General aviation as a career and hour building in Australia
Thread Starter
General aviation as a career and hour building in Australia
*I know this is already in anoher forum but once I posted it I thought maybe I put it in the wrong place.....*
Hi all!
I have heard lots of talk about wannabe pilots and the airlines on this forum, but nothing about those wishing to make a career in general aviation. Am I the only idiot who doesnt want to join the airlines, or are there more of us?
My long term goal is to join the RFDS (have you read their entry requirements - it'll be a while before I get to that standard!!) I am most of the way to a CPL, command multi-engine instrument rating, night VFR rating and will be working on an instructor rating toward the end of the year. I also have passes in all my ATPL subjects.
Early next year I plan on heading to Broome to try my luck - does anyone have any suggestions re getting a job up north? I should have ~ 230 hours by that time.
Maybe I should add - I am female and will be 19 by the time I get there. Will this be a disadvantage?
Or should I try my luck getting an instructing job in the Sydney/Newcastle (hometown) area?
Replies will be appreciated!
Hi all!
I have heard lots of talk about wannabe pilots and the airlines on this forum, but nothing about those wishing to make a career in general aviation. Am I the only idiot who doesnt want to join the airlines, or are there more of us?
My long term goal is to join the RFDS (have you read their entry requirements - it'll be a while before I get to that standard!!) I am most of the way to a CPL, command multi-engine instrument rating, night VFR rating and will be working on an instructor rating toward the end of the year. I also have passes in all my ATPL subjects.
Early next year I plan on heading to Broome to try my luck - does anyone have any suggestions re getting a job up north? I should have ~ 230 hours by that time.
Maybe I should add - I am female and will be 19 by the time I get there. Will this be a disadvantage?
Or should I try my luck getting an instructing job in the Sydney/Newcastle (hometown) area?
Replies will be appreciated!
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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I also have absolutley no ambition to join the elite in the airlines. I'm quite happy in GA. The only problem is the money...........put quite bluntly, its crap. the climb to the higher echalons of the GA industry will be littered with crappy airplanes, crappy employers, and crappy people you will meet along the way, and when you get there, the rewards are hardly worth it.
But, in saying all that, if you enjoy a challange, have the ability to rise above the crap you will encounter along the way and love flying, you won't be alone in the career GA pilot race.
Admittedly, there are some jobs and companies that are far better than the average (RFDS is one of them) these, although not the highest paying positions, are the positions you should aim for.
Good luck, and I hope you get to have as much fun getting there as I did/am.
But, in saying all that, if you enjoy a challange, have the ability to rise above the crap you will encounter along the way and love flying, you won't be alone in the career GA pilot race.
Admittedly, there are some jobs and companies that are far better than the average (RFDS is one of them) these, although not the highest paying positions, are the positions you should aim for.
Good luck, and I hope you get to have as much fun getting there as I did/am.
Seasonally Adjusted
Nothing wrong with having the RFDS as your goal. Great equipment, interesting flying and not bad pay as far as GA goes.
However, an ATPL isn't necessary and an Instructor Rating may be a waste of money. By all means go to Broome, it's the remote experience they are looking for. Besides the 2500 total the 200 night command and 200 IF are the killer.
However, an ATPL isn't necessary and an Instructor Rating may be a waste of money. By all means go to Broome, it's the remote experience they are looking for. Besides the 2500 total the 200 night command and 200 IF are the killer.
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Good for you cap71n.
There is a LOT more to aviation than airlines.
As the money goes, check out some of the other forums, airline pay is getting closer to GA all the time. Unfortunate for those committed to that path.
Good luck.
There is a LOT more to aviation than airlines.
As the money goes, check out some of the other forums, airline pay is getting closer to GA all the time. Unfortunate for those committed to that path.
Good luck.
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Instructor rating may be useful thing to have. CASA requires that Check and Training captains do a "theories of teaching"(or some other bullsh!t name for it) prior to approving C&T captains nowadays.
Also, if the goal is the RFDS... why not aim to be top dog there? C&T captains under the GA award earn an extra 10% of base salary if the aggregate of higher duties exceeds 90 days for the year.
Also, if the goal is the RFDS... why not aim to be top dog there? C&T captains under the GA award earn an extra 10% of base salary if the aggregate of higher duties exceeds 90 days for the year.
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Cap71n
Consider other towns in the area as Broome isn't the only place to start. Unfortunately your age will be a disadvantage in Broome. This is because majority of the work is scenic ops so F class endorsement on the drivers licence is asked by most of the operators. Min age for this is 21.
Also research the additional qualifications required by operators before you make the trip. ie First aid, Night vfr, F class drivers as mentioned above and if possible some 210 time to improve your chances.
Other towns to consider include Derby, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Port Hedland etc etc.
What ever way you go...best of luck
Consider other towns in the area as Broome isn't the only place to start. Unfortunately your age will be a disadvantage in Broome. This is because majority of the work is scenic ops so F class endorsement on the drivers licence is asked by most of the operators. Min age for this is 21.
Also research the additional qualifications required by operators before you make the trip. ie First aid, Night vfr, F class drivers as mentioned above and if possible some 210 time to improve your chances.
Other towns to consider include Derby, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Port Hedland etc etc.
What ever way you go...best of luck
Thread Starter
Thanks for the encouragement!
Don't want to sound like a dummy, but whats an F class endorsement on my drivers licence?
And would you recommend any other additional qualifications except nvfr and first aid because I (will) have both of those.
How should I approach operators... I have heard a lot of good things about 'just turning up' but I would like to put my name in the back of their heads beforehand so at least they know I am committed. Where can I get phone numbers and names and addresses of chief pilots/business managers? Done a search of anzwers.com but it seems to be only the bigger operators (twin stuff) that have websites and I am not naive enough to believe I have a chance with any of them.
Oh well I guess I better hit the books again... lol.
I love aeroplanes
Don't want to sound like a dummy, but whats an F class endorsement on my drivers licence?
And would you recommend any other additional qualifications except nvfr and first aid because I (will) have both of those.
How should I approach operators... I have heard a lot of good things about 'just turning up' but I would like to put my name in the back of their heads beforehand so at least they know I am committed. Where can I get phone numbers and names and addresses of chief pilots/business managers? Done a search of anzwers.com but it seems to be only the bigger operators (twin stuff) that have websites and I am not naive enough to believe I have a chance with any of them.
Oh well I guess I better hit the books again... lol.
I love aeroplanes
I'm also curious: what does the level of one's driver license have to do with your flying?
Or is this for those cool aircraft with wings that fold away so you can drive off the runway, onto the road, and home?
Or is this for those cool aircraft with wings that fold away so you can drive off the runway, onto the road, and home?
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F class is like a commercial driving licence.. They make you work for your money up here... you not only fly the tourists around but you pick them up and drop them off usually in a mini bus.
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As tcasalert said....it's to drive your punters around on some of the scenics ie minibus licence allowing you to carry fare-paying passengers. Not sure what you guys in the east call it. It may sound like an unnecessary expense or inconvenience but as a casual pilot you will need all the work (flights) you can get. Also makes rostering less of a headache for the company. If you are dead against getting your F class then you may as well bypass Broome.
Sounds like you have a lot to learn Lasiorhinus if you think the only thing you do is fly up here.
If you have your first aid and night vfr work on getting some 210 time. Other handy aircraft time include 206 and perhaps 182 (depending on what company you are aiming at). Insurance companies are placing more pressure on operators in regards to minimum times/experience so the more time on type you have the quicker you will be released.
Depends on what you mean by turning up. Turning up for a day is unlikely to be successful. Staying in town for a while is probably more likely to score you work. If possible get to know the company pilots. The person doing the hiring usually turns to the pilots to see if they know or can recommend anyone. Most of all it's more luck than anything…just being in the right place at the right time.
AOC and aircraft register searches on the casa website can be handy. Otherwise don't be afraid to go through the yellowpages and ring operators themselves. A search on pprune should provide you with some info too.
Sounds like you have a lot to learn Lasiorhinus if you think the only thing you do is fly up here.
If you have your first aid and night vfr work on getting some 210 time. Other handy aircraft time include 206 and perhaps 182 (depending on what company you are aiming at). Insurance companies are placing more pressure on operators in regards to minimum times/experience so the more time on type you have the quicker you will be released.
Depends on what you mean by turning up. Turning up for a day is unlikely to be successful. Staying in town for a while is probably more likely to score you work. If possible get to know the company pilots. The person doing the hiring usually turns to the pilots to see if they know or can recommend anyone. Most of all it's more luck than anything…just being in the right place at the right time.
AOC and aircraft register searches on the casa website can be handy. Otherwise don't be afraid to go through the yellowpages and ring operators themselves. A search on pprune should provide you with some info too.
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Couldn't agree with Go North more, I had a holiday up for a couple of weeks and had the opportunity to speak to a few of the pilots and heard a few of the same things, get 210 time and get there 1 or 2 months before the dry season starts, that is when all the companies will start looking for prospectives.
These are some of the things i found out;
You will need to wait a little while before you have a chance at a job, but once established up in broome, get a job in a bar or some other casual occupation that will get you established in with the social scene of the town. I know the roebuck bay hotel/motel and the nippon inn have a lot of the pilots regularly frequenting their venues for drinks. A good way to get to know the crew.
Visit the airport regularly, organise times to see and have a chat with the Chief Pilots, and DONT GET A REPUTATION, small towns in particular broome are notorious for rumors (up there they call them broomurs), and if you do something stupid everyone will get to know you very quickly for the wrong reasons.
I hear one of your concerns is being a female, well to be honest when i was up there i saw no female rookie pilots. But that simply could be because no female pilots actually bothered to make the move, i don't know. But i do know that one of the more senior pilots in Broome Aviation is a female, she could be the person to talk to before making your move.
I wish you the best of luck, it's an incredible place and incredible town.
Cheers
These are some of the things i found out;
You will need to wait a little while before you have a chance at a job, but once established up in broome, get a job in a bar or some other casual occupation that will get you established in with the social scene of the town. I know the roebuck bay hotel/motel and the nippon inn have a lot of the pilots regularly frequenting their venues for drinks. A good way to get to know the crew.
Visit the airport regularly, organise times to see and have a chat with the Chief Pilots, and DONT GET A REPUTATION, small towns in particular broome are notorious for rumors (up there they call them broomurs), and if you do something stupid everyone will get to know you very quickly for the wrong reasons.
I hear one of your concerns is being a female, well to be honest when i was up there i saw no female rookie pilots. But that simply could be because no female pilots actually bothered to make the move, i don't know. But i do know that one of the more senior pilots in Broome Aviation is a female, she could be the person to talk to before making your move.
I wish you the best of luck, it's an incredible place and incredible town.
Cheers
Last edited by WTSPT; 22nd Jul 2004 at 03:16.
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CAP71N,
Dont worry about the F endorsement, or anything else. If you're 19 and female , all you really need to have is a decent cup size and you'll be smokin!!
Im am speaking the absolute truth here from a seasoned go north fan!
Dont worry about the F endorsement, or anything else. If you're 19 and female , all you really need to have is a decent cup size and you'll be smokin!!
Im am speaking the absolute truth here from a seasoned go north fan!
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Females up north
I could not agree with Capt Oz more.
From my experiences, any female that has walked into some towns with any sort of hours (even 3 or 400 under the minimums) get a job on the spot.
The chief pilots fill their mandatory "chicks quota" for the year and feel good about themselves and then wonder at the end of the season why their 210's are all smashed up with no undercarriage?????????
No offence taken I hope, just the truth.
BPP
From my experiences, any female that has walked into some towns with any sort of hours (even 3 or 400 under the minimums) get a job on the spot.
The chief pilots fill their mandatory "chicks quota" for the year and feel good about themselves and then wonder at the end of the season why their 210's are all smashed up with no undercarriage?????????
No offence taken I hope, just the truth.
BPP
