General Aviation pilot work in New Zealand

[andyturner]

Hi,

Can anyone brief me on the GA market place in NZ? Failing that, just a pointer to current GA jobs in NZ would be great.

For NZ in particular, what types of flying jobs are there? What are the nominal Qualification and Experience requirements for those jobs? What would be a realistic, average and fair salary for a new pilot?

Another thing I am contemplating is the “Fixed wing” or “Rotary” route. I would love to fly in the mountains of the South Islands so a Helicopter would seem appropriate. That said I’ve seen footage of Alaskan bush pilots doing some fantastic fixed wing flying and landing in places that I previously would have thought impossible. What are your thoughts on the subject? Does anyone know if Bush pilot operators exist in NZ? If so who are they?

Thanks and regards,
Andy

[toolowtoofast]

Originally Posted by andyturner

Thanks and regards,
Andy

Current GA jobs? Practically nil.

Experience/qualifications? CPL minimum, an instrument rating will help. You need minimum 750TT to single pilot IFR on air ops. (CAA requirement). A good number of instructors and charter pilots sitting with 1500-2000hrs waiting for airline call ups at the moment.

Salary? What's that? New GA pilots are normally on retainer plus flying hrs. Won't pay a mortgage.

I don't believe you 'contemplate' rotary or fixed. You either are or you aren't.

There's plenty of bush/mountain pilots. Mostly though they own their own 180/185s and use them for their own purpose. A select few get to take fare paying pax to those strips. Check out the 'More photos' thread in D&G for strip flying shots.

[The Green Goblin]

Or you can come to Australia and constantly talk about how crap Australia is and how much better New Zealand is. You will then get a job at Vuncint and join the worlds greatest aviators

Fully Sick

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Priceless Green Goblin!

You won't be laughing when Vuncents get there sux Dush-8's with the sux bladed props for there sux new RPT routes.

[glekichi]

New Zealanders must never refer to Dash-8s as such. They're Q-somethingorothers!

[andyturner]

Chaps,

Given that I haven’t even started my PPL yet, if we could stick with "English" as a common language then that would help me enormously - Thanks!

Mr Goblin, did you mean http://www.vincentaviation.com.au/ ? If so then thank you, these people are exactly the type of operator I'm looking for. Does anyone know who their main competitors are?

I disagree with Toolowtoofast,“I don't believe you 'contemplate' rotary or fixed. You either are or you aren't.” For me, I love both forms of flying just like I love Red heads, Blondes & Brunettes equally

Cheers
Andy

[DeltaT]

If you have the option, go helicopter. NZ has the highest number per capita in the world and plenty of ways to clock up the hours, especially frost protection.
The fixed wing GA scene is pretty F_ _ _ _ _ d in NZ and its a joke compared to the rest of the world the conditions that are around.
As has been mentioned, there is no salary for new pilots, hence the remarks you are getting. Even say 1500-2000hrs experience if you are lucky to get into GBA will only see you with $100 a day for a long days shift.
Make the right decision early on...

[Konev]

do you have a cherokee sex or cessna oh sex rating?

main besh pilot company in seuth island is eir feordland, Russel does most of the werk though.

[Steve Zissou]

Green Goblin (Goblin by name or nature...?) - you got a chup on the shoulder there cobber?

[horserun]

Just like to point out the New Zealand accent has been voted the most "socially attractive" in the English speaking world by.............The English.


Poms reckon New Zild accent's rilly choice | Stuff.co.nz

[mattathm]

Bahaahahahahahahaa

Andy..... stick with what you have, Ie NO pilots licence, and go get a real job.


The flying scene is now coozed in Au and NZ and if you dont even have a licence its a hard yard to the top + you will behind 7863532954239472034826 million pilots that want a job as well that already have a licence.
Good luck.

[The Green Goblin]

Nah bro

It's just been a few weeks sunce we hid a good shut fight on here eh.

I thought I might start it eh bro......

[mattyj]

Like mattathm and zissou, I have been flying for a living for the last 2.5 years and now find myself too useless to work a real job...best advice is start drinking hard liquor now..then head to Darwin...they give flying jobs to the last man standing at the Casuarina Beachfront on friday night

[lilflyboy262]

Damn it, I knew I was doing something wrong when I was up there....
I just stayed at the backpackers and got on it with the euro chicks

[ZK-NSN]

go helicopter. NZ has the highest number per capita in the world and plenty of ways to clock up the hours, especially frost protection.

I dont know what your smoking dude, but I suggest you dont operate heavy machinery until it wears off. Choppers are harder to break into than fixed wing.
Choppers or fixed wing? Pick whatever type you most enjoy because as has already been pointed, you will make bugger all money for a while so you might as well enjoy your flying while you struggle your way through the system. If you really want to get through, put in the work and prove your not a total dick then you will get through.
I have had "real" jobs before and can tell you they suck (most of these guys probably havent). Now I work 3 days a week, get paid well and hoon around the country drinking coffee and talking crap with a bunch of good c*nts........f*ck real jobs.

Good one Green gobling-him.

[horserun]

Now I work 3 days a week, get paid well and hoon around the country drinking coffee and talking crap with a bunch of good c*nts........f*ck real jobs.

Thats why I love this job!!!!!!

****** spot on!!

[The Green Goblin]

I have had "real" jobs before and can tell you they suck (most of these guys probably havent). Now I get paid well and hoon around the country drinking booze and talking crap with a bunch of good c*nts........f*ck real jobs.

Few of them in the territory mate, look under any tree

[toolowtoofast]

Originally Posted by andyturner

Chaps,

Given that I haven’t even started my PPL yet, if we could stick with "English" as a common language then that would help me enormously - Thanks!

Mr Goblin, did you mean http://www.vincentaviation.com.au/ ? If so then thank you, these people are exactly the type of operator I'm looking for. Does anyone know who their main competitors are?

I disagree with Toolowtoofast,“I don't believe you 'contemplate' rotary or fixed. You either are or you aren't.” For me, I love both forms of flying just like I love Red heads, Blondes & Brunettes equally

Cheers
Andy

we are talking english mate. you'll get used to it if you end up down here mate. i love flying both too mate, but i couldn't afford the brazillion $$ to fly flappy wings mate. i'll have to stick to the too oh sux instead mate.

[framer]

If you have the option, go helicopter. NZ has the highest number per capita in the world and plenty of ways to clock up the hours, especially frost protection.

Think before you take that advice. It may not be for you. I have rotary friends and they are often giving me a hard time because I earn three times their wage and have a roster that doesn't change and work about 75% as much/often as they do. As a consequence I quite often can be found at a cafe with one of their wives while they are working hard. Gotta think 10 yrs down the track , not just the next one or two.

[frigatebird]

Would have liked to have had a crack at choppers, if the military had paid for it early, ..but when I thought about it later, decided I didn't want to sit on a platform of sticks on a mountaintop with unshaven geos. or surveyors in the remotest parts of the world. And to get that far, would have had to had done years of mustering first in Robbos. After the initial vertical take-off bit, they (the ones I tried the controls of, Robbo and H.500) felt less impressive in cruise than a 172. Lots of the feel of all the screwed together dangly bits flying around, feeding back through the cyclic.
Was cool though, to watch the reaction of a big old man roo one morning, when I had a ride with a doctor in his Jetranger, when he couldn't work out where the sound was coming from til the last couple of seconds as we came up behind him and landed in his paddock.
Horses for Courses. Pick the one you think you can win with.