Your flying career
1. 20 (1988)
2. Left school after Grade 10, worked for $ for PPL/Class IV. School again a year later, kept working,bar, cotton picking etc small loan (@ 22% interest, thanks Labour!)=CPL/Grade 3.
3. Various GA charter/instructional, then 89 and recession we 'had to have'. All major GA lighties. NT until 92, then Army Helicopter/FW. Coastwatch Dash 8, RFDS, 737NG and now 777(all models).
2. Left school after Grade 10, worked for $ for PPL/Class IV. School again a year later, kept working,bar, cotton picking etc small loan (@ 22% interest, thanks Labour!)=CPL/Grade 3.
3. Various GA charter/instructional, then 89 and recession we 'had to have'. All major GA lighties. NT until 92, then Army Helicopter/FW. Coastwatch Dash 8, RFDS, 737NG and now 777(all models).
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Sydney
Age: 60
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1 : 18
2 : Parent loan for CPL, self for Instructor and Instrument ratings.
3 : 7 years GA, Joyflights, Instructing [eventually CFI], Charter mainly in C310 and Navajo, Qantas on Classic and 767, 744, 737 and now Capt A330.
Gliding for fun though!
2 : Parent loan for CPL, self for Instructor and Instrument ratings.
3 : 7 years GA, Joyflights, Instructing [eventually CFI], Charter mainly in C310 and Navajo, Qantas on Classic and 767, 744, 737 and now Capt A330.
Gliding for fun though!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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What would you guys say about a degree in aviation?
I would imagine employers would generally not look for an aviation degree, and I have never seen one as a requirement, but im currently on the road to getting one, and have just started learning to fly 2 weeks ago. I'm thinking of ditching the degree component so I cant get out there faster.
I would imagine employers would generally not look for an aviation degree, and I have never seen one as a requirement, but im currently on the road to getting one, and have just started learning to fly 2 weeks ago. I'm thinking of ditching the degree component so I cant get out there faster.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
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1 -PPL at 15, (worked at KFC and hospital laundry after school to pay for it) CPL at 30 private hire for the 15 yrs in between.
2-funded working 2 jobs as engineer at QF and self employed contractor
3 first flying job, CFI got sick of hiring an aircraft to me every weekend, and after 15 yrs told me to get CPL and Instructor ratings , as i already had the required hours, he will give me a job.... so i did, and he did.. now Senior instructor for that same small school and actually really enjoy it, as all our students are there purely because they want to.
soon to be signed off on the bosses Caravan and Navaho.
still work the second contract job fixing aircraft for the NAVY/RAAF (BAE)
2-funded working 2 jobs as engineer at QF and self employed contractor
3 first flying job, CFI got sick of hiring an aircraft to me every weekend, and after 15 yrs told me to get CPL and Instructor ratings , as i already had the required hours, he will give me a job.... so i did, and he did.. now Senior instructor for that same small school and actually really enjoy it, as all our students are there purely because they want to.
soon to be signed off on the bosses Caravan and Navaho.
still work the second contract job fixing aircraft for the NAVY/RAAF (BAE)
Last edited by Ultralights; 19th Mar 2009 at 12:19.
1/ 25yo
2/ First 150hrs Military then got scrubbed. Remainder to CPL/NVFR self funded / loan.
3/ Instructors rating once CPL, casual work for 6months, now full time instructor about to upgrade to Gr2.
Stretch
2/ First 150hrs Military then got scrubbed. Remainder to CPL/NVFR self funded / loan.
3/ Instructors rating once CPL, casual work for 6months, now full time instructor about to upgrade to Gr2.
Stretch
Join Date: Mar 2005
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1. CPL 18 
(PPL at 17 - first lesson+solo at 16)
2. Initially had a few thousand in savings of my own and my parents, which paid for the bulk of my PPL. Then decided to go full time out of school and picked up a student loan (forever grateful) to pay through to and including CPL/MEIR adn eventually C-Cat. I Worked 3 jobs just to live while training and during instructing.
3. C-Cat/Gr.3 Instructor for 6 months. A few months after my 20th Birthday I got an offer from back home in Rarotonga, Cook Islands where i flew as an FO on Emb110 Bandeirante's Inter-island/Domestic RPT+Freight (and the odd regional charter to nearby island nations like Tahiti and Niue) Did that for 2.5yrs. Now in NZ again for past 6 months flying DHC8-Q300's
Im now 23, Have close to 2600TT and still loving the job!
Kia Manuia!
(PPL at 17 - first lesson+solo at 16)2. Initially had a few thousand in savings of my own and my parents, which paid for the bulk of my PPL. Then decided to go full time out of school and picked up a student loan (forever grateful) to pay through to and including CPL/MEIR adn eventually C-Cat. I Worked 3 jobs just to live while training and during instructing.
3. C-Cat/Gr.3 Instructor for 6 months. A few months after my 20th Birthday I got an offer from back home in Rarotonga, Cook Islands where i flew as an FO on Emb110 Bandeirante's Inter-island/Domestic RPT+Freight (and the odd regional charter to nearby island nations like Tahiti and Niue) Did that for 2.5yrs. Now in NZ again for past 6 months flying DHC8-Q300's
Im now 23, Have close to 2600TT and still loving the job!
Kia Manuia!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
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30
Spent about 6 years slogging around the Cooper Basin with a Seismic Crew, making up explosive charges and dropping them down shot holes.
First job was flying a C206 on a casual basis around the Cooper Basin! Based in Moomba. Then to PNG on Bongo Vans until company went broke. Chased birds out of almond orchards in Victoria for a few months then back to PNG, Bongos and C402. Left PNG involuntarily.
Worked casually for a few years, Glider towing in Pawnees with occasional trips in Chieftains for a now defunct Regional. Now out of the Industry and have not flown anything for four years.
Spent about 6 years slogging around the Cooper Basin with a Seismic Crew, making up explosive charges and dropping them down shot holes.
First job was flying a C206 on a casual basis around the Cooper Basin! Based in Moomba. Then to PNG on Bongo Vans until company went broke. Chased birds out of almond orchards in Victoria for a few months then back to PNG, Bongos and C402. Left PNG involuntarily.
Worked casually for a few years, Glider towing in Pawnees with occasional trips in Chieftains for a now defunct Regional. Now out of the Industry and have not flown anything for four years.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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1) 22 yo
2) worked full time 3 years to pay for flying on weekends.
3)started out doing firespotting on scouts in WA for 3 seasons for first 1000hrs, developed a love of low level stick and rudder flying, moved the kunners for first float job, spend 1 mth on c207 and ga8 before getting on the C206 float stayed for 6mths, then casual on Beavers in sydney for 3 tmhs, full time on caravan in townsville for 9mths, full time back in sydney on C206, beaver and van for 18mths, and now captain twin otters in the maldives the last year at 3000hrs.
Have loved every job so far!
2) worked full time 3 years to pay for flying on weekends.
3)started out doing firespotting on scouts in WA for 3 seasons for first 1000hrs, developed a love of low level stick and rudder flying, moved the kunners for first float job, spend 1 mth on c207 and ga8 before getting on the C206 float stayed for 6mths, then casual on Beavers in sydney for 3 tmhs, full time on caravan in townsville for 9mths, full time back in sydney on C206, beaver and van for 18mths, and now captain twin otters in the maldives the last year at 3000hrs.
Have loved every job so far!
1. 31yo.
2. self financed.
3. Flew for friend in C210 in his Charter business(210 was available for my CPL training).
After suitable experience was gained, bought 182, and started doing low level survey and feral animal control.
Became partner in above business. Sold 182, bought a 185, sold 185 and bought later model 185F. Currently CP of above business and still in partnership with friend.
I have risen to level of my incompetence.
2. self financed.
3. Flew for friend in C210 in his Charter business(210 was available for my CPL training).
After suitable experience was gained, bought 182, and started doing low level survey and feral animal control.
Became partner in above business. Sold 182, bought a 185, sold 185 and bought later model 185F. Currently CP of above business and still in partnership with friend.
I have risen to level of my incompetence.
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Brisbane
Age: 69
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the long and the short of it
0. 11 years ppl 700 hours C150 (used to be $27/hour dual) C172/182/210 PA18 PA28+R PA32 8KCAB A36 B36 AA5A/B DH82 M20 Robin
plus some CT4A /MB326H (RAAF got halfway!) and a bit of UH1H, AS350B and HS748 when I could sneak up front
then about 10,000+ hours driving a very stationary wooden desk
not forgetting a few quiet drinks/hours/stories/dreams at aero club bars
1. 33 (1988)
2. self-funded plus cost-share + PJE + glider towing
3. freelance CPL(below the poverty line with a wife and first son) Maule V35 PA23 PA34+T PA32+R PA31-310/325/350 B55/58
then at last kero SD330/360 DHC6 DHC8-1,2,3,400 for the last 19 years waiting in vain for the coffee, tea or me offer
7 log books plus the first half of the eighth yet to be done in retrospect
or:
1. 33
2. self
3. more like a job now
well sometimes!
plus some CT4A /MB326H (RAAF got halfway!) and a bit of UH1H, AS350B and HS748 when I could sneak up front
then about 10,000+ hours driving a very stationary wooden desk
not forgetting a few quiet drinks/hours/stories/dreams at aero club bars
1. 33 (1988)
2. self-funded plus cost-share + PJE + glider towing
3. freelance CPL(below the poverty line with a wife and first son) Maule V35 PA23 PA34+T PA32+R PA31-310/325/350 B55/58
then at last kero SD330/360 DHC6 DHC8-1,2,3,400 for the last 19 years waiting in vain for the coffee, tea or me offer
7 log books plus the first half of the eighth yet to be done in retrospect
or:
1. 33
2. self
3. more like a job now
well sometimes!
1. CPL at age 20
2. Roughly half-half split between my parents support and part-time work throughout uni (earnt more last year at uni than first year in GA!)
3. Aviation Degree
SE Charter/Scenics - C210/C206
Instructing - Singles
Multi-Engine Charter/RPT - PA31, C310
Airline back seat - B744
Not for me mate...they didn't spend a cent on any private schooling unlike many others in my family, so they were more than happy to help out with flying training costs.
And from the look of your spelling it seems your education was quite inexpensive too!!!
2. Roughly half-half split between my parents support and part-time work throughout uni (earnt more last year at uni than first year in GA!)
3. Aviation Degree
SE Charter/Scenics - C210/C206
Instructing - Singles
Multi-Engine Charter/RPT - PA31, C310
Airline back seat - B744
Suprising there's no trust fund babies posting, maybe they are too embaressed to admit their parents generosity
And from the look of your spelling it seems your education was quite inexpensive too!!!
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: home
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Restiricted PVT (GFPT) @ 18
Hydro Ceramic technician (dishwasher) 4 years
Flight school in USA Commercial, MEL Instrument rating, CFI
Hawaii 1 year instructor/part 91 then part 135 tours C-172
Found out about the worlds biggest job benefit (jumpseating) traveled the world for free
Pago Pago, American Samoa Part 121 flag and domestic, twin otter First Officer/ Airline dispatcher.
Philadelphia CRJ FO, hotels most nights, constantly tired, but in the jet, Stoaked!!
Realisation- Shiny jet cool but lifestyle not all its cracked up to be, back to Hawaii 135 scheduled ops C-402 twin PIC time, based on Maui, surfing, windsurfing flying past the biggest sea cliffs in the world, Massive waves at Jaws, landing at Kalaupapa.
Back to Aus to try and break into aviation at home, IREX, ATPL conversion, Baron Chtrs then onto night freight in Metro based in Melbourne (not for me)!!!!
Otter and Caravan charter flights. Gold Coast, Citation co pilot at same time.
Current situation King Airs middle east, Weather Modification.
Still very glad i chased the dream and became a pilot.
Best advice, enjoy every day of your flying career, measure your success in this game by how safely and efficiently you get the job done each day,not just by how much you earn and what sort of equipment you fly, The old story about the instructor, looking at the regional turbo prop pilot, dreaming of the day he is flying that turbo prop, Whilst the turbo prop pilot is looking at the shiny jet, ETC.... Space shuttle captain looking at the instructor thinking oh yeah those were the days!! Live the moment, sucess is about the ride, not the destination
Hydro Ceramic technician (dishwasher) 4 years
Flight school in USA Commercial, MEL Instrument rating, CFI
Hawaii 1 year instructor/part 91 then part 135 tours C-172
Found out about the worlds biggest job benefit (jumpseating) traveled the world for free
Pago Pago, American Samoa Part 121 flag and domestic, twin otter First Officer/ Airline dispatcher.
Philadelphia CRJ FO, hotels most nights, constantly tired, but in the jet, Stoaked!!
Realisation- Shiny jet cool but lifestyle not all its cracked up to be, back to Hawaii 135 scheduled ops C-402 twin PIC time, based on Maui, surfing, windsurfing flying past the biggest sea cliffs in the world, Massive waves at Jaws, landing at Kalaupapa.
Back to Aus to try and break into aviation at home, IREX, ATPL conversion, Baron Chtrs then onto night freight in Metro based in Melbourne (not for me)!!!!
Otter and Caravan charter flights. Gold Coast, Citation co pilot at same time.
Current situation King Airs middle east, Weather Modification.
Still very glad i chased the dream and became a pilot.
Best advice, enjoy every day of your flying career, measure your success in this game by how safely and efficiently you get the job done each day,not just by how much you earn and what sort of equipment you fly, The old story about the instructor, looking at the regional turbo prop pilot, dreaming of the day he is flying that turbo prop, Whilst the turbo prop pilot is looking at the shiny jet, ETC.... Space shuttle captain looking at the instructor thinking oh yeah those were the days!! Live the moment, sucess is about the ride, not the destination