Should I go North or become an Instructor?
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Should I go North or become an Instructor?
Completing my Commercial Licence in a few weeks, I have come to what seems as a major cross-road in my career. Now I have done some training, what do I do now.
Some people say travel north to Karratha or Broome, but I have heard of pilots being beer-hags up there.
Others say become an Instructor, but where I would complete this training wont guarentee me a job, in fact they say only 2 or 3 out of the 8 will be employed.
So where from here?
If anyone has any advice please tell.
For some reason I feel that this is the $64,000 question in which everyone wants the answer.
Does anyone know of job vacancies in the North of Western Aus??
Cheers
Serengeti [email protected] Winter its cold, rainy and due cloud we fly 3/5days. Climb performance is great and there are no flies.
Summer its HOT, fly everyday but its bumpy, flies bug the **** out of ya and sweaty pits dont turn no testing officer on.
How do pilots win?
Some people say travel north to Karratha or Broome, but I have heard of pilots being beer-hags up there.
Others say become an Instructor, but where I would complete this training wont guarentee me a job, in fact they say only 2 or 3 out of the 8 will be employed.
So where from here?
If anyone has any advice please tell.
For some reason I feel that this is the $64,000 question in which everyone wants the answer.
Does anyone know of job vacancies in the North of Western Aus??
Cheers
Serengeti [email protected] Winter its cold, rainy and due cloud we fly 3/5days. Climb performance is great and there are no flies.
Summer its HOT, fly everyday but its bumpy, flies bug the **** out of ya and sweaty pits dont turn no testing officer on.
How do pilots win?
Go and be an instructor. I now have 2000hrs and regret not doing instructor rating for the sake of Multi-Engine Training approval-Check and Training approval.
Try and find a school where there will be only a few pilots for the instructor course.
Try and find a school where there will be only a few pilots for the instructor course.
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Phone 0412241483 for some 206 time around Lake Ayre. (beg, steel, borrow, your the man, sell yourself!). After 2 years of that head to PNG for two years. After that, all the crap thats going on in this industry at the moment will be over and, you might get a good job in OZ. Above all enjoy the years it takes to fill your logbook. Money will be tight but that cannot be avoided, remember these are the years you will look back on, later. If you know where your going you WILL get there. Trust me I know! But you must know, not think. 
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Seriously, do not listen to anyone but yourself. Only you know whether or not you will be a great Instructor. As for heading North, anyone who has time to be a beer guzzler does not have the motivation to go further. Sure a social drink or three is great on day's off, so is a game of Golf.
The need for good quality Instructors, that have the time for people is high, I say if you want to be one of the 3 or 4 chosen instructors, be a people person and put the left hand seat of the jet to one side for a while and consentrate on passing on knowledge. If you choose "UP NORTH", you will not regret it, you will experience some very facinating things, you will use the many hours of practise W&B chart calculations, you will use the short field APP and landing techniques you have learned, and guess what?, you will use plenty of sun burn cream, drink litres of water and see some terrific sights.
As for getting a job, your own motivation is your best tool, be inovative and learn from knock backs, it's great practice for the major interviews.
P.S My $200 pair of Serengetti's are worth their weight in gold.
The need for good quality Instructors, that have the time for people is high, I say if you want to be one of the 3 or 4 chosen instructors, be a people person and put the left hand seat of the jet to one side for a while and consentrate on passing on knowledge. If you choose "UP NORTH", you will not regret it, you will experience some very facinating things, you will use the many hours of practise W&B chart calculations, you will use the short field APP and landing techniques you have learned, and guess what?, you will use plenty of sun burn cream, drink litres of water and see some terrific sights.
As for getting a job, your own motivation is your best tool, be inovative and learn from knock backs, it's great practice for the major interviews.
P.S My $200 pair of Serengetti's are worth their weight in gold.
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Dude, do whatever you need to do to get that first job! If that is an instructor rating to get an instructing job, or packing your life into the back of a 5hitbox 80's ford station wagon and heading north for scenic/charter work.
An instructing job can be easier to get with zero hours, but you'll do little flying. That said, stick it out for a year and try to save some money, then head north and those 200 odd hours of circuits and x-countries will make getting a scenic/charter job that much easier.
Both jobs have pros and cons, both are a means to an end.
The first job is always the hardest to get.
The first 1000 hours are always the hardest to get.
Good luck
Jex
An instructing job can be easier to get with zero hours, but you'll do little flying. That said, stick it out for a year and try to save some money, then head north and those 200 odd hours of circuits and x-countries will make getting a scenic/charter job that much easier.
Both jobs have pros and cons, both are a means to an end.
The first job is always the hardest to get.
The first 1000 hours are always the hardest to get.
Good luck
Jex
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intructing can get looked down upon in the charter scene and the working conditions aren't necessarily any better. however intructing can mean you get to stay closer to home rather than 6000 kms away. either way it's not an easy road. good luck though, it's a character building experience.
Some good comments above.
I like you and many others was faced with the same choice. i was all set to go North, when an opportunity came to instruct. I took that as it was work and I could stay in my home town.
18 months later with 900TT I then went north, and had the time of my life. The skills I learned instructing were valuable, but also 1500 hours in the outback taught me even more.
On a personal level, there is nothing like looking at a map of Australia and knowing that you have seen just about every square foot of terrain north of a line between Cairns and Broome. There is a world of adventure up there, and a fascinating insight into our country. As someone said in another thread, Australia does not stop west of Katoomba. Having said that, not everyone is prepared to deal with the hardships to get the rewards.
It is up to you. Whatever decision you make follow it with vigour and enjoy the highs. If you do go north, email me and I can give you a bit of advice that you will need before you go.
Good luck!
I like you and many others was faced with the same choice. i was all set to go North, when an opportunity came to instruct. I took that as it was work and I could stay in my home town.
18 months later with 900TT I then went north, and had the time of my life. The skills I learned instructing were valuable, but also 1500 hours in the outback taught me even more.
On a personal level, there is nothing like looking at a map of Australia and knowing that you have seen just about every square foot of terrain north of a line between Cairns and Broome. There is a world of adventure up there, and a fascinating insight into our country. As someone said in another thread, Australia does not stop west of Katoomba. Having said that, not everyone is prepared to deal with the hardships to get the rewards.
It is up to you. Whatever decision you make follow it with vigour and enjoy the highs. If you do go north, email me and I can give you a bit of advice that you will need before you go.
Good luck!
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I would like to quickly thank all above for posting some invaluable comments.
I general idea seems to be to do both. Start off as an instructor and then "go North".
This is what I think I will do, but most of all I am sure I will enjoy every minute of it.
Thanks all VERY much for some great help.
Cheers
Cam
P.S. My Serengeti's have saved me MANY times including when I had to land in Karratha, directly into the sun at 5:45pm.
Thanks again to all.
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: Serengeti ]
I general idea seems to be to do both. Start off as an instructor and then "go North".
This is what I think I will do, but most of all I am sure I will enjoy every minute of it.
Thanks all VERY much for some great help.
Cheers
Cam
P.S. My Serengeti's have saved me MANY times including when I had to land in Karratha, directly into the sun at 5:45pm.
Thanks again to all.
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: Serengeti ]
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serengetti, Instructors are in short supply. I know a school that needs instructors for Dec/Jan and can't get them. Weather permitting, they'll do 120-150 hours, and yet can't get even 1 out of 10 full time students to commit to an Instructor Rating. The work's there if you look hard enough
G'day tealady,
Please check your private messages.
Cheers,
TL
Please check your private messages.
Cheers,
TL
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I would tend to agree with Chimbu on this one, If you go North with instructing experience, that in itself may be a barrier, us bitter and twisted charter pilots are somewhat envious of the instructors that stay in civilisation ( stereo type ) while we live with our indigenous " Brothers " in stiffling heat and **** conditions.
In my opinion the thing you really need to understand about the whole charter experience is that generally you will not get yourself a job with 202.6 hours as opposed to someone with 187.3 hours, but the other things you can do, wash planes, work in the hangar, spray paint, drive a bus, talk to large groups of people, type letters, answer phones, get under the desk for the boss......... ( did I say that out loud ? ).
In my opinion the thing you really need to understand about the whole charter experience is that generally you will not get yourself a job with 202.6 hours as opposed to someone with 187.3 hours, but the other things you can do, wash planes, work in the hangar, spray paint, drive a bus, talk to large groups of people, type letters, answer phones, get under the desk for the boss......... ( did I say that out loud ? ).
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g'day mate,
goodluck in whatever you do, but this message is from someone very close to your situation......
i have been out of flying for 8 years then at the start of the year realised that i had waisted all those years for nothing.
i got my instructors rating and really understood what flying was all about, in regards to a technical point of view.great experience that i will always treasure, and great fun to boot. However my mistake was, apart from being born many will argue is that i didn't stick with instructing and headed north, where i am now.
north has been an experience in itself the knockbacks are incredible, they just keep rolling in, but don't let that dishearten you, i only have 400 hrs TT. and i have to be selective with where i go for work as i have a family. i have been up here for a couple of months now and am breaking into new territory finally. flying is great up here,and fun.good luck
goodluck in whatever you do, but this message is from someone very close to your situation......
i have been out of flying for 8 years then at the start of the year realised that i had waisted all those years for nothing.
i got my instructors rating and really understood what flying was all about, in regards to a technical point of view.great experience that i will always treasure, and great fun to boot. However my mistake was, apart from being born many will argue is that i didn't stick with instructing and headed north, where i am now.
north has been an experience in itself the knockbacks are incredible, they just keep rolling in, but don't let that dishearten you, i only have 400 hrs TT. and i have to be selective with where i go for work as i have a family. i have been up here for a couple of months now and am breaking into new territory finally. flying is great up here,and fun.good luck
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I'll agree with CS, going North is very valuable experience that you'll always look back on with a smile.
A certain C401 at the Holding point at DN in the heat for 20 minutes will be forever burned in my mind, eyes, etc etc
I've just been back to the UK to meet mates that have done barely a tenth of the time and who have nothing to compare.....
Go North.
Ground Zero is more than phreaky. All the lost souls looking for release....
A certain C401 at the Holding point at DN in the heat for 20 minutes will be forever burned in my mind, eyes, etc etc
I've just been back to the UK to meet mates that have done barely a tenth of the time and who have nothing to compare.....
Go North.
Ground Zero is more than phreaky. All the lost souls looking for release....
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Instruct first. Just think about it. By doing the instructing first you'll establish yourself with correct techniques from the start and you WILL appreciate the instructing experience 10-15 years down the track when doing the same in Airlines.
If you go North now, you'll probably never get back to instructing in GA and the opportunity will be missed. If you do instruct after going North, you may have to unlearn some bad habits picked along the way.
Instructing straight after your basic Commercial is a good way to cement the teaching you've received so far.
If you go North now, you'll probably never get back to instructing in GA and the opportunity will be missed. If you do instruct after going North, you may have to unlearn some bad habits picked along the way.
Instructing straight after your basic Commercial is a good way to cement the teaching you've received so far.
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Have to agree with CS and Fission too-go North.It may not always seem like it at the time, but it is a great learning curve,some good times are to be had,and it will all stay with you for a long time.
BTW Fission, I thought the nose would be the most severely burned sitting in K** for 20 mins in the heat, full of locals.
I think Stallie also has an image burned into HIS memory involving some women in tribal markings melting in the heat of that same fine piece of aviation history.
BTW Fission, I thought the nose would be the most severely burned sitting in K** for 20 mins in the heat, full of locals.
I think Stallie also has an image burned into HIS memory involving some women in tribal markings melting in the heat of that same fine piece of aviation history.
Ahhh the memories.
A november day and waiting the usual 23 mins for a taxi clearance from DN GND.
There being no ventilation system in said aircraft, the temp was somewhere around 60 inside.
Perspiring lady in tribal paint seated in the co-pilots seat leans over and says loudly above the noise of 2 continentals... "It's so hot my clay is running!"
A november day and waiting the usual 23 mins for a taxi clearance from DN GND.
There being no ventilation system in said aircraft, the temp was somewhere around 60 inside.
Perspiring lady in tribal paint seated in the co-pilots seat leans over and says loudly above the noise of 2 continentals... "It's so hot my clay is running!"
