Next Move..
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Aus
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Next Move..
I know how much these posts annoy the regulars but I'm desperately after a lead.
I have just finished my CPL and am looking for a job doing any type of flying (I have a couple hundred TT, + some 210 time). I did the whole north trip but everywhere seemed to of hired already or had a list of people who were already set up in town to choose from next. Spent all my money traveling the north/west coast to no avail. All I need is someone to give me that first 'start'. Sitting around home refreshing afap every 5 minutes, harassing CP's and daytime TV is driving me crazy. I'm happy to relocate anywhere in Australia, sweep hangers, clean planes, low pay whatever.
Just chasing any suggestions on whats my best move from here.
Cheers
I have just finished my CPL and am looking for a job doing any type of flying (I have a couple hundred TT, + some 210 time). I did the whole north trip but everywhere seemed to of hired already or had a list of people who were already set up in town to choose from next. Spent all my money traveling the north/west coast to no avail. All I need is someone to give me that first 'start'. Sitting around home refreshing afap every 5 minutes, harassing CP's and daytime TV is driving me crazy. I'm happy to relocate anywhere in Australia, sweep hangers, clean planes, low pay whatever.
Just chasing any suggestions on whats my best move from here.
Cheers
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Ferchrisake, I was feeling for you until the last line... Don't take low pay! That's the best way to ensure you've got no friends in the industry.
Now, forgetting that you opined that horrible option my suggestion would be to:
A) try again out bush but be methodical (Make database of operators and their info)
B) look to skydiving clubs. If it is truly a club in which nobody is making money then go ahead and volunteer. If it is a profit making business then pilots should get a wage (if not report the scum to the government)
C) never waste flying money. If you need to do circuits to get current do them flapless or with a good crosswind or at night or in something a bit different to what you are used to (<5700 SE Piston covers a lot of aircraft)
D) keep up-to-date on the industry by reading Aust Aviation, the Friday Australian, Flight Safety, PPRuNe, union websites (all of them)
E) talk to your instructors, they will all have mates in the industry and should point you in the right direction
F) don't ever advertise that you will work for low pay!!!
G) never bring the profession down by advertising that you will work for low pay!!!
H) read points F and G aloud until you lose your voice or vomit from repetition-induced naussia.
FRQ CB
Now, forgetting that you opined that horrible option my suggestion would be to:
A) try again out bush but be methodical (Make database of operators and their info)
B) look to skydiving clubs. If it is truly a club in which nobody is making money then go ahead and volunteer. If it is a profit making business then pilots should get a wage (if not report the scum to the government)
C) never waste flying money. If you need to do circuits to get current do them flapless or with a good crosswind or at night or in something a bit different to what you are used to (<5700 SE Piston covers a lot of aircraft)
D) keep up-to-date on the industry by reading Aust Aviation, the Friday Australian, Flight Safety, PPRuNe, union websites (all of them)
E) talk to your instructors, they will all have mates in the industry and should point you in the right direction
F) don't ever advertise that you will work for low pay!!!
G) never bring the profession down by advertising that you will work for low pay!!!
H) read points F and G aloud until you lose your voice or vomit from repetition-induced naussia.
FRQ CB
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Your best bet would probably be to pack your bags and actually move to where the jobs are. Get a job at Coles and get to know the local operators and pilots. Show them that you are serious. You just have to join that list of people who are already set up in town! Do this (and keep looking for jobs elsewhere at the same time) and your chances should be improved dramatically.
Beats Oprah anyway!
Beats Oprah anyway!
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Pack the car
yes the blind leap of faith to move and set your self up in town is the best way to go. Nobody in GA will hire a low hour pilot from half way around the country if they know they have someone in town who could start line training tomorrow. I did it in darwin to get my start and it's a good yarn to tell later on when your set up.
As for working for low pay. I've done it, I'm not proud of it, but I've done it. At the time it was the only way for me to get started and as soon at another opportunity came up it was gooooooone! Low paying employers are the scum of the earth, but pilots who work for them are just despite!
EDIT: Networking is a great way to get a foot in the door. If a young jobseeker came to me and asked if they could shout me a beer on a Friday arvo, firstly I'd know their a good, keen, outgoing person and second I couldn't refuse!
Good luck!
As for working for low pay. I've done it, I'm not proud of it, but I've done it. At the time it was the only way for me to get started and as soon at another opportunity came up it was gooooooone! Low paying employers are the scum of the earth, but pilots who work for them are just despite!
EDIT: Networking is a great way to get a foot in the door. If a young jobseeker came to me and asked if they could shout me a beer on a Friday arvo, firstly I'd know their a good, keen, outgoing person and second I couldn't refuse!
Good luck!
Last edited by beat ups are fun; 7th Apr 2011 at 04:04. Reason: forgot sumfing
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As Beat Ups said, you can't expect an employer to hire you from the other side of the country.
I would get calls from low hour pilots looking for that first break, and would tell them that, 'I can't employ a pilot over the phone, but if you are here, your chances greatly increase, but not telling you to come up here... that is your desicion.'
There are some who are lucky and some that have to wait, but persistance will pay off one day!
I would get calls from low hour pilots looking for that first break, and would tell them that, 'I can't employ a pilot over the phone, but if you are here, your chances greatly increase, but not telling you to come up here... that is your desicion.'
There are some who are lucky and some that have to wait, but persistance will pay off one day!
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you could try for a job as an airborne computer operator with a survey company. I know one company crying out for crew right now. If you get on well with the pilot im sure you'd be able to do a bit of ferry here and there, maybe log 5 or 6 hours a week, possibly more until you get your 500TT for insurance. If the CP likes you you should get a flying job easily enough.
Operator pay is only about $1400 a week +expenses but its prob a bit better than some of the charter jobs pay and gives you good experience into the world of commercial aviation.
Operator pay is only about $1400 a week +expenses but its prob a bit better than some of the charter jobs pay and gives you good experience into the world of commercial aviation.
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Thanks heaps for the advice. I'll follow a few leads and look into the possibility of saving some money then setting course for a town to bunker down...
cheers
gearup.
cheers
gearup.
Gearup, a couple of points,
If you move north get a truck license first, plenty of work that pays well and a lot more fun than being a check out chic.
What Aileron says is a fact.
Ok, four points but I digress
If you move north get a truck license first, plenty of work that pays well and a lot more fun than being a check out chic.
What Aileron says is a fact.
Ok, four points but I digress
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never work for free or low pay or we will hunt you down and beat you.
TM
The offensive part of that post has now been removed. I trust a lesson has been learnt by the author of that post on what is not acceptable.
Tail Wheel
Did not realize that comment would be taken seriously, apologies if any offence taken.
At least Gearup has done a trip to check out the scene and for that I have respect and wish him/her well
At least Gearup has done a trip to check out the scene and for that I have respect and wish him/her well
In this game you're dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.
If you don't work below the award to get those charter hours to move onto a better operator, someone else will and you'll miss out (from my experience, someone on student loan money from over the tasman).
Sad but true.
We can all sit back and throw stones, or we can give a leg up and help out. I was lucky, I got an award paying job straight up. Many didn't.
If faced myself with the current economic situation with plenty of low time guys around and not a lot of movement, who knows, I'd like to think I'd hold my integrity, but if I'd been hanging around for a long time with no opportunities....who knows.
I think the emphasis though should not be on the Pilots taking these positions, some are pretty desperate and need to succeed. I'd be more inclined to name and shame the operators who perpetuate it, and get a change in their attitudes. The events of a few years ago was a bit of a shock to many of them. Competition was fierce and most operators started to pay the award. Some slightly more. Progression was pretty quick and they learnt you didn't need a couple of de-orbit burns and a moon landing to fly a Partenavia.
The next boom (and it will come in a few years) will be good, if you can hang on that long
If you don't work below the award to get those charter hours to move onto a better operator, someone else will and you'll miss out (from my experience, someone on student loan money from over the tasman).
Sad but true.
We can all sit back and throw stones, or we can give a leg up and help out. I was lucky, I got an award paying job straight up. Many didn't.
If faced myself with the current economic situation with plenty of low time guys around and not a lot of movement, who knows, I'd like to think I'd hold my integrity, but if I'd been hanging around for a long time with no opportunities....who knows.
I think the emphasis though should not be on the Pilots taking these positions, some are pretty desperate and need to succeed. I'd be more inclined to name and shame the operators who perpetuate it, and get a change in their attitudes. The events of a few years ago was a bit of a shock to many of them. Competition was fierce and most operators started to pay the award. Some slightly more. Progression was pretty quick and they learnt you didn't need a couple of de-orbit burns and a moon landing to fly a Partenavia.
The next boom (and it will come in a few years) will be good, if you can hang on that long
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I know working for free/low pay brings down the whole industry but at the moment if I'm not paying 300 p/h to fly a C210... I'm technically making $300 a hour.
