Originally Posted by
Verbal Kint
And it’s ironic that many Aussies are flying in the US due (in part) to the actions of American scabs during the 89 dispute & downwards trajectory of the pilot profession in Oz ever since.
I was ex-Ansett at its demise as an F/O. If you do what Aussie pilots do now, to boast about their salary you add it all. I was on about 150K a year in 2001- wage, Super and per diem.
An elite cadre of 89ers in 2000, returned to Australia and introduced pay for your endorsement, sub-par wages compared to incumbents and a silliness to aviation- welcome Virgin Blue. They were paid less as training captains than F/O’s at QF or AN.
Australian aviation was done for!
Anyways went overseas and had a blast. Heaps of money allowed for an early retirement. The opportunity to fly in the US has me back flying and it’s the most fun I’ve had in my career. I don’t agree with everything they do nor aspects of American culture in aviation, though over all, they certainly are the chosen people for aviation opportunity.
Briefing an approach into SYD a few days ago with three other US pilots, the big threat was to get our callsign correct in Oztronaut airspace - was the flight number a three two or thirty two? Welcome to Australia mate!