All the above information is of benefit, to the newbies in the area the following is some additional information and tips to take onboard as you wish...........
Cairns itself has 5 big players in the charter game being -
Aero tropics Ph 07 4035 9138
Owner Ric Lippman
CP ???
Aircraft BN-2A's, Partnavia's, Baron's, PA-31's
All up approx 15 a/c
Bases Cairns. Horn Island
Cape York Air Ph 07 4035 9399
Owner ??
CP ??
Aircraft BN-2A's, C-208, Pa-31's, C-206, C-182
All up approx 8 a/c
Bases Cairns, Horn Island, Badu Island
GAM Ph 07 4035 9250
Owner Steve Nott
Ops Man Gary Trench
Aircraft Ac-500's, AC-680's, AC-690's
All up approx 25 a/c
Bases Cairns, Karumba, Emerald. Brisbane
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
Hinterland Ph 07 4035 9323
Owner ???
CP Sam Sappono
Aircraft C-206, Ac-500's, C-402's, C-404's
C-208's, B-200
All up approx 10 a/c
Bases Cairns
Skytrans Ph 07 4046 2462
Owner Richard Barnard
CP Rob Alexander
Aircraft C-310's, C-402's, C-404's, BN-2A, B200
All up approx 17 a/c
All of these operaters would require >1500 hrs and 500 multi, with maybe a few renewals included. That does not mean to say that you carnt apply or even better stop by with 200hrs ask to meet the CP pass on your resume and ask what sort of experience is required to get a foot in the door. Make sure he/she will remember your name once you leave and continue to update them of your progress, before you know it (prob 1-2 years) you'll be flying with one of these companies. All of these companies are well known by the bigger fish (regionals and majors) so its in your intrest to try and gain a position here. As always knowing somebody to get you an interview helps but even so with the right attitude and determination on your side doing it all your self is TOTALLY possible!!!!!
So now they know you, you know what you have to do, get some experience but where ????, if you want to work for these companies you will have to stay within their geographic location being FNQ.
So the next step try these operators to gain experience
Skydiving operations Cairns Skydive Cairns
Pauls Parachuting
Tully Jump the beach
Small charter operators Cairns Daintree Air Services
C-206's, PA-31
(Cp - Greg nice bloke!!)
Beagle Airways PA-31
Ron ??????
Innisvail Hinchinbrook Air Services
Bob Harris
C-206's (freight - cape )
Cooktown Cape Air Transport
C-182, Partenavia
Based Torres Strait's
Karumba Gulf Line Aviation
Maint base Mareeba
15nm west cairns
bases karumba, kowanyama
Weipa Weipa Air Services
Rob Statton (I think)
C-310's, C-172
Queensland Aerial Services
Mt Isa Air Mount Isa
C-206, C-210, C-402, C-404
Baron, EMB110
Burketown Savannah Aviation
Bonnanza, Baron's, PA-31
Instructors North Queensland Aero Club
07 4035 9438
C-152's, C-172's, C-172rg, PA-28
Barrier Aviation
07 4035 9207
Cape York Air
C-152's, C-172's
Mustering Stanbroke Pastoral
Based - Fort Constantine station
years ago when I was looking
(near mount Isa)
Neil Bates
C-172, C-182 (10 in total)
So I hope that this help out in regard to the situation in north queensland. As I said previously, If you want to work for one of the big 5, stop by meet the CP, make sure he/she knows and will remenber you. Try and meet some of the line pilots while you are in Cairns, find another job with the above operators and allways keep updating, by the time you've get 1500hrs you'll know the CP on a personal basis, always be prepared for the interview it could arise at any time and do NOTHING to earn yourself a reputation, news travels very very fast!!!!!
Best of luck, if you need and further info post and I'll reply........