Pilot - IONA National Park (Angola) - Angola

Background

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that assumes full responsibility for the long-term rehabilitation and management of national parks, in partnership with governments and local communities. Our approach is grounded in sound business principles, with a strong operational focus on securing and managing Africa’s remaining wild landscapes and protecting their biodiversity. We are equally committed to driving economic development and reducing poverty in surrounding communities, ensuring that each park is ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable over the long term. To date, African Parks manages 22 national parks and protected areas across 12 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares. These landscapes are home to an estimated 3 million people, who legally reside within or adjacent to the protected areas.

Since 2019, Iona National Park, located in the Namibe Province of south-western Angola, has been under the management of African Parks through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement with the Government of Angola, represented by the Ministry of Environment. Covering over 15,000 km², Iona is one of Angola’s oldest and largest national parks, characterised by vast desert plains, rugged mountains, ephemeral river systems, and a unique transition between tropical and desert faunal zones. The park harbours rich biodiversity, including several endemic species and fragile ecosystems that are of regional and global conservation significance.

African Parks’ long-term vision for Iona is to restore its ecological integrity, strengthen institutional and operational capacity, promote scientific research, and establish a model for sustainable conservation and tourism in Angola.

The park's strategic development plan focuses on habitat and species restoration, infrastructure and security systems, effective management of natural resources, and the creation of long-term benefits for the surrounding region.

As part of the growing operational capacity of the park, the management of Iona now includes a dedicated aerial operations component, which is essential for aerial surveillance, wildlife monitoring, and logistical support across a vast and remote desert landscape. To support these efforts, African Parks is recruiting a full-time Pilot who will be responsible not only for executing flight operations safely and efficiently but also for ensuring the legal compliance, maintenance, and continued airworthiness of the aircraft.

Job overview

African Parks is seeking a skilled and experienced bush pilot to support its operations in Iona National Park, a remote and logistically challenging environment in south-western Angola. This role requires a highly self-sufficient and safety-conscious individual, capable of operating under demanding field conditions and managing the full scope of responsibilities associated with aviation support in a conservation setting.

The pilot will be responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the park’s aircraft, including conducting pre- and post-flight inspections, managing fuel and navigational systems, overseeing aircraft maintenance schedules, and ensuring full compliance with African Parks’ aviation protocols and relevant national regulations. The incumbent will also manage hangar and support facilities, coordinate with maintenance engineers, and ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft.

In addition, the role requires maintaining proactive and professional engagement with local and national aviation authorities, securing necessary flight authorizations, permits, and operational clearances in accordance with Angolan and international aviation law.

This is a highly dynamic position essential to Iona’s conservation and logistical operations and will suit a candidate with strong technical knowledge, excellent judgement, and a deep commitment to safety, responsibility, and mission-driven aviation.

Role profile

In fulfilling this role, the Pilot will be responsible for :

I. Carry out all flights needed as required by the operations of the project

II. Take full responsibility for the safety, legal compliance and operational efficiency of the required aerial support operations.

III. Organize any work and maintenance that needs to be done on aircraft

IV. Take the lead on organizing any regional / National authorizations required

V. Take full responsibility for the maintenance and continued airworthiness of the aircraft, respect the maintenance schedule and assist appointed maintenance engineers on site. Duties to include the daily cleaning and continued care as well as sourcing equipment or parts that might be needed.

VI. Maintain flight folio / logbook and admin up to date

VII. Ensure compliance to the African Parks Aviation and other relevant SOPs

VIII. Ensure Safe, legally compliant aerial operations

IX. Be available as a relief pilot on other aircraft as required to serve the regional aerial support function.

X. Knowledge of aircraft maintenance would be an asset

XII. When the pilot is not flying, he is expected to support the project regular operations (such as but not limited to, support in logistics, administration, IT, training of staff, sourcing of materials, etc.).

XII. Carry out any other relevant tasks that may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor.

XIII. Assist with runway constructions, maintenance and registrations around the park.

Key Performance Indicators

• Sucessful implementation of Iona’s Aviation Plan
• Zero safety incidents, accidents, or near-misses attributable to pilot
• 100% of flights and maintenance operations documented in accordance with Angolan civil aviation requirements and AP protocols
• 90% aircraft availability rate based on scheduled and unscheduled maintenance periods
• 95% completion rate of scheduled aerial operations (surveillance, monitoring, logistics) as per approved monthly flight plans
• All required flight, fuel, maintenance, and safety reports submitted accurately and on time (100% compliance)

Key relationships