New TV show "Bush Pilots" on TV tonight

[maxdrypower]

And lets not forget the idiotic operations woman , " out of all the uk pilots scots are the only ones that pull their weight " ??? WTF ?

[riverrock83]

Originally Posted by maxdrypower

And lets not forget the idiotic operations woman , " out of all the uk pilots scots are the only ones that pull their weight " ??? WTF ?

Sounds fair to me. She gets bonus points for knowing that the UK consists of more than just England

[darkroomsource]

Quote:
Originally Posted by maxdrypower
And lets not forget the idiotic operations woman , " out of all the uk pilots scots are the only ones that pull their weight " ??? WTF ?
Sounds fair to me. She gets bonus points for knowing that the UK consists of more than just England

She is the one you have to impress to get hired there... so that's a HUGE tip for UK pilots who want to fly in Bots.

[fattony]

She gets bonus points for knowing that the UK consists of more than just England

If I recall correctly, she actually said something pretty stupid, like "out of everyone in England, only the Scots pull their weight". It was something like that anyway.

[riverrock83]

Originally Posted by fattony

If I recall correctly, she actually said something pretty stupid, like "out of everyone in England, only the Scots pull their weight". It was something like that anyway.

Just watching the episode now. You're right.

[Evanelpus]

Good to see the ex RYR guy getting a break. I never noticed before last nights episode but he does mumble a little and speaks very short and quick, I suppose it's a by product of trying to get a word in with European ATC

[aerofoil1]

Ryan
It's true tv companies love to jazz things up a bit I work for stobarts and it's nowhere near how they portray.
I watched the 1st episode of bush pilots the one where there was no communication from the control tower, ok no big deal but common sense tells you to keep a very good look out and land communicate with the other inbound aircraft and jobs a good one no?
Tv about stobarts was funny in places but that's not the real world !!

[pax britanica]

I should nto complain since i like flying documentaries a lot more than Uzbekstans Teen Mums have Talent. But a few things made me smile in tuesdyas hsow-anyone catch the 'only these planes (Cessnas) can fly here with their special big lo pressure wheels and a small wheel at the front for steering'

Also is Botswana really 'bush' ? Maun seems a organised neat airfield = orderly parked planes-huge modern hangar , clean , neat and tidy inside with all kinds of documentation and process evident -not evident rotting hulks of DC3s , Smoky old Antonovs and inumerable feral dogs and semi naked children which seem to characterise a lot of African strips elsewhere.

Its an interesting program though when looking at peoples motivation for the job- is two eyars there a good basis for the right hand seat of a Qaatr airways airbus-perhaps yes from what we have read about AF 447 (?) but itseems avery hit and miss proces for developing the airline captains of tomorow

[liam548]

There must be a lot of bush pilots in Africa, it sounds like all airline pilots start there if you believe the program.

Still it is nice to see something flying related on tv so don't moan too much

[The500man]

In that first interview when they asked for a joke, I was thinking **** I can't think of anything! Best I could come up with was some crap joke from the back of a Penguin wrapper!

[sapperkenno]

Re: Scots being better workers.

All these potential bush pilots do come across as a load of priviledged rich kids. I say that as these lot seem to just be there for a good time, sitting in the cafe all day and going on camping trips, one guy having his own 4x4 etc... Just spoiled British kids with lots of money enjoying themselves.

What's stopping them working while they are there? Is it a visa issue, a genuine lack of other work, or are they just on a bit of a "gap yah" type doss until they get a flying number?

If it was me, I'd be trying to earn a wage there to support myself, and try to be a bit more industrious than this lot seem.

Do any of the companies offer a sort of apprenticeship type deal, where if you're not well off, you can get an allowance for travelling to Africa, work for them in a ground role for a probationary period, and if they like you and you're a grafter, they'll let you fly for them? It just seems like these rich kids are going on a bit of a jolly, and making out being stuck in a tent for a month or 3 is hard work. The flying doesn't seem all that demanding either in all honesty, but that's another story!

[Checkboard]

What's stopping them working while they are there? Is it a visa issue

Yes, it's a visa issue. Botswana (as most countries) doesn't allow itinerant workers into the country, if there is a position available it should go to a Botswanan citizen. In order to be granted a work visa prior to entering the country, you have to prove that the position was advertised in Botswana for two weeks without it being filled by a local first. For pilots, you also need clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB).

The charter companies in Maun don't advertise positions, as experience has shown that hiring from first world countries is fraught with the risk that the new employee quits shortly after arrival (and the expense of training) as they can't handle the heat & bush living conditions. Given the nature of the low-hour pilot hiring market, they know they can get enough applicants by only offering positions to those on the scene personally - this also means that the applicants have proven they can live under the local conditions for a couple of months.

All of the pilots shown have entered Botswana on a 90 day tourist visa, and are effectively on holiday. As "aviation enthusiasts", they have chosen to have that holiday at Maun, where they can watch Bush pilots in action.

Actively looking for work is actually against the terms of the visa, and they can be deported by immigration if immigration suspects they are in country to look for work. Given the nature of pilot hiring, however, a bit of a blind eye is turned towards pilot hiring provided they aren't actually working without a valid work visa.

If a company decides "out of the blue" to offer one of these aviation enthusiast tourists a job while they are on holiday, then the company applies for a transfer of their tourist visa to a correct work visa on their behalf (after proving that they can't find a qualified Botswanan citizen for the job, and after getting the required CAAB approval & licence validation).

So - no. They can't get a casual job while they are there.