How much of the talk is true when it comes to no work or continuous low income?
Depends on what you consider a low income. $60k maybe enough in a Country town where your house costs $200k, but not in Sydney where it is now $1Mil.
GA is unlikely to pay out much above $80k, and even then you are looking at a management or CASA position. The airlines will pay more but you need to get a foot in the (right) door.
Paid very low whilst putting up with mean/selfish/awful people?
Depends on where and who you work for. The same people work in the airlines too, just read any thread on CX or EK. It also depends on what you consider 'low Pay', if your goal is to be a pilot to make lost of money then you should cut your losses now and take up a trade, or banking instead.
There's talk that there'll be a need for xxxxxx pilots soon. Where I ask?
If you look at the data from
Boeing and
Airbus the need for pilots is going to be in SE Asia, mainly China. There is also likely to be a demand in the US, but more than likely it will be filled by pilots moving home. There is also a shortage of pilots in the Middle East. However just because some regions are short does not mean they will take anyone. They can train their own cadets, and receive a known product, before they take on 200hr pilots from abroad.
And GA jobs. Where have they gone and why have they gone?
Zero future fleet planning, a heavy reliance on tourism, CASA, and poor management. GA is moving into RA or turbine operations. If you want to fly on the weekend fly RA, if you want ME IFR you will need a turbine. It will cost more, the public will be less willing to pay, GA will contract. The only industry likely to expand inside GA is Flight Instruction, and no the local aero club, but the big boys, think anyone with a SE Asian contract. I wont go into AG, you need AG time just to get into AG, hence the average age must be over 50 these days.
Will I find any work in Sydney?
Depends on who you do your Instructor Rating with. Most schools only employ their own. They get a known product, and it makes them look good as they get "employment" for their students. Will it pay much? Nope. All the other jobs are hunted for by those up North trying to get home with their 500 Multi Command, or 1500TT.
Would it be wise to get a MECIR as well or would that be a waste as it won't be used so early in a career... And non instructing jobs. What is there?
What do you want to do? Instruct? or be a charter pilot? Where is you goal? If you want to instruct then skip the IFR rating until later, you can't use it until you get training approval anyway, and that wont be for some time. If you want to fly charter then skip the Instructor rating, dead weight if you are not going to be focusing on it.
Will it get better?
No
Will Aviation grow like it deserves?
No
Now lets be frank You have 2 kids, that puts you into the early 30s late 20s bracket, puts you 10 years behind everyone else in the same bucket. You have a requirement to look after them and not just you, so your flexibility is limited. Your ability to be trained is reduced when compared to a late teen early twenties pilot so you cost more to train up. You are likely to stay for a longer period of time with any one employer and so you are more likely to have an issue with the terms and conditions of your employment (however you are also more stable to an employer, so that is seen as a good thing). Realistically you need to be in an airline or large flying school in order to get the lifestyle guarantees you need with a family. The pay these days for a senior instructor is more than the starting pay at all the regionals, but the 'end game' pay is less. The unlikely that Qantas and Virgin are going to pick you up, age vs hrs you are a long way behind your group (at 30 with less than 5,000hrs), but hey they do sometimes pick at random.
Not the news you were after? Sorry
