Surveillance Australia - Pay/Bonuses !!!

[boofta]

They must have had the contract threatened to cough up this
sort of money. Makes you wonder what the management bastards
were making before these pay rises. Rex and Eastern must be
doing some serious sums right now!

[go_soaring]

I doubt it..

..but then again, we can only hope!

[aileron_69]

If a C210 Pilot can make 75K a year then I dont see why a right seater in a dash cant!!

[turbinejunkie]

SAPL pilot numbers and other info

Does anyone know just how many Dash drivers SA are requireing?

If it's only a half dozen or so, then the brail readers that run the big regionals will probably ignore this most significant event.

Had an interview in Melbourne for a F/O slot only a few days ago and HR chick indicated 26 pilots required with a 50/50 split.

Essential Selection Criteria
Be at least 18 years old.
Be an Australian, UK, Canadian, New Zealand or South African citizen.
Capable of obtaining an Australian ATPL.
2 000 hours total flying experience.
1 000 hours fixed wing command.
100 hours night flying experience, of which at least 90 hours pilot in command.
100 hours fixed wing turbine experience
A multi-engine command instrument rating with a minimum of 5 renewals.
Be physically fit.
Hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate.
Be eligible for both an Aviation Security Identity Card (ASIC) and an Australian Customs Security Clearance. An extensive security package will be issued after a successful interview and must be completed at least four weeks before course commencement.

Desirable Selection Criteria
DHC-8 or similar endorsement.
Computer literacy.
Experience relevant to Surveillance Operations.
Search and Rescue experience.
500 hours pilot in command of large turbo prop supported by simulator training

Was a bit unimpressed only was interviewed for F/O slot - meet all the essential and desired criteria with exception of 500 hours PIC turbo prop with sim training. Told to expect 2 years to command. Politely mentioned I have an offer for a DEC (Metro) elsewhere.

Didn't think it would be that long and wondered how many DEC interviewees were reviewed in this round of interviews - a mini-flood perhaps with the increased kanga? It looked however, like they had no-shows on the day 'cause my interview, psych and sim were all completed in half a day when it was going to be a whole day affair. Did NOT see any other candidates for interview waiting around as is usual!

Can anyone comment further?

Cheers

TJ

P.S. Their T&C's offered as F/O. Don't have Capt's. Hope it helps!

Employment Information for First Officer DHC-8

We appreciate your interest in employment with Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd. The following information contains details of the position you have applied for and some of the conditions associated with employment by Surveillance Australia.

Surveillance Australia provides aerial surveillance services under a long-term contract to the Australian Customs Service through their Coastwatch division. It is the largest civil maritime surveillance operation of its kind in the world. The company operates a fleet of 10 DHC-8 200 and 300 series aircraft from bases in Australia: Cairns, Darwin, Broome and Horn Island. These aircraft and their crew patrol the Australian coastline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in search of illegal activities. The Coastwatch operation is a vital component in Australia’s national security arrangements. Surveillance Australia expects a great deal from our aircrew and we are very proud of their achievements to date.

Position: First Officer DHC-8
Category of employment: Permanent
Probation period: 6 months
Likely Base: Darwin or Broome

I. Remuneration
DHC-8 First Officer Year 1 Pay AUD 60,000.00
(effective 1st December 2007)
Base Allowances Broome AUD 10,649.60
Darwin AUD 1,024.00
Variable Allowances e.g. Callout AUD 230.77
(Subject to change, vary based on personnel circumstances) e.g. Lack of facilities AUD 66.10
e.g. Breakfast AUD 20.07
e.g. Lunch AUD 22.48
e.g. Dinner AUD 38.71
and others Superannuation / Retirement Plan Employer’s Contribution 9%

Salary
10 x Years of Service Increments at 2% per year
CPI increase at 1st July each year
Superannuation/Retirement Plans
Employer funded superannuation contributions to retirement plans will be made in accordance with the relevant federal legislation and in addition to your base salary.

The company will make contributions into a complying fund of you choice. The fund must be able to accept funds via Electronic Funds Transfer. If you do not make an election, funds will be paid into the default Cobham Group Superannuation Fund.

Salary Sacrifice
Salary Sacrifice is a mechanism used in Australia to legally minimise an employee’s total taxable income. Subject to legislated limitations and our agreement, you may elect to have some of your before tax salary (Sacrificed Amount) paid to an approved third party.

Insurance
A competitive insurance and indemnity package is part of your employment with Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd. It contains Death Cover paid to the deceased’s estate and Loss of Licence Insurance.

II. Australian Workplace Agreement
A condition of employment is that you enter into an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) with the Company. An AWA is an alternative form of employment agreement to the General Aviation Award, against which it is tested by the Employment Advocate, to ensure that there is no disadvantage to the employee.

III. Training
Upon joining Surveillance Australia you will be required to undertake an intensive programme of both Coastwatch and Company training. There are a number of examinations, tests and checks. Surveillance Australia holds a CASA CAR 217 approval, operates in a demanding environment and, therefore, sets a high standard.

Course Usual Venue Approximate Duration
Company Induction (incl. CRM, FRMS, Emergency Procedures etc…..) Cairns 1 week
Coastwatch Course Cairns 1 week
Aircraft Technical Training incl. SOP’s Cairns 2 weeks
Aircraft Endorsement Training Syd/Melb 2 weeks
Line Training Base of appointment 7 weeks

Training Bond
The Company bonds an employee for DHC-8 training where required. The bond amount is, for a non-endorsed First Officer DHC-8, $25,000 pro rata over 3 years and for a First Officer DHC-8 upgrading to a command, $12,000 pro rata over 12 months.

IV. Promotion
Surveillance Australia does not have a seniority system. Promotion is on merit.
Suitability for promotion is assessed by the Promotions Board which constitutes the Chief Pilot, Manager Flight Training and Standards, your Fleet Captain and Base Manager and, therefore, includes, not only your proficiency as a line pilot, but your conduct around the base and with your peers. The Company has a policy of promoting from within but is, from time to time, compelled to recruit laterally in order to maintain levels of experience in more senior positions.

V. Hours of Work / Rosters
As aircrew, you will be rostered for duty from Monday to Sunday inclusive on a flexible roster cycle including public holidays. Your hours of work will be averaged over a 12-month period. The span of hours may be worked at any time of the day.

Our roster is driven by Coastwatch requirements and we are required to accept roster changes up to 12 hours ahead of time. Therefore, rosters sometimes change at short notice, which can be disruptive to social and family lives. Rosters are provided a minimum of 7 days in advance and will be locked in for 7 days duration.

Annual Leave
You are entitled to 42 calendar days of paid annual leave (inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and Public holidays) for each year of service. Annual leave will accrue and be credited on a pro-rata basis in accordance with legislative requirements.

You are entitled to 8 days off in a 28 day period standing alone. The 28 day period will be nominated by us. This will not necessarily equate to 2 days off each week.

Extra duties
You will be expected to undertake additional tasks beyond your flying duties. After every flight, you will be required to rinse the aircraft with fresh water. Admin days are occasionally rostered to provide assistance to the Base Manager and the Senior Base Pilot.

There are other opportunities within the Company including training and checking, CRM and FRMS training, acting as a base Flight Safety Representative or Workplace Consultative Group member and so on. Some of these duties attract extra pay and others provide the opportunity to get away from the base, meet other staff in a social atmosphere and contribute to the way that the Company runs.

VI. Fatigue Risk Management System
Surveillance Australia aircrew operate under an exemption to the flight and duty rules laid down in CAO 48, called a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS). Our system takes account of the duty that you are about to perform and checks to ensure that you have adequate opportunity for rest in the last 7 days. It is reinforced by a computer algorithm, which calculates a fatigue index based upon the length of duty, the time of day and the cumulative work done over the last seven days. It also provides for education and training and has, as its core, a mutual responsibility of both the Company and the aircrew to manage fatigue risk.

VIII. Further Conditions of Employment
Security Clearance
Your employment will be contingent on obtaining a Customs security clearance to Protected level. This paperwork for the Customs security clearance must be forwarded to us before we will enrol you in the online learning program for the licence conversion. The process requires you to complete the full security pack and forward to us before we arrange for you to visit Australia to sit the licence exams. The Company encourages you to be full and frank in your disclosure.

Further conditions of employment:
• Current Passport
• Australian Aviation Medical Examination Class 1
• Health Status Assessment conducted in Australia at the same time you visit
Australia for your licence conversion
• Australian Aviation Security Identification Card
• Acceptance of the Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA)
• Acceptance of the Training Bond Agreement (where applicable)
• Checked to Line

IX. Period of Notice
Notice of Termination by the Employer
If we terminate your employment as a permanent employee, we will give you three (3) months notice in writing.
The period of notice shall not apply in any of the circumstances under which the employment is automatically is brought to an end by force of the employment contract.

Payment in lieu of the notice will be made if the appropriate notice period is not required to be worked. Employment may be terminated by us requiring you to work part of the required period of notice and by us making payment in lieu for the period of notice not worked.

Notice of Termination by the Employee
The notice of termination required to be given by you is the same as that required by us. If you fail to give notice, we have the right to withhold monies payable to you on termination equal to the ordinary time rate of pay for the period of notice not given.

X. Miscellaneous
All our bases are in remote locations. These can be expensive places to live and get away from. Unfortunately we are unable to offer ID travel.
Pilots can expect to spend up to 120 nights away from home each year, which may be disruptive to family life. Darwin based pilots do very few overnights.


P.P.S.

I also heard a rumour through TWU that by February 12 no new AWA's could be signed with Labor's planned interim legislation. Crystal ball gazing but can anyone confirm this hearsay? I am thinking it might be worthwhile delaying signing of AWA for said Metro Command but don't want to leave it too long and see the offer lapse.

Cheers again

TJ

[aero979]

SAPL

TJ - Can I ask what aircraft you are on at the moment?

There is a lot more involved to the flying with SAPL than A to B carrying passengers. You might find a bit of time as an FO learning all the Coastwatch procedures would be very beneficial before a command slot. I would say a command opportunity will be less than 2 years.

[exmexican]

Good to see they're not offering DEC to every Tom, Dick and Harry with turbine time and a bad attitude! You go for that Metro job mate, and when the smaller cockpit has pared down your ego have another think.
Talk about look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

exmexican,

Not sure exactly which aviation industry you think you are working in, why is it so offensive to you that Turbine Junkie will not jump at the first offer ?, or has expectations that go above your personal opinion ?.

Perhaps TJ is a gun pilot, good looking chap/chappette that can walk on water. If he/she has the minimums, why not aim high ?, with those hours many many many operators offer DEC.

Also can not see how you think TJ has a bad attitude.

I would certainly see DEC Metro as considerably more rewarding than the RH seat of a Dash 8.

IMHO LH seat of Metro to RH seat of Dash 8 is a huge step down, could be perceived as idiotic move in the current industry.

[aero979]

Surveillance

This thread is about the pay/ bonuses right?

All confirmed, what a great time to be working for Surveillance!

[Diver Dan]

And thats the point surely.

With SAPL an FO = 60 + 30K pa and within 18 months or so you are on 100 + 50K. You may think a command on a Metro is a better gig but what are the pay and promotion prospects?

[exmexican]

LRT
I meant no particular harm to TJ, and, as I do not know his personal expectations , can hardly form an opinion on them. It is more a comment on the general expectations of the "gilded youth" of today.
Eg QF cadets moaning about doing it hard as a 3 day a week Metro FO on $55k in a capital city.
But best of luck to them for their increased opportunities, get while the gettings good! As long as they appreciate their situations, I'm happy.
If TJ is a gun pilot, walks on water and looks dapper in the cucumber suit, they will find command within 6 months a possibility. Let's see, start as FO now, command say Sept, ummmmm, salary earned by years end about $93k exclusive of allowances for o'nights etc. Next year $150k for 17-20 days work a month.Not bad coin for someone in a t'prop with not much command time, outside the airlines. I doubt a Metro job will pay as well. Hope you can see where I'm coming from.
Cheers

[KRUSTY 34]

exmexican.

Beat me to it. Obviously people have different expectations, but chr!st! That must be one hell of a Metro gig!

[northern.flyer]

LRT,

Is it because you ARE flying a Metro now or are you just sore that SAPL wont have you back?

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

NF,

Some truth in what you say, I have been flying a metro, I live in a capital city and am very happy about that.

Sore, I think not .

And yes I know who you are too, how many pseudonyms is that now, four or five ?.

By the way I met your parents recently, they were great blokes.

[northern.flyer]

Enjoy Skippers!

And the sandwiches.

[aileron_69]

ouch, thats gotta hurt!!

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

Would not be there unless I wanted to be .

[knight kevlar]

SA

Does any one know the interview format and the sim ride fo Cobham/Surveillance Australia?

[m-dot]

SAPL Interview

SAPL Interview;

You would want to come across and provide examples of when you have been;

1. Adaptable to change (frequent changes in all facets of the job everyday and will be ongoing with changes with new aircraft/equipment arriving),

2. Flexible (able to work around problems - not just come to a grinding halt),

3. Operating without a large amount of dedicated support (pre-flighting and topping up oils, rinsing the aircraft after flight, organising your own fuel, doing your own pre-flights, humping your own bags etc)

4. Remotely based for days away from home (sometimes up to 14 a month),

5. Able to communicate and get along with many different types of people (being on a hot mic for 4-5 days in a row can make even the most patient person get agitated sometimes).

and probably most important at the moment...

6. Willing to stay at SAPL/not interested in airlines (if you are then you'd better try to make them believe you aren't anyway. They have recently experienced a massive turnover of experienced pilots - hence the large money offers to compensate current pilots for bypassing the opportunity at an RPT lifestyle/relatively quick commands).

Good Luck to all going for it.

[40 Below]

This job suddenly starts to look more interesting!

It looks like positions in Darwin and Broome at the moment? Could anyone familiar with Broome give a quick feedback – Is it the sort of place you could move a family to for a few years (from NZ)? It looked pretty civilised on the net but as always info from anyone familiar with the place would be great. Obviously it’s a place far far away but other than that, whats it like ?

Are they taking DEC and does the bonus scheme continue past year 3?

Currently flying Convairs in NZ and thinking about a change.

Thanks
40 Below

[AerocatS2A]

They are taking DECs provided they have sufficient experience (many DECs have struggled in the past, many have failed.)

Broome is fine for the short term, it's quite a pleasant little town really, a good holiday destination. It's main problem is that it is so remote from anywhere else. E.g., it is a two day drive to the nearest capital city (Darwin.) If you like fishing and four-wheel-driving you'll be ok here. Other than that, it is bloody hot, doesn't get a lot of rain even in the wet season, has a nice beach and not much in the way of shopping. You will get good at buying off the internet.

The bonus is exactly as posted above. Stops after three years. No doubt the company will assess where the industry is at at that stage and decide whether further retention initiatives are required. Remember also that the bonus is subject to tax.

There is also a $10,000/year living allowance for Broome which is permanent.