500 hour jobs

[geebung]

Greetings fellow young and open-minded aviators,

I have reached a magic number of 500 hours total time and whilst I have already applied to some operators with minimums of 500hrs, would be open to responses from others suggesting operators I may not have heard of whom look for pilots with at least 500 hours.

Any responses appreciated. Thank you.

[Hollywood1]

This is not a bad 500 hour gig if you have the rest of the requirements.

https://career.jetstar.com/jobview/jetstar-australia-a3201-first-officer/b3636a4b-932b-4c0d-8e29-c82a1e1b7110/

[Gerald Garrett]

Hardys - Darwin, NT
Chartair - Darwin & Alice Springs, NT
Territory Air Services - Darwin, NT
Aviair - Kununurra & Broome, WA
Hinterland - Cairns, QLD

These are all pretty reputable aviation businesses with internal progression onto something a little bigger (Twin & Turbine etc)

[the_rookie]

Hardy's you need closer to 1000 hours, and wouldn't bother with Hinterland unless you want to fly a van

[vhpjl]

I highly doubt you’d be getting a job with the likes of Hardys or Hinterland with 500TT.

With 500TT I’d be targeting employers with both piston singles and twins. Chartair, Aviair, Shoal Air, Katherine Aviation (HM Air), Cape Air Transport, Black Diamond Aviation etc.

Expect to start in the single, keep out of the politics and good chance you’ll progress to a twin (most likely a B58 or C310) in 6-12 months.

[Gerald Garrett]

Hardy's you need closer to 1000 hours, and wouldn't bother with Hinterland unless you want to fly a van

It's 2023 and the job market has changed, Hardys advertise 800 TT on their website, but I've heard of people within the 500-800 TT range.
Van time is just as useful as Twin Time in regards to airline applications, have a look at Jetstar, Network & Qlinks most recent job ads.


I highly doubt you’d be getting a job with the likes of Hardys or Hinterland with 500TT.

With 500TT I’d be targeting employers with both piston singles and twins. Chartair, Aviair, Shoal Air, Katherine Aviation, Cape Air Transport, Black Diamond Aviation etc.

Expect to start in the single, keep out of the politics and good chance you’ll progress to a twin (most likely a B58 or C310) in 6-12 months.

- Katherine Aviation does not exist anymore.
- Black Diamond Aviation does not have any single pistons also have a look at the Baron/C310 bond they offer, it's a f**king joke.
- I mentioned reputable operators, but a couple you've mentioned doesn't fit those criteria.

[Gerald Garrett]

What's happened to KA? HM previously only operated ~4 206s, now they inherited a whole fleet and roster of pilots? Was KA having financial difficulty?

I heard whispers that they had trouble insuring their aeroplanes after a couple of bad accidents in the last couple years.
HM completed the purchase of the business in December 2023 and inherited most (I think) of the C210s and BE58s including the pilots. HOFO left to greener pastures and a relatively fresh bloke (sub 1000hrs) stepped in as the 'Type Specialist - Fixed Wing'.

[Clare Prop]

Greetings fellow young and open-minded aviators,

I have reached a magic number of 500 hours total time and whilst I have already applied to some operators with minimums of 500hrs, would be open to responses from others suggesting operators I may not have heard of whom look for pilots with at least 500 hours.

Any responses appreciated. Thank you.
How many of those are command?
You could be close to being able to apply for survey work.

[mikewil]

It's 2023 and the job market has changed, Hardys advertise 800 TT on their website, but I've heard of people within the 500-800 TT range.
Van time is just as useful as Twin Time in regards to airline applications, have a look at Jetstar, Network & Qlinks most recent job ads.



Do the likes of Qlink & Jetstar have programs in place these days to get you the 500 multi command (well ICUS) required to issue you an ATPL and upgrade you to a command or are you just a first officer for life by applying at these places without an ATPL or 500 multi command?

[Bog Down]

Do the likes of Qlink & Jetstar have programs in place these days to get you the 500 multi command (well ICUS) required to issue you an ATPL and upgrade you to a command or are you just a first officer for life by applying at these places without an ATPL or 500 multi command?

500 Multi Command is not required for the issue of an ATPL, some companies might have this requirement in their ops manual etc but its not an ICAO or CASA requirement.

[mikewil]

500 Multi Command is not required for the issue of an ATPL, some companies might have this requirement in their ops manual etc but its not an ICAO or CASA requirement.

Not sure where I got the idea then. Was it a requirement before part 61 or something?

Airlines used to be very rigid about 500 multi command and even Rex needed to jump through some hoops to get some ICUS program approved to get their cadets the 500 multi command to be upgraded to captains...

[Hollywood1]

Do the likes of Qlink & Jetstar have programs in place these days to get you the 500 multi command (well ICUS) required to issue you an ATPL and upgrade you to a command or are you just a first officer for life by applying at these places without an ATPL or 500 multi command?

Yes, they do as a number of cadets have now got commands at Jetstar. BTW, you don't need 500 multi command for the ATPL.

https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/air-transport-pilot-licences/getting-air-transport-pilot-licence-atpl#Minimumhoursforanairtransportpilotlicence

[Bog Down]

Not sure where I got the idea then. Was it a requirement before part 61 or something?

Airlines used to be very rigid about 500 multi command and even Rex needed to jump through some hoops to get some ICUS program approved to get their cadets the 500 multi command to be upgraded to captains...

I'm not sure 500 Multi command was ever a CASA thing.

But as mentioned, some companies have their own requirements, I know a few people who've had to a long ICUS program with the likes of Rex and Air North to get the 500 Multi Command (ICUS) to be eligible for a command upgrade.

[Climb150]

This is not a bad 500 hour gig if you have the rest of the requirements.

https://career.jetstar.com/jobview/jetstar-australia-a3201-first-officer/b3636a4b-932b-4c0d-8e29-c82a1e1b7110/



I would say very few 500 hour people have this from Jetstar job ad.

200 hours in command of a multi engine aircraft (excluding PICUS); or
200 hours in command of a turbine powered fixed wing aircraft; or
200 hours on aircraft certified for operation by a crew of two pilots (multi-crew aircraft)


500 multi PIC used to be the min for upgrade at a low capacity AOC company. Rex is or was low capacity but Qlink is high capacity so qlink had no need need for you to have 500 multi PIC to upgrade.


​​

[Hollywood1]

I would say very few 500 hour people have this from Jetstar job ad.

200 hours in command of a multi engine aircraft (excluding PICUS); or
200 hours in command of a turbine powered fixed wing aircraft; or
200 hours on aircraft certified for operation by a crew of two pilots (multi-crew aircraft)


500 multi PIC used to be the min for upgrade at a low capacity AOC company. Rex is or was low capacity but Qlink is high capacity so qlink had no need need for you to have 500 multi PIC to upgrade.


​​

Possibly targeting Rex cadets as they would have 200 multi-crew in their 500 hours. Rex seems to be a steady supplier of pilots for the Qantas Group.

[Torbay]

Has anyone got through without having all the atpl subjects complete yet?

Is anyone actually getting hired at these low hour mins for jetstar etc?

[Brakerider]

I'm not sure 500 Multi command was ever a CASA thing.

But as mentioned, some companies have their own requirements, I know a few people who've had to a long ICUS program with the likes of Rex and Air North to get the 500 Multi Command (ICUS) to be eligible for a command upgrade.

500 Multi PIC IFR was a requirement in CAO 82.3 for RPT operations other than high capacity.

[neville_nobody]

500 Multi PIC IFR was a requirement in CAO 82.3 for RPT operations other than high capacity.

Which back in the day was a lot of operators including a lot of Regionals.

[samb02]

Hey Clare, do you know of any survey operators who would take in a pilot with 500TT, 300PIC?

[Clare Prop]

Hey Clare, do you know of any survey operators who would take in a pilot with 500TT, 300PIC?

Do you have the low level rating?

[samb02]

Do you have the low level rating?

Not yet, assuming the rating is done as part of line training?

[Clare Prop]

Not sure but would be good to have if you are sending out applications.

[X670]

How's the GA situation?

There appears to be a lot more multi / single turbine jobs advertised recently with significantly lower mins than in the past. Just yesterday NTAS looking for a C402/PA31 pilot with training provided, minimum to apply 650tt! Not long ago that would have been a couple thousand hour entry gig...

[Bog Down]

Has anyone got through without having all the atpl subjects complete yet?

Is anyone actually getting hired at these low hour mins for jetstar etc?

Has anyone got through without having all the atpl subjects complete yet?
No

Is anyone actually getting hired at these low hour mins for jetstar etc?
Yes

[Bog Down]

Not yet, assuming the rating is done as part of line training?

For which gig? Most operators that require the low-level rating typically want it done before starting, not many low-level instructors and examiners around.

[Inverted Flat Spin]

AirNZ link have taken a few with 500hrs recently.

[Dashm8]

Tick the box saying you have the exams done… as a wise jet training captain told
me “it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission”

reality is if you tick “no atpls complete” it’s likely your CV will get chucked out into the ether when your apply for airline jobs.

[Mach E Avelli]

Tick the box saying you have the exams done… as a wise jet training captain told
me “it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission”

reality is if you tick “no atpls complete” it’s likely your CV will get chucked out into the ether when your apply for airline jobs.
And then they invite you for interview, with instructions to bring supporting documents to prove exam results.
And then you show up with some bullsh!t story about how it’s all “pending” or lost in the system.
And then you go on their blacklist - never to be hired.
And if you don’t think airlines have hiring blacklists, you could be wrong,
Don’t apply for jobs unless you meet the advertised selection criteria. It pisses recruiting people off to wade through flaky applications.
Just pass the fecking exams!

[TheFlyingKiwi722]

Hardys - Darwin, NT
Chartair - Darwin & Alice Springs, NT
Territory Air Services - Darwin, NT
Aviair - Kununurra & Broome, WA
Hinterland - Cairns, QLD

These are all pretty reputable aviation businesses with internal progression onto something a little bigger (Twin & Turbine etc)
Territory Air Services solely operate single engines, unless you're willing to wait for a year to get onto their twin (if you're lucky) - not a great viable second job option if you want to progress onto twins or turbine within a few months.