My adventure in the Top End
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Yeah, I know, I haven't posted for a while. I don't have a job yet, but there are a couple of things in the wind at the moment. Ranging from very good opportunity if it were to happen, to unpaid flying work which I would do on a weekend basis if there were no other options (and I had another job in the area, and since if I didn't do it, someone else would!)
Am now in a bit of a bigger town, visiting people from my personal life. Have also decided that due to considerations much larger than my desire to fly, if none of the opportunities come through, I will not be sitting and withering away in a small outback town where my life wastes away. I will simply go work in my old profession somewhere where I can do flying on weekends (a couple of opportunities for that have at least presented themselves). This will allow me to still earn a decent income while getting my hours up, and also giving me an insurance policy that if flying doesn't work out, I have not burnt all my bridges. That's something which I reckon is important in general and a philosophy I intend to apply to this part of my life as much as any other. I don't believe in putting all my eggs in one basket, and I don't believe in burning bridges. I do still hope deeply that I will have the opportunity to be based somewhere away from the big towns and cities and enjoy life at the same time as enjoying flying!
Am now in a bit of a bigger town, visiting people from my personal life. Have also decided that due to considerations much larger than my desire to fly, if none of the opportunities come through, I will not be sitting and withering away in a small outback town where my life wastes away. I will simply go work in my old profession somewhere where I can do flying on weekends (a couple of opportunities for that have at least presented themselves). This will allow me to still earn a decent income while getting my hours up, and also giving me an insurance policy that if flying doesn't work out, I have not burnt all my bridges. That's something which I reckon is important in general and a philosophy I intend to apply to this part of my life as much as any other. I don't believe in putting all my eggs in one basket, and I don't believe in burning bridges. I do still hope deeply that I will have the opportunity to be based somewhere away from the big towns and cities and enjoy life at the same time as enjoying flying!
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Krazy,
Interesting thread.
If you end up staying in the top end, try and learn a bit more about the indigenous folk. Most pilots are pretty ignorant and don't take the opportunity to learn about much or think about much except aviation, twin hours and that airline job (ah yeah and beer). They are happy to get the hours flying indigenous people around, while they snigger about their problems with no comprehension what their life is really like and why. If you do want a bit more understanding a good place to start is this book; Why Warriors Lay Down and Die by Richard Trudgen.
Good luck with the job hunting and keep enjoying the journey!
Interesting thread.
If you end up staying in the top end, try and learn a bit more about the indigenous folk. Most pilots are pretty ignorant and don't take the opportunity to learn about much or think about much except aviation, twin hours and that airline job (ah yeah and beer). They are happy to get the hours flying indigenous people around, while they snigger about their problems with no comprehension what their life is really like and why. If you do want a bit more understanding a good place to start is this book; Why Warriors Lay Down and Die by Richard Trudgen.
Good luck with the job hunting and keep enjoying the journey!
Ok... I was told by a mate today that apparently there is close to 100 unemployed pilots sitting in Broome waiting for flying jobs to present themselves... which sounds A LOT worse than I expected.
Can anybody comment on this, confirm / deny?
Can anybody comment on this, confirm / deny?
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If you end up staying in the top end, try and learn a bit more about the indigenous folk.
....twin hours and that airline job (ah yeah and beer).
I was told by a mate today that apparently there is close to 100 unemployed pilots sitting in Broome waiting for flying jobs to present themselves...
I don't think it's THAT bad. I was there and if there are 100, they are hiding themselves pretty well! I would guestimate more like 20-40. But I reckon only a CP there would be able to give you a better idea.
I know it's bad... but eh.. I guess I'll wait for somebody else to reply in regards to that rumour and see what others say - along with trying to get more info out of some 'friends of friends' in person.
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God I hope you're right. Because if it is closer to the 100 mark... it's thrown my hopes right out the window... and will probably mean a plan change.
Good reason to have been up here late last year, let alone next week (or as I read one say...May)
Good reason to have been up here late last year, let alone next week (or as I read one say...May)
I was always generally told the hiring up there starts around late feb - march...
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It makes no difference how many pilots are there, as only a certain number of those pilots will be employable. The secret is being one of the few who are worth employing!
There are presently about 30 pilots waiting in Kunus. Slingair are hiring 8 and are starting in the next two weeks. Alligator are looking at around the same figure and will possibly end up hiring up to 16. They are starting interviews late March.
Leos are about to hire and are doing interviews. BAS and BAV have not indicated although I believe the CP of BAV has had her hands full with a CASA audit after the Caravan engine shutdown.
There are 5 Kiwis that I know of in Kunus and they believe a certain operator does not hire Kiwis. This is not true, so i'd like to bust this myth.
I believe you'll have a 60/40 chance judging by Pilot numbers in the towns VS the jobs that will be offered.
There will be plenty of movement at the piston multi engine turboprop ranks this year so there will be good times again in the 2011 Kunus season. If you don't make it this year you will next. The last shortage was in 2006/2007 for single engine piston drivers. 5 years on 2011/2012! (we seem to work on a 5 year boom and bust cycle)
My advice is if you are doing your training this year, get it finished by years end and be ready for next year. If you miss out this year, stay in town, try and keep current somehow and you'll have a good shot the following year.
GG signing off
Oh and Krazy, a lot of guys know who you are, I'd refrain from the flying for free talk (remember how I said this industry is very small??)
Leos are about to hire and are doing interviews. BAS and BAV have not indicated although I believe the CP of BAV has had her hands full with a CASA audit after the Caravan engine shutdown.
There are 5 Kiwis that I know of in Kunus and they believe a certain operator does not hire Kiwis. This is not true, so i'd like to bust this myth.
I believe you'll have a 60/40 chance judging by Pilot numbers in the towns VS the jobs that will be offered.
There will be plenty of movement at the piston multi engine turboprop ranks this year so there will be good times again in the 2011 Kunus season. If you don't make it this year you will next. The last shortage was in 2006/2007 for single engine piston drivers. 5 years on 2011/2012! (we seem to work on a 5 year boom and bust cycle)
My advice is if you are doing your training this year, get it finished by years end and be ready for next year. If you miss out this year, stay in town, try and keep current somehow and you'll have a good shot the following year.
GG signing off
Oh and Krazy, a lot of guys know who you are, I'd refrain from the flying for free talk (remember how I said this industry is very small??)
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Oh and Krazy, a lot of guys know who you are
I'm adding this perhaps at my own peril - but I also would never say anything on this forum that I wouldn't say publicly and put my name behind. I am not one to hide behind a vale of anonymity. Perhaps this may hurt my chances in the industry, but it is also probable that those (if any) I am hurting my chances with, are those who I would not want to work with/for.
Anyway - that's enough of a hole for now ;-)
Last edited by Krazy; 15th Feb 2010 at 09:58.
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paperbag - that's not jacking the thread - it's a very good question and would also love to hear what others have to say (always good to know this sort of thing in advance). So far I have experienced a range of technical questions (more related to Air Law than the specific aircraft) right through to the organisation/chief pilot just wanting to get to know me as a person (which is obviously important given that people skills are important when doing scenic and charter flights!)
I have also been asked a few scenario type questions. Not ones where I go away and work it out with a pen and paper, but more to see me think on my feet a little (I assume).
Have also been asked about my motivations for wanting to fly, end goals, and thoughts of living in various places while I work for the place.
I have also been asked a few scenario type questions. Not ones where I go away and work it out with a pen and paper, but more to see me think on my feet a little (I assume).
Have also been asked about my motivations for wanting to fly, end goals, and thoughts of living in various places while I work for the place.
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So i am in the same position as Krazy et al and was planning to head north after doing the ME-CIR (i know i wont be able to use it straight away!!). Plan was to be up there in May.
Given the past comments, should i just put this off and go up now given places will be hiring!? Will i be leaving it too late heading up in May?
I think ill be another one of those CPL's hiding in the trees waiting to be shaken out!
HHH
Given the past comments, should i just put this off and go up now given places will be hiring!? Will i be leaving it too late heading up in May?
I think ill be another one of those CPL's hiding in the trees waiting to be shaken out!
HHH
Hey Green Goblin,
[QUOTE]There will be plenty of movement at the piston multi engine turboprop ranks this year so there will be good times again/QUOTE]
Mate I have read your posts with interest over the last few years, and you seem to be someone who has a decent idea of the industry. I hope you are right about this statement. Just wondering if you could elaborate on your reasons for this belief?
Cheers,
Greaser.
I can't quote properly...sorry
[QUOTE]There will be plenty of movement at the piston multi engine turboprop ranks this year so there will be good times again/QUOTE]
Mate I have read your posts with interest over the last few years, and you seem to be someone who has a decent idea of the industry. I hope you are right about this statement. Just wondering if you could elaborate on your reasons for this belief?
Cheers,
Greaser.
I can't quote properly...sorry
Jetstar and Virgin require 300 pilots this year. V Australia will be recruiting and I would not be surprised to see Qantas start also at some stage. There will also be attrition to overseas carriers such as NZ and Hong Kong.
Just think about that number for a moment, where are they going to come from?
There will be basically at least 300 Pilots moving out from the regionals into jets leaving a sizable hole for the Piston fellas to replace in turn leading to the entry level stuff.
There are 30 odd Pilots in Kunus waiting it out for maybe 20 Jobs. Broome usually put on around that number too. Once these guys have experience there will be 300 Multi engine jobs waiting around the country to fill and 300 turboprop jobs for the Multi engine piston Pilots to fill. There will be an instructor shortage again (of grade 1/2s) and a shortage of piston Pilots to fulfill mining requirements as guy's will not want to stick around when a jet job requires half that experience.
Will be interesting to see how it all plays out thats for sure
Just think about that number for a moment, where are they going to come from?
There will be basically at least 300 Pilots moving out from the regionals into jets leaving a sizable hole for the Piston fellas to replace in turn leading to the entry level stuff.
There are 30 odd Pilots in Kunus waiting it out for maybe 20 Jobs. Broome usually put on around that number too. Once these guys have experience there will be 300 Multi engine jobs waiting around the country to fill and 300 turboprop jobs for the Multi engine piston Pilots to fill. There will be an instructor shortage again (of grade 1/2s) and a shortage of piston Pilots to fulfill mining requirements as guy's will not want to stick around when a jet job requires half that experience.
Will be interesting to see how it all plays out thats for sure
What's your guestimate as to when this will all start to happen?
I presume the 2009-2010 employment problem us low hour CPLs are facing is directly related to the GFC...
I remember a few years ago hearing the whole "pilot shortage" stuff... whether it's true or not I personally don't know... but I'm under the impression it was; just that the GFC turned things around 180 degrees... can only imagine if it never occured
I remember a few years ago hearing the whole "pilot shortage" stuff... whether it's true or not I personally don't know... but I'm under the impression it was; just that the GFC turned things around 180 degrees... can only imagine if it never occured
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I remember a few years ago hearing the whole "pilot shortage" stuff
1013
When I was in KNX 15+ years ago (1995-1997) I waited 18 months before I got the first job, and I leap-frogged ohers. My wait time was not unusual for that period - the recent hiring boom of 2007-2009 was unlike anything this industry has seen before.
I got my job because another guy fcuked up - then I fcuked up, and another guy got a start when I left. We have all moved on into bigger, better things - despite an inauspicious start
Blackfellas
I moved north with my girlfriend (a vegetarian GP with hairy armpits) and a heap of very liberal uni-student attitudes to the blackfellas (they aren't Kooris or Murris either, by the way). I made a lot of effort to treat everyone I met the same way, regardless of colour or creed.
12 months later I returned to Sydney for a couple of weeks and had my school mates over to Mum's for a bbq and a beer, and we went through the slides and described what we had seen and learnt about the blackfellas - remember my girlfriend was a GP doing clinics in Oombi and Kalumburu and we had learnt a LOT about these people and their culture.
...anyway a couple of my mates were dating pretty young 2nd/3rd year uni students who refused to believe us, branded us racist, and spat at us that "you country rednecks are all the same!"
Everything Onetrack has written accords closely with my observations and experience. My attitudes to the blackfellas was a fair bit more tollerant and enlightened than most of my colleagues, but even with the best of intentions the cultural chasm will wear you down.
Krazy
Good luck, well done, go well!
When I was in KNX 15+ years ago (1995-1997) I waited 18 months before I got the first job, and I leap-frogged ohers. My wait time was not unusual for that period - the recent hiring boom of 2007-2009 was unlike anything this industry has seen before.
I got my job because another guy fcuked up - then I fcuked up, and another guy got a start when I left. We have all moved on into bigger, better things - despite an inauspicious start
Blackfellas
I moved north with my girlfriend (a vegetarian GP with hairy armpits) and a heap of very liberal uni-student attitudes to the blackfellas (they aren't Kooris or Murris either, by the way). I made a lot of effort to treat everyone I met the same way, regardless of colour or creed.
12 months later I returned to Sydney for a couple of weeks and had my school mates over to Mum's for a bbq and a beer, and we went through the slides and described what we had seen and learnt about the blackfellas - remember my girlfriend was a GP doing clinics in Oombi and Kalumburu and we had learnt a LOT about these people and their culture.
...anyway a couple of my mates were dating pretty young 2nd/3rd year uni students who refused to believe us, branded us racist, and spat at us that "you country rednecks are all the same!"
Everything Onetrack has written accords closely with my observations and experience. My attitudes to the blackfellas was a fair bit more tollerant and enlightened than most of my colleagues, but even with the best of intentions the cultural chasm will wear you down.
Krazy
Good luck, well done, go well!
Last edited by Horatio Leafblower; 17th Feb 2010 at 04:05. Reason: correcting late-night typos
Nothing like the vegetarian Chardonay drinking, know it all Sydney uni student who has never been west of the Blue Mountains to save us from the evils of racism!!!
Spend a day in Port Keats, Oenpelli, Mannigrida and watch your taxes at work.
Spend a day in Port Keats, Oenpelli, Mannigrida and watch your taxes at work.