Shortage of instructors in Australia?
 

G'day. As I'm moving to Melbourne on august,I would like to know if it is true the rumor I've heard (and I've read about on this forum) that in OZ there are less instructors than positions available. And if yes,do you think any school would sponsor a non-australian citizen/resident with a FI rating at least for a temporany work visa?

There seems to be a shortage of instructors world wide at the moment. I am not involved in instructing in Aus, so take this with a pinch of salt, but usually cities like Melbourne or Sydney have enough applicants to fill the positions without needing to sponsor people. Go bush and the story might change, I know that China Southern are short, but thats in rural WA...
I know that you said temp visa, so again read into this what you want. But a few years ago pilot qualifications were taken off the skill list for perm visas as there is no shortage of pilots over there.
As I said, I'm no longer over so take the above with what you want. Just remember, where there is a will, there is a way...

Seems to be an instructor shortage in Oz. I was interviewed for an instructing position for CSWAFC in Auckland. They were also interviewing in Wellington. Found out today I'm in. Sweet!

I also see Flight Training Adelaide are after instructors too.

:* :* Your geographical knowledge is a little lacking Pomme, :( China Southern fly out of Jandakot which is definitely NOT rural WA! :* It is a short drive or, better still, Park and Ride from Perth City centre. I have absolutely NO idea about who may or may not need FIs in Oz but West Oz is a lovely part of Australia. :ok:

Big shortage in sydney.

China Southern operate from Merredin, which is about three hours drive east of Perth, as well as Jandakot.

You'd have to appraoch them re some kind of sponsorship. You'd also need to do the conversions to Australian licences and ratings, as I did when I came out here.

AS for a shortage, there is definately a lack of experienced instructors around, even more of a shortage of examiners. I'm told newly qualified instructors are getting work pretty quickly.

Oops! THank you CFI, I wasn't aware of that. :O I only saw the thread because my laptop decided to play silly devils and opened that forum instead of Private Flying. :*

Visa options
 

Although many companies today are more open to the idea of sponsoring someone for a working visa (457) it is not always easy on top of that you will be restricted to working solely for the company that is sponsoring additionally there is a minimum salary level that your employer has to promise to pay you.
The employer also must be authorised to nominate people for sponsorship which is another paperwork barrier.

My experience is that most GA operators and schools rather not sponsor you even though it would be a great idea as it shows commitment from your side since you can't easily jump ship as soon as you have a few hours, they are almost guaranteed 2 years of service from you and up to 4 years if they refuse to sponsor you for permanent residency.

See here:
http://www.migration.gov.au/skilled/...nomination.htm


The other thing to watch out for is that if you decide to go down the self sponsored visa (independent class 136) route based on you aviation qualifications you can forget about it pilots and instructors are exempt from taking this route see the below PDF:
http://www.migration.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf

Immigration in Oz is a tough one i have been here for over 4 years and still do not have PR even though i am well qualified outside of aviation.

now the other way is find yourself a fine young Oz lady.

Good luck!

Thanks to anyone who has replied to my thread. I am gonig to Melbourne in August and I'm beginning to train for my PPL. When I hold my first certificate,I will think what to do after.

There is a shortage in US as well. Schools are crying for CFI's. But you have to have work permit to work here, no work visas yet. I have heard some rumors that some flight schools have filed work visa for some foreign CFI's (H1-b visa) how much that is true,,, I don't know it is all rumores.

It will be interesting to see what really going to happen. Airlines need pilots too, so they will pick up all these young flight instructores. Also a lot of airline captains are retiering pretty soon, thats why they pumped it up to 65.

:sad: