Information regarding the Top End

[Cessna 180]

Re Kakair.
Get a forklift and lr licence, find a cute girl with whom you can share a house and she can work in the shop and you will start with a lot less than 400.

[TOUCH-AND-GO]

So I will be booking my ticket for the flight up north this weekend, for those of you who have made the trip, would you prefer flying to Alice and then drive up to Darwin and around or prefer to start from Darwin and head down. If anyone has any information or might have a car which they could sell (rather a 4x4) please PM me.! If anyone else is keen on making the trip up north towards mid-end of December, I'd be more than happy to have someone come along and share the experience with!

T&G.

[SpyderPig]

I think you would probably be better off starting in Alice that is where the least amount of company's is on your intended route. From Darwin you can get to kunnas and jab in less then day if need be and Alice is a long way to drive from Darwin if you don't land anything when you get there and end having to come back up.

[Ixixly]

TOUCH-AND-GO My suggestion, don't take another Pilot, you'll both be going for the same jobs and things could get awkward...get some backpackers instead to help share costs and have a giggle with!! Gumtree.com.au is your friend in that regard!!

[TOUCH-AND-GO]

Thank you both gentleman for your inputs, highly appreciative.

Yes, I suppose it would be better off to start from Alice. It's closer to the Lake Eyre operators as well if I decide to head down south.

Planning too make Alice Springs the Central base location, if I don't land that first gig within a period. I'll resign in Alice and hopefully find a job in warehousing or something around the airport; ect. Baggage handling and just hang in their till something comes around.

Ixixly, thought it would be much better off to share the experience with whom I can relate to, one which shares the same passion and prospective of aviation!
But I see your point, it is a competitive industry and I do not doubt that their will be plenty of pilots looking for work.

Thank you once again and enjoy the weekend!

T&G.

[SpyderPig]

The lake operations are starting to wind down and pilots from there will be looking for work elsewhere soon. That area is a bit like the WA scenic ops.

Agreed about driving with another pilot though, it's very competitive out here but if you already know the person and get along well I can't it being to big of an issue.

Best advice is get out here and have a good time and enjoy the ride

[CazbahKid]

Would you say Broome is the best bet for a low timer?

[seneca208]

Brooms definitely seems to be the bet for the moment. All broome operators will hire with 250hrs. I had been everywhere else in the NT with no luck but some friends did well there.

[CazbahKid]

Cheers mate, looking at making the move early next year!

[NIK320]

I’m mid adventure at the moment and finding work in the NT is plausible.
I get the feeling there may be a few opportunities out here in the next few months. Hopefully before I run out of money

[BreakNeckSpeed]

What's going on in Darwin?!

Word is that Direct Air is in strife and that Hardys have had a change of policy to operate Metros and Conquests VFR.

A few months ago I was told I needed an instrument rating to fly at Hardys. Has this changed? What does it mean for those seeking work in the top end?

[tweekey]

That's a very subtle dig your having there

[pilotchute]

A MECIR?

As all drivers at Hardy's fly the Metro after a few months you would definitely need your instrument rating.

[BreakNeckSpeed]

As all drivers at Hardy's fly the Metro after a few months you would definitely need your instrument rating.

I understood that to be the intent, ATPL subjects required too, so why the VFR metros? Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it?

[ZappBrannigan]

You have 50% of the facts.

Won't go into the reasons, but yes, Hardy's are no IFR, no RPT for the time being, but no this wasn't their choice. Should only be a short term thing.

[seneca208]

Could be something to do with the recent job ads looking for a Training and Check pilot.

[BreakNeckSpeed]

From CASA website:

Northern Territory air operator Hardy Aviation is currently restricted from conducting regular public transport and instrument flight rules operations.

This is because the chief pilot of Hardy Aviation has not met required standards during a routine flying competency check.

At this point Hardy Aviation does not have an approved replacement chief pilot.

CASA continues to look at the relevant safety issues.

Now I understand...

I assume they will sort it all out in the short term.

[fiftyeight]

What happened to station jobs being for low hour pilots?

There is a station pilot position on afap asking for 1000 PIC, I hope that was a typo and they meant 100 PIC

[seneca208]

Considering its a role flying a Beech Baron, I'd say 1000 sounds about right.

[deadcut]

Can anyone explain to me what a casual pilot flying a C210 should be paid? I can't interpret the award and can't really find anything that shows casual award rates.
Including allowances etc

Thanks