And here's how to get on as an airline pilot:
I work for a low cost carrier in Asia, to get on you will need a CPL and a type rating total cost around $100 000. We don't pay for any of this so it's out of your own pocket, nor do we pay while you take around 18 months to complete everything. Pray your licence issue co incides with us hiring and not a down turn like we're just coming out of.
Pay and conditions are on a downward slide with rumours of cuts, as an f/o I made around AU$110 000 last year with no benefits and living in a high cost country. Skipper makes 50% more, time to upgrade 1-4 years depending on ability and turnover. 5/2 5/4 roster pattern 25 days of leave ie 5 x 5 day blocks you can have off. 1000 hrs per year, no pay if you work on a day off but you get it back later on.
Generally good equipment, brand new jets with a few slightly tired ones. Air con, no CD players, no fridge, water boiler and conventional oven available bring your own lunch. All have loos, vacuum operated.
The hours often suck with many early sign ons and back of the clock operations. Rostered anything from 4 to 13 hours duty time. Start and finish at home base, no day or night stops.
If anyone's planning on applying, forget having a social life, and be warned that driving aircraft has resulted in many marriage breakdowns due to the shiftwork and godawful hours. But in saying that, the $$ are alright, and it certainly isn't a phyiscally demanding job.
Anyone contemplating a piloting career should be aware that even if they are lucky at every stage it will take years to break even compared to using their $100K to buy an investment property and working as a train driver. If stuck in the instructing/charter/regional levels for any length of time you may never be ahead.
Which of those rail companies were recruiting ?
