US pilots in the outback of oz?

[jsfboat]

is there any way for an american Commerical pilot to come to australia to work as a pilot flying for a doctor or veterinarian in the outback? i've heard of those jobs, and would like to learn more about them...looking at seeing what I can do to leave the US for a while and work abroad.

[Tempo]

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia - Aviation Pilots (http://www.flyingdoctor.net/Aviation-Pilots.html)

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (http://www.casa.gov.au/)

As long as you have the right to work in Australia and can satisfy the requirements of the RFDS then give it a go.

[ad-astra]

Try the AFAP website for the current EBA (T&C)

http://www.afap.org.au

[RUMBEAR]

I think he might mean flying for an individual doc or vet who flies around in his own bug smasher. Sorry cant help though!

Rumbear

[Lasiorhinus]

If you can get the right to work in Australia, its a great experience. Flying around the Australian outback is such a different experience from flying around the American outback - and will give you some incredible stories to tell your mates once you get home.:ok:

Good luck!

[tail wheel]

There probably is doctors and vets in the Aussie Outback with their own aircraft but I seriously doubt any would employ a dedicated full time, paid pilot.

[jsfboat]

Thanks for the replies all. I'm a 300 hour pilot who is wanting to go to either Australia or New Zealand on a permanent basis after I am out of the US Army in 3 years as I just reenlisted. I will be flight instructing in a 2 months and might start flying for a skydiving place in a few weeks as soon as the insurance company gives the ok. That would be my ideal job, preferebly for the RFDS or for an individual doc or vet. Just needed to give myself some goals for a 3 year time span.

[neville_nobody]

RFDS requirements are reasonably high but why don't you try the American Native Air Ambulance (or similar) in the states and then try the RFDS? PC12/Kingair experience would probably help your cause.

Also be aware that flying around Australia is very different to the USA. I'd be getting used to doing full procedural NDB approaches and radar coverage is basically non existent once out of the metropolitan area so get used to driving your own way around. Vectoring for an approach is unheard of outside of the cities.