Organisation: African Parks Congo
Location / Duty Station: Republic of DRC – Katwe, Kundelungu National Park
Department: Aviation
Position: Fixed Wing Pilot – Remote Operations, Surveillance & Logistics
Reports To: Chief Pilot – DRC, Aviation Supervisor and Park managers
Employment Type: Full-time / Fixed-term
Contract Duration: 2-Year Fixed Term (renewable)
Probationary Period: 6 months
Rotation: Proposed 90 days on / 30 days off – subject to confirmation, operational requirements, employment conditions and fatigue-management requirements
Expected start date: as soon as possible
Remuneration: To be confirmed in accordance with the African Parks salary structure, flying experience, regional benchmarks and applicable aircraft/type ratings
1. Job Overview
The Pilot is responsible for the safe, professional and efficient operation of African Parks aircraft in support of conservation, wildlife protection, park management and logistical operations in the Republic of DRC.
The position delivers aerial support to safeguard and support African Parks’ parks and projects in DRC, including low-level conservation surveillance, law-enforcement patrol monitoring, wildlife surveys and telemetry tracking, ecological and environmental monitoring, emergency response and logistical missions.
The successful candidate must be experienced, safety-conscious and comfortable operating in remote environments, from short, unpaved, unimproved and/or unprepared airstrips, and under challenging environmental conditions.
When not assigned to flight duties, the Pilot will integrate directly into ground operations, contributing to park logistics, infrastructure maintenance, technical/IT support, capacity building and administrative activities, within their competence and subject to aviation priorities and fatigue-management requirements.
2. Core Role & Key Responsibilities
2.1 Flight Operations & Conservation Support
Mission Execution: Conduct safe and efficient flight operations, including low-level aerial surveillance, law-enforcement patrol monitoring, wildlife surveys, aerial counts, ecological tracking and wildlife telemetry missions, in accordance with applicable civil aviation regulations, African Parks Aviation SOPs, aircraft limitations and approved procedures.
Conservation & Environmental Support: Support aerial reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, conservation research and other authorised conservation activities as directed by ground leadership.
Logistical & Emergency Support: Execute passenger transport, emergency response and support missions, remote-station resupply, movement of personnel, equipment and supplies, park logistics, aircraft positioning and ferry flights as required.
Remote & Bush Operations: Operate safely from short, unpaved, unimproved and/or remote airstrips where authorised, taking into account weather, runway conditions, aircraft performance, fuel status, weight and balance, operating limitations and other operational risks.
Pre- & Post-Flight Responsibilities: Complete thorough pre- and post-flight inspections and maintain accurate flight folios, journey logs, personal pilot logbooks, mission reports and all other required operational documentation.
Safety & Command: Assume full responsibility for Pilot-in-Command (PIC) decision-making and exercise sound aeronautical judgement, ensuring the safety of the aircraft, crew and passengers, with aviation safety taking precedence over operational or organisational pressure.
2.2 Fleet Maintenance, Airworthiness & Airside Management- Airworthiness Compliance: Ensure continuous airworthiness of the assigned aircraft in strict alignment with manufacturer manuals, company SOPs and civil aviation regulatory standards.
- Engineering Liaison: Execute daily pre-/post-flight inspections and assist certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs/APs) during scheduled service intervals.
- Rotax Powerplant Care: Perform routine line maintenance (as approved by applicable regulations and manufacturer specifications), fluid checks and diagnostic troubleshooting on Rotax powerplants.
- Asset Care & Housekeeping: Manage and maintain airstrips, helipads, hangars, specialised tools and spare-part inventories.
- Fuel Security: Oversee aviation fuel stock control, perform regular quality/contamination testing and execute safe refuelling protocols.
2.3 Flight Administration & Regulatory Compliance- Logbook & Documentation Maintenance: Update aircraft flight folios, personal pilot logbooks and internal digital flight-operations tracking systems immediately post-flight.
- Regulatory Liaison: Assist with local Civil Aviation Authority documentation and compliance matters to maintain valid aircraft registration, radio station licences and seasonal permits.
- Incident Reporting: Document and report any operational hazards, technical defects, incidents and/or near-misses immediately through the approved Safety and Risk Management (SMS) systems.
3. Key Relationships- Internal: Chief Pilot – DRC, Aviation Supervisor, Park Managers, Field Operations Managers, AP Head of Aviation, maintenance personnel and conservation/ground teams.
- External: DRC Civil Aviation Authority, South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for relevant cross-border coordination, and in-house/contracted maintenance service providers.
4. Essential Technical & Professional Requirements- Licensing: Valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or higher, issued/validated by the applicable Civil Aviation Authority.
- Type Ratings: Current, valid rating and proven proficiency on ICP Savannah and Cessna 182 aircraft.
- Experience: Minimum of 700 hours total flight time.
- Flight Conditions: Valid and current Instrument Rating (IR).
- Medical: Valid, current Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate.
- Technical Aptitude: Demonstrated mechanical experience with Rotax 912 engines.
- Wilderness & Behavioural Competencies: Demonstrated bush, remote-area and/or conservation aviation experience.
- Bush Proficiency: Proven experience in short field take-off and landing (STOL) techniques, and unimproved dirt/sand strip operations.
- Climatic Adaptability: Experience managing high density-altitude environments, severe thermal turbulence and desert dust/sand induction hazards.
- Isolation Resilience: Proven willingness to live and operate independently in a highly remote environment with minimal infrastructure and support.
- Language & Teamwork: Professional fluency in spoken and written English. Ability to blend seamlessly into multicultural conservation teams. Fluency in French will be an asset.
- Ethics: Deep, demonstrable passion for wildlife conservation, coupled with uncompromised personal integrity.
- Safety: Strong aviation safety record and sound operational judgement.
- Knowledge: Good knowledge of aviation regulations, operational procedures, aircraft performance, fuel management, weight and balance, operating limitations and flight safety principles.
- Independence: Ability and willingness to work independently in a remote African operational environment and on a rotational basis.
- Passport: Valid passport and ability to obtain the necessary work permits, visas, aviation approvals and other permissions required to operate in DRC.
5. Desirable Experience & Additional Competencies- Additional experience in African bush and/or conservation aviation.
- Experience in wildlife monitoring, aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, aerial counts and/or telemetry operations.
- Experience supporting anti-poaching, law-enforcement or other conservation operations.
- Experience with low-level operations within applicable legal and operational limitations.
- Experience operating in hot, remote and challenging environments.
- Experience with short, unpaved and unprepared airstrips.
- Experience with Savannah, Sling, Cessna 182 or similar single-engine aircraft beyond the minimum requirements.
- Experience with Rotax-powered aircraft and aircraft equipped for aerial surveillance, wildlife monitoring or conservation operations.
- Experience with aviation SMS, Quality Control, audits, inspections and CAPA processes.
- Ability to communicate in French and/or English.
- Experience working effectively within international and multicultural operational teams.
6. Working Environment & Rotation- Remote living and limited infrastructure.
- High temperatures and seasonal weather challenges.
- High density-altitude conditions, thermal turbulence and dust/sand hazards where applicable.
- Remote, short, unpaved and unprepared airstrips.
- Wildlife activity around operating areas and airstrips.
- Flexible operational requirements and changing flight schedules.
- Extended periods away from conventional aviation infrastructure.
- A high level of flexibility, maturity, self-discipline and personal responsibility.
- Rotation and leave must be coordinated with the Aviation Supervisor/Chief Pilot and other pilots to maintain operational coverage, subject to employment conditions and fatigue-management requirements.
7. Salary & BenefitsSalary and benefits will be determined according to African Parks’ applicable employment structure, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, applicable flying/type-rating requirements and the employment contract.
8. Candidate Profile
African Parks is seeking a Pilot who can demonstrate more than simply the ability to fly an aircraft. The successful candidate should combine strong flying skills, bush and remote-area experience, sound judgement, a strong safety culture, operational independence, teamwork and conservation awareness.
The ability to operate safely and professionally in a remote African conservation environment is considered a core requirement of the position.
9. Metrics of Success
- Exemplary Safety Record: Maintain an exemplary aviation safety record through sound operational judgement and strict compliance with aviation regulations and African Parks procedures, with zero preventable incidents, regulatory breaches or avoidable aircraft damage attributable to the Pilot.
- Aircraft & Fleet Availability: Contribute to high aircraft availability through meticulous pre- and post-flight inspections, proactive identification and reporting of defects, effective maintenance coordination, accurate aircraft records, and responsible management of aircraft, equipment and spare parts.
- Data & Reporting Excellence: Maintain 100% accurate and up-to-date flight logs, aircraft flight folios, fuel records and reconciliations, mission reports, incident and hazard reports, and required digital flight-operation and mission records.
- Operational Integration: Provide an active and effective contribution to conservation operations, ground-based logistics, camp support, infrastructure, technical/IT support and administration when not assigned to flight duties, while maintaining aviation priorities, rest and fatigue-management requirements.
10. Application RequirementsApplicants should submit:
- Current CV;
- Cover letter;
- Copy of valid Pilot Licence;
- Copy of current Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate;
- Flight experience / logbook summary;
- Details of aircraft ratings and relevant aircraft experience;
- Relevant training certificates;
- Details of bush, remote-area and/or conservation aviation experience;
- Details of SMS / Quality Control / aviation auditing training, where applicable; and
- Professional references.
Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete a technical and operational interview, document verification and/or practical assessment.
