Reporting to:                                 Project Manager

Location:                                        Sioma Ngwezi National Parks, Western Province, Zambia

BACKGROUND

Peace Parks Foundation, founded by President Nelson Mandela, HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and Dr. Anton Rupert, is a leader in large-scale ecological restoration across southern Africa. Through co-management partnerships that unite governments, communities and donors, it restores vast transboundary landscapes that deliver measurable conservation and livelihood outcomes. Vision 2050 will secure 18 functional landscapes spanning 980,000 km², one of the world’s largest land-conservation initiatives.

Visit: www.peaceparks.org

JOB PURPOSE

The Fixed Wing Pilot position in Sioma Ngwezi National Park plays a pivotal role within Peace Parks Foundation’s aviation strategy, providing dedicated aerial support for conservation, law enforcement, wildlife monitoring, and park management operations. In addition, the position contributes to capacity building by mentoring low-hour pilots, thereby enhancing operational quality, safety, and Peace Parks Foundation’ss long-term commitment to developing local aviation expertise.

This role was established to ensure safe, consistent, and efficient fixed-wing aviation operations in Sioma Ngwezi, where expanding conservation activities and growing on-site aviation demands require dedicated operational support. Within the Peace Parks Foundation Aviation structure, the Fixed Wing Pilot reports directly to the Peace Parks Foundation Aviation Manager, ensuring full compliance with civil aviation regulations, organisational aviation policies, and approved standard operating procedures.

At park level, the position works in close coordination with the Park Manager and Counter Poaching Unit Coordinator, providing aviation support to anti-poaching operations, wildlife monitoring programmes, and the rapid detection and response to unlawful activities through timely and reliable aerial information. By linking Peace Park Foundation’s central aviation oversight with Sioma Ngwezi’s operational conservation priorities, this role functions as a critical operational and strategic interface that enhances situational awareness, decision-making, and conservation effectiveness.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fixed Wing Flight and Maintenance Operations

• Ensure safe fixed wing flight operations in Peace Parks Foundation areas of responsibility.
• Operate all Peace Parks Foundation aircraft and flight operations in compliance with Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant Peace Parks Foundation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure meticulous flight planning, fuel management and good airmanship.
• Ensure timeous reporting and recording of all notifiable incidents.
• Ensure aircraft are maintained according to service schedules and kept flight worthy, clean & tidy.
• Manage the safety & security requirements of the following in accordance with Civil Aviation Regulations and Peace Parks Foundation SOPs:
  • Hangar facilities.
  • Flight-line.
  • Fuel storage.
  • Flight following.
• All other reasonable pilot duties required by Civil Aviation Authorities and Peace Parks Foundation management.

Flight Operations

• Ensure the following operations are undertaken:
  • Anti-poaching rapid reaction and close air support.
  • Air observation & suppression.
  • Game capture operations, aerial coordination.
  • Biodiversity monitoring.
  • Game census.
  • Emergency extraction.
  • Peace Parks Foundation management & personnel flights.
  • Ferry flights – maintenance.
•  Ensure the following training responsibilities are undertaken:
  • Facilitate training of rangers in Fixed Wing operations, including:
    • Safe embarkation and disembarkation procedures.
    • Radio communication protocols.
    • Aerial safety standards.
    • Ground to air “call-in” & “location” orientation.
• Ensure the following management support and oversight function:
  • Fixed Wing Deployments – Arrange fixed wing movements to parks to support operational functions, special projects, or VIP visitor requirements.
  • Maintenance Logistics – Organize repositioning flights to maintenance facilities or arrange for Aviation Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) to conduct servicing and repairs in the field.
  • Mentorship – Guide and mentor junior fixed wing pilots, ensuring skill development and operational competence.
  • Oversee and conduct inspections of aviation infrastructure and equipment across all park operations, ensuring strict compliance with aviation regulations and Peace Parks Foundation SOPs.

Administration

• Ensure adherence and provide oversight to the following:
  • Flight and Duty Times
  • Pilot currency requirements
  • Flight medicals
  • Proficiency Checks
  • Flight Logs
• Daily and monthly reporting
• Flight summaries and Invoicing

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

Pilot Qualification Required:

• Commercial or Private Pilot License – Aeroplane (CPL(A)
• Flight Medical Class 1
• Language Proficiency Level 6
• Crew Resource Management (CRM) Certificate
• Safety & Emergency Procedures Training (SEPT-FD) Certificate
• Dangerous Goods (DG) Certificate
• Proficiency Check – Not older than 6 months

Advantageous:

• Instructor Rating
• Instrument Rating

Pilot Experience:

• Total: 250 hours
• Total Time on Type (Savannah S): 10 hours
• Minimum of 6 years of conservation-related experience (Remote living)