Agricultural ratings
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Agricultural ratings
Am wondering if anyone has any information re. Ag ratings. I am just exploring my options and finding it hard to track down info on who/where, costs, availability of jobs in Ag, etc.
Any info would be great
Cheers
Any info would be great
Cheers
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Go to -
www.fieldair.com.au
www.airag.com.au
Plus use your search function here, you will probably find what you are looking for.
Good luck.
www.fieldair.com.au
www.airag.com.au
Plus use your search function here, you will probably find what you are looking for.
Good luck.
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Been looking at the Field Air site. There seems to be alot of guys looking for work....some of them very experienced.
Indicative of the industry? or just an example of the seasonal to and fro-ing that must go on?
Indicative of the industry? or just an example of the seasonal to and fro-ing that must go on?
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pxs939- my simple advice- DONT. Have been in the industry for 10years and in that time havent seen alot of movement.most think ag is an easy way to get a flying job. with the introduction of million$ turbines the good old days are gone.1 turbine has replaced 5 agwagons,increased insurance costs and requirements have made it nearly impossible to get a start. see www.fiedair.com.au (classified-jobs).along with seasonal pressures ie.drought,water issues,and the ever increasing insurance burden the reality is very few jobs.if you contemplate getting an ag rating expect to find yourself loading for 3yrs plus on the ground.its become a very technical industry @a highly skilled one.
i wont even fork out one $ unless the company who conducts your training can guarantee fulltime employment.see fieldair forum (powerlines)!!!!!!
however the one thing i can guarantee is that an ag rating will teach you how to fly,think fast @ build confidence towards your ability
i wont even fork out one $ unless the company who conducts your training can guarantee fulltime employment.see fieldair forum (powerlines)!!!!!!
however the one thing i can guarantee is that an ag rating will teach you how to fly,think fast @ build confidence towards your ability
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"company who conducts your training can guarantee fulltime employment"
Any school will invariably train more students than they can possibly hire. The last twenty students will have asked the same question, and got the same result.
Yes, it is a small,specialised industry, 200 to 300 pilots.
If it was impossible to get a start, none of us would be here.
3 years on the ground?
1/ Crap.
2/ So what. Work is work.
3/ Where else would you be at the front of the holding pattern for jobs?
Any school will invariably train more students than they can possibly hire. The last twenty students will have asked the same question, and got the same result.
Yes, it is a small,specialised industry, 200 to 300 pilots.
If it was impossible to get a start, none of us would be here.
3 years on the ground?
1/ Crap.
2/ So what. Work is work.
3/ Where else would you be at the front of the holding pattern for jobs?
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Currawrong!
dear Merv. see your a little upset? the reality of this industry hits home when your working for an all turbine operator and being promised a Dash 10 endorsement, opps just after we get this 500 ton of super out!.you and i know all too well the negatives of our industry.
infact i was told its hard to find good mixers/loaders who are keen who aren,t ag 2s?.perhaps a little jaded but i,ve heard alot of mistruths and lies.while the industry continues to ignore its ag2s it is doing itself a diservice.work is not work if after years of trying your still driving a mixing vat each day!!!.its frustrating and soul destroying.
in a holding pattern?if i was just to satisfy the insurance i,d have 1000 hrs ag dgps time.not to mention a garrett or pt6 endorsement!!.
i,ve got an idea?why dont companys just employ kiwi pilots, because in 20 years the majority of aggys in this country will be retired!.i leave the ag industry every season to go and get some flying!!
its not crap, its the reality for many! its a 15000$ licience to mix!!
Easy for you i guess,you,ve got a seat, but please dont preach to me about a glorified ag industry supporting its workers,members and pilots.
it just isnt reality.
infact i was told its hard to find good mixers/loaders who are keen who aren,t ag 2s?.perhaps a little jaded but i,ve heard alot of mistruths and lies.while the industry continues to ignore its ag2s it is doing itself a diservice.work is not work if after years of trying your still driving a mixing vat each day!!!.its frustrating and soul destroying.
in a holding pattern?if i was just to satisfy the insurance i,d have 1000 hrs ag dgps time.not to mention a garrett or pt6 endorsement!!.
i,ve got an idea?why dont companys just employ kiwi pilots, because in 20 years the majority of aggys in this country will be retired!.i leave the ag industry every season to go and get some flying!!
its not crap, its the reality for many! its a 15000$ licience to mix!!
Easy for you i guess,you,ve got a seat, but please dont preach to me about a glorified ag industry supporting its workers,members and pilots.
it just isnt reality.
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Who is merv?
Really sorry to hear it is not going your way. Did not realise you were not in a seat.
Can only wish you better luck in the future.
If it helps the road to were I am now had one or two potholes in it too.
Do not fancy the odds of a first seat with an all turbine operator.
Many first seats are in equipment no one else is game or stupid enough to fly. In my case it was the worst Ag Wagon in Australia. I know it was the worst because the engine fell apart before I was out of supervision.
Good luck.
Really sorry to hear it is not going your way. Did not realise you were not in a seat.
Can only wish you better luck in the future.
If it helps the road to were I am now had one or two potholes in it too.
Do not fancy the odds of a first seat with an all turbine operator.
Many first seats are in equipment no one else is game or stupid enough to fly. In my case it was the worst Ag Wagon in Australia. I know it was the worst because the engine fell apart before I was out of supervision.
Good luck.
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Hey Currawong,
Maybe you have been hanging out with the higher echelon of AG since you made your entry. I don't wanna be a prick, but you I can tell you that if you don't have connections in AG then it is a bitch to break into. My biggest problem that after three years of loading I decided to stop being treated like ****. Standing up for myself certainly hurt my chances, but I can tell you that after seeing "the right type of bloke" get ahead of me into a seat and then see them f#ck it up by working slower than their Grandma or flying their machine into something I lost interest. I just decided to take a break. Unfortunatley at that time I actually started getting phone calls from employers who wanted me. I decided not to go. Anyway, the timing of this and no bloody water mean that I only missed out on only another three years of loading, with perhaps the chance to do some part time spraying which would at least have covered the 110 hrs.
I chose to give AG a shot, my decision, and gave it a decent one so I am not whinging, just expanding your knowledge.
I think that it is great that you encourage others to go for Ag flying, but there are alot of us out here who have been there and have opinions to offer, opinions gained from experience which you should not make judgement on.
Work is work.....bull****.
All the crap we put up with to get to our destination in this industry (when starting out) has to be looked upon as an apprenticeship, some of us have to end up working for the turds which...leads to a loss of interest, but the experience I still have which I can offer to others.
Happy days
DW
Maybe you have been hanging out with the higher echelon of AG since you made your entry. I don't wanna be a prick, but you I can tell you that if you don't have connections in AG then it is a bitch to break into. My biggest problem that after three years of loading I decided to stop being treated like ****. Standing up for myself certainly hurt my chances, but I can tell you that after seeing "the right type of bloke" get ahead of me into a seat and then see them f#ck it up by working slower than their Grandma or flying their machine into something I lost interest. I just decided to take a break. Unfortunatley at that time I actually started getting phone calls from employers who wanted me. I decided not to go. Anyway, the timing of this and no bloody water mean that I only missed out on only another three years of loading, with perhaps the chance to do some part time spraying which would at least have covered the 110 hrs.
I chose to give AG a shot, my decision, and gave it a decent one so I am not whinging, just expanding your knowledge.
I think that it is great that you encourage others to go for Ag flying, but there are alot of us out here who have been there and have opinions to offer, opinions gained from experience which you should not make judgement on.
Work is work.....bull****.
All the crap we put up with to get to our destination in this industry (when starting out) has to be looked upon as an apprenticeship, some of us have to end up working for the turds which...leads to a loss of interest, but the experience I still have which I can offer to others.
Happy days
DW
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DW,
No, wish I had. Echelons that is.
When I say "work is work", I mean just that. It is better than having no work, which is a pretty hard road. I came from one of those regions. It took me two years of pestering to get a shot at a loading job. So it is all relative.
Yes, you do see some clowns getting breaks. But you will see that in any profession.
I reckon it's like anything aviation. There just arn't enough seats for those that want them.
Good luck.
No, wish I had. Echelons that is.
When I say "work is work", I mean just that. It is better than having no work, which is a pretty hard road. I came from one of those regions. It took me two years of pestering to get a shot at a loading job. So it is all relative.
Yes, you do see some clowns getting breaks. But you will see that in any profession.
I reckon it's like anything aviation. There just arn't enough seats for those that want them.
Good luck.
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Just a correction to one of the websites currawong mentioned....... it is www.aerialag.com.au
DW - I have heard stories similar to yours, however as an employer I can tell you attitude is one of the contributing factors. I have no idea about your situation but you are sounding bitter so it is probably best you head down another path!
Cheers,
Paint The Sky Pink!
DW - I have heard stories similar to yours, however as an employer I can tell you attitude is one of the contributing factors. I have no idea about your situation but you are sounding bitter so it is probably best you head down another path!
Cheers,
Paint The Sky Pink!
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Geez Pinky, thanks for the advice.
I have a life which I have no regrets about, happily married and living the good life. My attitude!!! Have you met me before, good one. 90% of my employers in AG would take me back, like I said, my decision so I ain't complaining. The whole reason for my post was to inform others that all of us have different experience. Best that people get all sides before embarking on that long road.
The moral of the post: "don't **** on other people's post's".
I have a life which I have no regrets about, happily married and living the good life. My attitude!!! Have you met me before, good one. 90% of my employers in AG would take me back, like I said, my decision so I ain't complaining. The whole reason for my post was to inform others that all of us have different experience. Best that people get all sides before embarking on that long road.
The moral of the post: "don't **** on other people's post's".
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...........Only job
Pinky is right attitude does play a big part in employment for AG.
The thing is it can be some employers attitude as well, if you don't want to work 24 hours straight you can have the wrong attitude. Everyone knows when the pressures on it's time to do big hours but it can be pushed a bit far. Everyone has different levels of endurance and a good operator should know each pilots limits.
I have seen a bloke do 21 days straight with pretty big hours then take a long weekend, the operator then docked him a days pay for taking the Monday off.
A chief pilot can have the wrong attitude as well, some think the job of a chief pilot is to take all the cream work and leave the crap jobs to the lower expirenced or other pilots. Supervision for AG 2's is for other people who could be bothered.
A mixer or loader can make life hard for a pilot by having the wrong attitude, only paying peanuts for a mixer out of the pub only wanting to work enough to get some gear from the pub friday night.
Some CASA blokes can have the wrong attitude about flying, thinking the paperwork is all important. Making sure all the T's are crossed and I's dotted and taking some to task by maybe a couple of hours over, or having flown 7 days straight (new CAR's have changed this a bit) while the bloke down the road has his blokes flying bigger hours. Lately the boys at CASA are too busy with pax carrying, hopefully things will stay that way.
Pilots can have the wrong attitude as well, flying when conditions aren't right. Not treating Aircraft correctly, abusing mixers for no reason, thinking there the only ones that matter. Without the rest of the crew the pilot couldn't do his work.
These are instances of others with bad attitude, in the minority but they are out there.
AG is a fulfilling career, if you like flying (real flying) then there are good operators to work for. Ag is also bloody hard work, big hours, good dollars and the only way to make a living.
The thing is it can be some employers attitude as well, if you don't want to work 24 hours straight you can have the wrong attitude. Everyone knows when the pressures on it's time to do big hours but it can be pushed a bit far. Everyone has different levels of endurance and a good operator should know each pilots limits.
I have seen a bloke do 21 days straight with pretty big hours then take a long weekend, the operator then docked him a days pay for taking the Monday off.
A chief pilot can have the wrong attitude as well, some think the job of a chief pilot is to take all the cream work and leave the crap jobs to the lower expirenced or other pilots. Supervision for AG 2's is for other people who could be bothered.
A mixer or loader can make life hard for a pilot by having the wrong attitude, only paying peanuts for a mixer out of the pub only wanting to work enough to get some gear from the pub friday night.
Some CASA blokes can have the wrong attitude about flying, thinking the paperwork is all important. Making sure all the T's are crossed and I's dotted and taking some to task by maybe a couple of hours over, or having flown 7 days straight (new CAR's have changed this a bit) while the bloke down the road has his blokes flying bigger hours. Lately the boys at CASA are too busy with pax carrying, hopefully things will stay that way.
Pilots can have the wrong attitude as well, flying when conditions aren't right. Not treating Aircraft correctly, abusing mixers for no reason, thinking there the only ones that matter. Without the rest of the crew the pilot couldn't do his work.
These are instances of others with bad attitude, in the minority but they are out there.
AG is a fulfilling career, if you like flying (real flying) then there are good operators to work for. Ag is also bloody hard work, big hours, good dollars and the only way to make a living.
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Was hoping this would not degenerate into a slanging match. Pity.
Yes, there are some tales of woe out there. Some pretty low acts from employers, some people with unrealistic expectations too.
Take Solowflyer. Aug. 2003 he did not know he wanted to be an Ag pilot. He posted on Prune. 48 hours later he had a loading job.
3 seasons later Jan. 2005 he posts he has a seat waiting as soon as he can finish the rating. Good for him.
On the other hand I know a bloke that got the flu during the season, asked for a day off and was sacked on the spot.
So take your pick.
Yes, there are some tales of woe out there. Some pretty low acts from employers, some people with unrealistic expectations too.
Take Solowflyer. Aug. 2003 he did not know he wanted to be an Ag pilot. He posted on Prune. 48 hours later he had a loading job.
3 seasons later Jan. 2005 he posts he has a seat waiting as soon as he can finish the rating. Good for him.
On the other hand I know a bloke that got the flu during the season, asked for a day off and was sacked on the spot.
So take your pick.
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Currawong,
It is all relative, that's right. So if it took you two years to get a loading spot then why say three years of ground is crap. It is a reality. Timing is also another mojar factor. So then again you might even land a seat after one season.
pxs939,
Go for it, but do research on employers and even ask who they prefer to train their future pilots. Beware that it is very competative, or at least it was when I was doing it. Some mixers will do anything to put themselves first in line.
Mixing is a good way to make a quid if you work on the cotton.
I can recommend who not to work for, but can't post that on here. Most guys will help you out when you ask them about that in person, just approach it carefully, it is a small industry.
And Currawong,
No slanging intended, just puting foward a reply. I met and worked with some great people in AG who I remain in touch with. My appologies for sounding offensive.
All the best
DW
It is all relative, that's right. So if it took you two years to get a loading spot then why say three years of ground is crap. It is a reality. Timing is also another mojar factor. So then again you might even land a seat after one season.
pxs939,
Go for it, but do research on employers and even ask who they prefer to train their future pilots. Beware that it is very competative, or at least it was when I was doing it. Some mixers will do anything to put themselves first in line.
Mixing is a good way to make a quid if you work on the cotton.
I can recommend who not to work for, but can't post that on here. Most guys will help you out when you ask them about that in person, just approach it carefully, it is a small industry.
And Currawong,
No slanging intended, just puting foward a reply. I met and worked with some great people in AG who I remain in touch with. My appologies for sounding offensive.
All the best
DW
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Currawong, I don't think this thread has turned into a slanging match. There are a few people who have different views but ultimately you have to see if it's a job for you. There are people who should not look for a future in AG, that goes for operators as well as pilots.
On the whole the AG community is a good one with good operators and dedicated pilots, you have to be it's bloody hard work.
It does seem harder to get into these days than a few years ago, I also think there are more trying now with less jobs available.
On the whole the AG community is a good one with good operators and dedicated pilots, you have to be it's bloody hard work.
It does seem harder to get into these days than a few years ago, I also think there are more trying now with less jobs available.
