Mt Cook Skiplanes

[beeva]

Anyone know about getting a job with Mt Cook Skiplanes? Looks like great fun..

[russianthru_thesky]

Yep, you gotta be a top stick man, and have lots of tailwheel time with plenty of mountain flying experience. They prefer to hire South Island trained guys or at least guys that have operated in the area. Extensive knowledge of the Alps MBZ helps too.

[beeva]

hmmm, guess it's hard to get mountain flying experience here...:rolleyes:

[russianthru_thesky]

It is rather. Go to Wanaka, see Aspiring Air and ask about their Mountain flying course. I think its about 50 hours but its well worth it to get you started. I think Wakatipu Aeroclub in Queenstown run a similar course . If you can get in with any of the companies around Wanaka/Queenstown on the 206s or better still, 185s it'll be a good stepping stone into Skiplanes. An outfit at Makarora near Wanaka runs 185s, and I think Glenorchy Air run Airvans and 206s. Wanaka Flightseeing have 2 206s plus there's a few operators in Q'town itself so there are a few options there if you're really keen to get into back country flying. It is a tough spot to get into tho and they wont look at you without the mountain flying course. Like anything its not what you know its who you know!!

Its a pretty Cruisey lifestyle up on the skiplanes, they only do 2-300hrs a year and good conditions. Most of the guys live in Twizel and get transported to Mt Cook every day. If you like fishing, skiing and boating then you'll love it.
In the meantime, get as much 185 time as possible!!

[trolleydriver]

Not too many 185's in commercial ops in oz anymore :(

[beeva]

thanks for the info...checked out the Alps MBZ, CAA have put together a good document there, very detailed. I think at trip to Wanaka might be in order...might just have to combine it with the airshow! Is (Mt Cook) it really a closed shop there, do they take on Aussies? do vacancies come up often?

[beeva]

Not too many 185's in commercial ops in oz anymore

I know of a couple used as crab nets:E

[russianthru_thesky]

Yeah I noticed a lack of 'real' bush planes around these parts. Bit of a shame. I like the tail draggin on the ground.....no not like a loaded 206 with no pod!!
Skiplanes is a very specialised type of flying and they get a lot of interest from all over. They never have to advertise as you can imagine. Give them a ring if you're really keen. Ask them what they look for. The busy season is over the summer.
Look on their website for the phone number and ask to speak to Wayne Macmillan, hes the chief pilot. Id say he'll pretty much tell you to get some mountain flying experience tho. Get to Wanaka/Queenstown ASAP cos they start hiring for the summer about now and get on a 206 or something.
NZ is tough to break into, there are more pilots than dole bludgers thanks to the Student loan scheme so u need a few hours usually

[empacher48]

I'm sure some people are closer to the skiplane operation than I am, but they have taken on two new guys recently, one very very experienced pilot, and another did the usual stint in the Unicom at Mt Cook for a year or so before being given a chance to fly the 185 on overflights, and will slowly move into doing the landings.

But do like to have tailwheel time, preferably in 180s/185s. But if you want to get in, you'll only be flying about 150 to 200 hours a year tops. Fixed wing pilots down this way don't do a huge amount of flying.

A lot of skiplane pilots have moved into there from other operators around the Mt Cook or Queenstown Area. But vacancies within the company a very few are far between I'm afraid.

[kiwi chick]

there are more pilots than dole bludgers thanks to the Student loan scheme so u need a few hours usually

... but thankfully the NEED for those hours tends to weed out those who shouldn't have been here in the first place... :mad:

[russianthru_thesky]

Im with you there Kiwi chick!!!

[Got the horn]

There are a few ex-Mt Cook skiplane pilot's working at the company I'm at. They got in way back when it was part of the Mt Cook group (30-something years ago). Must've been an absoulte fantastic way to get experience. There are few operator's using 180/185's in NZ for meatbombing, could be a good way to get that taildragger time.

[tinpis]

I thought ski-ing was expensive and dumb enough without using a plane to do it in ? :uhoh:

[russianthru_thesky]

could be worse, could be snowboard planes....now there's a dumb idea!!

[kiwi chick]

I thought ski-ing was expensive and dumb enough without using a plane to do it in ?

So I"m not the only person who doesn't see the appeal in spending a whole day pushing oneself down the slope of a cold mountain just to turn around and go back up again??

Snow in ya undies is not my idea of fun. (In most circumstances anyway... :E)

[Dixons Cider]

Nah but the mulled wine after is bloody great....helps get those undies off too KC :eek::E

[russianthru_thesky]

You guys have got no sense of adventure!! Mind you the Mulled wine liquid undie remover sounds interesting....

[kiwi chick]

...works for me.... :E

[beeva]

Hey thanks for the info guys, I think it's best I give them a call..I've got a lot of supercub and float time which may go in my favour??

I thought ski-ing was expensive and dumb enough without using a plane to do it in ?

tinpis, you may well have a point there...it's like seaplanes, sometimes planes and water just don't mix, but hey it's the best fun!!:ok:

[beeva]

could be worse, could be snowboard planes....now there's a dumb idea!!

could work if you had sponsons!

[kiwi chick]

sometimes planes and water just don't mix, but hey it's the best fun!!

Go and read this accident report... the word dumb doesn't quite cut it and I'm still shakin my head. :ugh:

What the...? (http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accident_Reports/ZK-SWT_Fatal.pdf)

[empacher48]

I got mine from the horses mouth. (I do mean the owner of the company - AM) and the chief pilot (WM).

Scruggs007, it sounds like you were extremely lucky to get the job with 500 hours!!! The other fixed wing operator in the area most likely wouldn't even take you on with that!!

[russianthru_thesky]

Yeah just wondering how long ago you your job there scruggs007? I know guys who got in there back in the day with those kinda hours but not now. The guy who was in the unicom and doing a few overflights was told they couldnt give him a job flying til he had more hours, so he's in africa now doing just that. RR over in Tekapo might take guys on with 300 odd hours if you're a local but its not easy to get into if you have no experience in the mountains. Its not like flying in the sydney hills :E

[empacher48]

Russianthru_thesky, you do sound pretty clued up about things up there.

You are right RR MAY take you on with that sort of time, as you say, if you're lucky, and are local. But the last few guys he has taken on have had between 700 and 1100 hours TT.

But in saying that, all the operators up there know how to look after their staff, and keep them. The average length of service in Tekapo is 4 to 5 years, skiplanes - a lot longer!

[russianthru_thesky]

check your PMs empacher48

[Dave Incognito]

Mountains? What mountains?


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/1270731898_0e88751d09_o.jpg


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1431/1270731840_bed678af99_o.jpg


Thanks to all the guys and girls for a great flight a couple of weeks ago!