KAKADU AIR wants CHIEF PILOT again!!!WHY???
Chief Pilot in many companies is a hiding to nowhere. The boss screws the crews; piss-poor accommodation, long duty hours blah blah. If CP defends them he's at war with the boss; a bloody communist in boss's view. If he doesn't look out for his troops he's a brown-nose worm and won't have any mates for long. Boss cuts corners; won't spend a dime on manuals, training etc. When CASA come to audit, Chief Pilot wears deficiencies, non-compliances etc. Boss reams CP, maybe even seeks to replace him. Someone in the ranks reckons he can do better; backstabs at every chance etc. I am not saying Kakadu Air suffers from any of the above because I never worked there. But for sure any CP in that type of organisation will cop pressure from all directions as described. Then there's the Jabiru factor. Not exactly where I would take my sweetheart.
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Or maybe *** still wants to change his own starter motors and the CP doesnt like it......although if it was still the chook man then i doubt he would mind.
Last edited by roundaboutway; 20th Jan 2009 at 01:03. Reason: removed a name
Obviously a disgruntled ex-employee John?
I worked there, and yes, whilst Bob does swear a bit, he's probably one of the better employers I've worked for. Give Bob a bit of time and Bob will give you some back.
morno
I worked there, and yes, whilst Bob does swear a bit, he's probably one of the better employers I've worked for. Give Bob a bit of time and Bob will give you some back.
morno
Because the owner is absolute @rsehole to work for who treats everyone like ****. Yelling abuse and swearing at the staff on a daily basis is normal to him.
How would you feel if you were dealing with a bunch of egotistical pricks on a daily basis, who really didn't want to be there, who whined at every opportunity they could get, cried fowl play at even a sniff of hard work, and would shaft you and your company name that you worked so hard to build without a second thought if a "better" job came up.
Look at both sides of the fence mate!
Yeah there are sharks out there, but if you shut-up, get on with the job and learn as much as you can, you will enjoy every minute of your GA career and miss that old clapped out piston single!
I only got back to the city a little under 12 months ago after 3 years in "the bush" and I miss it like you wouldn't believe. If only that ME award pumped up to a tad under 60k I'd stay there for another few years too!
I never had anything to do with him but I heard a lot about him to be able to make an accurate statement of what he is like. I have worked for others very similar to him and I know what its like.
Pilots shafting the company ? 
Not being paid superannuation ?
Not being paid on time ?
Paid under the award ?
Working on days off ?
Working all day without a meal break ?
On call 7 days/week ?
Being expected to work for free ( I am not saying that I ever did that)
Being expected to break the rules ( I am not saying I ever did before any of you decide to attack me)
Doing extra duties beyond your job description ?
Being treated like **** with no respect and spoken to in a very demeaning way ? (you pilots are all worth **** and I can replace you all tomorrow if I want, forget about a friendly smile from the boss)
Being yelled and sworn at ? (is this effective communication ?)
Who is being shafted in the first place ?
Now you say these pilots are nothing but a bunch of whining lazy egotistical pricks hey ?
I believe they are just standing up for their own rights and refuse to be shafted by the company and taken for a ride.
and would shaft you and your company name that you worked so
Not being paid superannuation ?
Not being paid on time ?
Paid under the award ?
Working on days off ?
Working all day without a meal break ?
On call 7 days/week ?
Being expected to work for free ( I am not saying that I ever did that)
Being expected to break the rules ( I am not saying I ever did before any of you decide to attack me)
Doing extra duties beyond your job description ?
Being treated like **** with no respect and spoken to in a very demeaning way ? (you pilots are all worth **** and I can replace you all tomorrow if I want, forget about a friendly smile from the boss)
Being yelled and sworn at ? (is this effective communication ?)
Who is being shafted in the first place ?
Now you say these pilots are nothing but a bunch of whining lazy egotistical pricks hey ?
I believe they are just standing up for their own rights and refuse to be shafted by the company and taken for a ride.
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West oz's fifth biggest town is classified as bush eh Goblin.
John I suspect someone has a fuzzy memory of their previous employers' conditions courtesy of a cheque from the ombudsman. That makes it all okay.
John I suspect someone has a fuzzy memory of their previous employers' conditions courtesy of a cheque from the ombudsman. That makes it all okay.
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Paid under the award ?
Being expected to work for free
Should pilots be avoiding companies like this and 'voting with their feet' against unfair conditions? The obvious answer seems to go there and find out for yourself, particulary when there are two different opinions. But it would save possible heartache to listen to people who have been there, done that and being "taken for a ride"
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I worked there and John is pretty close to the mark on a lot of his comments. Trouble was, I didn't really notice too much difference when I progressed elsewhere.
I don't think *** was out of the ordinary by much for that type of operation (and the heat).
I don't think *** was out of the ordinary by much for that type of operation (and the heat).
Sound's like Bob had you sussed pretty quickly John Citizen.
Cleaning aircraft and a bit hard work doesn't suit your ego?
Did two stints with Bob, yes he can be a bit difficult but a lot better than a couple of the bigger GA/RPT mobs that I have worked for. Money was in the bank every week, superannuation was paid, Jabiru's not a bad place to live considering a lot of guys get stuck out on an Aboriginal community.
Cleaning aircraft and a bit hard work doesn't suit your ego?
Did two stints with Bob, yes he can be a bit difficult but a lot better than a couple of the bigger GA/RPT mobs that I have worked for. Money was in the bank every week, superannuation was paid, Jabiru's not a bad place to live considering a lot of guys get stuck out on an Aboriginal community.
Sound's like Bob had you sussed pretty quickly John Citizen.
Cleaning aircraft and a bit hard work doesn't suit your ego?
Cleaning aircraft and a bit hard work doesn't suit your ego?
I never even met Bob so how did he have me sussed out ?
I cleaned aircraft on a regular basis
, worked hard 
, and got shafted big time 
, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am now 
. Pilots who stood up simply did not progress !!!
Pilots who worked the hardest (got shafted most) and complained least are the one's who progressed (onto twins/ turbines). Is this a fair seniority system ?
Looking back now, I am only sorry that I never stood up for myself when I should have and it was well within my rights (like where is my pay ? my super ? etc....). Don't even get paid in accordance with the award but then get treated like **** and expected to put in that little bit (or a lot more ) extra effort for the company.
I never did have an ego. You obviously do not know me.
I do not believe pilots have to be used and abused in order to progress in aviation but that's the way it is unfortunately, and some operators (Bob @ Kakadu) are worse then others.
Last edited by John Citizen; 20th Jan 2009 at 22:31.
West oz's fifth biggest town is classified as bush eh Goblin.
someone has a fuzzy memory of their previous employers' conditions courtesy of a cheque from the ombudsman.
Pilots who worked the hardest (got shafted most) and complained least are the one's who progressed (onto twins/ turbines). Is this a fair seniority system ?
If you stand around moaning cause its "my turn" to fly the twin but you have not put in the effort why should you be rewarded?
Seniority does not work in small GA companies, its the best man for the job who is not a suck hole brown nose prick, but a hard worker, a safe pilot who knows their vocation and someone who is a pleasure to have a beer with after work, puts their hand up for a round at the pub, admits to mistakes and can look you in the eye when they speak!
Sprucegoose
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Bob doesn't suffer fools lightly, after almost thirty years in the industry can you blame him? He has seen every mistake it is possible for 'wet behind the ears' newbie to make dozens of times over and then some!
I am surprised at the number of pilot's who sit around and bitch and moan about Bob all day, but not take the time to go and talk to him and learn something about him!
In my experience if you made a fair point it would be listened to, but then again if you've never spoken to the man other than to say "hi", then how would you know?
I am thankful for the start Bob gave me and the opportunities he provided, probably wouldn't mind being CP out there one day, could think of a lot worse things to be doing!
I am surprised at the number of pilot's who sit around and bitch and moan about Bob all day, but not take the time to go and talk to him and learn something about him!
Pilots who stood up simply did not progress !!!
I am thankful for the start Bob gave me and the opportunities he provided, probably wouldn't mind being CP out there one day, could think of a lot worse things to be doing!
As we used to say, "I am here for a good time not along time" was a pretty good motto at Kakadu Air. Had a good time, got a degree in aircraft washing, plenty of hours in the log book, made some very good friendships, learnt a lot of things, got paid to be a tourist, flew some pretty important people around Kakadu, went to a lot of places that one could never afford to go back and visit such as Seven Spirit Bay Resort, f##cked up a fair few times and got a spray from Bob but Bob gave me a start when no one else would give me a job or you needed 10,000 hours PIC and 41 IFR Renewals plus whatever else was required.
So John Citizen either you or your mates need to grew some balls, because when you move on from Bob's operation and you go and work for Rex, Pelair, AirNorth, Skywest or Virgin you will still be in for a rude shock. How the hell will you handle doing night freight in a ****ty old Metro with a U/S weather radar, what about when you have to extend past 12 hour tour of duty, Virgin change your roster?
So John Citizen either you or your mates need to grew some balls, because when you move on from Bob's operation and you go and work for Rex, Pelair, AirNorth, Skywest or Virgin you will still be in for a rude shock. How the hell will you handle doing night freight in a ****ty old Metro with a U/S weather radar, what about when you have to extend past 12 hour tour of duty, Virgin change your roster?
because when you move on from Bob's operation and you go and work for Rex, Pelair, AirNorth, Skywest or Virgin you will still be in for a rude shock. How the hell will you handle doing night freight in a ****ty old Metro with a U/S weather radar, what about when you have to extend past 12 hour tour of duty, Virgin change your roster?
****ty aircraft ?
Night flying with no weather radar ?
Duty extensions ?
Roster changes ?
Been there, done that, and through a whole lot more.
Only now where I get treated and respected like a human being can I realise how much we were all exploited and shafted in GA.