I want to fly

[bennieatsea]

Hi there everyone,Im new to this site and I have a few questions,thought i'd better ask the experts. Just a little bit on my background:Im from Middelburg MP. I work abroad for most of the year on boats,go anywhere from the Medeteranian,Carribean,States and the Paciffic....Im not talking cruise ships...it's smaller and privately owned. Been up in a Microlight a few times,loved it alot,wanna be in on it .

So my problem is that if I do my MPL in SA will I be able to use that licence abroad?If I buy my own plane is it bad to use it only a month out of the year? Whithin a couple of years I want to come back to sunny SA on a permanent basis but I cant wait any longer,I WANT TO LEARN TO FLY 2!!!!
I get to jealous looking up and seeing people flying and Im stuck on the F$$%% ground!!! Dont know what to do.

[John Young]

So my problem is that if I do my MPL in SA will I be able to use that licence abroad?

Only if you go through the bureaucratic protocol to be recognized – “me thinks” it’s not worth it.

If I buy my own plane is it bad to use it only a month out of the year?

Yes

I get to jealous looking up and seeing people flying and Im stuck on the F$$%% ground!!!

Then get your MPL overseas and fly as much as you can / want.

When you relocate back to RSA, you will have plenty hours in your logbook and will be able to breeze through the bureaucratic red tape.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[bennieatsea]

Thank you for the advice, John

I think I'll rather just wait a bit. If Im gonna spend any kind of money and time on training I want to do it in South Africa,no where else.


Im coming home in a couple of weeks,have to be in Durban for a Ocean course, in December, see if I can go for a ride in a plane if time permit.


All my best regards

[Beenthere]

:D Hi Ther.....I have also followed this rout as I spend a bit of time in Spain each year, it is a tedious process but not that difficult, depending on which country you go to, Currently in most countries in Europe you would require a medical from a valid medical facility, and yes there are doctors in SA that can do this for you, and you would need to go through a school in the country that you wish to fly in for a "Test" and sometimes a few hours of flight with an instructor and including a briefing on radio procedures as these do differ from country to country (specifically in the MPL catagory) There air law is also sometimes different......Soon there will be a procedure in SA in place where a licence in SA will be recognised in all European countries and training facilities in South Africa following the rules for this training stand a chance of making BIG cash for training overses clients.
MPL pilots from SA are well recognised in countris abroad, thanks to Mike Blyth and Ricky/Allan.

[bennieatsea]

Hi Beenthere

Funny you mention Spain,Im in Cartagena at the moment,had to pull in here two nights ago to stop a force 8 gale from kicking the sh.t out of us.

Going past Allicante the other day I saw 2 Gyros flying past while on the bridge....very cool!! Whish I had more time here to go look,on our way to Sunny England for a shipyard. Next year definitely!!! :D

[Beenthere]

Fantastic place to fly, but not this time of year...........Latst year had the opertunity to fly front seat arround Costa Brava (close to the french border) never flown in such magnificent conditions....The MPL "instructor" could also speak fluent English and could show me arround....He also knew who Mike Blyth was and Ricky and Allan.........Actually made me feel rather good that I had learnt to fly in SA....Next year I want to do my dambdest to get a foreign licence on my name......Enjoy the time there !!

[Beenthere]

bennieatsea......you work on boats, I have a friend that also works on boats....similar to what you do....he was a skipper for some rich Spanish banker....the boat was/is anchored in Barcelona (Port Vael ) He also grew up near middleburg........Mmmmm starange

[bennieatsea]

It is such a shame I only hear about your friend now,having just spent about six weeks in Barcelona (port forum),left on Thursday.

Been away from SA for 8 years now,,,havent yet met anyone from my neck of the woods. Getting stuck on a boat for a year and then only get a month holliday to go home drive you nuts after a while,meeting fellow Japies (our nickname on yachts) always makes me smile.

weather turn nasty very quick now,bad at sea but I cant imagine trying to fly in it here....big no no!!!