Starting in seaplane or skydiving industry
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney
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Starting in seaplane or skydiving industry
G'day,
I am hoping to start off my flying career in the seaplane industry as I have been around the water all my life and enjoy the idea of flying off the water, is this a good way to start out and is it recognised as good hours for future employment for other areas in the industry? Also what hours are required other than a basic seaplane endorsement to be employable for this unique area as I have a fresh CPL with just over 200hrs?
My other thought is to try and get some time up doing some para dropping, is this maybe a better way to start and what is required to get looked at in this area?
Any advise or suggestions would be much appreciated.
P.S I think that the site is a classic and it has kept me entertained for many hours.
I am hoping to start off my flying career in the seaplane industry as I have been around the water all my life and enjoy the idea of flying off the water, is this a good way to start out and is it recognised as good hours for future employment for other areas in the industry? Also what hours are required other than a basic seaplane endorsement to be employable for this unique area as I have a fresh CPL with just over 200hrs?
My other thought is to try and get some time up doing some para dropping, is this maybe a better way to start and what is required to get looked at in this area?
Any advise or suggestions would be much appreciated.
P.S I think that the site is a classic and it has kept me entertained for many hours.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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HI Mate welcome aboard
I know that there are a few sky diving mobs in Sydney that you may be able to do some work with. Sydney Sky Diver is the first one that pops to mind but you will have to get endorsed on the aircraft yourself. I think they do them or ca arrange to do them. I know a long time ago they were going to charge me 3000 for a twotter endorsement but i never went through with it.
Sea planes might be a bit harder. Only 2 that srping to mind in Sydney. One used a Caravan and the other a Beaver.
Enjoy the site
Bizz
I know that there are a few sky diving mobs in Sydney that you may be able to do some work with. Sydney Sky Diver is the first one that pops to mind but you will have to get endorsed on the aircraft yourself. I think they do them or ca arrange to do them. I know a long time ago they were going to charge me 3000 for a twotter endorsement but i never went through with it.
Sea planes might be a bit harder. Only 2 that srping to mind in Sydney. One used a Caravan and the other a Beaver.
Enjoy the site
Bizz
When you live....
PM me for details of a possible summer skydive job.
Although if memory serves the APF requires 250 hours before you can fly skydive ops - but it's less if you're a skydiver.
UTR
Although if memory serves the APF requires 250 hours before you can fly skydive ops - but it's less if you're a skydiver.
UTR
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the APF requires 250 hours before you can fly skydive ops - but it's less if you're a skydiver.
Just don't waste too much time flying skydivers - best to get into scenics/charter.
Cheers,
Tiger.
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Re seaplanes:
It is possible to get a float job with just an endorsement, but it is very difficult unless you have a bit of total time behind you - with a basic CPL you would need to be in the right place at the right time with the right attitude.
Don't bother with operators which only have Caravans - you'll need significant float time and/or total time to meet insurance requirements.
The site www.seaplanes.org.au has a training directory that lists operators that do float alighting gear endorsements - they are probably the best bet to contact.
W
It is possible to get a float job with just an endorsement, but it is very difficult unless you have a bit of total time behind you - with a basic CPL you would need to be in the right place at the right time with the right attitude.
Don't bother with operators which only have Caravans - you'll need significant float time and/or total time to meet insurance requirements.
The site www.seaplanes.org.au has a training directory that lists operators that do float alighting gear endorsements - they are probably the best bet to contact.
W
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Thanks,
Thanks for the input and ideas, I have been onto the SPAA website and think that I will try and do a float endorsement with Bill Lane as I hear that he is a legend instructor on floats. I thought of then completing a Beaver endorsement with Steve Krugge to get some different type experience and also a little more time on the water. Hopefully this will help. As for getting a few more hours in the log book and getting lots of T/O & ldg practice I will try to also follow up with some skydiving work if possible and it sounds like fun, Is this the right way to go???
Thanks again for the support.
FT.
Thanks again for the support.
FT.
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For seaplane endorsement get in touch with Steve Krug. Very knowledgeable, many many years of seaplane experience and a nice guy to boot. Highly recommend an endorsement with him. And he operates the best beaver in Sydney, (quite possibly best in Aus).
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Floats
Good move doing your training with Bill Lane, last i heard he had something to do with Bay City Seaplanes in Geelong (not sure if he is actually the instructor/training dude though) ...nice 206 and a LOT cheaper than some of the other 206 operators around the Queensland coast. Probably would not worry about the added expence of getting some Beaver time as any Beaver operator and potential employer you go to would more than likely require you to do a substantial amount of ICUS prior to letting you go solo with pax, (usually about 50 hrs depending on ability). Skydive ops would be sweet to fill in the time and get some hrs under your belt.
Skydiving for free.
Anyone know of any reason why meat bombing, although a commercial operation by every other definition, continues to operate as a private operation? (Apart from APF agreement)
Bigger operations, eg C208 or twins pay, but why do so many commercially trained pilots let operators use their paid training for no pay, super or even death benefits.
Did it myself once to get hours, but then saw a dude go in (multiple fatalities) with not much experience and nothing to show for it (including his life).
Bigger operations, eg C208 or twins pay, but why do so many commercially trained pilots let operators use their paid training for no pay, super or even death benefits.
Did it myself once to get hours, but then saw a dude go in (multiple fatalities) with not much experience and nothing to show for it (including his life).
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Mate...
You used it for hours... it got you somewhere and now you have a real job... be thankful and dont deny others the same oportunity... if you have a problem with it being private then go lobby CASA........
You used it for hours... it got you somewhere and now you have a real job... be thankful and dont deny others the same oportunity... if you have a problem with it being private then go lobby CASA........
So can you tell me why it is private, not commercial.
Point is that if you are going to be used to earn money for someone, you should be paid, however while people are willing to do this the practise will continue.
Call me a hypocrite, I was of the view that it meant hours, but I had to work myself stupid to pay bills somewhere else after shelling out 30+K to be able to earn money in this profession. Like I said if you are going to risk your neck to make someone else money, you should at least get SOME pay for it.
Doesn't have to be the full award and there are many operators who will pay.
Don't say parachuting should be banned, just new guys desparate to get a break shouldn't have to bend over.
Point is that if you are going to be used to earn money for someone, you should be paid, however while people are willing to do this the practise will continue.
Call me a hypocrite, I was of the view that it meant hours, but I had to work myself stupid to pay bills somewhere else after shelling out 30+K to be able to earn money in this profession. Like I said if you are going to risk your neck to make someone else money, you should at least get SOME pay for it.
Doesn't have to be the full award and there are many operators who will pay.
Don't say parachuting should be banned, just new guys desparate to get a break shouldn't have to bend over.
Kinda hard to see how the aeroplane part of commercial meat bombing is not also a commercial operation!
Cause the punters are paying for the jump - not the ride to FL140?
Well OK! Lets see them make the jump without the aeroplane ride!
Dr
Cause the punters are paying for the jump - not the ride to FL140?
Well OK! Lets see them make the jump without the aeroplane ride!
Dr
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 21st Sep 2007 at 12:22.
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xxgoldxx: "...You used it for hours... it got you somewhere and now you have a real job... be thankful and dont deny others the same oportunity... if you have a problem with it being private then go lobby CASA........"
Run a drop zone do we goldie? What oportunity(sic) would that be now? The chance to fly clapped out aircraft risking life and limb for no financial return whatsoever? The chance to help the bottom line of a skydive operators who are USING young pilots? Skydiving is not a charity run for the benefit of pi22ed, sunburnt British backpackers with low IQs, it is a legitimate commercial operation. Thankfully the change in the job market will make pratices such as this a thing of the past, good fcuking riddance to them and attitudes like xxgold's "be thankful" that I let you fly my aeroplane.
The Comet.
Run a drop zone do we goldie? What oportunity(sic) would that be now? The chance to fly clapped out aircraft risking life and limb for no financial return whatsoever? The chance to help the bottom line of a skydive operators who are USING young pilots? Skydiving is not a charity run for the benefit of pi22ed, sunburnt British backpackers with low IQs, it is a legitimate commercial operation. Thankfully the change in the job market will make pratices such as this a thing of the past, good fcuking riddance to them and attitudes like xxgold's "be thankful" that I let you fly my aeroplane.
The Comet.
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actually comet no....
I have however porgressed throught the all heralded ranks of multi IFR bla bla bla and in many ways due to the fact that I was willing to do some time jump flying... hey I'm not trying to suggest anything... if you dont like it, dont do it, simple.... but its very easy to take the moral high ground once you're there... ask the other guy guy/gal your flying with...(if you are multi crew) .. Im sure you will find many who did thier time jump flying and had fun doing so... there is also many who left the industry too proud to do so... the comercial factor is a CASA decision not ours... a year or two having fun aint all bad... do you really think the average CPL in a 210 outa Halls Creek is getting paid strictly to the award ????
so anyway why Corowa ??
I have however porgressed throught the all heralded ranks of multi IFR bla bla bla and in many ways due to the fact that I was willing to do some time jump flying... hey I'm not trying to suggest anything... if you dont like it, dont do it, simple.... but its very easy to take the moral high ground once you're there... ask the other guy guy/gal your flying with...(if you are multi crew) .. Im sure you will find many who did thier time jump flying and had fun doing so... there is also many who left the industry too proud to do so... the comercial factor is a CASA decision not ours... a year or two having fun aint all bad... do you really think the average CPL in a 210 outa Halls Creek is getting paid strictly to the award ????
so anyway why Corowa ??
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Mate the argument that it is all CASA's fault doesn't wash. It was exactly the argument a skydive operator tried on with me when I was starting out in order to get me to work for free, I told him what I thought of 'volunteers' and left it at that. I had a paying job a week later. It might be fun for a while but it is still working for free.
"...so anyway why Corowa ??..." He was a fine stayer who almost had his chance to beat the mighty Diva!
The Comet.
"...so anyway why Corowa ??..." He was a fine stayer who almost had his chance to beat the mighty Diva!
The Comet.