Hi Richard,
I am a 64 year old engineer from Johannesburg in darkest Africa who has just build a gorgeous RV-12 with some friend and am now doing my SPL. As EAA member both in South Africa and the USA I have a host nof aviation contacts and have popped your 'flying in Africa' question to Christo Ebersohn from Wilderness Air in Botswana. He suggests:
· Make contact with all the places and organizations whom you wish to visit and get letters of invitation. Copy all documents Africa requires and get them stamped - official sanction.
· Plan the route with stops close to known airports with maintenance facilities. Phone and e mail all beforehand so they are aware of movements / arrival.
· Establis fly-over rights. There are companies who will arrange on your behalf. They advertise in our local aviation media.
· Have enough dollars in hand.
· Have mosquito prophylactics & malaria tablets.
· Pack a small survival kit and preferably a satelite phone.
· Have at least two GPS instruments
· Bring enough AVGAS fuel testers avoiding contaminated fuel.
· Go on a bush-maintenance course at your local service organization and iknform them of your intentions. Some stuf you will just have to handle.
· Never fly alone - at least two per aircracf.
· Do a compass swing when in Africa - as yours is set for your local area and be as much as 40 degrees out here.
There is much more so you could contact Christo at christoe@wilderness-air.co.bw May I suggest that you also liaise with the owners of the Sling factory, Mike Blyth and James Pitman. These two adventurers pitche at Oshkosh in 2009 on a round the world flight in their 700 Kg plane and have just overflown Africa and Europa delivering one of their planes in Krakow in Poland. sales@airplanefactory.co.za
(They will be at Oshkosh 2011 with a new Sling 4 - it is a 2+2 plane with Rotax 914 engine. I will also be there in July - as in was in 2009).
PROPER PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE.