1st Job?

[virgindriver]

If any newbies are after a flying job on a station this might be of use. Kidman have been on tv a bit lately complaining about lack of pilots. Looks like there are a few vacancies....

S. Kidman & Co. | Positions Vacant | ... (http://www.kidman.com.au/positions-vacant/)

[Peter Fanelli]

What's a Cessner?

[startingout]

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/Cessna-172/img.jpg
thats a cessner, supposedly i heard they throw them at the cattle to get them to move :}

[Howard Hughes]

Some stock handling experience wouldn't go astray for when you finally crack a job with an LCC too...;)

[ryda]

I'm interested in this for my first job but when it says "A minimum of 170 hours flying experience for a Cessner 172", does that mean 170 hours total flying experience or 170 hours flying the cessna/cessner?

[Howard Hughes]

170 total experience!:ok:

Although it peobably wouldn't hurt to have a few hours in a 172!;)

[ryda]

ok thank you

[Swift6]

I got my first start on a Station a few years back. It depends on what your after if you've got your heart set on working on the land then go for it! It'll be extremely tough but rewarding.

Me on the other hand I jumped at the opportunity of a first flying job as they were a bit harder to get then. I loved the flying, but most of my days were spent working in mid 40 deg heat fixing bores, and the techniques they used were dangerous at best.

I decided to call it quits when I walked away to have a drink and as I walked back a massive spanner which one of the drop kicks left up top of the windmill fell right where I was working!
I asked myself what am I willing to do to get hours - I didn't want to risk getting maimed for a few hours of flying a week! Although the spanner would have killed me outright.

It wasn't all bad though - The people were pretty good and its' a bit of a spin out if you've never left the city. I learnt alot about the real Australia and it certainly got me prepared for the places I've been since then.

Ryda if you've got any questions PM me. I don't know anything about Kidman, but I could give you a bit more of an insight into my experience.

Swift

[LUCKY-1]

Ditto what swift says.

Got my first gig with georgina pastoral co at davenport downs station in west qld on the diamontina river flying a 182Q.

Real remote area!

But...some of the best flying i've done, and i got pretty good hours out of it too, checking waters, mustering, spotting, shopping runs! etc...

You'll be asked to do some pretty left field stuff not always covered in the books...i regularly got called to go pick up the guys just on last light from their days track grading at some random location, no strip, just find a good looking piece of ground, check it out a couple of times and land...haven't been asked to do anything like that since but i found it a good learning experience...

They will expect you to get in there and get your hands dirty though...we were up for 0430 each day, then straight into it...either fixing fences, yard work, building maintenance, mustering, bore running, moving mobs of cattle on bikes or horse....(lost count of the times i got kicked by narly 900kilo brahman bulls!) It's hard work, make no mistake. You're basically a 'jackaroo' who happens to be able to fly.

But i loved it...the people on these remote stations are another breed...tough buggers, characters, a few ferals for sure...but good life experience...good on your resume too...shows your not afraid to get out there and work hard.

PS...you'll never want to eat beef again after 12 months of eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner...especially if you were given the 'honour' of doing the 'killer'...i say go for it though! And make sure you get a Q fever shot before you go....:ok:

[Red777]

I recently left SK. after 12 fantastic months of my life..highly recommend them for a first job starter...get paid $153 a day fly or not 5-6days a week with acomm and food provided sure is a good way to gain hours and save for a MECIR etc...Chief Pilot is easy going and there a/c are always in top notch condition...and when you leave you will have good stick and rudder skills...

again highly recommend them for a first job..

[kaptaan]

I applied through their website a while ago and they just got back to me stating that they didn't have any vacancies.. Maybe it's changed since then, reply came less then a month ago..

[thedevil]

As said good stick and rudder skills.
Remember there are "old pilots but no old bold pilots":}
I enjoyed doing flying for another company as a first job great experience. Kidman is probably one of the better company's planes are looked after and staff (never worked for them but know others that have).