Where to from here?
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Where to from here?
I am a recent Cpl, MEIFR graduate from CTC Aviation in Hamilton NZ. One of the Kiwi students they trained. Where to from here? Anyone out there know of any jobs going in NZ or Australia for guys in my position? 
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Jobs at your level are seldom if ever advertised. I'll eat my hat if you get the response you want on this forum. You need to do two things. First, stay current in whatever way you can. Currency in IFR is expensive but VFR has some options such as parachute dropping - yes more expense but you bought the ticket in this raffle. The second thing to do is stay interested. Visit each and every outfit within a days drive of where you live or shift to where the outfits are. Be prepared to move anywhere at short notice and for indefinite periods. Bludge flights with their guys whenever possible. Get known. Have you visited Discovery, Island Air (back in the saddle if the rumour is true), the parachute operators within a days drive? Convince them and yourself that you are really serious about this game. Is there a Whites directory any more? Find out. What list of operators do you have? Who are the chief pilots? Why not get a 'C' cat? Never give up! Those of us currently flying obviously didn't and we had the exact same question as you once. Rip into it Captmac.
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Thanks
Cheers, Jack. Some good advice right there. I have already done a few of the suggested but my total time isn't enough for all the 135 operators I've approached. Am seriously looking into doing a c-cat as that seems to be all one can do within NZ with hours such as mine (250 total, 90 twin). True?
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There are exceptions but you pretty much hit the nail on the head in that there are few other options. The only other one being to venture overseas..... OZ and Africa seem to be where most of the boys and girls go.
Word of caution re: C-Cat, everyone will offer to do the training for you but most will look after thier own and you might find yourself with a battle trying to get work out of whoever trained you...... result being an instructor rating with no job and still under supervision (worthless ticket). Unfortunate but true.
Steer clear of anyone offering to take your money for training and showing a reluctance to employ thier own product.
Word of caution re: C-Cat, everyone will offer to do the training for you but most will look after thier own and you might find yourself with a battle trying to get work out of whoever trained you...... result being an instructor rating with no job and still under supervision (worthless ticket). Unfortunate but true.
Steer clear of anyone offering to take your money for training and showing a reluctance to employ thier own product.
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Does anyone else think that CTC ripped this guy off..how did they talk him into doing a multi IFR with only 200ish TT. Why didn't you do a C-Cat 1st??
I assume that you have a JAA CPL and IFR ticket like all their other grads?
Just take it to the UK and hop in an airliner!!
I assume that you have a JAA CPL and IFR ticket like all their other grads?
Just take it to the UK and hop in an airliner!!
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Dude,
I did my MEIR after CPL, but with hindsight it would've been better if I'd done it after the destructors rating.
Capnmakka,
Aus is going off right now. Send CASA a few hundy dollars and get your Aus licence and head over. NZ is too small.
I did my MEIR after CPL, but with hindsight it would've been better if I'd done it after the destructors rating.
Capnmakka,
Aus is going off right now. Send CASA a few hundy dollars and get your Aus licence and head over. NZ is too small.
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Mate, best thing you could do is get out of NZ. Maun in Botswana (and africa in general) has given many Kiwi's a fast leg up in their careers, so have many northern towns in Oz. In some parts of the world you'll be glad you did your MEIFR when you did.
Do the students a favour and don't go instructing unless you're truly passionate about it. There are a tonne of exciting air transport jobs out there for 200 hr pilots, just not in NZ. Sooner or later you're gonna have to leave the aeroclub, the sooner the better
Do the students a favour and don't go instructing unless you're truly passionate about it. There are a tonne of exciting air transport jobs out there for 200 hr pilots, just not in NZ. Sooner or later you're gonna have to leave the aeroclub, the sooner the better
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No, I gained no JAA acreditation whatsoever. Our training scheme was totally NZ tailored in comparism with the cadets JAA training. The twin-ifr time is great but kinda useless when my tt is so low... and in regards to the c-cat, they were only offering it to us if they needed instructors when we'd finished training. Turns out they didn't need em.
Might be time to head to the land of OZ
Might be time to head to the land of OZ
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Do a search
Not meaning to be rude.
But have you ever heard of Western Australia??.
Big words like Derby or perhaps that little talked about place called Kununnurra?.
Just a thought @ good luck.
M
But have you ever heard of Western Australia??.
Big words like Derby or perhaps that little talked about place called Kununnurra?.
Just a thought @ good luck.
M
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africa
I did a lot of research into Bots about 6months ago when I was looking to change jobs. Needless to say I've forgotten most of it, however, the lasting impression of guys who had experienced Maun was that it was the 'time of their life' 'best decision ever' etc etc.
I know that if I had my time again, I'd be over there instead of going to a NZ single operator. The world of aviation is much bigger and sometimes better than NZ and the best time to experience some awesome flying and interesting cultures etc is at the start of a career. I did my first 1000hrs within NZ and although the flying was second to none, I'd rather have been in africa.
Get a C206 rating and go mate. Couple grundy in the back pocket and a tent.
Do your research though, and everyone knows that if a guy turns up on your door step from half a world away, type rated to fly your planes and presents himself/herself as a good c@#t, you'll be impressed.
Or as the guys above say, Straya aint too bad either
I know that if I had my time again, I'd be over there instead of going to a NZ single operator. The world of aviation is much bigger and sometimes better than NZ and the best time to experience some awesome flying and interesting cultures etc is at the start of a career. I did my first 1000hrs within NZ and although the flying was second to none, I'd rather have been in africa.
Get a C206 rating and go mate. Couple grundy in the back pocket and a tent.
Do your research though, and everyone knows that if a guy turns up on your door step from half a world away, type rated to fly your planes and presents himself/herself as a good c@#t, you'll be impressed.
Or as the guys above say, Straya aint too bad either
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have you considered actually talking to them?...
ring lots of GA operators in australia. Not a handful, I mean many dozens. If you still feel motivated to go after getting so many knockbacks, often very rude and unprofessional, then you might make it there. If what you hear on the phone puts you off, go do a c cat and stay in NZ.
in general, you'll encounter many very bitter and rude individuals in GA on both sides of the tasman. Don't expect warm fuzzies from any initial phonecalls, with your logbook you're literally a dime a dozen. in my case I got an earful of swearing on numerous occasions from the Australian CPs, who seem to throw a little tanty a lot more than the NZ ones
Never let anyone elses personal issues taint your enthusiasm
ring lots of GA operators in australia. Not a handful, I mean many dozens. If you still feel motivated to go after getting so many knockbacks, often very rude and unprofessional, then you might make it there. If what you hear on the phone puts you off, go do a c cat and stay in NZ.
in general, you'll encounter many very bitter and rude individuals in GA on both sides of the tasman. Don't expect warm fuzzies from any initial phonecalls, with your logbook you're literally a dime a dozen. in my case I got an earful of swearing on numerous occasions from the Australian CPs, who seem to throw a little tanty a lot more than the NZ ones
Never let anyone elses personal issues taint your enthusiasm
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Its a shame, if you are accepted by CTC here in JAA you are guaranteed a job ! They supply heaps of airlines easyjet, BA etc ! Maybe you should consider doing your JAA licence !
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Its a shame, if you are accepted by CTC here in JAA you are guaranteed a job ! They supply heaps of airlines easyjet, BA etc ! Maybe you should consider doing your JAA licence !
Getting that would be useless if you don't have the right to live and work in the EU......
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Capnmakka,
Despite what you may have found at CTC, the job market is tough (and don't forget that the guys/girls going back to JAA land have had to jump through a shed-load of hoops to be in their position).
First things first.......what do you want out of aviation, and if its just to fly big shiny jets, well then son, you need a plan.
This plan needs to consist of small bite size pieces, like..where am I gonna get the next 500hrs from?
Do I want to go outside my comfort zone?
Am I prepared to make some sacrifices?
Once you have figured this out, then you need to do the research, and I mean making a real pain of yourself, generally being the squeaky hinge...then and only then will you figure out the best course of action for yourself.
Next you need to identify the steps you need to take to facilitate this course of action...ie head off to Oz, Africa, PNG, do a "c" cat, hang around at an aeroclub/parachute school......
Lastly, and most importantly..you need commitment, and I mean REAL commitement...because if you are committed, you have time and age on your side.
There are however no easy answers here, only you can find out the correct path to follow...your shiny new CPL is just the start.
Despite what you may have found at CTC, the job market is tough (and don't forget that the guys/girls going back to JAA land have had to jump through a shed-load of hoops to be in their position).
First things first.......what do you want out of aviation, and if its just to fly big shiny jets, well then son, you need a plan.
This plan needs to consist of small bite size pieces, like..where am I gonna get the next 500hrs from?
Do I want to go outside my comfort zone?
Am I prepared to make some sacrifices?
Once you have figured this out, then you need to do the research, and I mean making a real pain of yourself, generally being the squeaky hinge...then and only then will you figure out the best course of action for yourself.
Next you need to identify the steps you need to take to facilitate this course of action...ie head off to Oz, Africa, PNG, do a "c" cat, hang around at an aeroclub/parachute school......
Lastly, and most importantly..you need commitment, and I mean REAL commitement...because if you are committed, you have time and age on your side.
There are however no easy answers here, only you can find out the correct path to follow...your shiny new CPL is just the start.
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Thanks guys/gals for your helpful advice.
Just doing some background work now, trying to make the best decision based on the available info. Anyone know how much it is to convert a NZ CPL to an Australian CPL? And is my MEIFR valid in Aussie?
Just doing some background work now, trying to make the best decision based on the available info. Anyone know how much it is to convert a NZ CPL to an Australian CPL? And is my MEIFR valid in Aussie?
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Doing it now, so far $390 for a CPL, Grade 3 and multi rating ($130 each) and $175 for an ASIC. Also $23 for the Australian Consulate to sign the Statutory Declaration. nice one.
Now, Perth or Adelaide. Which of the two is the better place to live?
Now, Perth or Adelaide. Which of the two is the better place to live?
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Now, Perth or Adelaide. Which of the two is the better place to live?
Adelaide has alot of churches and the lowest average IQ in the country so if your a Kiwi you would fit right in in Adelaide I would think