will i have a future as a pilot in Australia?

[bradleyj]

Hello, i'm 28 and for a long time i have wanted to be a pilot. I done a few TIF's and commenced my first lesson.
I love flying, and feel i'll be good at it...... but from people i have spoken to and from what i have read here on this forum, it is a hard road that can lead an unstable future.
I don't have any major aspirations to be an airline pilot, doing simple charter runs on my own in a little single or twin would suit me. My direction my change and i may want to be an airline pilot, but for now I would just like a relatively secure job in the industry that'll let me fly.......... is this possible for keen, genuine pilot?
I know this is a rather common question, but i had to ask it myself.
I get excited every time i think of flying, but it is quickly followed but doubts of eventual dissatisfaction in the long run.
Who out there in the industry can give me there honest opinion on how they are going in the industry, are you happy, enjoying it, is the love for flying still there or feeling they should have chosen a different career ect.

Thanks in advanced.

[Runaway Gun]

Brad, You will definitely get a truckload of negative replies on here. Pay no attention to them. If it's a true dream you have, then only you can make it happen. Grit you teeth and get there. Otherwise you'll never know.

[Cactusjack]

Hello Brad,

Firstly, your enthusiasm is commendable.
Secondly,are you sure you are 28 ?
Thirdly, what is your current line of employment,journalist etc ?
Fourth,are you medically fit to fly? I suspect not.
Fifth,if you love aeroplanes and they 'do it for you' then go for it, you only live once.
Sixth, if you decide you want to fly planes in Australia to earn a healthy living and pay for your kids private school fee's and retire on Hope Island then that won't be happenning. You will earn more money working at Bunnings or driving a street sweeper in the middle of the night.

Whatever you choose, good luck to you...

[bradleyj]

Thankyou Runaway Gun.

Cactusjack, my current occupation is a full time Forklift driver and part time photographer.
Oh and in case you were wondering, I'm a healthy 28 year old!

May I ask you a question Cactusjack?, what is your involvement in the aviation industry?

[Clearedtoreenter]

I would just like a relatively secure job in the industry that'll let me fly.......... is this possible for keen, genuine pilot?


Yes, just keep in mind the comments above about retiring on Hope Island, kids in private school etc etc.

Who out there in the industry can give me there honest opinion on how they are going in the industry, are you happy, enjoying it, is the love for flying still there or feeling they should have chosen a different career ect.


There are plenty out there who are loving it... Poor, but loving it. Also, as you may infer from these columns... a few who are bitter and twisted about their 'career choice'... and some who have spent a fortune getting all the bells and whistles but given it all away and decided to become computer programmers or something.

Good luck!

[scardycap]

Started flying at 33. Received 28 negative replies to my question if I'm too old to be a pilot. 2 flying schools with all good intentions said they wouldn't want to take my money as they didn't think it was realistic.

Did it anyway. Now flying command on turbo props earning good money, and just had interview with an airline and hoping for more.

It's a hard road, harder than I anticipated, it was hard on my wife and kids in the early days but we wouldn't swap the journey for anything.

"Don't let somebody else build your world for you because they will build it too small":ok:

[Dangnammit]

Similar boat to Scardycap except...
I'm early 30's, married, hoping to start family soon and going nuts :ugh: because I'm doing FIR now and hopefully (big hope) can get a full time gig when that's done not far from home.

If you never jump in, you'll never know.....
......but you will die wondering!

[The Green Goblin]

Welcome aboard.

If you want to do it, do it sooner rather than later.

The money can be alright in GA doing survey work or AG type flying, however if you are not aiming for the jets at least aim for a turboprop command which will have you between 70-95k depending on type. The more systems you have with turbine engines the easier your job, the more support you get and the safer your office will be.

Smashing around in bugsmashers all your life will give you a high chance of an eventual fatal accident.

Sign up for a degree so you can hex your flight training and get into it mate.

[Jackliveshere]

Hi Bradleyj,

Mate it is good to read your post. You have basically summed up my exact position except I am 26 not 28. I have recently put in my resignation at my current job earning a 6 figure salary to pursue a pilot career. I am in two minds constantly - in one mind I am totally pumped to be starting a career I have always wanted to do and on the other mind is all the negative feedback I have heard. Funny thing is it's mainly from this forum.

But hey I'm still super keen and am going to give it a red hot crack. I have the support of my wife behind me who knows all the perceived negatives as well, so it's worth a shot. I have passed my class 1 medical and am ready to start training at the start of July.

I do wish that there was a little more positive feedback and good stories for newbies like us, especially on pprune, but unfortunately I think you just have to decide in your mind to follow your dream and focus yourself solely to the training and making the best of things. Positive replies from some guys here on this thread though which is fantastic to hear :ok:

Cheers,

jackliveshere

[Jazzy78910]

I'm one month off 28 and will complete my CPL within 3 months. I don't consider myself too old by any stretch of the imagination.

It will have taken 18 months from zero hours to CPL, whilst also working full time to help fund it. I started with a significant bankroll (saved over years) to make sure I didn't run out of $ half way through.

If you want it, do it. Simple. Just go in with a good understanding of the industry and what you'll pay to become 'employable'. Oh, and if you have a companion, make sure she/he's supportive of your goals, as you'll need the support in the first few years I'm led to believe :}.

[Murray Cod]

You might try and get some work as an Aerial Camera Operator if you like photography.
It will give you an insight into GA and you might score some hours.
Murray.

[Homesick-Angel]

Go for it..Do what you love and you will be happy..There is a lot of different types of flying you can do down the track that will keep you entertained, but the first few years are the hardest(the training and then getting the first job)but it sounds like you have your head screwed on right, and in any industry that will get you a long way..

[Wally Mk2]

Free advice.........never put all yr eggs in one basket, meaning always retain an out job wise if it doesn't work for you sometime down the track.
Aviation has several prerequisites & apart from the obvious (money etc to spend on training etc) it's enthusiasm that counts, that's the single biggest factor to remain focused. There's no point in blowing sunshine up yr behind here it's not a walk in the park but doable. Oh don't worry there will come times along the way where you will entertain yr worst fears during the road to securing a good flying gig but yr not the first & you won't be the last to try it. Only YOU know if it's worth it.
I didn't get a CPL 'till 30 & to date I have flown from 30 kts (strong H/W) up to my personal record 617 kts (strong T/W) never forgetting the dream to always want to fly as a kid:)
The dream of flight has long been held by mankind as almost mythical. There's over 6 Billion souls on this planet & few in the scheme of things have experienced that dream, don't let a myth get in yr way of a personal quest for that dream:ok:

Go for it buddy remember there are no rear view mirrors in planes, don't ever look back!:ok:

Wmk2:)

[PhillC]

Go for it buddy remember there are no rear view mirrors in planes, don't ever look back!

Except in Cessna 150s....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2314/2048666415_9277b81130.jpg

On a more serious note, I gained my Australian PPL at 18, then didn't really fly again until I was 35. Was into racing motorbikes and drinking beer instead. Now that I've started flying again, the thoughts of a career occasionally enter my head. In no way do I believe I'm too old. I have no desire for an airline career, but I do believe corporate charter, flight training, bush freight flying or aerial survey work is without a doubt a realistic possibility.

Go for it and good luck! :ok:

[Wally Mk2]

Oh God he has a rear view mirror in his plane!!!!!...................& yr not even wearing the ****** bars!!!:}
I know what it's for, for seeing where yr going as you are after all flying a 100 hp tin can!:E I used to own a C150H, amazing little plane almost idiot proof:ok:



Wmk2

[PhillC]

Not my aeroplane, but did see one with such a mirror on the weekend. Found this picture on Flickr.

[sprocket check]

Not if you expect other people to hold your hand and tell you it's OK.

Also depends on what you determine as future.

Jack:
A 6 figure salary huh? You should have retired at 33, bought yourself a bugsmasher like a Retard Vehicle or something and had fun on the weekends.

[Jackliveshere]

Ha, retire at 33! Man I wouldn't know what to do with myself! Not too mention ~50 odd years of retirement would take a lot of cash behind you!!

I'm on good money at the moment, but hey, no enjoyment or satisfaction so why bother with it hey? So going to toss it all away and do full time pilot training and the MRS can earn some dollars for a while :ok:

[bradleyj]

Thankyou all for your comments and suggestions.

[K3nnyboy]

Just give it a go man, you'd never know....even at the age of 25, I've been told to give up joing the industry many times, got my CPL when I was 21 then went to do something completely different, now that I am back and realise flying is really the thing I wanna do!! :ok:

[AQIS Boigu]

Go for it mate... it's the best job in the world... BUT make sure that you

- are happy to go bush and leave the big city (and live in ****holes)

- be able to survive on %^$# all money for the first couple of years

- be able to pack up your your life at a moment's notice and drive up to 5000km for a new job

- possibly have to sarcrify a few relationships for the job

Another word of advice - since you are a bit older I would stay away from instructing due to not a lot of hours initially; go bush or maybe even to Papua New Guinea or the Pacific...stay and fly save and come back with a logbook full of good flying hours...

[gunnaboy]

hi bradleyj...Just like what has already been posted..go for it.. :)

At 37 I am getting back into the industry. I have been out of the avaiation game for about 7yrs and there has been not a day gone by wishing my butt was up in the air. Soon it will.

Follow your dreams and goals and stay focussed.

Safe Flying