Opportunities for pilots with 500+ hours

[MilesPNZ]

I am curious to see if anyone has any opinions or information regarding the opportunities a pilot with 500+ hours total time might have in Australia. Specifically 500+ hours CPL, Instructor Rating, Night Rating and MEIR.


Here in New Zealand its mostly just instructional jobs with the odd charter here and there. The charter operations generally look for high time pilots who are not interested in Airlines or who have been in Airlines in the past.



Does 500+ hours provide you with any benefits or are you still under the 1000 hour mark and therefore put in the same low time basket as when you leave flight school?

[lilflyboy262...2]

Look further afield than Aussie if you are willing to go overseas. There is plenty of work around the world in entry level jobs with those hours.

[deadcut]

Is Air Bro not hiring? Last time I heard they were taking 500 hr pilots as B1900 FOs.

There are opportunities for pilots with your time. Charter wise you need be in the top end right now to get a chance at scoring a gig.

Plenty of instructng jobs going here all year round.

[MilesPNZ]

Look further afield than Aussie if you are willing to go overseas. There is plenty of work around the world in entry level jobs with those hours.

Thats interesting. Where a bouts would you suggest?


Is Air Bro not hiring? Last time I heard they were taking 500 hr pilots as B1900 FOs.

There are opportunities for pilots with your time. Charter wise you need be in the top end right now to get a chance at scoring a gig.

Plenty of instructng jobs going here all year round.

Please forgive me. I have searched around on google and I am not sure operation you are referring to as Air Bro?

Also what do you mean by the top end?

[deadcut]

Air New Zealand link is what I am referring to. Also top end is the northern side of Australia which has a sizeable amount of GA.

[SenZubEanS]

lilflyboy262...2 has extensive experience in Botswana and the like, I guess he's referring to areas like that

[lilflyboy262...2]

Botswana, Canada and Indonesia are the ones that I have been to so far.
Namibia, Tanzania and possibly Zambia if you are the right person for the job (Ignore the doom sayers that tell you 1000hrs. The right people will get a job).
Northern Aussie amongst a few other places there but those jobs are pretty hotly contested these days. Still though, with 500hrs you will have a bit of a leg up.
Papua New Guinea is usually pretty good if you make a few visits, knock on some doors and talk to the right people while making a good name for yourself.
There is also a few worldwide survey type jobs as well. Some of those companies have a massive turn over of f/os as the flying is boring, lots of crap countries/hotels and they work you pretty hard.

The internet is your friend. Sit down and use it for a week or so researching most of the developing countries or the big GA countries where you can easily get work visas.
Ask knowledgeable people for advice, build networks, and do your research. Don't expect anything to be spoon fed to you or dished up on a platter.

All it costs you is your time and will launch your aviation career in a matter of a few years. I left NZ with 500hrs. After 3 and a half years, I'm nearly at 3000hrs and have the ability to pick and choose where I want to go.

[training wheels]

Yeah, there are few opportunities in South East Asia now, especially with Indonesia now requiring 250 hours on type for foreign pilots. The hours one has never seem to be enough whether it's 500, or 3000. There's always some other obscure requirement that companies require leaving you to do this all day --> :ugh:

Anyone else see that ad on the AFAP wesbite for a flight instructor position, with the requirement to have lived in West Papua and be able to speak and write bahasa Indonesia? LOL

[seneca208]

Hevilift Group might be an option as a twotter F/O?

[lilflyboy262...2]

Not quite correct training wheels. That is for aircraft over 12,500lbs.

[training wheels]

Not quite correct training wheels. That is for aircraft over 12,500lbs.

Negative mate, the ruling makes no specification for aircraft type. I've seen it myself and yes, I'm fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and I have also spoken to a DGCA official about it. Having said that, some companies (mainly part 135 and part 141) have been given exemptions from the rule.

Here it is, for anyone wishing to read it. It's addressed to all airline and charter operators,(part 121 and part 135) in Indonesia.

AU.403/1/1/DJPU.DKUPPU/2013 (hubud.dephub.go.id/?en/edar/download/87)

[lilflyboy262...2]

Since I'm not fluent in Bahasa yet, I will have to take your word for it.

But seeing as that we just hired a bunch of expats with no time on type, and there is no issues with their KITAS that is getting issued this week... I know Susi is still hiring non-type rated guys for the vans as well.... Perhaps there is some room for interpretation with this rule?
I can't imagine them bribing the DGCA for the 40 pilots that we plan to hire this year. Might get a tad expensive for that.

The only rule in place that I know of is that you either have to have 1000hrs SE for a caravan command, or 1000ME for a twotter command.

I've just checked the operators and its missing a lot of the small operators that operate caravans and smaller. MAF, AMA etc.

[pilotchute]

Just to carry on from what mister 262 said,

I have posted things before about the rule and I have misinformed/incorrect on a few things. The way I see it now is that for jet 737/A320 etc flying under part 121 then the 250 hours on type is enforced. For part 135 operators there seems to be some flexibility. If you were hired as say a twin otter FO, you may later be able to move to an ATR within the same company. Remember that Susi is moving guys onto porters and the Piaggio with no time on type.

None of this is in writing. This is just what we are hearing from DDCA guys in the field. The problem is everyone can interpret the memo any way they want. Remember, this isn't a rule change its a temporary order. It's not signed into law. It was done because of the shameful use of 250 hour idiots by Lion to secure RHS pilots for virtually nothing.

[MilesPNZ]

Just wanted to bump this thread. I'm now sitting on 700+ hours and flying around 30-50 a month. Will start researching Aussie etc as a potential move next year.

[deadcut]

Is NZ really quiet again? Even the part 135 operators? Surely all those new link pilots had to come from somewhere.

Australia is pretty quiet for jobs with any experience. I am actually looking to make the move back home (NZ) in a few months time.

[MilesPNZ]

Yeah NZ is quiet. Air NZ has given a lot of yes letter out but a lot of people are waiting for start dates. A few people I know have yes letter but estimated start dates in mid 2015.

A friend of mine with far mors hours than me went door knocking all over the north island and top of the south for a job but nothing has come from it.

Where are you currently?

[wantobe]

I'm in the same boat, 1000 hours in NZ. But seems like means nothing at this point in time.

[deadcut]

Check your PM milez.

[Zano12]

Hi guys.

Were are you all now?

I have just clicked over the 1200 hour mark and sitting at my computer pondering were in the world to go...

[wantobe]

You and I both

[Bankrupt84]

What do your hours consist of?

Zambia is good for twin IFR time

Botswana is good for VFR & eventually single engine turbine.

Namibia is good for VFR single and twins.

Tanzania is always looking for 208 pilots, I beleive you may need a type rating on arrival.

PNG is good for IFR, mix of turbines and twins.

for any of the Africa jobs the best time to come looking is between Nov - Feb.
You can turn it into a little holiday by seeing the Southern African countries whilst you decide where your best option to set up shop is.

It sounds expensive, but the reality is you would probably spend more in 3 months hunting for jobs in Australia (Africa is very cheap for food and accomodation).

[lilflyboy262...2]

Africa. I say again.

[Zano12]

Thanks for your response guys.

All my hours are VFR, single piston.

Have looked into Africa-definitely on the cards. Then there is the question WERE in Africa to start! Have done some good research but would appreciate any more feedback. I would be looking at heading over in a few months if I were to just 'go for it'.

Have also looked into PNG and am considering a quick trip over to put a face to the emails.

I have saved up a bit of money and down for an adventure.

Maybe just throw a dart at the map and go for gold :confused: