Afterthought. The Southern Africa pilot career is much alike to North America where you have to build hours instructing and contract jobs until you are eligible for right seat of an airliner. But of course the diversity in your career can lead you to specialising as a charter bush pilot, contract pilot i.e. in DRC working UN jobs, medivac etc vs Europe and some Asian countries where you get a direct entry programme into the airline from flight school for those who want an airline career
I’m a pilot here in Alaska with bush flying experience since that’s the only thing you can do in order to travel Alaska. I’ll have my commercial rating/ flight instructor rating as well as my bachelors degree early next year. Do you think they will likely hire a Alaska pilot in the year 2022 if there was fewer restrictions? It wouldn’t make sense to fly down to the other side of the world to hand a resume but I would be willing to fly down for an interview. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Well he does tell me work permits are getting harder with restrictions and all but as you'll have your instructor's its a bit of a competitive advantage getting roles in Maun, Botswana. So best one can advise is to build a track record/rapport by communicating with them, calls and emails while you're completing your ratings, so that once you're done there's a much stronger chance of an interview. I think if you have an interest to engage in a long term contract too, 12 - 24 months there's a chance
I am doing my pilot training now in Botswana. Is there a chance that i can get employed by those Bush Flying Companies after i complete my training straight after my training?
Yes, but conditional to, If you are a Botswana citizen, when you’ll finish your training. Remember operators are still recovering from the pandemic, and as far as I am aware demand is far from pre pandemic levels so recruitment is likely low. This is likely to change as months and immediate years come by. A number of Batswana pilots were made redundant during the peak of pandemic period so account for that. Best advice, make direct contact with these operators - face to face to estimate what’s the best path for you.
Can anyone say if they are hiring European(south-east in my case) citizens, because l don't see anyone of them working as bush pilots on LinkedIn? So am wondering if there is some restrictions regarding hiring European pilots or they just don't like to do that job. What about duration of the contract? Does they have any roster options or not? I want to know more about salaries as well. Thank you
I would say around the years of 2012 there were a lot of Europeans/North Americans being hired as bush pilots in Namibia and Botswana but at some point Botswana and maybe Namibia had a new policy; any non-citizens would have to have 500 hours total time to protect the local development of pilots. It's the same as in Europe if the person is a non-eu citizen, where they'll state you have to have the right to live, that is residency or citizenship. Pre-2020 I'd say there was a chance in being hired but as you know the border restrictions has reduced demand and thus the size of their operations, but who says you shouldn't try. It is true most operators will only consider your application if you visit their office versus calls or emails. Information on contract length, rosters, and salaries can be found on pprune.org or avcom.co.za Note though due to the length of getting a work permit and the investment required in training you being there less than 24 months may not be ideal for them.
Afterthought. The Southern Africa pilot career is much alike to North America where you have to build hours instructing and contract jobs until you are eligible for right seat of an airliner. But of course the diversity in your career can lead you to specialising as a charter bush pilot, contract pilot i.e. in DRC working UN jobs, medivac etc vs Europe and some Asian countries where you get a direct entry programme into the airline from flight school for those who want an airline career
The pilot is articulate, thumbs up.
Thanks Brian
I am an aviator and I love your videos bro.keep going bro..
Many thanks Iqbal. I really appreciate your kind words. A definite support to keep me posting
Alwyz welcome bro . Thanks for guidance man.I am doing SACAA lic and planning to do bush flying .keep motivating us .🙏🙏🙏
@@miketango2464 Will do. And let me know if you want anything specific to be covered in the videos, and i'll see if I can make something on that
LesothosPride surely man. Thankxx alot brother.i really appreciate bro. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Nice content , all the best👍
Thanks Andrew. Very much appreciate the support 🤝
I’m a pilot here in Alaska with bush flying experience since that’s the only thing you can do in order to travel Alaska. I’ll have my commercial rating/ flight instructor rating as well as my bachelors degree early next year. Do you think they will likely hire a Alaska pilot in the year 2022 if there was fewer restrictions? It wouldn’t make sense to fly down to the other side of the world to hand a resume but I would be willing to fly down for an interview. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Well he does tell me work permits are getting harder with restrictions and all but as you'll have your instructor's its a bit of a competitive advantage getting roles in Maun, Botswana. So best one can advise is to build a track record/rapport by communicating with them, calls and emails while you're completing your ratings, so that once you're done there's a much stronger chance of an interview. I think if you have an interest to engage in a long term contract too, 12 - 24 months there's a chance
I am doing my pilot training now in Botswana. Is there a chance that i can get employed by those Bush Flying Companies after i complete my training straight after my training?
Yes, but conditional to, If you are a Botswana citizen, when you’ll finish your training. Remember operators are still recovering from the pandemic, and as far as I am aware demand is far from pre pandemic levels so recruitment is likely low. This is likely to change as months and immediate years come by. A number of Batswana pilots were made redundant during the peak of pandemic period so account for that. Best advice, make direct contact with these operators - face to face to estimate what’s the best path for you.
Can anyone say if they are hiring European(south-east in my case) citizens, because l don't see anyone of them working as bush pilots on LinkedIn? So am wondering if there is some restrictions regarding hiring European pilots or they just don't like to do that job. What about duration of the contract? Does they have any roster options or not? I want to know more about salaries as well.
Thank you
I would say around the years of 2012 there were a lot of Europeans/North Americans being hired as bush pilots in Namibia and Botswana but at some point Botswana and maybe Namibia had a new policy; any non-citizens would have to have 500 hours total time to protect the local development of pilots. It's the same as in Europe if the person is a non-eu citizen, where they'll state you have to have the right to live, that is residency or citizenship.
Pre-2020 I'd say there was a chance in being hired but as you know the border restrictions has reduced demand and thus the size of their operations, but who says you shouldn't try. It is true most operators will only consider your application if you visit their office versus calls or emails.
Information on contract length, rosters, and salaries can be found on pprune.org or avcom.co.za
Note though due to the length of getting a work permit and the investment required in training you being there less than 24 months may not be ideal for them.
Very cool to see