Any Aussie Army Aviation Advice?

[Manwell]

Anyone out there in Aussie Army Aviation who can give us some advice or info about the prospects for a person interested in joining as an SSO? Questions that come to mind are,

1. How many hours flying per year?

2. Where are they likely to post you?

3. Is there an Us and Them thing between SSO's and GSO's? ie. Are the SSO's treated as second class officers?

4. Are there any SSO's in Army Aviation who would like to converse electronically or telephonically about this?

Kind Regards

Manwell

[mattbar]

Happy to help. Life as an army pilot is great, particularly as an SSO. I have been flying as an SSO for 15 years in the army and am still enjoying it. The pay is quite good. I hope you enjoy a warm climate as the posting options once you complete your course are generally Darwin or Townsville. I have been to both and enjoyed each for different reasons. The flying rate varies depending on aircraft type but I have averaged 400 hrs a year since joining.

If you want to chat about it further leave an email address or other contact details and I will get back to you.

Cheers

[Manwell]

Thanks for the offer Mattbar, my email is [email protected]

I'm keen to find out as much as I can before I do anything here. It's a big commitment from your life - more from mine - since I'm nearly 45.

I'm already an experienced pilot with an ATPL(A) and CPL(H), Instructor rating, etc. so I'm wondering what it will be like for someone who has a bit of an idea about flying before doing the army course. Although I've got a few hours they're mostly fixed wing, with minimal hours on Helos done mostly back in 1987.

I do love the idea of flying military helos, but I can't help thinking that it's probably too late for me to embark on what is probably a young blokes career.

Looking forward to hearing form you,

Copyalater!

[LunchMonitor]

Wrong!

Look here:

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/careers_explorer/Army148.html

and you will find


Applicants must be aged between 17 and 48 years of age inclusive on entry.

[jungly]

Is AAAvn still short of pilots/QHIs?
Do they have a requirement for reservists?
If youre in the know please drop me a PM....

[Arm out the window]

I'm guessing that they'd be keen to get hold of pilots with missile-firing helo experience for the Tiger purchase, if you've got any of that, Jungly.
I think they would also look favourably at anyone with decent instructional experience. I haven't had much to do with them for 6 years or so, so can't really say with any accuracy how things are at the squadrons.
Recruiting will probably only be able to give you the party line, but if you know anyone at 5 Avn Regt or the Army Aviation Centre at Oakey they could maybe give you the lowdown.
Another option might be to seek employment with the civil company, I forget their name - Heliflite? who provide instructional support at beautiful Oakey.
Sorry about the possibly inaccurate and outdated info, and please correct me if I'm wrong anyone who knows. However my gut feeling is that they would welcome those with appropriate experience to come and work as a regular or reservist.

[Hatchet Harry]

A question for someone in the know......

I have wanted to join for a few years now but I continually wonder what opportunities there are outside of the Army for a guy with a few thousand hours Heli time........ and,

Is the pay really as good as I have heard ?

[bobtoo]

what about the cost of living !

house prices
food
goods eg car ect ect

?:cool: :cool:

[Arm out the window]

Hatchet,
A few thousand hours helo are probably not as fiscally productive as a few thousand multi engine fixed wing, in terms of making you attractive to the airlines and getting you a second officer job and then climbing up the tree - probably make heaps more doing the latter over a few years.
Still, from all reports I hear the flying in the big jets is not exactly stimulating, so it depends what you're after; money or job satisfaction.
Not that helo jobs are all beer and skittles, but I'd rather be poling a machine around at low level than tooling along at flight levels for hours on end.
A couple of thou military hours gives you a good basis to get into any line of flying, I reckon, if you maintain a willingness to continue learning new things. Plus it's well rounded flying, in general - instrument ratings every year, night, NVG, low level, etc. etc, so keeps you thinking.
Ex-military people with reasonable experience get jobs with emergency services and that kind of thing, the money's OK.
The pay for an experienced pilot in the military is 85 grand Aust or so, if you're on the highest increment of flying pay.
Depending where you live, a decent house will cost you 200 grand or so, less if you're in the sticks, and more if you're in the city. House prices in trendy areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane etc. are getting a bit ridiculous, but if you pick your area you can get something nice for a reasonable amount.

[Cougar]

The age for RAAF is 27.5 on starting pilots course i believe. Army is 48 as last year a 40 year old graduated from Army pilots course. It can be done!!

[DIVINE WIND]

RAAF age limit is 42,however preference is given to youngens (under 27).:cool:

[Manwell]

Mattbar,
haven't heard from you lately, haven't received anything in the email lately, have you sent anything? Possible that it's not working. If so, send me another post and I'll try to sort it out.

Regards,

Manwell

[mattbar]

Manwell,

Sorry mate, I have been away and haven't been on this site for some time. I will write to you tonight on your email address and offer any information and advice I can.

If anyone else needs any questions answered about aussie army aviation drop me your return email and i am happy to help.

Cheers

Mattbar

[aussietiger]

Hey guys.

I have just passed assesment day for SSO pilot, and should soon be going to flight screening after those extra medicals (ear nose and throat specialist, dentist and optomi.. optomo.. eye doctor. :rolleyes: ) as I already have my class 1 med, i'm not worried about those.

Problem is, I finish my Aviation degree (at CQU in Bundaberg) at the end of the week! So now I'm moving back to Brisbane, wanting to do something while I wait to hear for a date for Flight Screening from DFR.

What I would REALLY like to do is some sort of work experience involved with anything to do with army aviation for any period of time, so I have a better understanding of what i'm getting into.

I would think Oakey would be the most beneficial (with the School of Army Aviation being there), but I dont know about civvies visiting the base (or even if they have anything for me to do there!)

I don't think security would be an issue, as I've been there with cadets before, I've passed the defence force security check for entry as pilot, and I have a legitimate reason for wanting to visit.

Anyone know who I can get in contact with to see if it's at all posible, or are there any SSO pilots I can have a chat to about the whole process / life in the Army?

Anything would be GREATLY appreciated.

Yours Sincerely,

Adam.