an American coming to Austraillia
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an American coming to Austraillia
I'm an American right now with a multi-engine commercial rating, with a instrument rating. I also have a flight instructor certificate, and about 400 hours of instruction given. Total time is about 700 hours. Right now I'm at the stage where I can start looking into flying jets and turbo props and things. In America, the regional airlines are hiring, but for various reasons, I don't think I would like working for those companies very much.
I'm looking at all my options, and honestly, the whole jet thing really doesn't appeal to me. Here's what I'm thinking of doing: coming to Australia to fly sky divers for about a year, then maybe go to Africa and fly skydivers for another year. After that, find a job in South America flying charters. Then after I get tired of doing that, I'll go to England and retire flying Boeings for British Airways or something... Aviation to me, is not about logging hours, or pretending you're somebody special because you fly a big airplane. To me aviation is a way to experience LIFE. With aviation you have the ability to go places and see things NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD get to see on a regular basis. Why limit yourself to only flying to big airports (which al look the same) in a boring ol' CRJ?
Anyways, has anyone here made the move from American aviation to Australian aviation? I assume I'll have to get all my FAA certificates converted to Australian certificates. Is this an expensive thing to do? Is it difficult? What should I expect to go through?
Also, how is the job market for "fun" aviation jobs? Sight seeing, charters, stuff like that. Would I have trouble finding work with my times/qualifications? Preferably I'd want to work it in at least a complex/high performance single, as ~650 of my 700 total time has been in 100hp singles, it would be nice to fly something a little bigger for a change.
I'm looking at all my options, and honestly, the whole jet thing really doesn't appeal to me. Here's what I'm thinking of doing: coming to Australia to fly sky divers for about a year, then maybe go to Africa and fly skydivers for another year. After that, find a job in South America flying charters. Then after I get tired of doing that, I'll go to England and retire flying Boeings for British Airways or something... Aviation to me, is not about logging hours, or pretending you're somebody special because you fly a big airplane. To me aviation is a way to experience LIFE. With aviation you have the ability to go places and see things NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD get to see on a regular basis. Why limit yourself to only flying to big airports (which al look the same) in a boring ol' CRJ?
Anyways, has anyone here made the move from American aviation to Australian aviation? I assume I'll have to get all my FAA certificates converted to Australian certificates. Is this an expensive thing to do? Is it difficult? What should I expect to go through?
Also, how is the job market for "fun" aviation jobs? Sight seeing, charters, stuff like that. Would I have trouble finding work with my times/qualifications? Preferably I'd want to work it in at least a complex/high performance single, as ~650 of my 700 total time has been in 100hp singles, it would be nice to fly something a little bigger for a change.
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Many have successfully made the move, FAA to CASA Licence.
All your license conversion answers here.
Good luck with your plans for the future. You may need it!
Tail Wheel
P.S. And the rest of you ... I'm watching! Be nice!
All your license conversion answers here.
Good luck with your plans for the future. You may need it!
Tail Wheel
P.S. And the rest of you ... I'm watching! Be nice!
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I must admit casa has done a pretty good job with making the instructions to change your license pretty straight foward. I am looking at going the other way and am having all sorts of trouble navigating around the faa website.
nbv4, if you want to fly parachutists I suggest you get some tailwheel time if you haven't already got some. Cessna 180/185s seem popular with the skydiving mobs. If you get some 185 time you can also fly a 206.
Wish you luck with your dream,
where in the states did you do your flying?
nbv4, if you want to fly parachutists I suggest you get some tailwheel time if you haven't already got some. Cessna 180/185s seem popular with the skydiving mobs. If you get some 185 time you can also fly a 206.
Wish you luck with your dream,
where in the states did you do your flying?
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A U S T R A L I AI would learn to spell it first!
Sounds like what you are trying to say is that you want to be a bush pilot/charter pilot, to hell with structure and testing! Now this I can understand - however look at Canada ( lots closer to you and maybe more acheivable - floats, skis etc etc)
Australia is just sorting its aviation industry out right now after years of drought.
Africa is great for adventure but it's also not a dreamy safe little jobby. If you are serious look at the African forum and concentrate on Maun Botswana.
Remember that you will be locating hemispheres and there is a lot involved in uprooting your lifestyle like that. Perhaps you could visit these places first with a backpack - soak up the lifestyle and then make a really good informed decision?
Hope you think me diplomatic enough Tail Wheel?
Loki
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A pass, Loki! 
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Employment for non resident
And of course the other thing you need to consider nbv is work visas in the countries you mention. Unless you are an Aussie/NZ resident/citizen you can't just rock up and start working for anyone. You need work visas and all those fun things. Unfortunately US citizens are not on eligible for working holiday visas (if that's even a possibility for pilots; not sure) and it's unlikely that an employer would go through the process of sponsoring you.
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Yeah, thats what I was afraid of... I was hoping someone who has already done the move could chime in and describe their experience.
As far as me packing everything up and moving, it shouldn't be a problem. I grew up in Ohio, which is in the Midwest, but after I graduated I got a job instructing in California, which is about 2000 miles away. I had no problems adjusting. The climate is different, the geography is different, the culture is quite different, even much about aviation is different. Obviously, moving to another country in another hemisphere is a whole 'nother bag of beans, but thats kind of what makes it fun. It's a challenge, which I'm always up for.
As far as me packing everything up and moving, it shouldn't be a problem. I grew up in Ohio, which is in the Midwest, but after I graduated I got a job instructing in California, which is about 2000 miles away. I had no problems adjusting. The climate is different, the geography is different, the culture is quite different, even much about aviation is different. Obviously, moving to another country in another hemisphere is a whole 'nother bag of beans, but thats kind of what makes it fun. It's a challenge, which I'm always up for.
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"The climate is different, the geography is different, the culture is quite different, even much about aviation is different."
I assumed you either had a Visa or a right to a Visa. Before you contemplate living your dream I suggest you take a reality check by reading the Immigration web site and calling the Aussie Embassy, contact details here.
You may find your dream turn into a nightmare. Even Dubya is only allowed to remain in Australia for four days and he has impeccable political contacts!
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As an Australian can I turn up to the US on a one way ticket and start working there as a pilot? Expect a similar reception from our immigration people here. Where there's a will there's a way! But you will have to do a lot of lateral thinking to get yourself a legal right to work in Australia.
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Buster. I know you are trying to take the Mickey out of me, but my first reaction was: the mind boggles where this thread could have gone if a Mod wasn't watching!!!
Our allies across the big pond are a little sensitive to our unique Aussie sense of humour and next thing we have the US 7th Fleet bombarding Sydney Harbour - but not until Dubya leaves!
nbv4. For you to live your dream you are going to have to get around a lot of public servants first. As for your dream of BA, if you are a US citizen perhaps you should think first of AA, CO etc, as you may find it extremely difficult to get into BA.
I would not think a few years of meat bombing on your resume will not necessarily make you a "must have" for Nigel in London!
Our allies across the big pond are a little sensitive to our unique Aussie sense of humour and next thing we have the US 7th Fleet bombarding Sydney Harbour - but not until Dubya leaves!
nbv4. For you to live your dream you are going to have to get around a lot of public servants first. As for your dream of BA, if you are a US citizen perhaps you should think first of AA, CO etc, as you may find it extremely difficult to get into BA.
I would not think a few years of meat bombing on your resume will not necessarily make you a "must have" for Nigel in London!
Evertonian
US 7th Fleet bombarding Sydney Harbour
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My spidey senses are calling and they're calling 'piss take'.
No true American would only use the phrase "right now" only twice and type that many words without writing "at this point".
He's pulling your chain fellas. Probing at the most sensitive of all Aussie pilots nerves, the hire-in.
No true American would only use the phrase "right now" only twice and type that many words without writing "at this point".
He's pulling your chain fellas. Probing at the most sensitive of all Aussie pilots nerves, the hire-in.
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Fred. From where I stand, nbv4 appears to be in the USA.
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I had no problems adjusting. The climate is different, the geography is different, the culture is quite different, even much about aviation is different. Obviously, moving to another country in another hemisphere is a whole 'nother bag of beans, but thats kind of what makes it fun. It's a challenge, which I'm always up for.