Kiwi Pilots what is there to do?

[bournebourne]

I currently work for an Ag company in New Zealand and want to become a Topdressing Pilot. I would like to get a few more hours before I do my Ag Rating due to the danger involved. I was thinking Meatbombing or something along those lines. Has anyone got any suggestions? Ill go anywhere and do anything basically being young and single... Have a fresh CPL and im doing Instrument Rating and multi engine just in case.

[iceberglead]

You will find that aviation in general is not what it used to be. When I first started flying, most pilots had humour, boose, smokes, honour and tradition. That is all but gone now. Lots of cutthroat assholes in the mix now. Good luck.

[screwballburling]

You could do worse than do an instructor rating. Although there won't be as much "hands on" flying but you do become quite a polished pilot, with less bad habits.

I knew of a guy years ago and that is exactly what he did. He was also one of the few in those days that was taken straight on and trained as an Ag pilot.

[toolowtoofast]

yeah cause meatbombing is safe....

[bournebourne]

Thanks for that guys...
Meatbombing is safer than Ag.
I have basically done my loader driving years etc and I could get an Ag rating in the next few years if i put my head down but i really would like to get some more hours up first. I have thought long and hard about instructing, im really not the kind of person to be an instructor but if all else fails i might have too. The company im with at the moment definitely still has those aspects to it (booze, smokes etc). The average age of all the pilots is 58/59 so there will be guys moving on soon.

[speedrestriction]

I'm dying to know what meatbombing is. Some sort of herding?

[seneca208]

I'm dying to know what meatbombing is. Some sort of herding?

Skydiver drops.

[Johnny Redd]

To turn this thread slightly on it's head, what job opportunities, if any, are there for UK pilots in NZ???

Ignoring the current dip in demand, what hoops would a reasonably experienced and well rated Jet P1 have to jump through to earn a salary and what might that salary be???

I've always assumed that it would be impossible to get through the immigration barriers but thought i'd ask anyway as at least one UK newspaper reported this week that New Zealand tops the 'quality of life' poll for UK expats

[haughtney1]

Johnny, as ever mate, the first hoop you need to jump through is the work visa/immigration one.
If you aren't able to do that, then all the rest is irrelevant.

[bournebourne]

Depending on the hours you have and what you want to do...?

Anyone got any ideas of how to get a quick 200hours in New Zealand?
Does anyone know anything about float planes in Alaska, requirements etc?

Cheers