Job prospects / employer sentiment
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First time I went to Darwin looking for flying work was back when the Sydney olympics were on. By the time I rolled into town I had half a tank of petrol, $50 cash, $.50 ish in my bank account and a couple of hundred dollars of debt on my credit card. Had enough for a few days camp site rental and food before the $$$ ran out so I went and got a job doing anything I could (in this case pumping petrol at the Ampol across from the airport) as quick as I could. Anyway, new job was going great... just had to wait to get my first pay cheque. Ended up running out of money for my campsite with two days to go before pay day so I packed up the tent and drove to the airport. Parking was still free at that stage and I ended up spending two nights on the floor of the terminal (ah yeah, aircon) with a couple of backpackers that were stuck in a similar situation as myself. The security guards were awesome (pre 9/11) and actually brought us coffee one morning. Luckily I was able to find a share house on the same day I got paid so had a real bed to sleep in before too long.
When there is a will there is a way I guess
There has to be a million "what I did to get my first job" stories out there... lets hear some
When there is a will there is a way I guess
There has to be a million "what I did to get my first job" stories out there... lets hear some
Would someone who applied without being up north get a looking at? Or would they be able to atleast be told that they can have an interview and therefore head up north? Or does one actually HAVE to be at the doorstep?
Yes I know that you're all going to say, you HAVE to be there to get the job, but if you had some experience albeit not much, could someone atleast t-up an interview?
Cheers!
Yes I know that you're all going to say, you HAVE to be there to get the job, but if you had some experience albeit not much, could someone atleast t-up an interview?
Cheers!
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mate, the best way to do it in my opinion, is to head up to Darwin. If you have your own vehicle drive it up. You can pickup backpackers that will be willing to share fuel money with you from the youth hostel near you. Speak to every operator in Darwin. There are about 10 most want some wet season experience or time on 200 series aircraft, but you might be lucky. Then head south to Kathrine and west to Kununurra. There are a couple of tour operators there. They all start employing around the middle of January onwards, and generally its first come first served. There is also a lot of non flying work in these towns too so that your bank balance doesn't go into the red too much. If no joy there, you can continue to Broome via Halls Creek, and Fitsroy crossing. Finally if you still cant find a job (which I gotta say, you'd be pretty unlucky) then you could always head down the west coast. But if you have a good attitude, and arrive at the right time (Jan-Mar), you should be successful.
If you dont have a vehicle, you could always fly to Darwin and catch the greyhound bus from Darwin to Kununurra, halls creek, Fitsroy and Broome.
If you want to get some time on a C210, you can contact Brian Carpenter at Carpenter Aviation in Caboolture, QLD. The best guy and nice place to fly, but to be honest with you, you shouldn't really need it to get your first job.
DONT wear your flying shirt to your interview. Nice clean, ironed, business type shirt and a pair of pants and shoes is the perfect attire for your first meeting with the Chief Pilot. You might be asked if you would be willing to do office duties/hangar work for a year. If you want the job ACCEPT!!! You wont do a year of duties before you fly, sometimes its a test question to see if you've got the right attitude and sometimes, its 'cause there isn't enough flying at the time to put you on, so to keep you busy and justify your employment they give you other duties.
You HAVE to come up North to get they job. Unless you have F*#k load of expereince, you will NOT get hired over the phone. Leaving the comforts of the city and arriving at your future employers door step shows that you have the right attitude. When you dont have experience, attitude is the only bench mark to separate individual applicants.
Best of luck to you!
If you dont have a vehicle, you could always fly to Darwin and catch the greyhound bus from Darwin to Kununurra, halls creek, Fitsroy and Broome.
If you want to get some time on a C210, you can contact Brian Carpenter at Carpenter Aviation in Caboolture, QLD. The best guy and nice place to fly, but to be honest with you, you shouldn't really need it to get your first job.
DONT wear your flying shirt to your interview. Nice clean, ironed, business type shirt and a pair of pants and shoes is the perfect attire for your first meeting with the Chief Pilot. You might be asked if you would be willing to do office duties/hangar work for a year. If you want the job ACCEPT!!! You wont do a year of duties before you fly, sometimes its a test question to see if you've got the right attitude and sometimes, its 'cause there isn't enough flying at the time to put you on, so to keep you busy and justify your employment they give you other duties.
You HAVE to come up North to get they job. Unless you have F*#k load of expereince, you will NOT get hired over the phone. Leaving the comforts of the city and arriving at your future employers door step shows that you have the right attitude. When you dont have experience, attitude is the only bench mark to separate individual applicants.
Best of luck to you!
Last edited by Wildduke; 3rd Jan 2009 at 23:43. Reason: Added information to answer a question
I wouldn't say you won't get hired over the phone for your first job, because I did and I can count a couple more who were too.
It is just extremely rare.
It is just extremely rare.
That all makes perfect sense to me.
However, the question was not about getting hired, but more so about getting just an interview where they say to you, "sounding good on paper, how about a trip up here for a face to face?"
Cheers!!
However, the question was not about getting hired, but more so about getting just an interview where they say to you, "sounding good on paper, how about a trip up here for a face to face?"
Cheers!!
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Well, I can only speak from experience. I had 211Hrs total time with no work experience or time on 200 series aircraft. Almost every chief pilot that I managed to speak to told me to make the trip up and meet with them face to face. So to answer your question, yes there is a likelyhood that you will be asked to come up and meet with them. They question is however, what are you looking for? An invitation for an interview or a job. If your goal is the latter, then you have to head up north.
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I've received a few PMs and noticed a few posts on this thread regarding guys heading up here to the top end over the next few weeks in the pursuit of work... word of warning... it appears that the Barkly Highway between QLD and the NT has basically been washed away and its going to take at least three weeks for them to fix it. If you were planning on coming up that way.... don't, you won't get through.
Image blatantly stolen from the ABC News website
Image blatantly stolen from the ABC News website
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Kakadu Air any info?
Pay- hrly rate/salary ect?
Aircraft condition?
Working environment /conditions - good, fair ect?
Is accommodation provided?
How many staff?
Is there any progression - I understand they only operate SE aircraft now?
Is the bulk of their work charter? Or a few freight runs ect?
Feel free to PM me if you prefer
Pay- hrly rate/salary ect?
Aircraft condition?
Working environment /conditions - good, fair ect?
Is accommodation provided?
How many staff?
Is there any progression - I understand they only operate SE aircraft now?
Is the bulk of their work charter? Or a few freight runs ect?
Feel free to PM me if you prefer
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Although others would have better insight, their crust is the senic flights around kakadu, when I was last there they a few Airvans & a 206. Airvans all were pretty nice not being that old & 206 well it was a 206.....
Kakadu Air fly mainly scenics which is what they use all their Airvans for. Which are relatively new and hence very good condition. They have a couple (I believe) C207s, which they use a lot in the wet shipping all the freight to Oenpelli as the road closes.
There is an ex-Skytrans C310 always at JAB lately and I did see the CP in it not long back, have heard rumours they will be utilising it, not sure doing what?
There is an ex-Skytrans C310 always at JAB lately and I did see the CP in it not long back, have heard rumours they will be utilising it, not sure doing what?
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no I'm not Brian, the only reason I mentioned it is because there are some operators here that require time in the 210 and there are low hour guys looking for one for hire on the east coast.
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Gday everyone,
I've just recently completed my CPL with only 190 hours. I am just looking for some insight into the current climate for fresh CPL's going up north.
My plan is to send out resume's and make follow up phone calls to call the companies I'm aware that take on fresh CPL's (Katherine Aviation, Kakadu Air, Gunbalunya, AAA, King Leo's, Slingair, Alligator etc) before packing the car and making the drive in a couple of weeks time up from Melbourne.
With the current economic situation, I can't help but feel pretty negative about my chances of employment at the moment. I believe the last recession was in 1990-1991, when I was all of 5 years old, so my experiences of these times are zero.
I've read in previous post's on the topic that GA is somewhat recession proof as a lot of the flying revolves around Government aid and other "essentials". But with all of the majors and regionals recruitment freezes at the moment, I could only imagine that this must filter through into GA. Also, with a lot of first CPL jobs being involved in tourism, this too I imagine, must slow down.
Does anybody reading this have any insight or advice as to how I can increase my chances of gaining initial employment as to when I arrive up north. I'm planning on basing myself in Kununurra and chasing work there at first and then moving to whereever i must if I'm unsuccessful there.
Thanks in advance for any info (PM'S would be great!)
Cheers,
ditchin
I've just recently completed my CPL with only 190 hours. I am just looking for some insight into the current climate for fresh CPL's going up north.
My plan is to send out resume's and make follow up phone calls to call the companies I'm aware that take on fresh CPL's (Katherine Aviation, Kakadu Air, Gunbalunya, AAA, King Leo's, Slingair, Alligator etc) before packing the car and making the drive in a couple of weeks time up from Melbourne.
With the current economic situation, I can't help but feel pretty negative about my chances of employment at the moment. I believe the last recession was in 1990-1991, when I was all of 5 years old, so my experiences of these times are zero.
I've read in previous post's on the topic that GA is somewhat recession proof as a lot of the flying revolves around Government aid and other "essentials". But with all of the majors and regionals recruitment freezes at the moment, I could only imagine that this must filter through into GA. Also, with a lot of first CPL jobs being involved in tourism, this too I imagine, must slow down.
Does anybody reading this have any insight or advice as to how I can increase my chances of gaining initial employment as to when I arrive up north. I'm planning on basing myself in Kununurra and chasing work there at first and then moving to whereever i must if I'm unsuccessful there.
Thanks in advance for any info (PM'S would be great!)
Cheers,
ditchin
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Get outta my dreams, Get into my car (thanks Billy Ocean)
OK 
Seriously, get on your bicycle and go. Get up there before everyone else.
Less PPRuNe and more driving across the deserts to rock up in a freshly ironed pilot uniform (pants until told otherwise) and for f**k's sake shave your face (you too as needed ladies). Ready... Steady... GO,
FRQ CB
PS Despite what I may have said in the past GA is not totally recession proof but it's certainly not as susceptible as most industries. Roads will flood; Blackfella's will need food; judges, nurses and docs will need to see the blackfellas; black and whitefellas will need their mail delivered and some tourists will still want to see waterfalls/rocks/stations/craters/ships/blackfellas/paintings etc.
PPS blackfellas and whitefellas are generally terms of endearment (or at least terms of convenience) so get over it.
PPPS Why in the hell are you still reading this??? Get in the car and get a flying job. LESS PPRuNe MORE DRIVE!!!
GO
ALLEZ
GEHEN SIE
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Seriously, get on your bicycle and go. Get up there before everyone else.
Less PPRuNe and more driving across the deserts to rock up in a freshly ironed pilot uniform (pants until told otherwise) and for f**k's sake shave your face (you too as needed ladies). Ready... Steady... GO,
FRQ CB
PS Despite what I may have said in the past GA is not totally recession proof but it's certainly not as susceptible as most industries. Roads will flood; Blackfella's will need food; judges, nurses and docs will need to see the blackfellas; black and whitefellas will need their mail delivered and some tourists will still want to see waterfalls/rocks/stations/craters/ships/blackfellas/paintings etc.
PPS blackfellas and whitefellas are generally terms of endearment (or at least terms of convenience) so get over it.
PPPS Why in the hell are you still reading this??? Get in the car and get a flying job. LESS PPRuNe MORE DRIVE!!!
GO
ALLEZ
GEHEN SIE
ΠΗΓΑΙΝΕΤΕ
VADA
VÁ
ПОЙДИТЕ
VAYA
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From what I hear there were people in Broome before Christmas. And I know there are many more people waiting now. Its' all about making a good impression but don't over do it.
The days of arriving into town and getting a job straight away are over for the moment. I know of certain companies in Broome in the past that wanted people that had been living in town for a least 6 months before they got a look in.
I agree with FRQ CB get into your cars and drive! Its' a scary thing to do to pack your life into a car and drive across the country. Your not the first person to do it and you won't be the last. But most people that have made it in the industry started the same way.
The days of arriving into town and getting a job straight away are over for the moment. I know of certain companies in Broome in the past that wanted people that had been living in town for a least 6 months before they got a look in.
I agree with FRQ CB get into your cars and drive! Its' a scary thing to do to pack your life into a car and drive across the country. Your not the first person to do it and you won't be the last. But most people that have made it in the industry started the same way.
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Or just pack the swag!
Kakadu Air any info?
GA is somewhat recession proof