18 week Fast Track CPL course
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Hey Guys just an update on the Fast Track CPL course... I`ve done 1 of the cpl exams, and am now doing solo navs after 5 weeks of flying... i`m also about to move up to csu/retract aircraft next week too. The course is definately lots of work but i`m lovin` every minute of it!
I have recently been offered a flying job if I complete a CIR after my CPL!
My mates back in Sydney can`t believe it!
I have recently been offered a flying job if I complete a CIR after my CPL!
My mates back in Sydney can`t believe it!
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Just depends how much you pay!! Heard you can buy a metro gig with a basic CIR for 30K. Nothing personal mate, but if everyone keeps paying for jobs the industry will go nowhere!
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thats fair enough, so whats your advice to people in my shoes...? my mates say "go north" thats fine too if you want to fly small twins for 5 or so years, earning little cash, or you could Invest in your future, pay up, and reap the rewards much sooner. Thats the way I see it, however i`m new to the industry and like to hear everyones thoughts 
Justin the problem is that unless you get into QF you are never going to see a return on your coin.
You pay for your training, you pay for your first job, you pay for first turbo prop job, you pay for a jet job. Turboprop pay in this country is around the $40 000 figure, or less for some of the Perth companies. So you'll (or your parents!) be paying nearly $150 000ish for your beloved jet job if you get there. That's alot of money for a $80 000 odd a year in Jetstar or Virgin.
Also be warned that all your mates who go North may overtake you as they will have the magical 500 Multi command which you won't be getting flying in the RHS of a Metro. I have seen many a person in the past pay for these cadet type courses only to be back flying a 206 trying to get a twin job as they are unable to find employment because they do not met the minimum requirements for anything. Without 500 Multi command you will not be going anywhere in this country except for QF. I suggest that you go and get some command time first as it may save you alot of pain in the future.
You pay for your training, you pay for your first job, you pay for first turbo prop job, you pay for a jet job. Turboprop pay in this country is around the $40 000 figure, or less for some of the Perth companies. So you'll (or your parents!) be paying nearly $150 000ish for your beloved jet job if you get there. That's alot of money for a $80 000 odd a year in Jetstar or Virgin.
Also be warned that all your mates who go North may overtake you as they will have the magical 500 Multi command which you won't be getting flying in the RHS of a Metro. I have seen many a person in the past pay for these cadet type courses only to be back flying a 206 trying to get a twin job as they are unable to find employment because they do not met the minimum requirements for anything. Without 500 Multi command you will not be going anywhere in this country except for QF. I suggest that you go and get some command time first as it may save you alot of pain in the future.
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Plus you will be missing out on some of the most rewarding and memorable flying of your career. Yes it gets hot and smelly, but everyone comes out with some great stories and invaluable experience to boot.
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Justin, Thanks for taking my comment with an open mind.
I second M25's comments. Flying charter is a once in a lifetime experience. I look back at my time up north in twins with many fond memories. Sure the dosh isnt fantastic, but it really has made me a better person and a much better pilot with many friends made (both pax and pilots).
You will find it a bit of a shock for the first few weeks, but it will be some of the best flying of your career!!
Good Luck!
I second M25's comments. Flying charter is a once in a lifetime experience. I look back at my time up north in twins with many fond memories. Sure the dosh isnt fantastic, but it really has made me a better person and a much better pilot with many friends made (both pax and pilots).
You will find it a bit of a shock for the first few weeks, but it will be some of the best flying of your career!!
Good Luck!
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Justin you just keep going on the path you are going. These fellows haven't done their homework very well. Actually it sounds like jealousy to me! Its true that the FOs before had to go North to get command time because they only had co-pilot ratings but that isn't the case now if you get a command endorsement on type as part of your training. This means you can now log ICUS time towards your command time. You'll be in the left hand seat of a turboprop in no time. I cut my teeth in the bush working for unscrupulous operators. You don't want to go there. I can tell you that you are doing the right thing and are a lot more fortunate than I was. Good luck to you! You are the start of the new breed of pilots in this country who will go straight from ab-initio training to the airlines. Not all operators in the bush are unscrupulous but I expect they are all going to find it really difficult to attract any pilots in the coming months.
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hey all
I'm down at RACWA doing my cpl, and see these fast track guys every day. there has only been one to pass the cpl + CMEIR, namely gavin, who has just finished his metro 23 TR and is now operating from perth with skippers. so there are oppurtunities out there, or perhaps it was handed to him as a course promotion/advertisement.... who knows. There is alot of speculation about gavin, but i believe it's mostly jealousy, people say hes not getting command time, but only ICUS or half time. and will most like drop him after a year. but i don't see why any operator would hire some-one if they seriously didn't want to keep them for as long as possible... just doesn't make sense to me.
These guys work their asses off to get it all done in as little as 18 weeks, they have no lecturer, just a laptop, and self motivation.
The fast track course also has an option for a jet TR i'm guessing 73. any idea Justin??
good on them i say
excuse the pun but there are many "flight paths" into a career in aviation....
I'm down at RACWA doing my cpl, and see these fast track guys every day. there has only been one to pass the cpl + CMEIR, namely gavin, who has just finished his metro 23 TR and is now operating from perth with skippers. so there are oppurtunities out there, or perhaps it was handed to him as a course promotion/advertisement.... who knows. There is alot of speculation about gavin, but i believe it's mostly jealousy, people say hes not getting command time, but only ICUS or half time. and will most like drop him after a year. but i don't see why any operator would hire some-one if they seriously didn't want to keep them for as long as possible... just doesn't make sense to me.
These guys work their asses off to get it all done in as little as 18 weeks, they have no lecturer, just a laptop, and self motivation.
The fast track course also has an option for a jet TR i'm guessing 73. any idea Justin??
good on them i say
excuse the pun but there are many "flight paths" into a career in aviation....
Last edited by Swanie; 24th Feb 2007 at 09:44.
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Hi Swanie i`m not 100% sure about the jet TR but it is on the website as an option for one of the courses at Fast Track. My course does not include this though... but thats something i will look into later on,
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Icarus, not sure what u mean.....
yes he'd easily get another job if skip's were silly enough to drop him.
hey justin which FT guy are u?? when did u start?? i only know peter, and there are like 3-4 others now
yes he'd easily get another job if skip's were silly enough to drop him.
hey justin which FT guy are u?? when did u start?? i only know peter, and there are like 3-4 others now
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Don't really see why this is such a big deal , this happens all the time in other places around the world.... Ryanair alone takes 300 pilots straight out of school to fly the 737NG per year....
You would think that jetstar/jetstar asia and the other LCC's would be required to take on a number of australian national cadets a year...
The emirates/etihad cadets start on the A330 !!
You would think that jetstar/jetstar asia and the other LCC's would be required to take on a number of australian national cadets a year...
The emirates/etihad cadets start on the A330 !!
How can these guys log ICUS in a Metro when they have nowhere near the minimums to be a captain? How can you log ICUS in a multi crew aeroplane without even an ATPL???????? Does CASA know this is occuring? In my past experience with CASA they say you need to met the minimums to be a captain BEFORE you can log ICUS. Or is it just a case of get on with it and noone will know?
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Hey swanie I started fast track just after peter, so it was just us 2 for a few weeks then jeremy started (young guy who looks like he`s 10) and the last guy to start was sam a few weeks ago. i`m now mostly upstairs in the library because its getting a little crowded in the "fishbowl"
I think I may know who you are, but i`ve met so many new people lately its hard to put names to faces...
I think I may know who you are, but i`ve met so many new people lately its hard to put names to faces...
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Hi there Nevill Nobody
There are certain Aircraft that do not require ATPL`s to hold a command, I heard a that a metro is the largest A/C you can fly without ATPL, but i`m not 100% sure. And how the hell are can you build command hours in an aircraft if you are never allowed to be in command. why would you need ATPL credits to Log ICUS?? you are under Supervision...
Straight from CASA`s Website:
In Command Under Supervision (ICUS) The conditions for logging of ICUS are at CAR 5.40 and include the following:
There are certain Aircraft that do not require ATPL`s to hold a command, I heard a that a metro is the largest A/C you can fly without ATPL, but i`m not 100% sure. And how the hell are can you build command hours in an aircraft if you are never allowed to be in command. why would you need ATPL credits to Log ICUS?? you are under Supervision...
Straight from CASA`s Website:
In Command Under Supervision (ICUS) The conditions for logging of ICUS are at CAR 5.40 and include the following:
- the pilot flying ICUS must hold either a CPL or an ATPL;
- the pilot flying ICUS must make all decisions relevant to the safe operation of the aircraft;
- the pilot must hold a command aircraft endorsement for that type;
- the pilot must hold a command instrument rating if the flight is conducted under the IFR;
- the operator must permit the person to fly the aircraft as pilot acting in command under supervision;
- the pilot in command of the aircraft must be appointed for the purpose by the operator of the aircraft.
Not saying that's what I think just saying from my experience that's what a particular CASA FOI says, and therefore was gospel for the operation. They see ICUS as a means of getting experience in the LH seat whilst preparing for a command check, not a means of building time. They were talking about people having licenses and experience before even commencing ICUS.
As for your argument as to how do you get experience if you can't ICUS, thier response would be hire people with the minimum time before you check them out. A situation which in this day and age is almost becoming impossible.
If the Metro has two pilots then you need a ATPL to fly it regardless of type, if it's a Metro I & II Single Pilot then you can do it with a CPL, Metro III ATPL's required as it is >5700kg
This has also been done before in great detail somewhere I recall....
As for your argument as to how do you get experience if you can't ICUS, thier response would be hire people with the minimum time before you check them out. A situation which in this day and age is almost becoming impossible.
If the Metro has two pilots then you need a ATPL to fly it regardless of type, if it's a Metro I & II Single Pilot then you can do it with a CPL, Metro III ATPL's required as it is >5700kg
This has also been done before in great detail somewhere I recall....