Questions about starting out
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: The Last Resort
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Just a baby
I am 43 with 10+ years experience as an AME and I am about to have a go at getting my CPL. Should have done it years ago, go for it if you don't give up you will eventually make it
jet jobs
I know 3 pilots who just got Jet jobs in 5 years or so from graduation.
Last edited by Horatio Leafblower; 22nd Nov 2014 at 21:57.
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Horatio, please give an example of how your friends made it to an airline in 5 years. I am very impressed.
Going on 8 years and yet to even crack a twin job yet. Out of money now to renew anything. That is really going to be the biggest indicator of how successful you can be in the industry in the current climate $.
To the original poster, best of luck.
Going on 8 years and yet to even crack a twin job yet. Out of money now to renew anything. That is really going to be the biggest indicator of how successful you can be in the industry in the current climate $.
To the original poster, best of luck.
It probably doesn't help, but when l started out in the early eighties, there was a recession on. Things slowly improved and l happened to be at the right place at the right time, with minimum qualifications and got a bit of single time.
Having got a few hundred hours l had to get out aviation in the late eighties to pay the bills.
Then we had another recession but l managed to talk my way back into the industry prior to the '89 dispute.
Then there was a flood of airline pilots coming down the ranks and stealing jobs from the up and coming.
Was lucky enough to be in a company that was progressive enough to make me redundant as a result.
Got re-hired in a sister company as both were owned by Ansett. Much lower pay and back to pistons.
However worked my way back up in that mob and eventually (6 years) got into Ansett as an FO.
So after 16 years got the airline job l was after. Then the f*ckers closed the door.
So now in the desert building my finances as l made f*ck-all prior to moving here.
With 15 years left (if l can last that long) l think l will be able to retire reasonably comfortably but much less than if l had started in QF at 22.
So good luck.
There are many hundreds/thousands in front of you who have given up, but only a few (like you) who perserver.
halas
Having got a few hundred hours l had to get out aviation in the late eighties to pay the bills.
Then we had another recession but l managed to talk my way back into the industry prior to the '89 dispute.
Then there was a flood of airline pilots coming down the ranks and stealing jobs from the up and coming.
Was lucky enough to be in a company that was progressive enough to make me redundant as a result.
Got re-hired in a sister company as both were owned by Ansett. Much lower pay and back to pistons.
However worked my way back up in that mob and eventually (6 years) got into Ansett as an FO.
So after 16 years got the airline job l was after. Then the f*ckers closed the door.
So now in the desert building my finances as l made f*ck-all prior to moving here.
With 15 years left (if l can last that long) l think l will be able to retire reasonably comfortably but much less than if l had started in QF at 22.
So good luck.
There are many hundreds/thousands in front of you who have given up, but only a few (like you) who perserver.
halas
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Someday I will find a place to stop
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For all the guys over 30 on here telling you to go for it there are probably twice as many sitting silent at home wishing they didn't.
You will certainly encounter age discrimination even if you don't notice it at the time. Many operators simply don't like hiring older guys and girls because they generally stand up for themselves more and are less inclined to bend the rules. Another strange phenomenon is how people get hired. It seems more like a popularity contest than a merit based recruiting system sometimes.
You will certainly encounter age discrimination even if you don't notice it at the time. Many operators simply don't like hiring older guys and girls because they generally stand up for themselves more and are less inclined to bend the rules. Another strange phenomenon is how people get hired. It seems more like a popularity contest than a merit based recruiting system sometimes.
...........
Bankrupt 84,
Call Parc Aviation. They have just hired these three guys and a few more for Jetstar Pacific as a possible antidote to the Golden Haired Cadet problem.
They are not my friends. They are ex employees who burnt a bridge when they left. If they had honoured their contactural, legal and moral obligation (4 weeks notice) when they left I would have wished them well.
Call Parc Aviation. They have just hired these three guys and a few more for Jetstar Pacific as a possible antidote to the Golden Haired Cadet problem.
They are not my friends. They are ex employees who burnt a bridge when they left. If they had honoured their contactural, legal and moral obligation (4 weeks notice) when they left I would have wished them well.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Perth
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Just from my experience. Worked in another industry from 1989-2009 while just doing some single engine private flying for recreation. Then at 38yo I decided to fly for a living. First job Sept09, second job March11 (studying ATPL during these two jobs), third job (jet job) in April14. I'm really glad I made the change.
It's harder to learn when you're older.
You will go backwards financially for a few years.
No regrets now and glad I did it.
Always keep an open mind, work hard, be nice to others and never ever give up.
Best of luck, you're never too old.
It's harder to learn when you're older.
You will go backwards financially for a few years.
No regrets now and glad I did it.
Always keep an open mind, work hard, be nice to others and never ever give up.
Best of luck, you're never too old.
Join Date: Apr 2013
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Hi,
Just go for it! Its worth it...even with all the problems in todays industry (pay 2 fly programs etc).
I was aviation enthusiastic since my early age (like all of us), but somehow ended up studying something completely different and started to work in that field.
While i was working something that i really don't like, I got my ppl at age of 23 and later on spend all my free time at local airfield (skydivers dropping).
Later on i got my FI for SEP and later (at age of 31) I got my ATPL theory with CPL IR ME.
2 months later I landed my first airline job in national flag carrier.. Well, I'm still stuck on turbo prop, but that will change soon (I hope).
In career paths there are ups and downs, but its important that trend is moving up.
Cheers,
Z
Just go for it! Its worth it...even with all the problems in todays industry (pay 2 fly programs etc).
I was aviation enthusiastic since my early age (like all of us), but somehow ended up studying something completely different and started to work in that field.
While i was working something that i really don't like, I got my ppl at age of 23 and later on spend all my free time at local airfield (skydivers dropping).
Later on i got my FI for SEP and later (at age of 31) I got my ATPL theory with CPL IR ME.
2 months later I landed my first airline job in national flag carrier.. Well, I'm still stuck on turbo prop, but that will change soon (I hope).
In career paths there are ups and downs, but its important that trend is moving up.
Cheers,
Z
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Australia
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why avoid cadetships? Going north isn't the only way and if you don't take the cadet spot someone else will, plenty of qantas pilots out there that started as cadet SOs
