Canuck wants to be a kiwi!
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Alberta Canada
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Canuck wants to be a kiwi!
Hi there
I have just finished my Canadian CPL along with my night,float, multi and multi IFR ratings. Now begins an even bigger challenge then the training, finding my first job! Living in the oil rich province of Alberta, we have over expanded in the past few years and due to the North American recession and low cost of oil, most companies have frozen their hiring and are playing the waiting game. That being said, I would love to go on a new adventure to the beautiful country of New Zealand. I also accept the fact that ramp work to start is almost assured.
I realize New Zealand may be feeling a dowturn as well these days and am curious how the job market actually is down in that part of the world. I would also like to know how difficult it is to convert my licence.
Thanks for any advice or comments!
I have just finished my Canadian CPL along with my night,float, multi and multi IFR ratings. Now begins an even bigger challenge then the training, finding my first job! Living in the oil rich province of Alberta, we have over expanded in the past few years and due to the North American recession and low cost of oil, most companies have frozen their hiring and are playing the waiting game. That being said, I would love to go on a new adventure to the beautiful country of New Zealand. I also accept the fact that ramp work to start is almost assured.
I realize New Zealand may be feeling a dowturn as well these days and am curious how the job market actually is down in that part of the world. I would also like to know how difficult it is to convert my licence.
Thanks for any advice or comments!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Where the beer is cold and the weather is colder.
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Recession is a bitch isnt it. Still a bit of movement in NZ but not as much as the previous 12 months. Most GA jobs in NZ are based on tourism which will slow down heaps in April-May for the winter and pick up around Sept - October. There are a few floatplane operators who might give you a look in (Taupo and Rotorua)
The NZ licence conversion can be a total bitch. I know a chap who converted a Canadian ATPL to an Aussie ATPL then to a NZ ATPL, NZCAA didnt like it but it was legal, might work for a CPL.
Good luck.
The NZ licence conversion can be a total bitch. I know a chap who converted a Canadian ATPL to an Aussie ATPL then to a NZ ATPL, NZCAA didnt like it but it was legal, might work for a CPL.
Good luck.
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Good luck with the license (you'll need it, from what I've heard).
Anyway, in Rotorua, you might get a look in with Volcanic Air Safaris who operate scenic floatplane flights (Twotter and Cessna 402 I think plus some whirlybirds). Then there's NZONE who are the skydiving operation, but I don't think they're interested in hiring and it's not floats anyway. Lots of helicopter operations in Rotorua too.
Anyway, in Rotorua, you might get a look in with Volcanic Air Safaris who operate scenic floatplane flights (Twotter and Cessna 402 I think plus some whirlybirds). Then there's NZONE who are the skydiving operation, but I don't think they're interested in hiring and it's not floats anyway. Lots of helicopter operations in Rotorua too.
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Actually it isn't as bad as some are saying.
You need to talk to ASL, not the CAA, as ASL carry out foreign licence validations. All the info you need can be found here:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/pilots/Flight...ition_Info.pdf
In general, for an ATPL, if you have an ICAO ATPL licence that is valid in ALL respects, you can expect to have to do a NZ ATPL law exam and an ATPL flight test (and get a NZ Class 1 medical). If you get a job with an airline here, the flight test can be incorporated into a proficiency check. If you do the flight test independently, you will need a small turboprop (possibly a Mojave if it is still around).
I just did it, turned out to be pretty straightforward.
PM me if you want.
You need to talk to ASL, not the CAA, as ASL carry out foreign licence validations. All the info you need can be found here:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/pilots/Flight...ition_Info.pdf
In general, for an ATPL, if you have an ICAO ATPL licence that is valid in ALL respects, you can expect to have to do a NZ ATPL law exam and an ATPL flight test (and get a NZ Class 1 medical). If you get a job with an airline here, the flight test can be incorporated into a proficiency check. If you do the flight test independently, you will need a small turboprop (possibly a Mojave if it is still around).
I just did it, turned out to be pretty straightforward.
PM me if you want.
Are you sure you want to be a Kiwi. You Canadians really are a strange bunch IMHO and I understand why you desire to leave, Particular Alberta, what a unique place, but come on, change to be a 
Kiwi?? Maybe you could be entered into the 2009 Darwin Awards
Australia is like NZ mother country, if you want to get ahead in life, you will end up in Oz anyway
Kiwi?? Maybe you could be entered into the 2009 Darwin AwardsAustralia is like NZ mother country, if you want to get ahead in life, you will end up in Oz anyway
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Australia - no thanks!
Yeah, we Canadians are a strange bunch. I'd rather live in NZ than OZ any day. You know the main reason why Canucks like it here? Aussies are too much like Americans, and as expatriate Canadians, it is bad enough living "next to the elephant" in North America. So why would you want to live with another elephant? There are as many similarities between Kiwis and Canadians as there are between Aussies and Yanks. I know - I spent over five years travelling and working in the U.S. and living in Canada - and I was always glad to cross the border north bound!
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Albertaboy, don't be fooled. Australia is in no way a mother country to New Zealand. it is, in fact, a largely uninhabitable desert, full of poisonous insects, snakes, spiders and jellyfish. There is a reason that the REAL mother country chose Australia to be a prison colony, whereas New Zealand was chosen to be a prosperous farming and trading centre.
Sometimes Kiwis do go over to the West Island, as we call it, but only to take their money. By and large we only allow the dregs of our society to go and live there, thus raising the average IQ of both countries.
There was a time when Aussie sports teams tried to raise the reputation of their penal colony, but they all pretty much suck now and are easily beaten. Even the Canadian cricket team could thrash the Ozmates these days.
No, you have chosen wisely. We look forward to assimilating you into our collective...
Sometimes Kiwis do go over to the West Island, as we call it, but only to take their money. By and large we only allow the dregs of our society to go and live there, thus raising the average IQ of both countries.
There was a time when Aussie sports teams tried to raise the reputation of their penal colony, but they all pretty much suck now and are easily beaten. Even the Canadian cricket team could thrash the Ozmates these days.
No, you have chosen wisely. We look forward to assimilating you into our collective...
Join Date: Mar 2008
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put the annoying accent in NZ aside, and its a beautiful country.
not as beautiful as OZ though.
To much like Americans eh floatmeoff? thats rich.
Good luck with your conversion mate
not as beautiful as OZ though.
To much like Americans eh floatmeoff? thats rich.
Good luck with your conversion mate
toolowtoofast
Russel Crowe was one of yours mate!!!
remoak
please don't come back, not even for a money making trip
and alberta boy, just be careful, in NZ when they ask you if you'd like to shear (un zud ekcent) a sheep, they mean a WHOLE other thing
j3
Russel Crowe was one of yours mate!!!
remoak
please don't come back, not even for a money making trip
and alberta boy, just be careful, in NZ when they ask you if you'd like to shear (un zud ekcent) a sheep, they mean a WHOLE other thing
j3
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When it comes time for Kiwis to sh!t can Australia, which they do regularly, dont take any notice of them...the fact that Australia employs Kiwis, looks after the health and welfare of Kiwis, gives Kiwis a better standard of living to name but a few examples seems to go largely unrecognised by our Southern Ocean neighbours.
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Sand Dune Sam
...the fact that Australia employs Kiwis, looks after the health and welfare of Kiwis, gives Kiwis a better standard of living to name but a few examples...
Yeah, we sure do look after those K1w1s. And Aussies wonder why they're over here filling the front seats?
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Get over it waren
Well waren, instead of being an angry Kiwi, how about you realise one very important thing that even you cant dispute..that being, the only reason Australian companies set up shop in NZ is because they know Kiwis will work for less.
Stop working for less and set a benchmark, and you may just find that those big bad Australian companies you refer to,who pay your wages, feed your family and put a roof over your head, may just pay you more.
Christ, you guys bitch in the Emirates and you bitch in Australia, get over yourselves.
And one further point which you Kiwis have problems understanding is that if Air NZ didnt put the final nail in Ansetts coffin, maybe Australians wouldnt have to be crewing operations in YOUR country mate.
Stop working for less and set a benchmark, and you may just find that those big bad Australian companies you refer to,who pay your wages, feed your family and put a roof over your head, may just pay you more.
Christ, you guys bitch in the Emirates and you bitch in Australia, get over yourselves.
And one further point which you Kiwis have problems understanding is that if Air NZ didnt put the final nail in Ansetts coffin, maybe Australians wouldnt have to be crewing operations in YOUR country mate.
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Just dont ask them to buy a beer they are the tightest race on earth! the Scott's are spendthrifts compared to this lot!
Combine a kiwi with a pilot (the tightest profession on earth) and you have the tighest animal on the planet!
LOL
Combine a kiwi with a pilot (the tightest profession on earth) and you have the tighest animal on the planet!
LOL