Australian GA Jobs Question

[Condensation]

G'day,

I have some questions which I would like to ask about GA jobs in Australia.

1. Is NT the place with most GA jobs in Australia?
2. Is it extremely hard to find a job for hour building (especially first job) in Australia?
3. If you have been through a GA job in Australia to get to an airline, can you please share your experience and how long it took you?
4. About how long would it take to have 3000 hours TT from GA in Australia?
5. Is the GA industry looking good in future?

Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Condensation

[slice]

My 2 cents worth

1. Depends what you mean by GA. If you include the Pearls, Pel-Airs etc.then probably not - QLD would probably have more numerically. If you are refering to the piston charter type of operators then possibly yes but state by state not really that much more than QLD or WA. DOTARS publishes total hours in different categories flown state by state - see their website for details.

2. Generally yes. But the more you are prepared to travel to remote/crappy locations the better your odds (Ngukkur, Halls Creek, Wyndham, Mt Isa etc.)

3. Still not there myself. Best case I have heard was employed within 2 months of arriving in Kunners and accepted into QF 18 months after finishing training. But generally plan on spending at least 5 years in GA - but this varies hugely depending on all sorts of things most of which are out of your control (ability to move at a moments notice, economy, airline collapse etc.)

4. Annual max is 1000 hrs under concession (900 hrs std) average GA pistion charter maybe ~ 600 hrs pa (if full-time) varies hugely but 4 ~ 5 years if continuously employed.

5. Not very good at the bottom end - it won't disappear but the number of operators seems to be slowly reducing - in the doldrums so to speak. The larger GA operators seem to be doing ok (turbine operators)

Hope this gives you a realistic idea of what is actually going on out there rather than the total Flight School BS that is spouted.

[Condensation]

Thank you so much for your reply slice, it is greatly appreciated and very helpful stuff!

I've been looking at websites of Air Charter Companies and all of them require 1000 hours TT, how then is it possible for those who've just finished training with only 200 to 300 hours to get their first job?

Are there companies that are willing to hire people with such less hours?

Thanks, keep the advice and information coming please.

[Runaway Gun]

When you come up with the answers to those questions, then I suggest that you sell a best selling book, for the required reading of all student pilots. :ok:

Just keep trying - don't give up.

[slice]

For low hour starts try - the Kunners operators, Air Frontier (DN)Kakadu , Oenpelli , Air Ngukkur, Horn Island, Broome Av, Wyndham, Port Hedland.

[Speedlever]

1) Mate,,,,,buy a job. Everyone in Oz will happily accept payment for said endorsement.

2) You can always pay for the ICUS. After that you can look forward to working for free like everyone else is expected to do.

3) Another option would be to buy a plane, if dad's up for it. ( The boys in Kunnas would love that)

4) Eastern will give you a gig for about 18K. Failing that I hear Skippers are always looking for another Metro/Dash Fo, cost????? I think it starts at about 9k for the Metro.

5) Virgin And Jetstar,,,,,35K

Whatever you decide,,,,,,,,best of luck down under.

[DUXNUTZ]

MATE!

Don't buy into the negativity, there are jobs out there whether the ink is still wet on your license or if you have a 1000Hrs.

Alot of people will back me up that a good attitude and an eagerness to work hard are just as handy as a year or two of instructing/glider-towing etc and heading bush.

There is ALOT of info on here on where to go/when and who to contact etc but don't be brainwashed into thinking these are the only options. Aim high and you just might just be surprised. By all means send the person responsible a resume but try for the personal meeting, even if dropping off a resume. You will have to eagerly get out there and travel for this however.

Now after you get a start is when the fun really begins. To get that airline job you need multi-time and most of your co-workers would step on their own mother to get it. This is the point in your career where the office politics come into play to a large extent and its easy to get sidetracked from your purpose of getting what you need and getting out!

So in answer to your question i'd say:

YR 1-2: 1000-1500Hrs (flying arse off)
YR 2-3: 1500-2000Hrs (trying to get some multi)
YR 3-5: 2000-3500Hrs (either in a twin or turbine so less hours)
YR 5+: If not out of GA at least in a nicer GA turbine gig.

*Saying the above i have know guys that realistically have gotten into the Rat or Virgil after 8-10yr in G.A.


FINALLY, like everyone who has been there and done it before all i have to say is DO NOT screw it up for the person who will be in your situation a few years down the track by flying or working for FREE to get ahead.

Cheers

Itz Nutz!

[shnev]

The Kimberley is good. Broome especially is a nice place to live. And some C210 time wouldn't go astray.

[bushy]

And if you are planning to "get what you want and get out" then do not come. Outback flying is demanding and specialised, Negative beginners are a liability.

[DUXNUTZ]

Bushy,

Mate i think you mis-interpreted what i was saying.... The flying is wonderful and pretty much the best experience one can have with their clothes on. THE disrespect and personal condtions one puts up with while experiencing this flying is what makes a person get what they want and get out.

Kapich?

[slice]

Outback flying is demanding and specialised


Demanding ? Well some of it is, but specialised ?? Isn't all flying specialised in its own way :confused:

[tinpis]

:D

Believe me the bosses up the top end are total pussies compared to what was served up in PNG.

[VRB03KT CAVOK]

What sort of Total hours and Command hours are NT and WA operators looking for when hiring their pilots?

[OpsNormal]

Believe me the bosses up the top end are total pussies compared to what was served up in PNG.

Yer can't say that, yer haven't met 'em all yet...

Ops;)