New Zealand small operator rumors

[bonzaii]

Hi all, im a reasonably low hour pilot (350tt + instructor rating)

I am forever being told that movement in the "big jets"/"carriers" will siphon up everyone and small NZ operators will start hiring

NOW - i know this is a combo between rubbish and hope. so im calling everyone who knows something on the matter, im thinking aeroclub instructors, scenic operators, jump pilots, surveyors etc - is this happening? or are you seeing it occur in your area?

Im in central north island, and its pretty quiet at my end, so guys from Queenstown, Dunedin, the far north, Australia and everywhere in between. gimme a hand here :D

anything is helpful

- cheers

[bonzaii]

ive heard, but ive seen lots of my mates with no jobs roadtripping and getting no where. i think this "pilot shortage" might be overstated?

[astinapilot]

You need 500tt and twin time. Australia is getting quiet but still possibly your best bet. Make sure you join an operator that has twins you can work your way up to. Have to start on singles. Or does your aeroclub have a twin? We've all been there, that first 500 is your first rung on the ladder, once you're underway it will be a steady movement up the rungs. hang in there it is a great job!

[DeltaT]

Sit down with your laptop next to the phone, look up the NZ white pages online, and call up the handful of operators in NZ, should take you all of 30-45mins, even that is an over estimate, and you will get the picture.
Any Link hiring doesn't even put a dent in the number of pilots out there under rocks from years gone by, along with the new ones qualifying.
Twin operators are quickly reducing in NZ as more turn to the C208 or are going bankrupt, so very soon Eagle will be the main contender to get your multi time!
Experienced pilots staying put and not moving in mid-size operators.
Anywhere but NZ is the place to be for a flying job, though I think you will find there are hard times in quite a few places. Indonesia has the new time on type rule for expats, Australia wants 500 multi PiC all round, Flybe in Europe looks to be about to dump some pilots by the looks.

What makes me laugh is the recent sale of Air NZ shares, dire warnings all through the media of how "Volatile" and precarious the aviation industry is so be warned before you invest. Yet for spending your money to be qualified as a pilot its the golden road the whole way isn't it, and pilot shortages abound.

"big jets"/"carriers"...
1 new A320/737NG=6-8 pilots at a guess?
1 new wide body= 12-16 pilots ?
1 new Tprop = 4-6 ?
Depending on the size of the company you get better economies of scale as the company gets bigger with more pilots of course, but you get the gist.
So, is there any carrier out there expanding so massively enough to hoover not only the pilot ranks in NZ expanding by some 220 new pilots a year, but those also unemployed from the previous years???
(Yeah probably Emirates!!! -min experience 3000hrs+1500 jet hrs required)
Also take into account availability of our Australian cousins and experienced NZ/Auz pilots overseas hankering to come back home.
Not necessarily doom and gloom, but I hope this alters the Dream you were sold instead of a Reality.

[mattyj]

If the CAA gets the PBN requirements pushed through. It will force most operators to upgrade their avionics if they are to carry out basic RNP-1 on a plan in NZ. This is currently scheduled for the end of next year. Operators of old 70's and 80's bangers are looking at spending up to $100000 plus on their $80000 airframes. This has got to strangle what's left of the NZ GA fleet!
It's going to get tougher out there folks..hang on..last man standing..