Maun,Namibia and Zambia it is then!!!
 

Dear Peers,

As you maybe aware from my diaries that i have not long completed my training JAA CPL/ME/IR . And posted a follow on thread asking if it was wise for me to go to Africa or get a type rating.

Well i decided to go to Africa, starting of in Maun. I have read the two very informative threads Maun 2008/8009 and Maun 2009/2010.

Like most of you i have sent out 1300 CV's and cover letters and no responce. So this is the last ditch for me!!

I am planning of spending 3 months in Africa. And have found out from the threads mentioned above where to stay, where to go and how much money to take with me.

My question to you all is, if anyone of you kind people can give me some heads up or contacts to use when i am there i will be so greatful.

I find no shame in asking for help and certainly no shame in working my ticket up the pecking order. But would like it if you guys could give me some heads up, advice or anything.

Like always i will be keeping a diary of my travels and the outcomes of getting my first job.

PPRune has guided me and helped me through my training and through my diaries i like to give something back.

Again to all my fellow PPruners just some advice or contacts or where i should go or anything.......

Please feel free to PM me

Many thanks in advance!!

Good for you hope it works out for you .

Good luck Kash....I really hope it works out for you...Please keep us updated of your exploits!
:8

Thanks allot guys, much appriciated!! Going down to the Doctors tomorrow for my jabs and malaria tablets. Been told that i will have to pay for my yellow fever jab!! oh well...

Been looking at flights thought i would head out on the 21st but now more like the 26th Dec.

Going on Saturday to go and buy all my camping gear that i will need out there.

I have asked the question of police certificate on here several times but no reply, was hoping if someone could advice me if a disclousure Scotland will be OK?

Other than that just planning, planning and more planning....

Good Luck Kash, hope it works out for you.:ok::ok:

Police Check
 

Mate, DO NOT GO WITHOUT A POLICE CHECK!!

That answers that then.

Best of Luck

Disclosures Scotland should be okay, but there is a better check you can get from police which is for a foreign visa. The larger police stations should know about it. Thing is the Disclosures Certificate does not look very official. If you can't get the other check I refered to, take your Dislosure one to your local police station and ask them to stamp it, to make it look better than something you printed yourself.
Good luck again,

Cheers mate, i have applied for a disclousure along with a WA162. Together they should be water tight. I dont require it for visa's just incase i get a job i believe they will ask for it then. But thanks for the advice mate. Much appriciated!!

The certificate you are looking for can be obtained by filling in this form.

It will cost you £35 for a 10 working day service (2 weeks) and double that £70 for a 2 working day turnaround. They will take very one of those days to return the certificate (and add 2 days), so apply well in advance of when you are likely to need it.

My advice would to just get a Snugpak Jungle Bag or similar that can be zipped open completely to make a blanket and head out. Spend your money on socialising, getting to know guys, and kip on someones floor/sofa. Or under a table in the bar.

Have you tried the 25th ?. This tends to be the cheapest day to fly over the festive period.

:ok:

Merry Christmas to you all,

just an update I have now had all my jabs and picked up some malaria tablets. Packed my tent, airbed, sleeping bag, clothes and the usual malarki.

Booked my tickets from Birmingham to Johannesburg. And from there I will have to sort a flight out to maun as I belive this cannot be done online.

I will be leaving on the 28th Dec.

If anyone has any advice for me I would really be greatful.

Have you tried Air Botswana? They operate services between JNB-MUB.

Also, have a look at Cheap Flights South Africa.

Once again, best of luck mate :ok:

Currently at BHX drinking my gingerbread latte waiting for my delayed flight to Dubai will be spending a night there before I head to JNB and then onto Maun the 30th. Will keep you all posted as I go on this adventure.

Good luck!
 

I'd just like to wish you good luck! It's great to see someone getting off their arse and doing something about their situation rather than bitching about it on here! I look forward to reading about your adventures!

Thanks FrequentFlyer and everyone else,

Im currently at Dubai Airport waiting to get on my next flight to Johannersberg. I got to Dubai at 0200 dropped my bags of into my room and went out to a nightclub to practice my drinking skills for Maun....I need to improve on my drinking skills for sure.

I managed to book my flight from Johannersberg to Maun so i will get there at 1210 on the 30th.

I hope everything works out for us all...

I hope you guys dont mind me writting this stuff on here thought it would be helpful to people thinking of coming. So thought id share my experience.

Anyway of to Duty Free...Will write again tomorrow when i get to JoBerg

Best of luck to you!!

I look forward to reading your African adventures, I am currently flying in Nigeria :ok:

Hey guys just arrived at my hotel in Joberg. It's a nice hotel....However I have been robbed already within 30 mins of getting to Joberg. I found out that my taxi ride should not have cost more than 350 Rand but the driver charged me 600 Rand. Gutted!!

Well im of to the swimming pool and then tomorrow morning ill be going back to the airport to catch my flight to Maun.

Well back at the airport, waiting for my flight to Maun!! just bought some books as i was told the reading material is poor. But ill find out when i get there.

Im planning of starting my rounds as soon as i get of the plane. Ill go and introduce myself to all the operators there.

Then find my way to Audi camp and see if there is anyone who can help me put my tent up because im crap at it...lol

I have made a nice little collection of things that i picked up on the way here.
Cutllery thanks to emirates
sewing kit thanks to the hotel in Dubai
and a toilet roll thanks to the hotel in Joberg.......You never know!! thats all im saying..

Anyway ill keep you guys posted.

And a big thankyou to all you!! And a big thank you to halfbaked boy a great read.

Kash, the most interesting thread on the wannabe forums for sometime, keep it alive and good luck on your venture, I do hope it all works out for you.

Finally in Maun
 

OK, well i have made it to Maun after a 2 hour flight...Was'nt too bad!! got my passport stamped but the immigration officer only gave me 40 days but told me to come back and extend it!!

Grabbed my bags and headed straight across the road Delta Air and met the chief pilot. Nice bloke gave me the in's and out's of what to expect well he said they will not be recruiting in the near future.

I then paid a visit to mack air but the chief pilot was out flying so will pay him a visit later.

Came back into the terminal to pay a couple more companies a visit but again the chief pilots are out.

But the suprising thing is i was introduced to 11 other pilots who are in the same position as me we are all sitting on the first floor on our laptops as the internet is free.

In a starnge wayi feel like a travel reporter sitting amongst guys who proberbly write on here too.

One of the guys i have spoken to currently sitting acorss me typing away has been here 2 and a half months when some others a month.

Well i didnt expect an easy ride!!

So for now guys take care ill keep you posted..

P.S It's hot here!!

Keep your chin up Kash. ;)

I used to have a flight instructor who ran a charter company out of Maun. He said to me once not to worry about the time other people have been hanging out for jobs in the bush. There will always be a residual amount of unemployed pilots that wont find jobs as the guys don't like them. Bit hash I know but apparently true.

Can I ask for a bit of back story? Where did you train?

Best of luck and keep writing!

OK so just put my tent up which isnt up perfectly because i bought it on ebay and they sent me the wrong poles..

and my air bed has a hole in it!!

I am so tired...!!

Its still really hot at the moment!!

met a few really nice people today. Going to do my rounds again in the morning starting at 8am...

The basic answer at the moment is no jobs at the moment!!

But am going to stick it out!!

Anyway going to get my head down and get some sleep...

Would Be my 1st post out here but i am glad to post in this topic..
As said earlier by some others. its great to see your efforts and I really wish you goodluck in your venture

1st full day in Maun
 

Never slept very well last night as my air bed kept defalting so will go and buy a floor mat today.

Woke up at 6am a quick shower and shave and walked to the main road where i got a combi to take me to the airport. Was soked in rain by the time i got here.

A quick coffee across the road from the airport and then started my rounds at 8am.

Had a good chat with a few companies here, just to tell you on how the set up works in Maun.

The people here seem very friendly.

Good luck! I just came back from Maun, and also Namibia. I spoke to most operators in Maun, and everyone said that I came too early and that recruitment season is end of January.

The locals are really friendly.

Have some fun whilst waiting... I rented a C206 & did some low level flying over the Okavango. You can also book a seat as passenger for a scenic flight for about £30. Mackair & Sefofane looks the best.

There is a small flying school with 2x C172s to rent. If you fly you might come in contact with the right people.

Watch out for big snakes & scorpions! :ok:

good luck from Ghana !!!!
 

HI there , just to wish you good luck and happy new year ,I´m flying in Ghana an ATR , unfortunately no jobs around here for the moment ,but we expect changes for better very soon , since economy here is growing fast , good thing is that GCAA here gives you the ghanian licence with no too much trouble ,maybe wont be a bad idea to search among the small operators with bandeirante here will give you the name of the operator soon since I dont remember now :confused:, also direct flights back to gatwick with Ghana international from Accra .
As I said good luck with your living adventure I`ll keep you tracked .
happy new year also

Happy New Year!!
 

Happy new year to you all, and thanks everyone for your kind words and gestures.

After doing my rounds at 4pm yesterday i strolled into town to see what its like. I was most suprised to see a Nandos here!! The town centre is small but has about everything you need in it. And am sure that if they havent got what you need then they will direct you in the right place.

I travel here using a combi bus, it's really cheap and it gets you to your destination eventually. They pick and drop people along the way as for my trip yesterday to the airport took me 1 hour for 16km. But i enjoyed the experience.

Anyway got back to my camp still scratching my head on how to fix my air bed. I thought i had but again woke on the floor today.

had a few drinks last night at the Audi camp and after decided to pop around to a party arranged by orange mobile. ( Lets just say it was experience i wish i never had)!!

Got into the airport at 8:30 today, did my rounds. Again i would like to tell you that i have been whipped up but that would be a lie. Things seem to tik along here. A very laid back approach, but dont mistake that with being lazy. People here work damn hard.

Anyway guys im keeping my chin up and hope everyone else reading this is.

Again if anyone has any contacts or friends who could help me out i would be prepared to travel anywhere. PM me!!

Again thank you for reading!!

The Bandit operator would be Air Shuttle, operating from Accra. However the Bandits they use are wet-leased so Air Shuttle didn't get directly involved in crewing (info good as of last spring).

I believe the lessor is Kenyan although many of the crew had come from the now defunct Air Fiji.

Please keep on writing. I planning to go down there in June and I appreciate your experiences. Seems very intereting place, hope you find something soon.
All my best wishes for you Kash360 and happy new year to you all:)

Good afternoon everyone, wish everyone where ever they maybe are well and good.

Today has been a tough day for me, its exteremly hot and have not been feeling well since last night. However came in this morning to do my rounds and see if there has been any changes since 4pm yesterday.

Allot of people are asking about the accomodation im currently staying at a place called Audi camp about 15km from the airport. But dont let the distance put you off i travel by combi bus which works out to be 25p each way.

The camp itself is nice bring your own tent and its £1.10 per night, the toilets and showers are clean and there is internet and power but for a price.

Anyway i have been around the operators this morning and am now waiting till 4pm to do my next rounds.

Over and Out!!

Kash,

Firstly, let me congratulate you on getting off your backside and heading OS. Look at it as an adventure and you'll enjoy yourself.

Ok. Some gentle advice if no one else has taken you under their wing.

It doesn't take much to become annoying. If all the chief pilots have your details and mobile phone number, then visiting them every day will annoy them. If you are seeing different CPs per day, then ok.

Make friends with the local pilots, they'll know well before any boss does if a pilot's going to leave. Also, DO NOT advertise that fact online. Someone else may grab that opportunity!

If you can, get some work. Whatever, doesn't matter. The chief pilots generally know every one and a good word about your work ethic just might give you the edge.

(This is what I did way back in 1994 in outback Australia, it worked)

All the best Kash, really good reading about your experience so far! Hope you get something out there.

James

Thanks so much for support guys, and for your advice redsnail,.

I think Redsnail has made a very fair and valid point that there is a very very fine line in showing your interested and annoying!!

I think that anyone in my situation must remember is that the chief pilots have jobs to do and so do the pilots. The last thing i suppose they need is to keep repeating the fact that there is no jobs. Its good to have your face known but not hated.

I pay a visit to the schedulers when i do my rounds in hope that i may be able to jump on with a pilot. And go and see for myself what conditions pilots here fly in. Its one thing to read about it and another thing to see it.

Last night after my afternoon rounds i decided to head to Spars, NO not a copy of spars but an actual spars. For those who do not know what spars is it is a superstore. Instead of eating at Audi camp which costs a fortune
if your on a budget. So grabbed some dinner. Went back straight into the pool for an hour and id like to tell you that i met a blonde model who wanted to take me to bed but i was on my own.

Anyway just completed my rounds this morning hoping to jump on a flight but no luck, but will try again this afternoon.

Feeling a bit down and missing home. But this is a natural process and people being so nice around here helps.

Again thank you all for reading my posts, and as always i hope you are well.

For those in the same situation as me dont EVER let your hopes fade away, we have all come so far in this journey to give up now and it would be a regret for most of us.

If you already have a job not flying KEEP IT!! but keep looking. You guys with jobs as crap as they maybe are so lucky at the moment.

I used to be an Engineer before i got into this mess but got made redundant but tried every avenue for a flying or non flying jobs. I came here when no fruit came of it.

Again if anyone has any contacts or could help me not just in Maun but anywhere then please help your fellow friend out and PM me!!!


Take care!!

Morning Everyone!!

Day 6 in Maun..

Not really got much new to report today, after yesterday afternoons rouinds i had to wait an hour at the top of the road to get the bus home. Got back to the camp and straight into the pool, met some really nice people who invited me to dinner with them.

Woke up pretty early this morning its been raining all morning here, wwhich reminds me of home. Did my rounds this morning and now sitting in my usual spot on the first floor of the terminal where i spend most of the day waiting to do my afternoon rounds.

I amazed at the amount of views this thread has recived and am very greatful to you all for taking the time to read it.

Like always i only ask if you have any contacts or any information in finding me a job anywhere in the world please PM me!!

Afternoon guys,

Hope all is well and good, to my suprise this afternoon i managed to get on a flight to do a frieght run with one of the companies here. It was a great experience and the pilot was so helpful and informative.

It is one thing that you come here in persute of a job but it is as important to go and see what conditions you will hopefully be flying in.

My flight today was in a caravan, which i have never been in before but what a beauty.

I borrowed the pilots chart and with his help was finding landing strips on the way to our destination i the delta.

I have had some very informative and helpful PM's from some of you reading my posts so thank you so much.

I have just done my rounds again for the afternoon but will be here again bright and early in the morning.

Enjoy the rest of the day where ever you maybe!!

Hi there Kash,

Firstly, well done on providing an excellent blog on your experiences. I think it will work wonders for those considering a similar move.

Secondly, what aircraft are you rated on?

747TDR

Hi 747, thank you for your messsage i do hope this thread will help other people. Im rated on Multi engine pistions and single eengine pistons. In the UK its just put under a class but have flown a variety of aircrafts. C150,C152,C172,PA28-Warrior, Seminols and dutchess 76.

If you have any leads on any jobs that may come up please please please PM me!!

Again thank you for you message.

Kash, the first thing necessary to stand a chance is to get a 206 or Van on your license. This will make you more attractive to your potential employers as you can jump onto the line straight away and they won't have to spend money on getting you rated.

It also shows them some dedication on your part. As has been said earlier in the thread, your best chance of getting a job is being the only pilot in the immediate vicinity who is unemployed and has a 206 or van rating.

I'm thinking of coming up to Maun at the end of the month to have a look.

Hello Peeps

After yesterdays great weather and the flight i had in the caravan i had yesterday i wasnt counting on a repeat.

last night got back to the camp around 7pm, and did my washing they dont have a washing machine at the camp that i know of so had to do it old school. Using some washing up powder and beating your clothes on a stone.

Met a really nice couple who were passing though as they were self driving around the delta. But they did buy me a few drinks!! i know im a tramp..haha

But again here back at base early morning, not many flights going on today so my chances on jumping on a flight are pretty slim. But i do have a few hours so anything is possible.

The temp here is 43 deg C today. A little different to back home as my mom told me its snowing.

If there is anything you guys would like me to cover in my posts please feel free to do so. I would be glad to get some ideas.

But please i know its hard for most of us to get jobs. But if anyone has any ideas or contacts on helping me get a job i would be so greatful. But please guys if you hear anything please keep me in mind. Just PM me!!

Take care for now i hope you are all well.