Goodbye wannabes, hello jets!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: anywhere the job offer is!
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Luke,
Great work, I have seen you posting over the years as I too have struggled along the same career path. I have followed the white line in the middle of the road around Australia, and New Zealand in search of the ever ellusive job.
On the 1st Jan I took off and landed a 737-300 for the first time, and not on flight sim. Your post made me wonder how long it has taken me. I'm not trying to hi jack your thread, but perhaps to support and encourage all those out there.
10 years, 6 months 16 days from my first flight Pa38
3283.6hours of prop time
11 aircraft endorsements
5 GA jobs (some paid,some not)
3 turbine commuter jobs
35,000km of driving around Aussie in search of work, suffering a blown gearbox, stuffed clutch, shattered sunroof, and no radio in a 1983 mitsubishi mirage/colt.
11 towns, 15 house relocations
a year on the dole, (thanks Johnnie)
years of frustration
loss of my sanity and hair.
And a cost that I don't wont to add up.
Oh yeah, half way through all of this I met a Backpacking Dutchy in Darwin (5year ago in 2 days time) and life has been great. She has been on the road with me packing and unpacking boxes. And always supportive. Although now I have a jet job she's trying to tie me down and looking for commitment..Help!
was it worth it. ABSOLUTELY, would i do it again.... IN A HEART BEAT!
The friends that I have made, the places I have seen, and the cultures that I've experience are unforgetable
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL
It'll happen, stay positive, enjoy where you are and savour the moment.
Soon you'll have to pay good money to fly what you are flying now. Don't rush it, you'll be flying jets for a long time.
Once agian LUKE, CONGRATS!!!
Great work, I have seen you posting over the years as I too have struggled along the same career path. I have followed the white line in the middle of the road around Australia, and New Zealand in search of the ever ellusive job.
On the 1st Jan I took off and landed a 737-300 for the first time, and not on flight sim. Your post made me wonder how long it has taken me. I'm not trying to hi jack your thread, but perhaps to support and encourage all those out there.
10 years, 6 months 16 days from my first flight Pa38
3283.6hours of prop time
11 aircraft endorsements
5 GA jobs (some paid,some not)
3 turbine commuter jobs
35,000km of driving around Aussie in search of work, suffering a blown gearbox, stuffed clutch, shattered sunroof, and no radio in a 1983 mitsubishi mirage/colt.
11 towns, 15 house relocations
a year on the dole, (thanks Johnnie)
years of frustration
loss of my sanity and hair.
And a cost that I don't wont to add up.
Oh yeah, half way through all of this I met a Backpacking Dutchy in Darwin (5year ago in 2 days time) and life has been great. She has been on the road with me packing and unpacking boxes. And always supportive. Although now I have a jet job she's trying to tie me down and looking for commitment..Help!
was it worth it. ABSOLUTELY, would i do it again.... IN A HEART BEAT!
The friends that I have made, the places I have seen, and the cultures that I've experience are unforgetable
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL
It'll happen, stay positive, enjoy where you are and savour the moment.
Soon you'll have to pay good money to fly what you are flying now. Don't rush it, you'll be flying jets for a long time.
Once agian LUKE, CONGRATS!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: usa
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Goodluck Luke
I wish you all the best,but on the other hand it shows how the industry goes mad, waiting for a decent job for 10 years is a bit crazy,I wonder what kind of pay you can expect now flying as a FO on Airbus, I hope it is at least 40k a year in british currency. I have impression that people who are responsible for hiring know very well that there are thousands of people waiting and willing to sacrifice almost everything for doing a job, job that should be decently paid,job that needs qualification ,dedication,skills and good deal of learning.I think this industry goes mad,unfortunately only short supply of pilots or huge demand for them will correct this madness. From point of view many older wannabes Luke's example doesnt make anysense, seems like dropping good job for uncertain future and risk of never get hired by decent airline is too big
Goodluck to all
I wish you all the best,but on the other hand it shows how the industry goes mad, waiting for a decent job for 10 years is a bit crazy,I wonder what kind of pay you can expect now flying as a FO on Airbus, I hope it is at least 40k a year in british currency. I have impression that people who are responsible for hiring know very well that there are thousands of people waiting and willing to sacrifice almost everything for doing a job, job that should be decently paid,job that needs qualification ,dedication,skills and good deal of learning.I think this industry goes mad,unfortunately only short supply of pilots or huge demand for them will correct this madness. From point of view many older wannabes Luke's example doesnt make anysense, seems like dropping good job for uncertain future and risk of never get hired by decent airline is too big
Goodluck to all
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Luke,
My humble apologies for not replying sooner. 2 reasons. Been flat out like a lizard drinking at work + having a heck of a time even accessing PPRuNe via the usual ADSL connection.
Well done, your perserverence had paid off. WHile I don't fly a "big" jet there's nothing like applying thrust and blasting off the runway. Esp after working so hard and trying for so long to get there. You'll love it.
I remember my first lot of circuits in Caen in March 05 in the little jet. It was so cool. It made all the pain and hassle of travelling all over Oz, working in clapped out old cessnas. Then flogging around in small turbo props on the other side of the country. Leaving Oz and going through the pain of the JAR ATPL. Battling with snow and ice on the mighty Shed. Picking myself up after the defeat at CTC. I can't remember when I started the CPL training but I got the license in 1991. As usual, straight into a recession... First ATPL in 1998, second one in 2002.... Success fought for and won is so nice.
My humble apologies for not replying sooner. 2 reasons. Been flat out like a lizard drinking at work + having a heck of a time even accessing PPRuNe via the usual ADSL connection.
Well done, your perserverence had paid off. WHile I don't fly a "big" jet there's nothing like applying thrust and blasting off the runway. Esp after working so hard and trying for so long to get there. You'll love it.
I remember my first lot of circuits in Caen in March 05 in the little jet. It was so cool. It made all the pain and hassle of travelling all over Oz, working in clapped out old cessnas. Then flogging around in small turbo props on the other side of the country. Leaving Oz and going through the pain of the JAR ATPL. Battling with snow and ice on the mighty Shed. Picking myself up after the defeat at CTC. I can't remember when I started the CPL training but I got the license in 1991. As usual, straight into a recession... First ATPL in 1998, second one in 2002.... Success fought for and won is so nice.
