Need Advice
I have a question regarding experience vs requirements to apply to companies in Australia.
Situation: Aussie living and working in the USA. My bride and I are looking at moving home and settling in the land of Oz. Currently I am working for a regional airline, I started 6 months ago(Embraer 145 co-pilot). At present outlook, no upgrades to captain for 5 to 7 years. FO pay is lowsy and rent is killing us.
I only have 173 hours multi command, and almost all companies in Oz need 500 multi command just to apply. I have the opportunity to go to a GA job and build that much needed multi time, but worried about leaving an airline job and the fact that I left haunting me in interviews for Aussie regional/airline jobs in the future. How would they respond to me leaving a previous job to get the required time?
Also will just 500 hours be enough or do you need a whole lot more to be competitive?
Does anyone know which is considered more valuable, multi crew experience on a jungle jet as FO, or multi command on a piston(C402)?
Also, does anyone know what the regionals pay and conditions are like or where can I find out?
Any thoughts.
WP