Getting airborne again
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 82
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From: Amongst the weeds and the dust
Getting airborne again
I'm a bit lost.
The last time I was in civvie aviation I was a young, single guy who could pretty much pick up and move wherever the work led me. I got out of it for a couple of years while I chased the military dream, and (perhaps foolishly) got married in the meantime. Surprise surprise, the wife didn't like the idea of being a 'military wife' and ran into all sorts of strife coming to terms with it, so I decided it was in our best interests to get out of the military and back into Civvie aviation.
Now, with airline cadetship/traineeship schemes all falling to the ground, it seems my options are somewhat limited in terms of work location. She's an aero engineer and very career focussed, so that makes things trickier...
Has anybody tried to drag a better half around the country looking for work? How did it go? Where did you end up?
Ideally I'd like to continue flying choppers - I think that's a bit of a long shot since I don't actually have a CPL-H, just ~100(awesome)hrs in a jetranger.
Failing that, how wife (and engineer) friendly is the rest of SE Asia? Do the airlines around there take guys with only 750TT?
The last time I was in civvie aviation I was a young, single guy who could pretty much pick up and move wherever the work led me. I got out of it for a couple of years while I chased the military dream, and (perhaps foolishly) got married in the meantime. Surprise surprise, the wife didn't like the idea of being a 'military wife' and ran into all sorts of strife coming to terms with it, so I decided it was in our best interests to get out of the military and back into Civvie aviation.
Now, with airline cadetship/traineeship schemes all falling to the ground, it seems my options are somewhat limited in terms of work location. She's an aero engineer and very career focussed, so that makes things trickier...
Has anybody tried to drag a better half around the country looking for work? How did it go? Where did you end up?
Ideally I'd like to continue flying choppers - I think that's a bit of a long shot since I don't actually have a CPL-H, just ~100(awesome)hrs in a jetranger.
Failing that, how wife (and engineer) friendly is the rest of SE Asia? Do the airlines around there take guys with only 750TT?
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Australia
G-B, I tried many years ago dragging my wife and 14month old son around in a 10' caravan without air con in N.T
. She lasted 4 months stuck in the middle of nowhere and went from 48kg to 43kg 
. It was a decision which at the time was hard for me to make 
, but being an honorable bloke 
I followed her home 2 months later. 18yrs of marriage later I am still not flying my dream job 
, I fly only part time, But I'm still happily married after 18yrs 
. I have 2 great kids and a wife that still loves me - to me that is success 
. When the kids leave home in a few more years I will chase my dream again. (with a lot more money in the bank)
Have you thought about letting her be the career woman, earn the big bucks and you getting CPL (H) flying part time locally.
I have a few friends with many thousands of hours who have AIDS (aviation induced divorce syndrome). I know that they have had heaps of fun and experiences, but they can be very lonely people. Many of them tell me I have the best gig, but the grass always looks greener .......Hope all works out for you and never give up the dream.
VH mick
. She lasted 4 months stuck in the middle of nowhere and went from 48kg to 43kg . It was a decision which at the time was hard for me to make , but being an honorable bloke I followed her home 2 months later. 18yrs of marriage later I am still not flying my dream job , I fly only part time, But I'm still happily married after 18yrs . I have 2 great kids and a wife that still loves me - to me that is success . When the kids leave home in a few more years I will chase my dream again. (with a lot more money in the bank)Have you thought about letting her be the career woman, earn the big bucks and you getting CPL (H) flying part time locally.
I have a few friends with many thousands of hours who have AIDS (aviation induced divorce syndrome). I know that they have had heaps of fun and experiences, but they can be very lonely people. Many of them tell me I have the best gig, but the grass always looks greener .......Hope all works out for you and never give up the dream.
VH mick
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: nocte volant
750TT
It's a familiar story.
Have you thought about letting her be the career woman, earn the big bucks and you getting CPL (H) flying part time locally
.
Last edited by Trojan1981; 19th August 2008 at 13:56.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 243
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From: Left of reality.
Familiar story.
Sounds a famaliar story.Been at this game a while. Been taken for a six with women ,ie support, i,ll have the kids while you bring in the money. All i got in 12 years years of hope, relationship wise was a girl who promised kids and didn,t or couldn,t deliver. Now i,m faced with the fact at 38 i have no kids or not likely too.
However on the positive side i love my job-well not a job. A lifestyle and a personal choice.
It comes down to prioritys.
Sometimes those dreams, overtake reality, and can play havoc with your life.
Don,t fall into that trap.
Theres better things in life to treasure.
I have nothing of personal value, that i can,t make dissappear in a day.
Sounds like you,ve got more than that.?
I pride myself on my reputation, honesty, and work ethic.
Being an Ag pilot i,m still alive. It,s a good life.
However - i can,t kiss my son or daughter.
Goodnight.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 82
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From: Amongst the weeds and the dust
Thanks for your input, guys.
I don't think the 'her support me' thing will go down so well unfortunately... Still in a bit of strife over her career (She's actually ADF as well and looking to get out) and some other issues at present.
Anyway, thinking about it, maybe fixed wing instructor rating would be the way forward. Again, money is an issue, but I've heard of places strapped for instructors and giving ratings out on a bond, i.e. work off the cost of the rating and then some. I'll focus my efforts on that for the time being. Fortunately I have a job which is bringing in a liveable income so I do have time on my side.
Once again thanks for your inspiration.
GB
I don't think the 'her support me' thing will go down so well unfortunately... Still in a bit of strife over her career (She's actually ADF as well and looking to get out) and some other issues at present.
Anyway, thinking about it, maybe fixed wing instructor rating would be the way forward. Again, money is an issue, but I've heard of places strapped for instructors and giving ratings out on a bond, i.e. work off the cost of the rating and then some. I'll focus my efforts on that for the time being. Fortunately I have a job which is bringing in a liveable income so I do have time on my side.
Once again thanks for your inspiration.
GB
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: NEW ZEALAND
Been there!
This is my only my second post but I hope it helps. My dream when I was five years old was to fly helicopters, so one would think when I was old enough to earn a living (pre government funding) I would have gone for it, but cars and drinking became quite exciting so that never eventuated. At 19 I meet a girl who I thought wasn't too bad but she moved out of town to train in her profession, so I followed. The flying dream was still there so I sold every thing I had and got my PPL. My first instructor told me, quote " learning to fly and having a girlfriend wont work". Not taking his advice, a very good friend now, we got married and not long after took out a loan to do my CPL (I was 24) only to find my wife was pregnant. The big flying handbrake came on, no more flying as no-one would employ a 200CPL. 7 years later on the bones of our bum (2 kids now) we borrowed some money off my parents and I went and did a CCat which also renewed my CPL. Not getting anywhere we borrowed money yet again for my IFR and multi (35 now) only to find no jobs. Finally ended up witha lucky break which got me some turbine time, but then the company folded. (43 now) Flying now, great job, wife who I love to bits, two great kids. What I have learnt over the years is that it is a job, one that could be taken away from you in a second (medical). Carry one with your dream but not at the expense of a good relationship, compromise, it will take much longer but hopefully in the end you will have the best of both worlds.This wasn't intended so sound like a chick flick, just offering encouragment.
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 59
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From: God's Country
Trry Brisbane / SE QLD
Gusto. Have a look around Brisbane / Gold Coast / Sunshine coast area.
Plenty of work for an aero eng (my wife is one) with Boeing, Australian Aerospace www.ausaero.com.au , Aviation Australia www.aviationaustralia.net.au etc
Lots of aviation operators around as well, M@cair, QLink, Virgin Blue, lots of Helo stuff around the Sunhine Coast.
Might be worth a look.
SF
Plenty of work for an aero eng (my wife is one) with Boeing, Australian Aerospace www.ausaero.com.au , Aviation Australia www.aviationaustralia.net.au etc
Lots of aviation operators around as well, M@cair, QLink, Virgin Blue, lots of Helo stuff around the Sunhine Coast.
Might be worth a look.
SF
