CPL pilot in abit of a pickle
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CPL pilot in abit of a pickle
Hi Guys,
I am a new CPL pilot with 165 hours TT along with CSU and Night rating living in Melbourne. With the current situation am one of the unlucky ones who received my license during this current economic downturn. I was hoping to get some advice on what i steps i should take to get a job in the next couple of months. I am also running out of money to continue building hours
I have considered the following pathways but am not sure what way to go.
- Saving some money and continue building up another 20-30 hours
- Mustering on a Cattle station
-The charter scene ( although most people i have spoken to have minimums which are above what i have)
- Skydiving ( again limited by hours and time on type as alot of places use C206's)
I would love to hear from pilots in the same situation/ have been and what they decided to do to get around a problem like mine.
Sky Pilot..
I am a new CPL pilot with 165 hours TT along with CSU and Night rating living in Melbourne. With the current situation am one of the unlucky ones who received my license during this current economic downturn. I was hoping to get some advice on what i steps i should take to get a job in the next couple of months. I am also running out of money to continue building hours
I have considered the following pathways but am not sure what way to go.
- Saving some money and continue building up another 20-30 hours
- Mustering on a Cattle station
-The charter scene ( although most people i have spoken to have minimums which are above what i have)
- Skydiving ( again limited by hours and time on type as alot of places use C206's)
I would love to hear from pilots in the same situation/ have been and what they decided to do to get around a problem like mine.
Sky Pilot..
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Spend as little as you can. Get the minimum required hours and then pack your car and head off.
Many still gained employment in a stagnant market that got worse when Sept 11 and Ansett happened.
I know a someone at the time that got overwhlemed by the negativity of the situation and gave up. 50k and 5 years in the bin. He works 12 hrs a day in an office job he doesn't like now.
There is still some good hiring going on in ga so if i were you i'd get cracking before it goes back to the bad old days.
Many still gained employment in a stagnant market that got worse when Sept 11 and Ansett happened.
I know a someone at the time that got overwhlemed by the negativity of the situation and gave up. 50k and 5 years in the bin. He works 12 hrs a day in an office job he doesn't like now.
There is still some good hiring going on in ga so if i were you i'd get cracking before it goes back to the bad old days.
This game is cyclic sky_pilot, and timing is often everything. If you made the decision to get into flying because of the recent flurry in hireing, then you and many others are probably in for one hell of a history lesson.
When I started, there were few jobs, and you needed thousands of hours just to have your Resume' looked at by a reputable operator. By the time I gained a CPL and Multi IR, Australia was on the brink of a severe recession. Worryingly, it appears that this downturn may make that little episode pale in comparison! So how does one make it? Persistance, persistance, and more persistance!
flog's advice has seen the kickstart to many a career, but I suspect if you are going to go down that path, you had better "get on the hump" as many others will have the same idea! You could try concentrating on your own patch. Work that extra job (pizza delivery and stacking groceries helped me) to fund an instuctors rating. That will at least get you into the industry whilst perfecting your networking skills. Suss' out which operators may be likely to call you at the last moment when one of their regular pilots goes sick! Go out and spend some more of your hard earned on the more poular G/A twins, and find creative ways to gain that magical 10 hours on type. Sometimes these endorsements come with ICUS thrown in?
Irrespective of what you do, if your motivation is a flying career forsakeing everything else, then you will eventually suceed. The days of fast-tracks are Im afraid, quickly disappearing. When, and If they return...Who knows?
Good luck
When I started, there were few jobs, and you needed thousands of hours just to have your Resume' looked at by a reputable operator. By the time I gained a CPL and Multi IR, Australia was on the brink of a severe recession. Worryingly, it appears that this downturn may make that little episode pale in comparison! So how does one make it? Persistance, persistance, and more persistance!
flog's advice has seen the kickstart to many a career, but I suspect if you are going to go down that path, you had better "get on the hump" as many others will have the same idea! You could try concentrating on your own patch. Work that extra job (pizza delivery and stacking groceries helped me) to fund an instuctors rating. That will at least get you into the industry whilst perfecting your networking skills. Suss' out which operators may be likely to call you at the last moment when one of their regular pilots goes sick! Go out and spend some more of your hard earned on the more poular G/A twins, and find creative ways to gain that magical 10 hours on type. Sometimes these endorsements come with ICUS thrown in?
Irrespective of what you do, if your motivation is a flying career forsakeing everything else, then you will eventually suceed. The days of fast-tracks are Im afraid, quickly disappearing. When, and If they return...Who knows?
Good luck
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See the post Jobs for Newbies a couple of posts below. Get out of capital cities hang around up North Darwin Broome Kununurra Mount Isa etc. Do any job you can get; these days even they can be tricky to get. Krusty's advice is pretty much in a nut shell what you can expect. I was like you looking for a job in 1981-82 and man it was tough.
The Dry season which is starting now is great, get up there and knock on doors. I did it and was eventually successful albeit 8 months later, but I had a lot of fun looking. Don't get depressed. You will look back and laugh about it all.
Good luck
Ps you also get a teriffic tan whilst all the rest of the Melbourniuins look all pale and ghostly as they suffer a Melbourne winter
The Dry season which is starting now is great, get up there and knock on doors. I did it and was eventually successful albeit 8 months later, but I had a lot of fun looking. Don't get depressed. You will look back and laugh about it all.
Good luck
Ps you also get a teriffic tan whilst all the rest of the Melbourniuins look all pale and ghostly as they suffer a Melbourne winter
All good advice, but I might suggest getting 50hrs or so on a 206 Jump Flying would put you in a better situation looking for scenic work in the bungles, Kakadu etc. Should only take a couple of months and might speed getting your foot in the door.
Bar certificate and Taxi license are good tools too!
Bar certificate and Taxi license are good tools too!
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I second the idea of getting some jump time / station time first if you're only around the 165 hour mark. Then.... I'll have to refer you to one of my favourite PPRuNe quotes courtesy of Mr. Hat.
Its a hard nut to crack, but good luck
when i was in nsw they pointed north..cairns. then i got to cairns and they said "you need to go out west fella". so off i went west. There was noone there. went north again and ended up in darwin where they didnt specify a direction ...they just said "piss off"!
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I spent years trying to get a particular break and then one day a long way down the track I had about three offers from three different companies in about as many weeks - one of the mobs I hadn't been in touch with for well over a year. It's like the Aussie desert - it's either a drought or a flood, but the floods are pretty darn few and far between... It's a game of patience and persistance but from my observations, those who really stick it out and work hard enough with the right attitude usually get where they want to go. Goodluck and enjoy each stage of the journey
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Yeah its amazing how you always get offered more than one job at a time and in between nothing. Guarateed if you get an interview at a place, within a week some other joint will give you a call and hen you'll sit there trying to work out the best move. Needless to say i reckon i took the wrong one each and every bloody time!
Hassellhof, I'm glad you like that one! True story though. I literally got told to "piss off" whilst standing around like a spare pr!ck on a honeymoon resume in hand at the reception desk to speak to the CP.
Hassellhof, I'm glad you like that one! True story though. I literally got told to "piss off" whilst standing around like a spare pr!ck on a honeymoon resume in hand at the reception desk to speak to the CP.
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Thanks for the feedback guys, i will take it all into consideration.
And i will plan to get up north some stage before pursuing a career in the airline industry.
Keep it coming if you have anymore info or stories on getting a job as a new CPL pilot.
Sky Pilot
And i will plan to get up north some stage before pursuing a career in the airline industry.
Keep it coming if you have anymore info or stories on getting a job as a new CPL pilot.
Sky Pilot
am one of the unlucky ones who received my license during this current economic downturn
Lose the poor me attitude. You are bloody lucky to be young, medically fit, living in Australia, and with a CPL under your belt. Seriously man, say it hree times out loud Sh!t I'm lucky!
Get out there and get work. It is there, go looking for it.
When some CP slams the door in your face think " sweet, one more rejection down, only 127 to go before I get hired"
And i will plan to get up north some stage before pursuing a career in the airline industry.
Have fun
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I got my CPL 25yrs ago, NO JOBS and everyone laughed. Went north and swept hangars and cleaned shops at night. After 18 months, finally got flying after sleeping on floors etc. Was a ****e load of fun and gained more experience than just flying.
Its bloody tough, but worth it. You have already put a major effort in, now go and enjoy.
Of about 20 of us who started, only 3 of us flying. 1 on 747 and a another on A380 and 1 flying somewhere down the coast and loving life.
Good luck my new colleague.
Its bloody tough, but worth it. You have already put a major effort in, now go and enjoy.
Of about 20 of us who started, only 3 of us flying. 1 on 747 and a another on A380 and 1 flying somewhere down the coast and loving life.
Good luck my new colleague.
mate i'm in the same boat as you. you really need to just take the plunge, fly/drive/hitch hike around the northern end of the country and stick your head into operators and get to know them. Its not easy at the moment like it was 6 months ago but there is work out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Be persistant and don't let a knock back get you down. Yes it is hard cause I can understand you are probably hard pressed for cash now after getting you CPL so be prepared to stack shelves at Coles to make ends meet but you, like me and every other new CPl looking for work need to put that hard yards in to get the job. Yes its going to suck but hey, at least you know you will have earnt that job and there will be alot of companies out there that have seen you and have your CV on file.
Good luck mate and keep at it
Good luck mate and keep at it
You WILL get a job if you just keep pushing for one. If you don't get out there, it simply won't happen.
Make your dreams a reality - just do it
Make your dreams a reality - just do it
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Get a tail wheel endorsment and put in for the CALM or DEC (or whatever they call themselves this week) Fire spotting program. They will be advertising in the next month or two for the next intake.
