Hi guys,
Just wondering if I can get some personal or professional opinions here on a few things.
I just finished my basic CPL training. As I understand it my options are either get into instructing, go into the bush and try GA, or try a cadetship / possibly even an asian airline that accepts low hour foreigners.
Right now I could pack my bags and head north and battle it out for a gig up in the NT/WA, but honestly it's not really appealing to me. I have a few friends who are doing it or have done it and I know it looks like fun but the fact it isn't appealing to me is the level of uncertainty associated with it. For example I head north and like one mate I spend all of 2011 up there unsuccessful being at the wrong place at the wrong time and dont get a job. Fair enough, thats life. Or there's the whole going to KNX, living out of a hostel in the same room with a half dozen over guys battling over a spot at a scenic operator where from what I can gather if I'm lucky I'd get hired April-May... and get 2-3months flying in before things die down again (I was told this is how it was in 2010?). I know theres the option of also trying smaller locations other than Broome / KNX such as little remote towns or communities some of which may or may not even have a local shop or a life outside of work. I know there may be a few guys reading this thinking, "harden up, it's all an experience and it's awesome fun", and I agree, but thats not the case with me. I just cant see certain aspects of the life style out there being enjoyable for me (I have lived in a very remote outback town before and although an educational/interesting experience, it wasn't really for me) even though the hands on flying would be awesome.
My other options are spending my 15-20grand I've saved up on a MECIR or Instructor Rating. I don't really have any clue what the instructing scene is like at the moment in early 2011. Last time I really looked into it was maybe over a year ago and it looked gloomy. I had friends who were struggling to find work (some of which gave up), and others who were lucky to fly 5 hours a week. Instructing is something I can see myself doing and I'd like to imagine myself being a good instructor to my students but I dont want to spend my money on this path way if the career prospects are looking slim - I may as well put it towards a MECIR which I'll need either way in the future. I haven't gone around to my local flying school to ask how business is going but I'd presume they wouldn't be telling me it's all super awesome and they're low on instructors as it's almost like guaranteeing a job to somebody down the track.
Just wondering if someone here can give me a rough idea of where things are expected to head this year and what I could expect if I was to go down the instructing path?
Leaving the city is something I'd prefer not to do without a job lined up which is why driving through the out back from A to B and living out of my car or hostels is the big turn off. With instructing I'm under the presumption most jobs are given out by sending your resume by e-mail/phone to interstate operators while it's easy enough to spend a weekend drivign around local airports doing it in person.
With a MECIR I guess my other option is a cadetship... which isn't really appealing to me simply due to all the fuss and confusion being stirred up about them so I aint sure what to expect there. Lastly I know theres an option of overseas - South east Asia to be exact. I know theres a few airlines there that will put you into a RHS on a turbo prop for example. I guess it's good flying, it's more appealing to me than GA in Australia (dont ask me why) and yes, I'm aware of the life style I would face there, lower local pay conditions etc.
Long story short: I'm really lost as to what to do now. Which career path to take into aviation and what rating to get with my spare money. Just looking at getting peoples opinions and thoughts as maybe something might sway me one way or the other.
ALSO: I know there's a few guys here on PPRuNe that have given up on aviation for many reasons and I presume some of them are that their careers did not go where they wanted - pay, conditions, Ts&Cs. I'm very curious to know why some guys leave / give up on chasing or putting up with their dream job. I have a friend who recently gave up looking for work which must have been tough after spending so much money, but I know theres more like him out there, especially guys who actually did spend many years working who gave it the quits. I'd love to know why and understand the mentality behind it as now that I've been a student in the industry for a few months my perception of the industry is not as glamorous as it may have been before I entered it (assuming we all end up fancy captains for a big jet making 200k a year). PM if you dont want to share publicly.
Thanks
