Australian Airline Pilot: Respected Profession or 'Noose around your Neck'
That really depends on domicile, some states are great, others you will get stung on payroll tax. But that being said, even the worst state would be better than the amount of tax we pay in Australia, when you add on all the hidden taxes we pay as well. Also depending on your level of investments the tax return system is very different with the IRS. Then everything is cheaper (depending on state taxes that is), cars, travel, basic food and housing. Just make sure you have a good health insurance plan, again nothing that's extra to what we pay in Australia, as most pilots will be required to have private insurance or pay medicare levies, however if you skimp on insurance in the US you will be facing huge bills if you attend hospital, and may not even get into some places in a timely manner (or at all) without insurance.
That really depends on domicile, some states are great, others you will get stung on payroll tax. But that being said, even the worst state would be better than the amount of tax we pay in Australia, when you add on all the hidden taxes we pay as well. Also depending on your level of investments the tax return system is very different with the IRS.
Local currency compared to local living costs is the important factor, however most of us understand that in general living costs in the USA are lower than in Australia. So if the US pilots are being paid much better than Australian pilots after conversion, then they are doing much, much better when compared to living costs. So the point still stands that Australia is far behind them in real terms.
PS the US "smallest aircraft" hourly rate for the US airlines is an A220 or A319, not a widebody. The US "largest aircraft" payrates are for 787/777 or A350 no where near as big as an A380.
PS the US "smallest aircraft" hourly rate for the US airlines is an A220 or A319, not a widebody. The US "largest aircraft" payrates are for 787/777 or A350 no where near as big as an A380.
Thread Starter
Purchasing power parities (PPPs) are the rates of currency conversion that try to equalise the purchasing power of different currencies, by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries. The basket of goods and services priced is a sample of all those that are part of final expenditures: final consumption of households and government, fixed capital formation, and net exports. This indicator is measured in terms of national currency per US dollar.
Here is the data for the last 10 years - it is evident that in 2022 A$1.419 buys you the same as US$1.00.
So, if you want to know what you should be earning in Australia, in order to have Purchasing Power Parity with your US peers, simply take their US$ rates x 1.419
Not saying the US is a better place to live, or not - but merely comparing like for like in the profession.
Last edited by RealSatoshi; 13th Aug 2023 at 15:22.
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On the coin those airline pilots are on now, the USA is definitely a better place to live. It really is a place where if you have money you can use it, granted there's a few more nuts around, but most of the problems with living in the USA is when you are at the lower end of the income spectrum. As a pilot there's really no better place to be, the GA and Warbird scene is unparalleled, airshows everywhere, cheap planes, lots of places to fly, FBOs to look after you, no CASA, other flying folk are friendly and down to earth.
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Thread Starter
Could it be that the proverbial 'Noose' is slowly unravelling - Advertising for Pilots at the Woolies entrance must be a new LOW 
Last edited by RealSatoshi; 15th Aug 2023 at 02:22.
Advertising for Pilots at the Woolies entrance
Plenty of ex-Qantas employees are doing fulfilling work for Woolies and other supermarkets.
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More questions than answers RS.
Is a ‘Replenishment Associate’ a bartender?
HTF is ‘Team Member’ a job title?
WTF do ‘Night Team Members’ get paid $2 a month less than ‘Team Members’?
I’m somewhat relieved a Dash 8 captain is paid more than the bakery manager at Woolies. No wonder QANTAS is try to recruit there.
Is a ‘Replenishment Associate’ a bartender?
HTF is ‘Team Member’ a job title?
WTF do ‘Night Team Members’ get paid $2 a month less than ‘Team Members’?
I’m somewhat relieved a Dash 8 captain is paid more than the bakery manager at Woolies. No wonder QANTAS is try to recruit there.
Cross post from US thread
A QLink equivalent US regional is now offering USD$175000 signing bonuses for direct entry captains, plus a USD$50k yearly retention bonus. No reason Aus carriers shouldn't be offering something similar for an ever shrinking talent pool. This hits a little harder than a Woolies ad 
A QLink equivalent US regional is now offering USD$175000 signing bonuses for direct entry captains, plus a USD$50k yearly retention bonus. No reason Aus carriers shouldn't be offering something similar for an ever shrinking talent pool. This hits a little harder than a Woolies ad
Doubt that there is any way to get around this FAA requirement….
The last Dash 8 operator that I flew for in Australia baulked at my request for a salary increase when I fronted management. The discussion went quickly south immediately after I made my demands, that were reasonable.
I’d already made my mind up before the meeting if I didn’t get what I wanted. My resignation immediately followed! And I wasn’t the first one to do this.
Most of the regionals will not negotiate, even if your only trying to get a donut.
Last edited by Duck Pilot; 16th Aug 2023 at 20:41.
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What about those who haven’t got the 1,000 hours flying on a FAA licence to sit in the left chair? Even though they have 1,000s of hours on type in the left chair operating under a foreign licence.
Doubt that there is any way to get around this FAA requirement….
The last Dash 8 operator that I flew for in Australia baulked at the my request for a salary increase when I fronted management. The discussion went quickly south immediately after I made my demands, that were reasonable.
I’d already made my mind up before the meeting if I didn’t get what I wanted. My resignation immediately followed! And I wasn’t the first one to do this.
Most of the regionals will not negotiate, even if your only trying to get a donut.
Doubt that there is any way to get around this FAA requirement….
The last Dash 8 operator that I flew for in Australia baulked at the my request for a salary increase when I fronted management. The discussion went quickly south immediately after I made my demands, that were reasonable.
I’d already made my mind up before the meeting if I didn’t get what I wanted. My resignation immediately followed! And I wasn’t the first one to do this.
Most of the regionals will not negotiate, even if your only trying to get a donut.
I also think it's interesting that Rex is offering their $30k signing bonus. It's the same thing the US regionals started doing in 2017, and the dollar amount is even almost the same. Can't help but wonder if in 6 years from now we'll see the same gains in Aus as the US has had in that timeframe.
*read the fine print of signing bonuses, not all that glitters etc...*
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Thread Starter
It is being reported that Qantas is close to ordering an as yet undisclosed number of Boeing 787-10's as a replacement for it's ageing Airbus A330 fleet:
Qantas Airways nears new Boeing 787 widebody order
If this is indeed the case, with the emphasis being that it will be a replacement for the A330 - then it is prudent to raise a few insightful points before the A330 Replacement propaganda machine moves to TOGA Thrust!
Let's start by acknowledging the B787-10 differences when compared to the current B787-9:
Why is this hyperbolic question important - well, here you go:
When comparing the entry level A330, A330/A350 SFF and B787 rates in the current EBA, there is a lot of evidence that some sort of Strategic Imperative will be sought or explored
B787 Captain = A330 Captain +18.36% and A330/A350 SFF Captain +12.73%
B787 First Officer = A330 First Officer + 37.03% and A330/A350 SFF First Officer + 30.49%
We all say times have changed, but have they really - It is difficult to imagine that the company will blindly accept higher crew rates (for the same function aka A330 Replacement
), at the magnitude outlined above, without first exploring other avenues to create yet more downward pressure...
This is not fact, but a hyperbolic opinion for which all should be prepared - who knows what leverage they will pull next.
Qantas Airways nears new Boeing 787 widebody order
If this is indeed the case, with the emphasis being that it will be a replacement for the A330 - then it is prudent to raise a few insightful points before the A330 Replacement propaganda machine moves to TOGA Thrust!
Let's start by acknowledging the B787-10 differences when compared to the current B787-9:
- 5.27m Longer
- 0.1m Higher
- 44 kN more Total Thrust
- 1 292 Nm less Range
- 15% more Pax Capacity (Configuration Dependant)
Why is this hyperbolic question important - well, here you go:
When comparing the entry level A330, A330/A350 SFF and B787 rates in the current EBA, there is a lot of evidence that some sort of Strategic Imperative will be sought or explored
B787 Captain = A330 Captain +18.36% and A330/A350 SFF Captain +12.73%
B787 First Officer = A330 First Officer + 37.03% and A330/A350 SFF First Officer + 30.49%
We all say times have changed, but have they really - It is difficult to imagine that the company will blindly accept higher crew rates (for the same function aka A330 Replacement
), at the magnitude outlined above, without first exploring other avenues to create yet more downward pressure...This is not fact, but a hyperbolic opinion for which all should be prepared - who knows what leverage they will pull next.
Those numbers don’t really account for a few other things. 321XLR is also a 330 replacement. Those crews much cheaper on SH award. All longer range flying done by 787-10 will be cheaper than having 332’s operating eg BNE-LAX. The company has done the Math. Turfing the Old OT rule set is definitely part of equation. It’s actually cheaper to have PSN too.
Those numbers don’t really account for a few other things. 321XLR is also a 330 replacement. Those crews much cheaper on SH award. All longer range flying done by 787-10 will be cheaper than having 332’s operating eg BNE-LAX. The company has done the Math. Turfing the Old OT rule set is definitely part of equation. It’s actually cheaper to have PSN too.
787 FO $285.22 (USD)
787 CA $417.54 (USD)
Even If we ignore buying power, cost of living, exchange rates and taxes; your statement defending QANTAS pay isn’t accurate.