Pilot-drain - The new aviation crisis
Join Date: Feb 2006
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PILOT DRAIN- No way!!
Here is a quote I found on another thread. Its about Hong kong express and there hiring needs etc;
"The hiring process has not finished ! It is an ongoing process.
The trouble is that the quantity of applications that are received, either by the online system or snail mail, is massive. As there is no pressing immediate need for crew, man hours are being used elsewhere.
Medwin, it may be the case that yours has somehow "slipped through to the keeper". Although there is around 50 guys on file with 145 experience."
It's true to say that some recruitment firms find it hard to find Captains and F/O's with good hrs on type,
but there will, and always will be way too many Pilots out there competing for charter/regional/airline jobs.
At our local company in Australia, with 18 turboprop and piston twins on line, we can still pick and choose who we want.
"The hiring process has not finished ! It is an ongoing process.
The trouble is that the quantity of applications that are received, either by the online system or snail mail, is massive. As there is no pressing immediate need for crew, man hours are being used elsewhere.
Medwin, it may be the case that yours has somehow "slipped through to the keeper". Although there is around 50 guys on file with 145 experience."
It's true to say that some recruitment firms find it hard to find Captains and F/O's with good hrs on type,
but there will, and always will be way too many Pilots out there competing for charter/regional/airline jobs.
At our local company in Australia, with 18 turboprop and piston twins on line, we can still pick and choose who we want.
Join Date: Oct 2001
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It's true to say that some recruitment firms find it hard to find Captains and F/O's with good hrs on type,
but there will, and always will be way too many Pilots out there competing for charter/regional/airline jobs.
At our local company in Australia, with 18 turboprop and piston twins on line, we can still pick and choose who we want.
but there will, and always will be way too many Pilots out there competing for charter/regional/airline jobs.
At our local company in Australia, with 18 turboprop and piston twins on line, we can still pick and choose who we want.
Charter/Regional/Airline All in the same bag?
And the second paragraph is hard to decipher too. Aviationmug, this was written by a recruitment company looking to fill slots in HK right?
Who are they?
Join Date: Dec 2002
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A37575
At the RFDS we do ICUS until we are cleared to line.This could take 10 flights it couls take alittle longer.Have alook at the news on Friday with the accident in WA, the crew there responded with in a hour of the Co Ords getting the call.
Airstio there not the greatest, hills tio either side of the strip. The pilot who has just join the company did a great job, they were the first to arrive and the pilot had to make sure everything wa safe be fore the medico could go to the aircraft.
Long time on the ground, flight nurse did a fantastic job setting a make shift triage, the crash sire was about 1.5km from the strip in dense growth.
The reason why this all went well is first good experience from the pilot, came from a good background and had done the hard yards before he got the gig with the rfds, the flight nurse before she joined the service had done 5 yrs of outback nursing, the doctor had just finished, i higher level of emergency training.The patients that had to be carried back to Perth were all given the best treatment on board the aircraft during the flight back to perth, they were then escorted to the hospitial by the doctor and the nurse,making sure that they would be given the best treatment at the hospitial. We do this day to day, it might not happened every day and thank god it doesnt, but it is bloody good to know that the crew will respond to anything and use all their professionalism to make the job done.
What I would like to Say to the Meekatharra crew and the Co-ords at Jandakot bloody good job, well done.
I think all rfds and ex rfds that read this will agree right SWH????
As with the black holes of a night time, they are just part of the job, they happen all the time
At the RFDS we do ICUS until we are cleared to line.This could take 10 flights it couls take alittle longer.Have alook at the news on Friday with the accident in WA, the crew there responded with in a hour of the Co Ords getting the call.
Airstio there not the greatest, hills tio either side of the strip. The pilot who has just join the company did a great job, they were the first to arrive and the pilot had to make sure everything wa safe be fore the medico could go to the aircraft.
Long time on the ground, flight nurse did a fantastic job setting a make shift triage, the crash sire was about 1.5km from the strip in dense growth.
The reason why this all went well is first good experience from the pilot, came from a good background and had done the hard yards before he got the gig with the rfds, the flight nurse before she joined the service had done 5 yrs of outback nursing, the doctor had just finished, i higher level of emergency training.The patients that had to be carried back to Perth were all given the best treatment on board the aircraft during the flight back to perth, they were then escorted to the hospitial by the doctor and the nurse,making sure that they would be given the best treatment at the hospitial. We do this day to day, it might not happened every day and thank god it doesnt, but it is bloody good to know that the crew will respond to anything and use all their professionalism to make the job done.
What I would like to Say to the Meekatharra crew and the Co-ords at Jandakot bloody good job, well done.
I think all rfds and ex rfds that read this will agree right SWH????
As with the black holes of a night time, they are just part of the job, they happen all the time
I would agree, best bunch of people I have ever worked with, great personal rewards. Very dedicated and professional employees working together as a team towards the best outcome for their passengers in need.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Ever since I was a kid I always had one dream; to become an airline pilot. When I graduated from school in my home country; I saw two options. Going the safe and proven route via some earth-based government-paid education; becoming an engineer or something. Or, I could start pursuing my dream of flying. Never having lived away from home before, the move across one ocean and six time zones gives one some perspective. Started flying and I was fortunate enough to work with some very talented instructors, as well as some less interesting ones. Going from ab-initio to CPL/IR/SE/ME and CFI (Certified Flight Instuctor, not chief or anything) and CFI-Instruments in 10,5 months is absolutely possible with will and determination. And even in between there was time for some socializing. Got hired two days after last checkride, and some three weeks after I have a little over 25 hrs dual given instruction.
Don't get me wrong; I don't think I'm an experienced pilot, the world champion in flying or anything. I'm only in love with the sky, and when faced with the go/no-go decision to start on my education at the age of 19, when the alternative was to remain on the ground, the answer was pretty obvious. I'm sure someone will argue that a now 20-year old CFI with a total time of just over 300 has nothing to do in the sky with students; that's fine. However everyone has to start from somewhere, and select their own pace. I chose to start now, and I chose 100% dedication. And maybe we'll see in ten year's time if I'm driving the Airbus or the Schoolbus. I have the time ahead of me, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.
And no, I'm not drunk, and my passport is red
Last edited by bfisk; 10th Sep 2006 at 18:10.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Good luck
You have elected to do the work, you have the right attitude, and a realistic long term outlook. If you give the employers a fair return for their money, then you will go far.
Iwish you well.
Iwish you well.
I don't think anyone would argue the need for high entry requirements for the RFDS, but I don't follow how the original poster's 6000 hours, 2000 multi etc., is not good enough, because it doesn't include (does it?) a certain amount of turbine time...
So, if he had say, 3000 hours, but 500 of it was in turbine aircraft, he'd be ok??
Please explain.
So, if he had say, 3000 hours, but 500 of it was in turbine aircraft, he'd be ok??
Please explain.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Hours
The RFDS operates out of some capital city bases these days, and have reasonable facilities to come home to. However many of the bases are not in capital cities, and have lesser facilities to came home to. Most of the destinations have dirt airstraips, no vhf coms, no navaids, no fuel, and portable lighting. (if any)
Logbook hours are an indicator, and are necessary, but OUTBACK BUSH EXPERIENCE is necessary, as well as local knowledge.
They need sone one who knows if it is safe to land on that airstrip after 20 mils of rain?? Ersa won't tell you, and you cannot risk the aeroplane and crew unless you know. There is not enough of anything now. A bogged aircraft is no use to anyone. And you will not make any freinds by unnecessarily aborting the flight.
They need someone who knows do do a right hand circuit at this location at night, because there is a big, unlighted hill there, and even if you do you will have a tailwind component on base and that invisible hill is waiting for you to overshoot the centreline when you turn on to final.
And Wallabies looking at you as you taxi back after your first light landing at a strip that does not have lighting.
And lots of other things.
The apprenticeship for this job needs to include a year or so in Mulga Bill's 172, and lots of charter type flying in the area.
Lots of flying up and down the coast in shiny aeroplanes is not enough.
This is a vocation requiring long term committment and dedication.
Logbook hours are an indicator, and are necessary, but OUTBACK BUSH EXPERIENCE is necessary, as well as local knowledge.
They need sone one who knows if it is safe to land on that airstrip after 20 mils of rain?? Ersa won't tell you, and you cannot risk the aeroplane and crew unless you know. There is not enough of anything now. A bogged aircraft is no use to anyone. And you will not make any freinds by unnecessarily aborting the flight.
They need someone who knows do do a right hand circuit at this location at night, because there is a big, unlighted hill there, and even if you do you will have a tailwind component on base and that invisible hill is waiting for you to overshoot the centreline when you turn on to final.
And Wallabies looking at you as you taxi back after your first light landing at a strip that does not have lighting.
And lots of other things.
The apprenticeship for this job needs to include a year or so in Mulga Bill's 172, and lots of charter type flying in the area.
Lots of flying up and down the coast in shiny aeroplanes is not enough.
This is a vocation requiring long term committment and dedication.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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You will find the term EXPERIENCED pilots...not 150 hour fresh CPL's!
You want to work in Asia? You need JET TIME! Look at the requirments for most airlines in Asia. Turbo prop time helps but you seem to need a LOT more of it!
JET TIME = Experience
1000 hours instructional teaching straight and level or climbing and descending does not count as the above...
You want to work in Asia? You need JET TIME! Look at the requirments for most airlines in Asia. Turbo prop time helps but you seem to need a LOT more of it!
JET TIME = Experience
1000 hours instructional teaching straight and level or climbing and descending does not count as the above...
confirm-finals?
So the old Catch22 eh? Can't get a jet job because of no jet experience.
Re Asia: I am led to believe that Dragonair has some turbo-prop boys starting soon to be 747-400F Fos.
So the old Catch22 eh? Can't get a jet job because of no jet experience.
Re Asia: I am led to believe that Dragonair has some turbo-prop boys starting soon to be 747-400F Fos.
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Dragonair 74 F/O's could be /is a thorny issue. But that isn't the sort of experience Bushy is referrring to. Flying a big jet is a very-well supported (usually), very safe and if the operator is worth his salt, a totally comfortable environment in which to ply your trade. Many guys in that part of the industry couldn't/wouldn't be RFDS capable. The single pilot, multi, IFR, plan-as-you-go type operation has to be some of the hardest **** any of us will ever do. PNG, Africa, Drug-running and others too.
Experience is not measured in a log-book exclusively. (Hours, I mean), And jet-time is a bitch to get and almost impossible to get without some. T'was ever thus.
My advise? Hang around bars frequented by management pilots with a lerv of booze and broads. (half-joking)
The best job I ever had only cost me a bottle of Bacardi. Tru Wontok !!!
Experience is not measured in a log-book exclusively. (Hours, I mean), And jet-time is a bitch to get and almost impossible to get without some. T'was ever thus.
My advise? Hang around bars frequented by management pilots with a lerv of booze and broads. (half-joking)
The best job I ever had only cost me a bottle of Bacardi. Tru Wontok !!!
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RFDS requirements
............in defence to the RFDS their entry requirements are there for very good reasons. The aeromedical flying in Oz esspecially at the S.E Section (which operate only B200's) require , at times quite demanding efforts to complete a task. It is regarded by many that single pilot multi-eng turbo prop in the aero medical role is considered the most demading of any flight requirements. Sure there are many times that it's fair weather flying into paved runways with the sun shinning brightly & everything is humming along..........but & this is where this sorts the men from the boys out there.
This is a typcal Eg...........at night, CB's at every corner or the radar screen, turbulence like you wouldn't believe, rain pelting down with incredible intensity, more ice on the airframe than what used to be in Dean Martins booze.......sometimes HF radio comms only (marginal at the best of times) PAL lighting way out west where the surounding image seems like it's been painted onto a blackboard that's moving around like a jack rabbit toy at an ammusment park with only an NDB approach available (if yr lucky otherwise is was only a visual approach) to the happless pilot with a x wind that feels like it's out there to get you, ..............oh by the way to add a little more spice to that scenario above the pilot could very well have been asleep & required to be flight ready within half an hr of a phone call!!!!..........try being awoken up in the middle of the night, flight planning (with an alternate that at times is interstate only) to a small country strip with a full medical team onboard & on yr own (pilot wise) handling a 5.6 tonne plane with the added pressure that somebody out there needs urgent medical assistance.........yeah sure a lot of pilots could do the task as described but most go fly (therefor leaving the RFDS short of suitable applicants) a far more 'known' job with assitance at every corner called RPT with less entry experience, RPT, what I would call "Realitve Passive Transport" !
Flying careers in OZ are & will for the forseeable future I believe be available in one form or another, but like all things in life, someobody out there believes there's always a better way to build a mouse trap as in with less resources & therefor moves the goal posts to create a new playing field!:-)
capt wally:-)
This is a typcal Eg...........at night, CB's at every corner or the radar screen, turbulence like you wouldn't believe, rain pelting down with incredible intensity, more ice on the airframe than what used to be in Dean Martins booze.......sometimes HF radio comms only (marginal at the best of times) PAL lighting way out west where the surounding image seems like it's been painted onto a blackboard that's moving around like a jack rabbit toy at an ammusment park with only an NDB approach available (if yr lucky otherwise is was only a visual approach) to the happless pilot with a x wind that feels like it's out there to get you, ..............oh by the way to add a little more spice to that scenario above the pilot could very well have been asleep & required to be flight ready within half an hr of a phone call!!!!..........try being awoken up in the middle of the night, flight planning (with an alternate that at times is interstate only) to a small country strip with a full medical team onboard & on yr own (pilot wise) handling a 5.6 tonne plane with the added pressure that somebody out there needs urgent medical assistance.........yeah sure a lot of pilots could do the task as described but most go fly (therefor leaving the RFDS short of suitable applicants) a far more 'known' job with assitance at every corner called RPT with less entry experience, RPT, what I would call "Realitve Passive Transport" !
Flying careers in OZ are & will for the forseeable future I believe be available in one form or another, but like all things in life, someobody out there believes there's always a better way to build a mouse trap as in with less resources & therefor moves the goal posts to create a new playing field!:-)
capt wally:-)
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Shortage???
I would be VERY surprised if there is a shortage of applicants for the RFDS jobs.
I can remember (a long time ago) when there were 175 on the list for Central Section. There are probably less hours in the logbooks of the wannabies now, but Iwould be very surprised if there are not some experienced bush pilots there.
They are generally rewarded better than the average GA pilot (and better than the award), but much, much less than ANY airline pilot, and generally the rosters are chaotic.(due to insufficient staff.)
I can remember (a long time ago) when there were 175 on the list for Central Section. There are probably less hours in the logbooks of the wannabies now, but Iwould be very surprised if there are not some experienced bush pilots there.
They are generally rewarded better than the average GA pilot (and better than the award), but much, much less than ANY airline pilot, and generally the rosters are chaotic.(due to insufficient staff.)