Is GA turning around?

[50 50]

Advertised today on AFAP a FIFO job with Ausjet based in Brisbane.
Whilst not exactly bare CPL, reasonable requirements that don't require one to be ex RAAF fighter jock or 14 squillion hour ex airline captain.

350 TT
100 command including ICUS
20 Night command including ICUS

MECIR and Instructor rating desirable.

Does anyone know of this company?
Is there a reason the minimums are so low, or are we finally seeing a demand for pilots again?
Unfortunately being one of those poor souls that cannot up and move at the drop of a hat I won't be applying despite meeting the minimums.

Go to it boys and girls!

[Lasiorhinus]

Australasian Jet is quite a well-known operator across the country. The 206 job advertised is excellent flying, plenty of hours, and the company treats the pilots very well while out on "deployment".

[hillbillybob]

saw that ad and it made me happy, still 100 hours too many but might provide job number 2 for some people freeing up first job opportunities for me

[BlatantLiar]

One decent job ad and suddenly GA is turning around? Onya kids.

[MaxFL360]

put the application in, any idea if there is a chance for progression within the company?

[50 50]

BlatantLiar, the question was IS.....GA turning around?
Now how was that comment helpful? Oh and I'm 32.

Kids.

[whentostop]

Forget the low minimums. Whoever gets this gig will have considerably more time than 350 hours.

Para droppers and cattle station pilots and instructors would be chomping at the bit to get a gig out of a capital city. Austjet have historically had a 700 hour min for entry level jobs. I would suspect the aircraft is under Ausjets AOC but the company doing the FIFO work isn't Ausjet themselves.

If I'm wrong then that's ok but I don't think Ausjet would do FIFO with a 206 (even though they do own a couple I think) when they have at least 3 PA31's and at least 1 C402.

[Captain Dart]

They call themselves 'Ausjet' and the ad is for a 206 pilot? Yeah, GA is really turning around.

[deadcut]

Now who is going to apply without meeting the requirements? Bet the chief pilot will love that.

[BlatantLiar]

BlatantLiar, the question was IS.....GA turning around?

My point exactly. One job ad prompts you to ask the question?

Oh and I'm 32.

Kids.

350 TT - I won't be applying despite meeting the minimums.

Yeah, you're a kid.

[Homesick-Angel]

Actually Blatant liar.. there is a slow upturn going on..quite a few ads appearing throughout the experience / hours requirements which means people will move up opening the door for newbies. Not sure if it will turn into the rush of a few years back, but there is certainly more movement than I've seen in 12 months or so just in frequency and numbers of ads and the word on the street i.e non advertised positions I'm hearing about..

A 23 year old "kid" didn't do a bad job in the duchess yesterday..

Sheesh!

[dayzel87]

I don't really know much about these guys, but a quick look at their aircraft registry listing states they own 18 aircraft and operate 21, including at least 3 Citation's (With their name as owner, operator or both).
They also have access to G450, Hawker 800 and Legacy 600.

[hillbillybob]

Now who is going to apply without meeting the requirements? Bet the chief pilot will love that.

like i said in a previous post I am 100 short on TT but if I was only short on night time and PIC I'd apply with the caveat that I would get the time before starting if they were interested.

As it stands I think an application that is 100 short on total time would be quite rightly sent to the circular filing cabinet so won't waste my time or the CPs

[training wheels]

Does anyone know of this company?

Quite a well known company if you fly from Essendon and with quite an impressive fleet.

AusJet | AusJet is a highly specialised aviation company providing services to government, corporate and private entities alike, across Australia and Internationally. (http://ausjet.com.au/)

[gileraguy]

you don't chomp at the bit champ, you champ at it...

Jet 206???

[Cessna 180]

Power line survey all around qld.

[Kharon]

If it does turn around it's only going to run head on into the pile of crap it left behind. Forward and take control; while there is some semblance of 'industry' remaining. As the Brit's discovered during the Blitz - living in a bunker is no type of life at all.

[Wmk3]

I did some work for OzJet back in the 90's when I used to freelance around EN& ML, good operator & way back then there was more work than pilots sometimes.
Good to see even a small ray of sunshine for some youngin':-):ok:

Wmk3

[Aussie Bob]

My guess is the applicant count will exceed 100.

[TomcatAV8R]

I recently spoke to an operator out of Kununurra that advertised on AFAP, they had over 220 applicants for a scenic gig in an Airvan, I suspect out of a major city to be more than that! I personally know at least 3 people with decent tim (around 1000 hrs)one of them including Jetstream time applying.

[deadcut]

It boggles my mind as to why Kimberly air tours advertised on afap. Wonder if guys with too much time will be knocked back automatically from this 206 gig.

[training wheels]

bear in mind that aus jet post the same job roughly every 2 years

There's nothing wrong with that .. probably due to the incumbent progressing on from the 206, in to something a little bigger after 2 years, and creating a new vacancy for the 206.

[pilotchute]

Now why would Ausjet need to advertise? They must get hundreds of CVs a year.

I bet it's because the majority of the CVs that pass the CPs desk are 200 hour guys with no experience. Which in reality is fine for flogging around in a 206 but put an ad on AFAP and all of a sudden guys with 402 time and the like all come out of the woodwork.

Guys like this need minimal training to upgrade and usually fly IFR already.

What the ad should say is,

Min 1000TT
Endorsed on either 402 or PA31
Two IFR renewals
Instructor rating

That's what they really want! Problem is if you write that for a 206 job you get branded a w$&ker and rightly so.

I would guess the lucky applicant has a CV closely resembling the criteria above.

[Beech58]

Anyone got any interview dates yet?

[deadcut]

Heard they had over 300 applicants. Hot damn

[pilotchute]

Don't know why they bother. Will probably just hire some friend of the ops managers brother/sister/next door neighbour!!

[BlatantLiar]

Don't know why they bother. Will probably just hire some friend of the ops managers brother/sister/next door neighbour!!

I heard once or twice that networking is pretty important in this game.

[Bones13]

Anyone got an interview yet?

[MaxFL360]

nope, doesn't look good for those who didn't get a 2nd follow up email

[Bones13]

Is that on top of the one advising interview dates?

[MaxFL360]

yep. so i'm sure the lucky few have been advised

[Beech58]

Aparrently they have culled 370 applications down to 70 and tomorrow they will be culling it down to 40 and then sending out interview emails

[pilotchute]

All this trouble for a couple of 206 pilots??

[deadcut]

So are the 40 selected pilots expected to go to Melbourne for interviews? Not on Skype/phone?

[Square Bear]

Serious Question...

How do you, and more importantly, why would you, short list 40 pilots in order to fill a Cessna 206 job?

Someone must have the information wrong, surely.

[Horatio Leafblower]

I am not associated with this employer and I don't know anyone applying for the position, but just a couple of thoughts from a Chief Pilot/employer perspective:

1/. If these guys are going to work remotely with minimal supervision you want switched on, motivated people. A CPL is not proof of that.

2/. This is a first job or a nearly-first job and only the biggest fwits have been filtered out at that level, usually at the flight training stage. There will be plenty of sub-optimal candidates amongst the applicants looking to get their first job.

2a/. There would also be people applying from the next level of experience with more hours and I bet they have only worked for each previous employer only 3-6 months and they're not listing their previous chief pilots as referees.

3/. A big pool of candidates provides an opportunity to select those with the best hours, best references, AND do a decent interview to filter out fwits. Persons in 2a have already been filtered by previous employers.

It might be "only a C206 job" but for that employer it is an important contract and represents an opportunity for the wrong candidate to ruin the company's reputation or destroy morale amongst their team.

Best of luck to all the candidates. :ok:

[Homesick-Angel]

Aparrently they have culled 370 applications down to 70 and tomorrow they will be culling it down to 40 and then sending out interview

Apparently you know a lot more than most-What else will/can you share :}

[MaxFL360]

got an interview for next week

[c100driver]

So in answer to the question from the OP.

Is GA turning around?

370 applicants for a C206 job!

No it is probably worse that it has ever been.

[plucka]

Very good and well presented points there horatio. Flying a C206 maybe thought of by many as an entry level job, but the employer still wants the best person they can get to fill that position.

[Beech58]

Thats the problem with people now a days they feel like they are entitled to better, I have a heap more hours than advertised but I will give the employer my all no matter what I'm flying.
I can also see the bigger picture as its Brisbane based with an excellent company, after a few years onto bigger better machines in capital cities.
Its all about attitude and if yours is ****, then you need to re think the career.

[pilotchute]

Excellent company you say Beech? The company that shut down its Darwin operation owing hundreds of thousands to many creditors?

The company that owed so much in maintenance costs in Alice that it literally transferred its aircraft based in Alice to the maintenance company as payment?

I like the fact that the Austjet website still lists a base in Alice when in fact it pulled out in 2011.

[Horatio Leafblower]

The company that owed so much in maintenance costs in Alice that it literally transferred its aircraft based in Alice to the maintenance company as payment?

Pilotchute - remember that old saying about not judging someone till you have walked a mile in their shoes?

I used to scoff and sneer as companies waxed and waned... and then I started my own show and I was directly exposed to the roller-coaster that is small business.

At least they survived, regardless of the traumatic amputation required. Good luck to them.

Running a small business is fkn scary. :eek:

[pilotchute]

Horatio,

You can't just use some of what I say. They still owe a truck load of money to business's in the NT but hide behind the "oh it was a franchise, we weren't in direct control so we aren't paying you" excuse.

Nice people.

[kingRB]

I used to scoff and sneer as companies waxed and waned... and then I started my own show and I was directly exposed to the roller-coaster that is small business.

At least they survived, regardless of the traumatic amputation required. Good luck to them.There's a big difference between "roller-coaster" small business and flat out insolvent trading.

While I don't know the specifics of the company in this case, and it may not necessarily apply here, there are plenty of examples of dodgy companies that end up severely affecting or ruining others because of continued insolvent trading and taking up further credit from unknowing industry providers acting in good faith, when they know perfectly well they will never be able to pay the money back. These types are reprehensible and flat out should be prosecuted and the directors held liable for criminal fraud. If only ASIC actually had the time and resources.

I've seen this happen plenty in GA.

[Square Bear]

Horatio

not suggesting at all that a company should be looking to hire the best person for them, just that shortlisting and interviewing 40 should be considered somewhat over the top, (if that is the case, hence the question.

Goodness, if you can't cull the applications down to 6 or so (or even a dozen if you are so minded) something is wrong.

Doesn't word of mouth work these days?

[versado]

Between 16th and 19th September.

Does anyone know any CURRENT facts about the company and potential progression (if any) from that C206? All the guys I know of moved on a few years ago and they were not too impressed with the company back then...

Thanks for any input as I need to make a decision if to bother going to the interview or not.

[pineappledaz]

Versado...really..surely this has to be a wind up of some sorts.

If not then why did you apply?? You aren't even in and you already want to fly something else. Not going to the interview is just downright disrespectful to Ausjet staff and to everyone that applied.

I know someone that worked there and loved it..maybe coz he just got on with the job, did the best he could and didn't expect anything.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::ugh::mad::mad:

[Mach E Avelli]

Pieapple, how is not attending an interview 'downright disrespectful'? It could only be considered disrespectful if the potential employer paid travel costs for shortlisted candidates to attend the interview. As if.....
In the good old days, such 'respect' was typically accorded potential employees. Companies were just as keen to create a good impression as were the candidates. Many of my generation never paid to attend an interview. Because they were paying, companies were quite diligent in preparing their shortlists, so at worst if you got to the interview you had a better than even chance of getting the job. Now it seems they run rough shod over young guys and gals, just because they can.
Respect should be mutual.

[Ausjet GM]

Dear All,
Thank you for an interesting read. Thank you to the 400 applicants for the Eight fulltime positions that we have available to our humble advert for the first time on the AFAP website.
We pride ourselves on a thorough process to attract the right candidates and will welcome new team members to the fantastic crew that are currently employed and enjoying their flying positions. Obviously it would be idealistic to offer everyone a position however one has to be a realist.
We trust that the new candidates will compliment the 700 + pilots that our company has had the pleasure of employing throughout our 20+ year history.
We appreciate that we can never satisfy everyone's expectations, however in a challenging industry we trust we may be able to do a small part to provide some good people with an opportunity to progress their career. The company realizes that to be a long term pilot you have all invested and sacrificed and we trust we can play a small part in assisting you to achieve your goals.
Enjoy your thread, despite the negativity from a few that try to tarnish the majority.

[LexAir]

Well said Ausjet GM. We need to hear more from the employers in this industry.

[swab]

AusJet GM...you don't need others to "tarnish" your reputation, you've done a sterling job of that on your own.

[Jack Ranga]

not suggesting at all that a company should be looking to hire the best person for them, just that shortlisting and interviewing 40 should be considered somewhat over the top, (if that is the case, hence the question.

Goodness, if you can't cull the applications down to 6 or so (or even a dozen if you are so minded) something is wrong.

It may just be there are 39 dickheads out of 40 pilots out there, in any case, it's their business how they cull.

[triadic]

GA is close to dead!

Not a lot of support out there, and certainly none from the Govt....

[deadcut]

Go to the interview if its your first gig

While it seems like a first gig position the requirements certainly don't seem to be suitable for a first job.
ie 350 TT, 20 night PiC and reference from a chief pilot.
You would be hard pressed to find someone with over 350TT who hasn't had a job.

[Square Bear]

Anyhow GA is still going strong, this industry works through networking and who you know

Good to hear that wasathangi,

Funny how Jack Ranga shot me down for suggesting the same thing.

Seriously, if someone thinks you need to interview 40 in case there are 39 dickheads out of 40 pilots you have to wonder what group that person making the statement identifies with!!.

Agreed, it is the companies time, but it is also the pilots time as well, and that is just as valuable. I can't believe that anyone can see justification for wasting 39 pilots time for one position.

Ausjet GM, this is not directed at you or your Company, as I don't believe that any serous company couldn't cull down resume's to a more manageable number, I am just replying to someone who is trying to justify a process which involves 40 interviews for just one job.

[deadcut]

40 interviews for just one job

Apparently it's 8 jobs.

[MaxFL360]

anyone heard anything?

[Bravotwo]

Nice to see that these guys are advertising once more. Threw my hat in the ring again, this time with higher TT (500). Must be good internal progression onto twins (and jets?). I also note they have a few more locations on their website! Seems like an appealing gig especially with the Brisbane base. Has anyone heard anything back yet? Or is it too soon?

[TomcatAV8R]

Just curious if anyone has heard back?

[SpyderPig]

This is not a job that will get you "on to their twins" in 6 months or ever for that matter (historically)

The Roams survey project is almost a completely seperate entity to the rest of the company. Go there, get some experience traveling aus doing survey, have a great time and then go north and get a job with Hardys, Chartair, hinterland or west wing and learn to be a professional pilot. You will not fly a twin for them and it's a lie if they tell you otherwise. People have spent years there and left because that magic twin in Melbourne never came.
Still amazes me the amount of people who think they can work somewhere for 6 months and are entitled to a Twin job on the east coast :ugh:

[iwillmakeitoneday]

Iv got an interview this year any tips on how to pass?
some people don't realise how lucky they are, iv flown a twin and have about 750hr of icus and i really hope i get this job so any tips of interview would be great. i have a Skype interview in the next few days.

[havick]

iv flown a twin and have about 750hr of icus

So what you're saying is you've had your hand held the entire time?

[iwillmakeitoneday]

No iv worked hard to get where i am, i took a risk and it payed off. and now i would like to try some real flying

[havick]

I guess my point is 750 ICUS hours doesn't actually look that good on a CV. 700 hours co-pilot and 50 hours ICUS would look better and be realistic.

750 ICUS hours basically means you've had someone holding your hand for 750 hours and may as well be copilot. I'm pretty sure that most GA twin (kingair/piston twin) operators would probably have a similar viewpoint.

[717tech]

The progression within the company was fantastic when I was there. Albeit, I left prior to the Roams contract.

If you were lazy, you'd get no where. But for those of us who worked hard, we did pretty well.

[iwillmakeitoneday]

co-pilot and ICUS are very similar. i got co pilot time before i was line checked then i started getting ICUS, its just the way it works i guess.

[Hasherucf]

From my point of view GA is the slowest it's been. Very few people moving up the chain. Pilots are 1500 hours/3 years on piston and still flying singles.

From a maintenance side it never stops its busy as hell , planes are 30 - 40 years old and showing there age

Thinking of a career in IT!

[rmcdonal]

iv flown a twin and have about 750hr of icus What is the 750hrs ICUS in?

[JackFa]

I'd have a wild stab in the dark and say a certain Cadetship on the metro. Unfortunately despite paying a large sum buying 'hours' these guys have to compete with the other GA boys looking for entry level jobs they were trying to avoid (maybe not the o.p) but I have come across a fair few in the last year who weren't able to hop directly to a regional. I know which boys I'd rather be sitting next to :ok:

[iPahlot]

i got co pilot time before i was line checked then i started getting ICUS, its just the way it works i guess

What aircraft type was that in?

Logging co-pilot until line check and then going to ICUS is most definitely not the norm... Co-pilot time is meant for certified two crew aircraft.

There's a steady trickle of jobs that're going, but as it's not a massive amount of movement at any one time it's mostly the people that are either Johnny on the spot, or those that know someone.

Yes, there are your 1500 hour single drivers, but that's really only considered "bad" given those who experienced the boom around '07 and the flow on effects of that until hiring pretty much froze.

Having said that I still know a pretty large number of guys and girls to have moved on to twins within the last 6-12 months all with less than 1500 hours. Heck, I know several that got in to multi crew turbo props with those sort of hours.

All I can say is, don't expect to get lucky, go make your own luck. Network, pack up the car and door knock and set up shop somewhere and make yourself useful, even if it's cleaning hangers, working in the office or doing general gopher work for LAME's.

[hillbillybob]

Thinking of a career in IT!

Damn. That is what I got out of