Cairns / Horn Island

Stiff Under Carriage · 4th Sep 2005, 10:16

Is anyone able to tell me what these two places are like to live at, possibility of moving there as some stage?

Cheers, SUC

DeafStar · 4th Sep 2005, 13:20

Cairns is a great place to live. Has some of the 'big city life' as in places to eat and things to do. Its also small enough to be a bit of a country town if thats more your style. Best of both worlds.
Jobs wise you will need at least 500 multi and a couple of renewals to jag charter work. Skytrans is the biggest GA RPT operator there and is doing alot of hiring lately. Aerotropics also have a big operation. Hinterland is another good operator up there. There is a bit of aeroclub instructing done there but the training in Cairns has dropped down in the last couple of years.

Horn Island is pretty much the place were most Cairns pilots cut their teeth. Living up there is basic and its hard work. Some are lucky to do rotation rosters in and out of the place but most get stuck up there working for fairly poor $$$ whilst working hard. Good character building stuff. *cough*
All big operators up there do RPT so if you want a job get up your planned IFR and night hours. Fairly high minimums also due to RPT requirements. But I think there are one or two single operators up there if you have lower time. Its hard to tell what info you want as you didnt supply much!

Get used to paying through the nose for descent food or "kai kai" as shipping is expensive. Take some good books and adopt a camp dog like most other pilots up there. Be prepared to catch some interesting tropical diseases and fungi. If its anything like when I was there your liver will also be punished. You will have a great time if you can do without life's luxuries.

Good luck. Big esso blo yupla.

Stiff Under Carriage · 4th Sep 2005, 22:12

DeafStar,

Fair enough I didn't supply much, what I am really after was the condition of living in Cairns and Horn, I am not a newbie looking for work rather possibility of gaining employment there with a large operator and just wanted the low down on these two places, cost of living, weather, things to do, etc.

SUC

tinpis · 5th Sep 2005, 06:11

Theres a large operator on Horn?

drshmoo · 5th Sep 2005, 06:34

What about that regional mob on horn flying those Twotters, Regional Pacific or something. Anyone know what they want?

Captain Starlight · 5th Sep 2005, 08:51

Stiffy,

The following operators have both Cairns and Horn Island bases and pay at or above the award.

1. Regional Pacific Airlines, DHC6 x 2 (RPT/Chtr)

2. Barrier Aviation, BN2 x 3 C207 x 1 C402B C402C (Chtr only)

3. Skytrans, BN2, C310 (RSTOL equipped) C404 (RPT/Chtr)

4. Coastwatch / Surveillance Australia / NJS, BN2, (non commercial)

There are other operators there as well, but they DO NOT pay or comply with the award.
If the one you're thinking of is not listed, suggest you contact 1 - 4 above instead.

Horn Island is an expensive place to live but offers some of the best flying you'll get in your GA career.
It is initially challenging, the scenery is fantastic and Torres Straits Islanders are great passengers and people.

Cairns is a great place to live, probably the best place you'll ever work in GA.
You'll be working out of Australia's 4th or 5th busiest airport, and it's an international port at that.
Plenty of ILS's to prepare you for the next step, plenty of terrain to scare you, satisfying, professional flying guaranteed.
It has all the conveniences of a modern city, even a Myer store,
accommodation ranges from moderate to expensive, but way ahead of Darwin with what you get for your dollar.

If you haven't applied to Skytrans (staffcv.com only) then do so, arguably one of the best GA operators in Australia,
they pay well, they're nice people, they maintain their aircraft properly, definitely should be your 1st choice.

Hope you're not considering one of the "boy-burners" instead.

Yes, you need 500 multi and 1,500 total as expected minimums,
and reasonable IF time (there is no such thing as "planned IF time" in the regs, flight under the IFR is IF flight.)

CS

Stiff Under Carriage · 5th Sep 2005, 11:31

Capt. Starlight.

Check your PM's

Thanks, Stiffy.

drshmoo · 5th Sep 2005, 11:36

Any Info on how to get in contact or minimums on Regional Pacific

DeafStar · 5th Sep 2005, 11:39

Alot of guys fell short of being able to fly in hte straits due to "planned IFR" requirements for QP165 contracts.

You need or did need this to fly Govt emplyees which is 50% of charter work in the striats.

This ad will disappear if you login