Advice on Torres Straights

[gaazunda]

A quick question. Can someone with a bare minimum CPL (200 hrs) get a job in the Torres Straights?
If so how do you go about this? Im familiar with the "see the operator/CP regularly" routine, but how is this done in the Straights? Through Cairns or Bamaga prehaps? Can someone shed some light on this please?

Thanks in advance.

[404 Titan]

gaazunda

Last time I was working in FNQ, all the operators in the Torres Straights were operating RPT operations on RPT AOC. I suggest you have a read of CAO 82.3 as it sets out the minimum hour requirements for pilots in RPT operations. In short I think you will find that you don’t have enough hours. Sorry for being the bringer of bad news.

[Mainframe]

Gaazunda unfortunately you are not yet ready for the Torres Straits. Most operators there are Cairns Based and their normal minimums are 2,000 hrs total and 500 hrs multi ( and so is their recruitment Cairns Based).

Flying in the Straits represents some of Australia's most demanding flying and it is not the place to find out whaT YOU DON'T KNOW OR CANT DO.

Special category aerodromes, two of them under 500 metres and one just over, slope, visual effects on approach, crosswinds, terrain affected winds etc all combine to require the highest standards of accurate flying.

Weather in the straits presnts it's own challenges at times and this too requires a solid background.

Then there are also the CAO 82 requirements etc.

Don't give up, go and get your time up in Kunnunurra or Karumba or Jabiru or Maree or parachute dropping and when you have the necessary experience then try for it and be rewarded with some of the best flying in your GA career before you make it to airlines.

There is one charter operator up there who does not pay anywhere near the award ( read fly for free?) yet you would be in a very expensive ( food and accomm) part of Australia.

As an underline to the above, there was an unfortunate weather and experienced related fatality there just over a year ago. Some one was silly enough to permit a 350 hr pilot to fly in the straits during the Wet Season.

Or is your question just a windup?

[hoss]

Torres STRAITS, not straights:p .

I agree with Mainframe, can be demanding and places like Darnley and Murray Islands in a Broom Broom(BN-2) on an ordinary day are not the places for raw CPL's.

You should still persist in working in the Straits, as it is a great place for experiencing general aviation. Admittedly, I was there at a nice time of year and transfered to another base after a few months. BTW I had over 3000hr with 1000hr BN-2 at the time.

Hope you enjoy the Straits and what it has to offer,

hoss

[gaazunda]

Thanx for the advice guys ( and spelling lesson hoss). This wasnt a windup but a real question. I will keep battling along and when I get more experience one of these sunny days I might have a crack up there. Sounds like good flying.

Thanx again.

[nungry]

Gaazunda,

Give it a try, myself and many other blokes I know got their first job up there with less than 300 hrs, and still alive to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the number of operators are dwindling, but there are still a couple up there that put on drivers with your sort of experience. Obviously its going to be more than being a line driver i.e. bookings clerk, accountant, customer drummerupper etc. The job you don't go for is the one you'll never get. Good luck.

[Mr. Hat]

Gaazunda - tried this a while ago with 200hrs and was told to "GO WEST".

On a slightly different angle, the crappier the place the easier it is to get a job. Everyone wants a job where they can be a pilot AND have a life. Just look at all the instructors in the major cities - there are thousands of them and they always ask me "so whats it like out there". Often CP's ring "experienced" guys to offer them work in a shihole and are knocked back. This is where you will step in if you are keen enough. My advice? Go west, work hard, respect your seniors and if its out of your league ask for help or walk away. Good luck.

Mr. Hat

[gramps]

Gaazunda,

Have to agree with Nungry, I got my first job in the straits and gained some great experience. Most operators won't look at you but a couple do. Look at Cape Air Transport or Cape York Air - they both took on low time guys (at least they did a couple of years back.)

Best of Luck,

Gramps

[Checkerboard]

Have to agree with Mr Hat.

When you go "west" dont pick the places where everyone goes. Kunnunurra and Broome are absolutley swamped with pilots at the moment and some of them wont even travel a couple of hundred k's out of these places to get a job.

[Mainframe]

Gramps Only one operator takes on low hour pilots in the straits these days. It is no co-incidence that these are the pilots serving beers at the two watering holes to the other pilots working for salaries.

These pilots have to work to make ends meet, the other operators pay the award or very near it to their pilots.

Please, don't encourage operators like this to prey on low hour pilots, keep your dignity and work for money, not hours.

Cape York Air now has the usual Cairns minimums, 2,000hrs total, 500 hrs minimum, if they'd stuck to that there may have been one less fatality over a year ago.

[Mr. Hat]

Have to agreee with Mainframe.

Gaz - you might also find that (not always though) operators in nice places are less likely to pay you the right bucks. The reason? Sheer abundance of people willing to do the job because its a nice place.

Venture out west and you will be surprised that you will be paid for your services. There are still sharks out there but I've found them easy to avoid.

Its a good place to go and learn before you go and do the real stuff like what you find in the straits. Going West was the best decision I ever made as a 200 hr pilot.