lucky but you make your own luck. I guess it's safe to say you have everything lined up for when someone eventually makes you an offer? Not sure what the requirements are in your part of Africa but here in Australia you put yourself behind the eightball if you didn't have time on the type the operators were using (the 206 POH study you are doing is a great start), a current Dangerous Goods certificate for starters. These things can take a while but it sounds like you have been networking well and getting to know the other pilots is a sound strategy. They may be your work colleagues one day and sometimes the boss may ask them if they know anyone suitable who will fit in with the team, look after the customers and has a sensible head on their shoulders so as to not bend their aeroplane! Not sure what else I can tell you but all the best and hang in there. Trust me, it is so so worth the struggle. |
Afternnon Ladies and Gents,
As always i hope everyone reading this is well, it's been a long day in Maun for me. Been helping out at the operators all day with data analysis. Making sure that when they go to present there files they will be in order and make sence. It's funny how things work here i was asked by another operator to help do there data anaylsis too. But i did say that as soon as i finished my work at the first i will come straight to them. I cant say i have been feeling 100% today after being sick, but your private messages and post certainly help to cheer me up. Been to the doctors just to make sure it would not happen again. Im not sure if i will get a job or not here. But i know i will certainly leave knowing that i gave my best, helped out as best as i could and made some great friends. I know i keep complaining about the heat here but really is it bad to hope for a bit of rain to remind me of home? Had to come back to Audi and dip in the pool to cool down. Just at the bar now watching the Audi mascot dog playing around!! He is so cool. Oh and went to Whimpy and had the best milkshake in the world or should i say that i had two. Im sorry if my posts are becoming more and more repetative but this is meant to be my journey, however boring it maybe id like to share it with you all. Most doors in Maun have closed on me, but there is still hope of a couple. And when those couple close on me i will hopefully have the strength to find somewhere new to pitch my tent and start again. Im not a religous person but i do pray i do get hired someday soon. I pray we all get hired some day soon. Anyway with all my respect to all of you, i must leave you for now and wish that you find this a good read and wish that you are content with all things you do. We may one day meet in the skies!! |
Afternoon,
As you may guess my circumstances are yet still the same, and I am no closer yet to getting a job as I were yesterday. However today is a new day, and a new day brings hope but even that has faded for the day. Tomorrow will be a new day and along with it comes hope, another early start today at the airport. Popped my head around the operators but no work to be done today. The operator I was meant to help was out of the office all day. So sat around at Bon Arrive sipping on a coffee milkshake, after doing another set rounds i decided come back to Audi camp (home sweet home). Nearly every door in Maun is closed, and yet more people arrive daily. I managed to contact a few other operators today by telephone around Africa, but the first question they ask before you carry on the conversation is how many hours do you have? And as soon i say 284, they pretty much say thanks but no thanks. I'm not too sure what the future for all of us low hour pilots will be, but it definitely is a struggle. I don’t agree with people paying for a type rating and then paying for 500 hours on type. But at least they have their applications looked out. I’m not that stupid or wealthy so I don’t have that choice Was talking to a few guys about if things don’t work out here then I will have to go home and take a job at McDonalds as there is no jobs in engineering either. Well let’s leave McDonalds for another time and concentrate on getting a flying job here or anywhere. I know you are all saying keep positive and I totally agree and am trying my best. But i am in the battle field and seem to be on the losing side. But I will give it my best to be the last man standing. Anyway better go, Take care!! |
Hello
Hi Kash!
Stumbled on your blog a few days ago as I've been thinking about coming to Africa to try and find work. Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is Maun? is it a town where there are a lot of operators who fly tourists etc? It seems a lot of people from around the world come there to start building hours and get into the industry. I'm currently still training in Canada, and at this point thinking I might be better off staying here to find work. (less competition for you heh :)) Anyways, it's been really good to get a real perspective on how things can be. I'm bracing myself not to give up if I can't find anything for awhile. I know here up north people start on a ramp and get promoted after awhile. All the best, Will |
hey kash360
I really appreciate all your efforts in writing to us everyday and i hope you get paid for all the hard work you've been doing . All the best mate |
Keep strong Kash, you've been there a month soon and i'm sure your well liked there. Just hang in there for as long as you can. I'm sure things will turn around, just make sure you keep letting the operators know your still around. Just think, if it usually takes someone 2 or 3 months to get work there, you're already 1/3-1/2 the way there, more that can be said for the blokes who just got there. Hang in there bud, we're all cheering for you!
|
Never let your hopes die!!
Hii Kash,
How are you?Hope you are fine and doing good.I must confess Kash you are one hack of a blogger!!! Keep one thing in mind buddy sometimes the journey towards achieving a goal is much much more important than achieving the goal it self.What every one of us witnessing is one such journey of yours towards achieving a goal.Doesnt matter if you dont achieve the goal(God forbids) but look how far you have travelled!! I tell you my story.I got my CPL with IR and ME in NOV 2008.Have been trying to get a job eversince but havent been successful.Working in HR industry for the time being to provide my family with much needed finances ( The sole earning person since dad retired).Cant afford to get Instructors or TR because of the financial conditions.Have been advised by dad to stop dreaming about aviation and start looking for a permanent job.But I havent given up the hopes.Still applying and looking for jobs in aviation.It was my dream to become an aviator now that I have become one I just cant let it go away like this.I still will hang in there and keep on looking until I find what I want.And even if I cant find a job in aviation the efforts would count much more than anything else.Atleast I wont regret that I didnt try hard enough when I would have retired and would be seeing my entirelife in a flashback sitting in my armchair!!Cheers!! |
Evening,
Firstly thank you to all the people posting and reading this thread, I would not have believed for a second that this thread would have reached the numbers it has. Again this is your thread and you make it what it is. I do look back through the posts and read them regularly whenever I get bored or feeling down. But this thread isn’t about making me feel better it’s meant to show the struggle of getting you first job. It is also supposed to help people about the things they should avoid doing. Secondly, I would like to assure you all that I’m not giving up now or in the future, if Maun isn’t the place I get my first job then I’m sure I will find somewhere else to try. I love this place but I also love having a job. I’m still positive but no one can guarantee me a job except the operators. I still have the strength, courage and hope to achieve my goal but I don’t have the finances. But to every will there is a way. So not too worried about that just yet. Been in to the airport today just to show my face, but nothing for me to do and neither any flights for me to get on. So after a quick stop at shopperite and straight back to camp. Been sitting around the camp applying for jobs on every continent. Not a single reply as yet. I’m not sure what else I can do other than what I have been doing to try and get my first break. I’m giving it everything I have got, and to repeat it every day isn’t easy. I came here with hope and will leave here with it, whenever that maybe!! But if anyone has any advice on what else i should do please feel free to post. And if you have any contacts or any leads for me to follow, please PM me. I would really appreciate it. Take care |
Hi Kash,
very interesting blog you have. It's lovely to read this from europe where there is -25 degrees at the moment so bare that in mind if africa sometimes feels a bit overwhelming :ok: I wish you good luck workwise and while your at it, keep us peeps posted :} |
Evening,
I tell you what i'm going to be sleeping like a baby after the day I have had. A extra early start today because I thought Iwould be able to get on a flight at 7 in the morning but was bumped of because of a last minute staff member needed to board. But it's ok I was close to getting on it. But went staright around the operators and showed my face, talking about a party to everyone who went to it on Friday night asked if Icould help out with anything. then staright of to a petting zoo. I thought why not it's Sunday and I really need to explore the place while im here. It was amazing! Got back to camp and moved and cleaned my tent again, noticed a few new holes that the ants had got through. But now it looks like the Ritz!! Took a dip in the pool and played a couple of hands of poker before pulling myself away and coming this. I would like to say, that I have had a few PM regarding some new leads and I would really like to thank you for them. I have sent an email to all the contacts you have provided and will follow them up by phone calls tomorrow. Anyway must go not much internet credit remaining and still need to contact home. So im sorry about the short read today. Take care!! |
and he is not lying
did the same as i did.
it's chillout here guys |
hi kash
first of all i would like to and thank you for posting this day to day diary, i feel like i am there with you. i am from canada and working on my CPL ME IFR same sort of deal, and will be done around nov 2010. just a question are there any canadian pilots down in maun jon hunting?do you know if they even hire canadians? thanks a lot kash. best of luck. Hope you reallli realli reallli get a job. you got my support. will be watching this thread daily. will =) |
Evening All,
Firstly please let me take this opportunity to apologise for not posting yesterday. I would be lying if I told you that I had a good reason. The truth is I was extremely tired after helping out the operators. Even to the extent that I missed my lunch and dinner and fell asleep. As I have said before Maun is a strange place. And even stranger is how things plan out here. I would be more than happy to tell you that I have been hired, however that is not the case. And by the looks of it, it will not be the case for a long time. It has now been drawn to my attention however cannot be ruled out that all doors in Maun are closed. This year it seems to be that more people have been recruited from outside of Maun than within. Today has been an experience to say the least, I was trying to follow up a lead in one of the neighbouring countries. After trying to get on a flight from one of the operators in Maun and being unsuccessful I decided to drive the journey with a friend of mine. The journey would have been in total of 2200km return. However after driving for several hours I was stopped at a police check point to be advised that the car tax disc had been expired. I cannot fault anyone but myself for not checking. However the police check point I was stopped at was about 200km away from the closest town which had an operating cash machine. The officer in charge was adamant of either impounding the vehicle or paying 1500BWP cash. Like many have advised it is not wise to carry such large amounts. The officer would not allow me to go and collect the money so for that reason I have had to leave the car there and hitch a ride back to Maun. Like many of you I have hope, and like many of you we come across obstacles to succeed in our journey. These are my obstacles, and I completely understand that sometimes our confidence and postures get dented from time to time. I feel this is happening to me, but believe me when I say I still have my hope, strength and courage. As I have come to learn over the past four weeks that tomorrow is a new day. And I will use any opportunity to utilise my qualities to succeed. I beg you all not to let your spirits down as I have done in the past. We are all feeling the pressures of our industry, but we must believe that one day we will succeed in our endeavours to become fully fledged pilots. I hope this post and all the ones yet to come find you content, and if you find your not I hope you find the courage to do so. And as always this is your thread too. Thank you all for reading, posting and PM. If you find in your hearts and have any leads and contacts please PM me. For now take care Kash |
Kash u were saying that operators hired many from outside maun rather than within, does that mean those pilots might have written to them first and actually being hired rather than showing up at their doorsteps? How does the hiring process actually begins for them?
Anyway just a point to ponder - every door are made to be closed its the key that are meant to open it, so closed door arent necessarily the end of it! My deepest wish of luck to ya buddy u are already a true fighter in this journey. Cheers! |
Afternoon All,
Hope all is well and good, another day has passed me by in Maun. And without any luck I’m still unemployed. However another early start, showing my face to the operators. I know no one will recruit now because all companies have hired. I find that the situation is no longer about staying around and being the last person. It is also not the case of holding out and making friends. The truth is everyone who needed to be hired is hired. I do wish something else comes through soon, I do still have hope. But staying here would now be a waste of time. I am now stuck between a rock and a hard place; I have notified the operators that I am thinking about leaving next week to return home. I will try and confirm my tickets back to the UK on Friday, but I would be happy to return back to Africa in a heartbeat given the chance. I feel like I have failed on this tour and as much as I dislike people who have paid for a TR and 500 hours it now seems not to be such a bad idea as at least those guys still have an edge above people like me. However I will never attempt doing something I completely disagree with I don’t know what else to say, for the first time I’m lost for words and ideas!! Take care |
I have read all of this thread but i do not seem to remember reading if you had considered doing a FI(A) rating?
I did and it worked for me in the end, took some time though. A FI rating cost me 3.5k 8 years ago. |
What, leaving already???
Hi Kash,
Like many this is my first post but I have been reading your post with some interest and am very impressed by your bravery to go to such lengths in the pursuit of a job. I now see that you're thinking of going home :(. Uhuh.... Let me give you some perspective. From what I can see, you've only been in Africa for about a month. That's nothing mate! You're looking for a job and have no experience... It's going to take time and you're going to have to be VERY persistant, particularly at this point in time. I don't think you'd be doing yourself justice by returning to the UK after only a month. I'll put it in perpective. I work in the multimedia field (I know, different) and graduated from university with no experience in 2000, just when the 'dot coms' all crashed. I applied to about 150 jobs, without a word of response. After about FOUR months, I started tp offer to do 'unpaid' work experience, just to get my foot in the door and do something (as well as working in a cafe). This did land me two brief unpaid jobs which both lead to some short term paid contracts. People knew me, they saw I was keen. After SIX months, I finally got my big break. I had to move from Australia to France to persue it, which was hard because I left my family, friend, everything I knew (I was only 21yo), as you've done. But it was the best experience of my life and has since pretty much set my career up. What I'm getting at is that you're just at the beginning of your journey after one month!!! Keep your chin up. :ok: Find some paid work doing anything, so you can stay in Maun (the UK's going to cost you a lot more to live at). And then, maybe if in August 2010 you still haven't had ANYTHING, I think you'd have given it a fair go. Keep going brother! :) |
I've been reading this thread since the beginning and I think you've done a really great job so far by keeping faith and strenght all this time with the correct attitude but I think that many of the "lucky" guys down in Maun may have spent 2 months or maybe more hanging around the operators and as a user before me said
Thomas Edison once said: Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. |
Kash,
Ok so Maun hasn't worked out for whatever reason, which is probably the same reason a lot of people aren't working, the economy is :mad: and people haven't moved upwards and onwards. We are in the deepest recession in living memory, now Harry Patch has died I doubt there are many who can remember the 1920s downturn... However, you're in Africa and there are other places to go while you're over there and it's the cost of a regional flight or bus or back of a lorry, rather than the cost of a long haul flight. Use Maun as a base to come back to as everyone knows you now and there are people you can trust there to leave some of your things if you need to. As I said before, it'll cost you a lot more to hang out in a bar in the UK than the one at camp Audi. Why not get a job at the airport loading bags or at one of the game lodges greeting guests? Maybe even as a barman, which is the best way to get to know a whole town over night. Work out your accomodation and get your arse out of that tent which will make you feel better. The title of this post is "Maun, Nambia and Zambia it is then!" It feels like you've only explored the other places breifly and there is more face time to be done by you. What about Tanzania or Zimbabwae to mention a few...? I have never seen a post get so much attention on PPRUNE so fast and have so many people write such positive replys. For me I have got up every morning and logged in to see how you are. I, along with many others, will be very upset if you give up now. PM me if you really want me to give you some hardcore encouragement ...:E Muddy Boots |
Hi Kash ,
Have to agree that as long as it may seem , one month is not long at all... the best advice i got after training was to try and stay as close to the Airport as possible.... With this, as it turned out I landed a flight ops job for 6 months before finally getting my lucky break. Two job offers came at once... Funny how it works. All I can say is hang in ther and Try your other options... Look on the African Forum.. Namibian situation 2010.. You seem to be there at the right time... Worth a go... :ok: |
Hang in there
Keep on keeping on. No flying jobs back home, thats for sure.
I almost gave up. Glad I didn't. RH |
Evening All,
Not been a good night for me, was lay in bed scratching my hand all night. Then waking up to notice that my hand had ballooned up, but still went into the airport and saw the operators to show face. One of the operators noticed my hand and advised that I should go and see a doctor immediately, it turned out that I had been bitten multiple times by a poisonous spider. So not feeling my best today, been injected and pilled up to the rim. Anyway I hope you are all well and good, sitting comfortably in front of your computers reading this post. From your replies after posting yesterday I notice a general feeling that I should stay here longer because I have only been here a month. And a month doesn’t mean anything in our industry. I could not agree with you more, but please here me out. On the end of the day you are my seniors and I have complete respect for all of you. And I would never rule out anyone’s advice, because I wasn’t born with all the knowledge I require. I just want to say that “yes” I have only been here for five weeks and it means nothing but what would you do with the information I’m about to share with you. As you know I never mention companies or people on this thread so I will keep it that way. Operator 1 Hired 2 people Operator2 Hired 3 People Operator3 Hired 2 people Operator4 Hired 2 people Operator5 Hired 2 people Operator6 Hired 2 people More than a few were hired from outside of Maun, there is 1 more position left in Maun. However I spoke to the person in charge of one of the operators who will be hiring one more but it will be filled by a local pilot. The pilots who were hired from Maun were here for a minimum of 2 months. I can’t take any other kind of work to tie me over here, because I will never be given a work permit as there are local people who can do the same job. May that be bar work, ramp or any other? I agree that I will be spending more money back at home than I would be staying here. However at least at home I would have the slightest chance to go back into engineering. And then this will help fund my next journey. I will be travelling again to one of the neighbouring countries on Sunday/Monday to go and speak to an operator. I’m won’t be going to Namibia as there are 3 people waiting for jobs here who have just come from there and were told minimum 500 hours and fluent German language. I have also confirmed this by calling the operators. I’m would like to apologise to you all if you think I’m letting you down. Honestly I think I’m letting myself down too. However this is not the end of my journey. I will go home save some more money and find a new spot to pitch my tent. I know I have always had your support on this thread and through my PM. And honestly thank you so much for it because I think I would have left a while ago if weren’t for you. But this isn’t just about the money anymore it’s also about sitting here twiggling thumbs and waiting knowing that all operators have just took people on. I will understand if you think I’m doing the wrong thing, but really tell me how you would feel with the information I have just shared with you? As said before I will be heading up on Sunday/Monday and on every step I take there I will pray that it will be everything I hope. If not I will return home!! Please don’t think I have given up!! Because I am far from that point yet, I’m just trying to make a decision that will allow me to fund my next trip as Maun has turned her back on me. I will sing of roof tops till I am blue in the face, that please don’t give up your dreams. May that be flying or any other dream, the truth is without these dreams we won’t ever know what we are capable of. If you ever fall or fail please try again. I know how it feels to fall but I also know how it feels to stand up and try again. Again thank you for your support and for everything you have all done for me. I still hope!! Take care!! |
Kash, I can't tell you how much I wanted you to succeed in getting a first rung on the ladder, if for no other reason but to show all those pay2fly fools that there is an alternative means other than resigning ones life away to a road of debt.
Please do not come back home to do that as the real problem right now is one of timing. There are hundreds of pay2fly's who after completing line training find themselves replaced by the guy behind them. It is a vicious circle that is geared all in favour of the airline at the expense of the wannabee, safety and passenger ignorance and indifference. Do you want to join them? I don't know anything of flying in Maun but I can't help feel that at some other time you may have been more successful. The aviation world is in an unprecedented trough right now. It has never seen such extreems of losses for operators, crews, or T's & C's. In that environment to try to get a first job on a freshly printed licence with no operational experience in a foreign country was never going to be easy. Perhaps at another time things would have been different. My only real advise to you is to network network network, wherever you are. Keep your ear to the ground and chase every oportunity that arises. Take any job in aviation. I for one will look forward to the day I read on here that you finally got it sorted. |
Kash! Don't even think about going back home! Try SA first! Spend some time and money doing an FI rating. Schools are crying out for Gr3 FI's! As for cost, you can expect to pay between R30k and R40k.
I'm with a school now and they're guaranteeing subsequent employment! Maybe not what you want to do and maybe a bit steep, but well worth it! If you do it at Rand airport (FAGM), the beer's on me! |
Maun
747, you might be able to give him a beer, but it will only benifit him if you provide him with a SA workpermit too, which is impossible !!
Dont talk crap. Fly safe. Gary |
Hey Kash.
I am sure you have seen many of your peers fall by the wayside already in the short time since you have started your career. Some just arn't cut out for the journey. You are at another one of those points where a few more of them will throw in the towel. This may end up being your real test. Personally, I think it's a good idea heading home, getting together some more cash and heading out for round two somewhere else. Hold your head high and keep up the search. Just watch out for those man eating spiders!! |
Hi Kash,
From your post there seems to be a fair amount of hiring going on. Any idea why these people were hired ahead of you? Is it a question of experience or whether the operator likes you or not? If you seem to be getting passed over by other people perhaps a chat with one of the operators might help. |
You sound like you're talking from experience gerpols???
If you're so experienced, you would know that work permits in SA are as easy to come by as a European with 200hrs and an A320 type rating! Most schools offer subsequent employment, even if they are foreigners. Did you expect Kash to work in Maun without a work permit? Methinks you need to revise your statement... :ugh: |
I agree with 747. I didn't find it too hard to get an SA work permit last year.
|
"The pilots who were hired from Maun were here for a minimum of 2 months."
- So wait it out another month? "I can’t take any other kind of work to tie me over here, because I will never be given a work permit as there are local people who can do the same job. May that be bar work, ramp or any other?" - I'm sure you could find work in a bar where the owner is willing to overlook the absence of a work permit! |
I'm not wishing to burst anybody's bubble here, but you'll find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to get hired in Africa with any less than 500 hrs TT.
No matter how clearly motivated you are. I'll bet anything that's why you're hearing/seeing all these other guys from outside Maun jumping the queue, so to speak. I'm a little surprised nobody's brought this up sooner... |
Afternoon,
Again thank you all for your posts and PM. My hand is still ballooned up and still has the burning sensation running through it. But I have been given medication, so hopefully will get better soon. I don’t know how to put this across to you guys. But Maun is a small place where everyone knows each other. I tried to get some bar work but as said earlier you must have a work permit. I know in the UK people work without permits but in Maun the word gets around pretty quick that you are working illegally. I don’t wish to take such risks and get deported, but thank you for the advice. Also I would like to stress “I AM NOT GIVING UP” far from it. Someone raised the point that you cannot find jobs without having 500TT in Maun, I’m sorry but I don’t think this is true. People who have been invited from outside are friends of pilots or chief pilots with 200-300 hours TT. Maun is one of the only places in the world that takes low hour pilots. The point rose by a fellow poster about if people have been hired after 2 months then why don’t you stay another month. I wish that was the case but I have spoken to every chief pilot in Maun who has said clearly that they have recruited everyone they needed and that I should come back in November at the earliest. I believe that people here have been hired because of a number of reasons, which include they have had perfect timing in coming showing their faces for 2 months and so have been hired. Everyone in Maun knows how to fly otherwise pilots would not come, but no one here is disliked my competition are a bunch of great guys who all deserve the jobs they have got. I wish I had come a little earlier but such is life. I get on with everyone here and have been told by a few chief pilots that they would have hired me in a heartbeat however their hands are tied because of management. I have given it my best shot here, and I will still carry on trying. My spirit is still high. I have booked my flight and will be travelling to one of the neighbouring countries on Sunday to try my luck there. And as said before, that for every step I take towards their I pray thing turn out for the better. Nothing much happening at the airport today, yet again an early start and full of hope with a spring in my step trying for the big break. But not much today, spent most of the morning running around trying to get flights for my trip on Sunday. Will be attending a party later to witness a pilot who has just come on line do an omelette. Which includes eating a raw egg including the shell. Should be a sight to see. Anyway must go, and as always I hope this post finds you well. Kash |
Good luck with wherever you're heading onto next, sorry I won't be around for the farewell braai tomorrow! Safe travels.
GWidgery |
I have been following this thread for sometime and as a former Maun pilot I feel that Kash has indeed done everything possible to get a job and whilst many people on here are offering advice, a few seem to have little idea of how Maun works.
"The pilots who were hired from Maun were here for a minimum of 2 months." - So wait it out another month? "I can’t take any other kind of work to tie me over here, because I will never be given a work permit as there are local people who can do the same job. May that be bar work, ramp or any other?" - I'm sure you could find work in a bar where the owner is willing to overlook the absence of a work permit! I'm not wishing to burst anybody's bubble here, but you'll find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to get hired in Africa with any less than 500 hrs TT. No matter how clearly motivated you are. I'll bet anything that's why you're hearing/seeing all these other guys from outside Maun jumping the queue, so to speak. I'm a little surprised nobody's brought this up sooner... People who have been invited from outside are friends of pilots or chief pilots with 200-300 hours TT The only words of advice I can offer is keep looking for that first job even if you now have to look in a different place. There has been more than one person in Maun turn up one year looking for work that never materialised only to return a year later and try again, usually with success (funds permiting of course). I'm certain you will find something one day, persevernce is the key and you seem to have that in droves.:ok: |
Morning All,
Sorry for not posting yesterday, went on a boat ride which kept me away from my computer all day. But to be honest it was worth it. I love every minute of the trip. I'll be travelling for most of the day to one of the neighbouring countries. I will be at some point in time be returning here, as I have made friends here. I have not finished with Maun yet but I must try and follow the leads I have been given. I' sorry this is not of length or detail however I must go and pack my stuff. I wish you are all well. And as one of the guys here said to yesterday " look at it this way, your one more day closer to getting a job". Again thank you all for reading, posting and PM me. If I do get a chance I will post later today and keep you posted regarding my day. Take care. Kash |
Afternoon All,
Again I must apologise for not posting yesterday, having travelled for over 2200km in search for a job and not having any internet connection or power led me not to post until now. So my dear peers, I hope you are well. And everything your doing leads you to that lucrative first job. As posted not long ago I tried travelling to a neighbouring country (Zambia) but had car troubles which led me to return to Maun. I decided to try again as I had promised. However I called in advance advising that I would pay a visit on Monday. I left Maun on Sunday morning and flew to Kasane. I had then hitched hiked by car and boat and travelled a further 600km to my destination. Spent the night at backpackers which was the worst night I had spent in my life. However I was just waiting for the sun to rise so I could get to the airport. As a fellow friend of mine PM me say “It carries a certain amount of tax not being African in Africa”. So I believe everywhere I went I was being over charged. Arrived at the airport and spoke to some of the pilots who worked for operator who I went to visit directed me to the headquarters. I arrived at the office at 08:00 and after a brief discussion with one of the managers. I was told to go and speak to the CAA about licence conversion, again more tax and more money pouring out of my pockets. Spoke to the director of CAA who was extremely pleasant and helpful. After finding out the requirements I took a taxi back to the operator’s headquarters to speak to the manager who had sent me to the CAA. However being Monday he was extremely busy and did not have the time to see me. I was told to book an appointment which I was told by the secretary would not be anytime soon. I left the office feeling as I had lost everything I had. I decided to return to the terminal to take a taxi back to the bus station. However as I was feeling I did not want to spend another 9 hours on a bus. I decided to take a flight with the operator in question. I must say that the service they provide their passengers was great. I arrived at the destination thinking that I would have loved working for such a company. After disembarking one of the pilots had approached me, only to be the person I have been liaising with through PM. I advised him of the situation and was told to email him. I must say it is a great feeling when you go from no hope to just a glimmer. Arrived back in Kasane hoping to get a bus or a flight back to Maun however all had left for the day. This left me trying to hitch 600km ride back, but after a 2 hour wait in the baking sun, I decided to call one of the operators which was stopping in Kasane and flying back the next day. I was overwhelmed at the way they had received us and offered me to stay the night with them and transport me back. Had the best flight I have ever had on the way back from Kasane to Maun. Arrived back at Audi exhausted and got some rest. Just woken up to have a bite to eat and post to you guys, who are probably enjoying the comforts of your home? I’m now not sure what to do, as always I find myself lost in this journey. To every door I turn I find im to late, I’m not saying a have I right to get a job because I have turned up to Africa. Im just saying I wish I had tried harder and earlier. I was not born with a right to fly, but believe you me I am trying my best maybe I just don’t have what it takes to get my first job. I’m not asking for hand outs or people to feel sorry for me. I just want to say to anyone out there training or close to finishing, it’s hard and it’s not like they promised us at flight school where we would go straight into a right hand seat of a shiny jet. It’s hard out here trying to get your first job. But don’t be afraid of the hard work. Otherwise you will lose this battle which we are fighting for. Keep your hope, beliefs, strength, determination and the rest. We will get there one day!! I know that sometimes I have been down and probably I am a bit now. But like I have said tomorrow is a new day. And with it comes more hope!!! For now take care Kash |
Kash.
You are my hero. EK |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 07:40. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.