Another newby thread...
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Another newby thread...
PPRuNers,
Only discovered this forum a few days ago, so if I say something wrong let me know.
At the moment, I'm half way through Year 10, and for the first time actually considering what I want to do with my life. I'm not a long time Aviation freak (didnt get my PPL at age 8, haven't been hell bent on being a pilot since I came out of the womb), however I have a passion for most things that move (working on a '75 Torana for any car geeks out there), and being a pilot seems to be a somewhat better career option than being a bus driver (only slightly though). I have no flying experience whatsoever and am extremely naive to the workings of the industry, for all I knew you walked into Qantas at the end of Year 12 and instantly got a job. Anyway, now that I have a slightly improved knowledge of becoming a pilot, I have a few questions. The more you read, the more questions you have!
I live in Adelaide, so all my local flying schools are at Parafield. From what I've read on these forums the best option is Flight Training Adelaide (yes?, I'll go for a TIF at some stage). Also, I've been pointed towards the UniSA course by my school, and without getting into a war over the merits of an aviation degree, is the training they offer up to a satisfactory standard? Lastly, do airlines (major and regional) prefer to recruit former instructors or charter guys? The dream is to have my feet up in the captain's seat of an A380, so I'd like to know. I know some of the UniSA grads go on to be instructors and I think I'd like instructing
Although racing through the Kimberley in a 210 doesn't sound too bad either 
Of course, none of this applies if I could score a QF cadetship
Cheers.
Only discovered this forum a few days ago, so if I say something wrong let me know.
At the moment, I'm half way through Year 10, and for the first time actually considering what I want to do with my life. I'm not a long time Aviation freak (didnt get my PPL at age 8, haven't been hell bent on being a pilot since I came out of the womb), however I have a passion for most things that move (working on a '75 Torana for any car geeks out there), and being a pilot seems to be a somewhat better career option than being a bus driver (only slightly though). I have no flying experience whatsoever and am extremely naive to the workings of the industry, for all I knew you walked into Qantas at the end of Year 12 and instantly got a job. Anyway, now that I have a slightly improved knowledge of becoming a pilot, I have a few questions. The more you read, the more questions you have!
I live in Adelaide, so all my local flying schools are at Parafield. From what I've read on these forums the best option is Flight Training Adelaide (yes?, I'll go for a TIF at some stage). Also, I've been pointed towards the UniSA course by my school, and without getting into a war over the merits of an aviation degree, is the training they offer up to a satisfactory standard? Lastly, do airlines (major and regional) prefer to recruit former instructors or charter guys? The dream is to have my feet up in the captain's seat of an A380, so I'd like to know. I know some of the UniSA grads go on to be instructors and I think I'd like instructing
Although racing through the Kimberley in a 210 doesn't sound too bad either Of course, none of this applies if I could score a QF cadetship
Cheers.
PM Plank Bender, he seems pretty savvy when it comes to how a pilot should be trained and what skills they should have as an ATPL. 
A couple of 1000 hours in your flight sim at home should do the trick, you'll be able to walk straight into a pilot shop, don a set of Raybans (Serengettis if you appreciate finer things) dust off your flight suit and helmet then skip on over to a job with Qantas.
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
A couple of 1000 hours in your flight sim at home should do the trick, you'll be able to walk straight into a pilot shop, don a set of Raybans (Serengettis if you appreciate finer things) dust off your flight suit and helmet then skip on over to a job with Qantas.
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
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first thing.. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! 
Well let me put that into context, simply unless you have / develop a love of flying in this day & age it's not the most attractive career out there. It's a very long haul to get into that captains seat, many years of hard slog as either a instructor, a charter driver out the back of butt f$%^ or for a few many years as a first officer (keeping in mind some cadet schemes may not get you into the left seat with the company offering the scheme as you cant get the command time required)
Sorry to sound negative but it's an industry in which you'll have to put a lot into before you get anything out, which maybe hard for someone who just aspires to be a jet captain. Having said that it can be a great adventure
I did most of my training a Parafield with BAE flight training (now called flight training Adelaide) a few years ago, not a bad operation lots of aircraft & all maintained in house so it's pretty rare for aircraft to be unavailable.
I would recommend having a chat to both Air South & Forsyth Aviation & maybe do a TIF with any school that you like the sound of as it's all logable & you get to see different instructor methods from the get go & can decide which one suits you best
Well let me put that into context, simply unless you have / develop a love of flying in this day & age it's not the most attractive career out there. It's a very long haul to get into that captains seat, many years of hard slog as either a instructor, a charter driver out the back of butt f$%^ or for a few many years as a first officer (keeping in mind some cadet schemes may not get you into the left seat with the company offering the scheme as you cant get the command time required)
Sorry to sound negative but it's an industry in which you'll have to put a lot into before you get anything out, which maybe hard for someone who just aspires to be a jet captain. Having said that it can be a great adventure
I did most of my training a Parafield with BAE flight training (now called flight training Adelaide) a few years ago, not a bad operation lots of aircraft & all maintained in house so it's pretty rare for aircraft to be unavailable.
I would recommend having a chat to both Air South & Forsyth Aviation & maybe do a TIF with any school that you like the sound of as it's all logable & you get to see different instructor methods from the get go & can decide which one suits you best
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A couple of 1000 hours in your flight sim at home should do the trick, you'll be able to walk straight into a pilot shop, don a set of Raybans (Serengettis if you appreciate finer things) dust off your flight suit and helmet then skip on over to a job with Qantas.
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
geeezzzzzzz giving away all the secrets in one post
Quote:
A couple of 1000 hours in your flight sim at home should do the trick, you'll be able to walk straight into a pilot shop, don a set of Raybans (Serengettis if you appreciate finer things) dust off your flight suit and helmet then skip on over to a job with Qantas.
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
geeezzzzzzz giving away all the secrets in one post
A couple of 1000 hours in your flight sim at home should do the trick, you'll be able to walk straight into a pilot shop, don a set of Raybans (Serengettis if you appreciate finer things) dust off your flight suit and helmet then skip on over to a job with Qantas.
The money isn't that great, expect a 300,000 starting wage, but the general team work and working environment sure makes up for it, in fact the same can be said for any company Australia wide.
Once you've been there a couple of years you'll have a grab at the left seat but it really depends on merit, being a company man really helps with career advancement so make sure you do everything as laid out in your OPs manual.
Most of all the comradery between Pilots in the industry is second to none. You always know someone has your back so life is relatively stress free. Just sit back, do your job and watch the money role in!
Yee haa
geeezzzzzzz giving away all the secrets in one post
Did I also mention job security?
Being an aviator means you will never have to worry about money again, so take out that second mortgage and buy a boat, hell why not a new Audi to spice things up a little, may as well throw in some jet skis for the kids too to keep the little tackers happy. Pity about the ex wife though, but all those trolley dolleys sure were worth it!
There will always be champagne and caviar on your table
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Sorry to sound negative but it's an industry in which you'll have to put a lot into before you get anything out, which maybe hard for someone who just aspires to be a jet captain.
do a TIF with any school that you like the sound of as it's all logable & you get to see different instructor methods from the get go & can decide which one suits you best
.Green Goblin, It's just a dream and it sounds a lot easier now that I have read your plan
"7Eng" many years ago there where kids (trust me at 15 yr still a kid......lucky bugga!)just like you lined up against every fence line that surrounded an airport here in Oz just dreaming, drooling in fact to be a pilot. (I was one of them) At the time with a little luck (having some money behind you by way of family or plain plane mad!) you had a good chance of getting to the top after many years of hard work & would be there for life enjoying every minute of it. An airline pilot had a God like status once, where amongst the most respected people on the planet, these days? well the pages here attest to that not being the case anymore by way of lousy T&C's & one of the most unstable industries ever to evolve in this uncertain climate of ours.
If you really must fly then nobody in here should stop you from trying. BUT there are options if flying is just a passion for you.There are many other industries that have better job security and pay a hell of a lot more almost from day one after trained up. Get well placed within another role & fly for fun, privately, that way you can have yr cake & eat it to. Flying for a living can at times take the fun out of it.
Take a look at the amount of up & coming young pilots now whom walk off the street & want to fly for a living who are Caucasian. Whom want to be an airline pilot. They are getting fewer & fewer these days and there is a major underlying reason for that and that being flying for a living in an airline is no longer glamorous or worth while after a difficult and long road.
There's nothing wrong with dreaming ( I dreamed and got where I wanted considering my education level) so get yr private license & make part of that dream come true, the cost doing so with regards to what you will earn over yr entire working life is little, it's from that point on you can make an informed decision yourself.
To fly is one of the most rewarding & enjoyable experiences known to mankind, (from here on in at 15 you won't think clearly as girls cloud the mind) so why taint it with a "I have to go flying today" because it's no longer an enjoyable pleasure if you "have" too fly!.
cheers & good luck
Wmk2
If you really must fly then nobody in here should stop you from trying. BUT there are options if flying is just a passion for you.There are many other industries that have better job security and pay a hell of a lot more almost from day one after trained up. Get well placed within another role & fly for fun, privately, that way you can have yr cake & eat it to. Flying for a living can at times take the fun out of it.
Take a look at the amount of up & coming young pilots now whom walk off the street & want to fly for a living who are Caucasian. Whom want to be an airline pilot. They are getting fewer & fewer these days and there is a major underlying reason for that and that being flying for a living in an airline is no longer glamorous or worth while after a difficult and long road.
There's nothing wrong with dreaming ( I dreamed and got where I wanted considering my education level) so get yr private license & make part of that dream come true, the cost doing so with regards to what you will earn over yr entire working life is little, it's from that point on you can make an informed decision yourself.
To fly is one of the most rewarding & enjoyable experiences known to mankind, (from here on in at 15 you won't think clearly as girls cloud the mind
) so why taint it with a "I have to go flying today" because it's no longer an enjoyable pleasure if you "have" too fly!.cheers & good luck
Wmk2
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UniSA
Can't speak to aviation degrees but I did one of their flight test related subjects a couple of years ago for interest.
If that experience is typical of the way they approach generalist aviation degrees, then you won't be doing a pushover course by any stretch of the imagination. I was reasonably impressed by the way they went about the work.
Can't speak to aviation degrees but I did one of their flight test related subjects a couple of years ago for interest.
If that experience is typical of the way they approach generalist aviation degrees, then you won't be doing a pushover course by any stretch of the imagination. I was reasonably impressed by the way they went about the work.
7Eng,
Listen to what the crusty old
have to say, they have been there done that and know what they are talking about, face up to it and (if you have the passion) you should think who cares.
Try and find some people who are pilots to talk to, one thing I have found is almost everyone knows a pilot when they mention that ask if you can be introduced and then quiz the hell out of them about their life, what they think, advice, how they got into it etc. etc.
It serves two purposes, firstly you learn if the industry is for you, secondly, it gives you an idea on career paths and lifestyles you could be experiencing.
Take a couple TIFs, maybe next time you go on your family holiday take a senic flight. Get to know what light aircraft are like, you will be spending hundreds of hours in them even if you are lucky(?) enough to be fast tracked through a cadetship.
Go out to the airport spotting etc. etc. etc. try and immerse yourself in aviation, if you have the passion this won't be hard - you probably are half way there already.
If you do and the passion is still there, pick the school you like the most and start your training. Go solo just after your 16, try and get your PPL done before the HSC really kicks off or if you miss that (like I have) wait till the HSC is over then finish off your PPL before the uni year starts.
By now you should know if you want to keep doing this for a living or if it's just a nice hobby. Both are awesome life choices.
The other piece of advice I can give you is apply for everything (ADFA/RAAF in year 11 to be in the running for a shiny laptop, QF/Unis Junly/July) you would even consider going to. Keep your options open, you never know what may happen - such as a financial crisis
Good luck!
Listen to what the crusty old
have to say, they have been there done that and know what they are talking about, face up to it and (if you have the passion) you should think who cares.Try and find some people who are pilots to talk to, one thing I have found is almost everyone knows a pilot when they mention that ask if you can be introduced and then quiz the hell out of them about their life, what they think, advice, how they got into it etc. etc.
It serves two purposes, firstly you learn if the industry is for you, secondly, it gives you an idea on career paths and lifestyles you could be experiencing.
Take a couple TIFs, maybe next time you go on your family holiday take a senic flight. Get to know what light aircraft are like, you will be spending hundreds of hours in them even if you are lucky(?) enough to be fast tracked through a cadetship.
Go out to the airport spotting etc. etc. etc. try and immerse yourself in aviation, if you have the passion this won't be hard - you probably are half way there already.
If you do and the passion is still there, pick the school you like the most and start your training. Go solo just after your 16, try and get your PPL done before the HSC really kicks off or if you miss that (like I have) wait till the HSC is over then finish off your PPL before the uni year starts.
By now you should know if you want to keep doing this for a living or if it's just a nice hobby. Both are awesome life choices.
The other piece of advice I can give you is apply for everything (ADFA/RAAF in year 11 to be in the running for a shiny laptop, QF/Unis Junly/July) you would even consider going to. Keep your options open, you never know what may happen - such as a financial crisis
Good luck!
Last edited by mcgrath50; 14th Jul 2009 at 05:37. Reason: Spelling
Did you say you own a 75 Torana?
Take my advice, spruce it up with a set of flares, big set of wheels, stripes and sell it as an A9X replica.
You will make more money than you would in the next 10 years of your aviation career.
Take my advice, spruce it up with a set of flares, big set of wheels, stripes and sell it as an A9X replica.
You will make more money than you would in the next 10 years of your aviation career.
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My humble advice is (assuming this isn't a pisstake, there seems to be a few of those floating around lately) - if you're not 100% sure about what you want to do, and flying sounds fairly cool, but you're not hugely passionate about it - go and do a TIF and have a fly around. If by this stage - or your first proper lesson or two - you haven't been "bitten", I'd probably question whether I was motivated enough to drop the large amount of money, time and effort required to get ATPL qualified - also remembering you'll get little reward other than getting paid to fly (makes it all worthwhile for some, but not all) for the first few years at least.
This isn't designed to put you off - but there are enough youngsters out there who WERE ridiculously passionate when they began, but have realised for most it's not plain sailing into the left seat of a jet, everything became a little too hard, and now they've either quit at some mid-to-late stage of training, or are sitting in the dead-end realms of GA as their attitude and "airline-entitlement" mindset won't allow them to progress.
You're crazy if you don't get up there at least once though.
This isn't designed to put you off - but there are enough youngsters out there who WERE ridiculously passionate when they began, but have realised for most it's not plain sailing into the left seat of a jet, everything became a little too hard, and now they've either quit at some mid-to-late stage of training, or are sitting in the dead-end realms of GA as their attitude and "airline-entitlement" mindset won't allow them to progress.
You're crazy if you don't get up there at least once though.
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go and do a TIF and have a fly around. If by this stage - or your first proper lesson or two - you haven't been "bitten", I'd probably question whether I was motivated enough to drop the large amount of money, time and effort required to get ATPL qualified - also remembering you'll get little reward other than getting paid to fly (makes it all worthwhile for some, but not all) for the first few years at least.
Take my advice, spruce it up with a set of flares, big set of wheels, stripes and sell it as an A9X replica.
You will make more money than you would in the next 10 years of your aviation career.
You will make more money than you would in the next 10 years of your aviation career.
But its my first car, it's not going anywhere.
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Be careful what you wish for.........
When I was growing up i wanted to be a pilot. At that stage and living in a country town it wasn't so easy. The main option was the RAAF. I used to have model planes hanging from my bedroom roof, I collected the Illustrated encyclopedia of aircraft and when it finally came time, i sat the RAAF entrance exam, but unfortunately I didn't get in.
I am now an Accountant working as a Financial controller for a flight training school. Quite often I look out the window and see all the planes going past wishing it was me flying them. I'm now in the fortunate position though of doing my PPL. Where I work, we have some of the best young pilots around so i have my choice of really good instructors.
Dont ever do something that you think could be good. You need ot do something that you are absolutely passionate about. If they had the degree course when I was doing University then I would have done htat in a heart beat.
The fact that there is now FEE Help and HECS for the theory and flying component has made the degree course a lot more accessible. Even though you end up with htis debt, dont forget that oyu dont start paying it back until you start earning a certain income threshold and you may not achieve that level for quite a few years after finishing the degree.
Agaion, do something you are absolutely passsionate about. You dont want to regret it later in life.
When I was growing up i wanted to be a pilot. At that stage and living in a country town it wasn't so easy. The main option was the RAAF. I used to have model planes hanging from my bedroom roof, I collected the Illustrated encyclopedia of aircraft and when it finally came time, i sat the RAAF entrance exam, but unfortunately I didn't get in.
I am now an Accountant working as a Financial controller for a flight training school. Quite often I look out the window and see all the planes going past wishing it was me flying them. I'm now in the fortunate position though of doing my PPL. Where I work, we have some of the best young pilots around so i have my choice of really good instructors.
Dont ever do something that you think could be good. You need ot do something that you are absolutely passionate about. If they had the degree course when I was doing University then I would have done htat in a heart beat.
The fact that there is now FEE Help and HECS for the theory and flying component has made the degree course a lot more accessible. Even though you end up with htis debt, dont forget that oyu dont start paying it back until you start earning a certain income threshold and you may not achieve that level for quite a few years after finishing the degree.
Agaion, do something you are absolutely passsionate about. You dont want to regret it later in life.
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2 tips before getting too serious.
Go to a Designated Medical Exaniner [DAME] and get a full class one medical done. [saves possible dissapointment later.]
The other is to go out to Gawler or Stonefield and do some gliding lessons!
You can go solo at 15 and they training is very worthwhile.
Go to a Designated Medical Exaniner [DAME] and get a full class one medical done. [saves possible dissapointment later.]
The other is to go out to Gawler or Stonefield and do some gliding lessons!
You can go solo at 15 and they training is very worthwhile.
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I used to have model planes hanging from my bedroom roof, I collected the Illustrated encyclopedia of aircraft
And I also buy aviation books at first glance in the bookshops!
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7 engine,
Just my two cents.
There are many worthwhile jobs/careers in aviation that are not flying jobs. Airlines, ground handlers and airports employ many people, often with better pay and more secure employment conditions that don't actually fly but are still an integral part of the Flying Circus.
As several people have said, if you're keen on aviation you can still be gainfully employed around aircraft without flying them. If you're not actively involved in the industry you may not have considered being a LAME, running a ground handling company, working in airline operations, being a terminal manager and many other postions that keep the aircraft in the air. There is an old RAAF saying that 90% of the RAAF keep 10% in the air, and being part of the 90% is still great fun and often more secure, and better paying, than being in the 10%.
If you have your heart set on being a pilot then don't let me talk you out of it, but working in aviation can also mean being one of the Chairbourne Division (WE Johns) that helps it all happen and this can be (IMHO) just as much fun.
For all that, very few people make a million out of aviation. Ground based or air based, you have to be passionate about it, otherwise you're better off somewhere else.
Just my two cents.
There are many worthwhile jobs/careers in aviation that are not flying jobs. Airlines, ground handlers and airports employ many people, often with better pay and more secure employment conditions that don't actually fly but are still an integral part of the Flying Circus.
As several people have said, if you're keen on aviation you can still be gainfully employed around aircraft without flying them. If you're not actively involved in the industry you may not have considered being a LAME, running a ground handling company, working in airline operations, being a terminal manager and many other postions that keep the aircraft in the air. There is an old RAAF saying that 90% of the RAAF keep 10% in the air, and being part of the 90% is still great fun and often more secure, and better paying, than being in the 10%.
If you have your heart set on being a pilot then don't let me talk you out of it, but working in aviation can also mean being one of the Chairbourne Division (WE Johns) that helps it all happen and this can be (IMHO) just as much fun.
For all that, very few people make a million out of aviation. Ground based or air based, you have to be passionate about it, otherwise you're better off somewhere else.
I have planes hanging from my bedroom ceiling too! Half of which I glued together from little kits., and aircraft posters all over my walls.
I think you're keeping bad company these days.
Where's your Farrah Fawcett poster?
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If I had my time again, I would have got an accounting degree (or something similar)...something which is not really the most exciting of jobs but has a good wage and has job security...and just got a ppl and flew for fun on the weekends.....