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Airline Pilot re-employment ?

Old 24th Oct 2020, 01:13
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Airline Pilot re-employment ?

For those of you who have lost their job with an Airline or can plainly see they are about to (like me) can you tell me what jobs you have found or realistically would like to do?
I'm an 18,000 hr heavy jet Pilot & I know my career as an Airline Pilot will be over very soon, I doubt I'll be flying ever again.
I'm too young to retire but no job seems to hold any real appeal for me. For those that have gone through this already, what are you doing for work or planning to do ?
Given the type of person who operates a Jet & has only ever flown for a living and considering my obvious skill set, does anyone have a bright ideas?
I don't need an immediate income but I'm ruined unless I can come up with a decent alternative to flying as I have young children to care for as well.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 01:33
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There are two things to consider with your question. Do want a job with similar remuneration to your flying job, or just any job that puts food on the table and you want make you die of boredom/monotony?

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Old 24th Oct 2020, 01:40
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You will probably need to relocate if you want to maintain any form of flying job, albeit with a large pay drop, which I know for many is not an option. Those I know who have got a flying job were mainly newer FOs who had recent ties to these companies and were taken back on.

Perhaps truck driving? Know a few doing that right now. Otherwise everyone else appears to be in Retail or Health.

If your after something long term, I would be looking at some form a trade.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 01:59
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How old are you ? With 18 000 hours I’ll take a guess at 50+, same as me. Unfortunately at our age it’s a bit late to start out in a new profession which requires 5 years training and a few more years experience before the $$$ start to become meaningful.

If you have the flair for it, being a salesman offers good income potential with little training required. Otherwise driving jobs always come up, if you can take 12 hour shifts FIFO on the mines in WA can get you $110 000 a year
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 02:50
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From personal experience (not a Pilot of course), chasing the $$$'s was the wrong move for me after AN. After maybe 15 years, I found myself in a senior role in a dead boring job thinking 'WTF am I doing here?' I wont elaborate on the personal issues that ensued but I managed to get back into Aviation where I'm definitely happier.

We all have a unique set of needs & it's a good start to seek advice but make sure you move in a direction that will meet your needs & keep you and the family sane. Don't compromise too much.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 03:08
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i am a pilot based in Japan, still have a job. I loose my job , i plan to become an amazon delivery driver . That will keep food on the table and pay the rent . prior to flying i was a aircraft mechanic, so maybe look at using those skills ie car shop.Over my 20 years of flying , i have always gone back to aircraft engineering as back stop, but this time it wont be an option.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 05:09
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Originally Posted by Busbitch
but no job seems to hold any real appeal for me.
Here’s some starters for what particular jobs you may be suited to:

https://joboutlook.gov.au/career-tools/career-quiz
https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/careers/career-quiz
https://www.training.com.au/ed/career-quiz/
https://www.careerexplorer.com/career-test/

Use the many resources available from the government at:
https://jobsearch.gov.au/serviceproviders
https://jobactive.gov.au/
https://jobsearch.gov.au/career-transition-assistance

Look at Seek, what are the in demand vacancies atm?, look at the training courses, TAFE, Uni and other RTO courses. Search for in demand occupations that require minimal training for a start. Franchising? Small business? Google for “career transition assistance”?
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 06:15
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Originally Posted by krismiler
How old are you ? With 18 000 hours I’ll take a guess at 50+, same as me. Unfortunately at our age it’s a bit late to start out in a new profession which requires 5 years training and a few more years experience before the $$$ start to become meaningful.

If you have the flair for it, being a salesman offers good income potential with little training required. Otherwise driving jobs always come up, if you can take 12 hour shifts FIFO on the mines in WA can get you $110 000 a year
I'm late 40's, I'm fit & motivated. I won't do FIFO though, not with young kids. If I could make near $100k (less than half my previous pay check) I would be happy. I know that sounds a bit entitled but I feel like I'm worth more than a job pushing a fork lift. I'm happy to invest some time or money to get there as I reckon I got another 15 years in the workforce, so I'm trying to think of something outside of the box, sales is a good suggestion.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 06:18
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Almost all local governments have an emergency management division. It is an environment we are well suited, have many of the desired qualities and you can work your way up through the ranks.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 06:36
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Not sure where you are located, and note that you have young children to look after.... so, might not be for you... but the agricultural sector is desperate for harvest machinery operators at the moment.

Training is provided, no experience is necessary, but it is seasonal and you move north to south following the work the money is ok. You can expect to earn from $27 to $35 an hour as a chaser bin driver or between $32 and $48 in a header. Hours are long an weather dependent.... but you are in a machine with a/c and comfy chair, 99% of the time your are working with a really great crew of ppl from all over.
​​​​​
Some of your existing skills will be very welcome. You would be surprised how transferable things like CRM and the ability to read and interpret weather are.

Another area that needs workers.... but in limited numbers is for loaders in the air ag industry. Worth a few phone calls.

All the best in your search.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 07:08
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This might work for some.
Post 89 as a 38 year old with a young family and a VERY supporting wife, overseas was not for us.
Moved to mid north coast NSW after selling our home in WA, with all our pooled money, not much, we bought a run down business. We had no experience but were passionate about it, had to, our balls / ovaries where on the line.
We worked very, very hard, she in admin and money gymnastics, I in sales and running the show. We looked after the staff and the customers, this is key. After 8 years we bought the Real Estate and redeveloped on a shoe string.
At 52 sold the business and kept the Real Estate and retired.
Not for everyone but it might work for some.


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Old 24th Oct 2020, 07:52
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I’m stood down. Applied and got a delivery driver job in the inner west in Sydney off seek. Only stood out because I was seen to be grossly over qualified. Deliver glass to worksite. $30/hr. Offered full time, chose to do 4 days a week. I work with great people and enjoy the change. Sleeping in your bed at night and taking a packed lunches are nice novelties.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 08:06
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I was at Woolworths (still am- casual) whilst stood down, prior to returning back to limited flying recently, Store Managers earn around 130k plus car, Assistant Store Manager 100k. Department managers around 90k. Most seemed to be jumping the promotional ladder fairy quickly. I guess the best bit is can be very close to home (well for me was 7 minutes and can leave home like 10 minutes before sign on). Seemed to be many opportunities in that company, quite the opposite to this industry. Culture and staff engagement left our company for dead, many things we could learn of these operators. Was always ongoing vacancies In Management they told me, just a nature or the business, as people cycle the promotional ladder in the company.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 08:23
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but the agricultural sector is desperate for harvest machinery operators at the moment.



https://www.theguardian.com/business...stralias-farms

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/progr...eing-to-baling
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 11:35
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Originally Posted by PoppaJo
I was at Woolworths (still am- casual) whilst stood down, prior to returning back to limited flying recently, Store Managers earn around 130k plus car, Assistant Store Manager 100k. Department managers around 90k. Most seemed to be jumping the promotional ladder fairy quickly. I guess the best bit is can be very close to home (well for me was 7 minutes and can leave home like 10 minutes before sign on). Seemed to be many opportunities in that company, quite the opposite to this industry. Culture and staff engagement left our company for dead, many things we could learn of these operators. Was always ongoing vacancies In Management they told me, just a nature or the business, as people cycle the promotional ladder in the company.
I’ll second this idea. Woolies was my second job for 5 years early in my career. I briefly explored the idea of climbing the corporate ladder when I struggled to get my flying career going.

In house training, opportunities to move between stores as well (anywhere within Australia, I transferred between NT and QLD twice).
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 11:36
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Aircraft refueller
Airline Flight Planner
Airport Apron Controller (on the radio talking to planes between gate and ATC demark point)
Airport safety officer (covers many facets of the airport)
Air Traffic Controller (get paid while training depending on your country, 1 year, AU and UK yes you do)
Technical document writer

Train Driver
Sea port pilot (on the tugs)
Port planner (scheduling ships and container loads)
Operations Manager (on anything)

If you have a Space industry in your country, the job opportunities are numerous and the scope is accelerating. Rocketlabs here in NZ is advertising nonstop.
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Old 24th Oct 2020, 20:59
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I can second what others have said about the ag industry, seems to be quite a demand there.

Also in heavy transport. I was fortunate to have worked in this field prior to getting a pilot license so that helped to get back in to it.

There is a real shortage of decent people to operate this equipment. It is more than just driving down the road however. Loading and securing freight. Fatigue rules and which roads one can drive a certain combination on are all daily challenges. I would say pilots are very suited to this work but one does need an M/C or at least H/C license.

Most towns have several freight companies so it should be relatively straight forward to go down to one and have a chat.

I am operating a road train or b-double and grossing between 2 and 3 k a week.
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Old 25th Oct 2020, 01:35
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Some really good info in here thanks guys. I understand many of the Airline employee help websites, phone numbers & assistance resources have seen a three fold increase in demand the last six months. Time to put aside petty & corporate disputes for a bit & help out some of our colleagues, some I know are really struggling & some are really falling apart. Keep any suggestions coming, not just for my sake, regards.
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Old 25th Oct 2020, 02:40
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Originally Posted by Busbitch
For those of you who have lost their job with an Airline or can plainly see they are about to (like me) can you tell me what jobs you have found or realistically would like to do?
I'm an 18,000 hr heavy jet Pilot & I know my career as an Airline Pilot will be over very soon, I doubt I'll be flying ever again.
I'm too young to retire but no job seems to hold any real appeal for me. For those that have gone through this already, what are you doing for work or planning to do ?
Given the type of person who operates a Jet & has only ever flown for a living and considering my obvious skill set, does anyone have a bright ideas?
I don't need an immediate income but I'm ruined unless I can come up with a decent alternative to flying as I have young children to care for as well.
flight schedules in China are back to pre corona levels & flights are full, if you can believe news coming out of china.

USA deaths rates haven't actually increased, just instead of dying from flu, they die from corona.

Things will be back to normal soon. How long no one knows, but suggest all surviving airlines will be back to normal within 6 to 12 months.

Stop reading all the garbage in the media about cases of corona. Cases mean nothing & deaths are only in the vulnerable.

Will you have to take a pay cut ? Probably, but that's partly due to recession which we had to have.
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Old 25th Oct 2020, 08:31
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Getaway. Why don’t you ditto. Permanently.
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