NZ Pilot heading to Auz

[Adrian0110]

I'm sure this has been discussed plenty before but i struggled to find any info.

I'm presently working part time as an instructor here in NZ. Unfortunately it's on a casual basis and over winter i'm pretty certain it'll get quite quiet for me.
I'm wanting to head to auzzie and give it a go there, i'm hoping to a drop rating here shortly too.
Looking for any tips, advice, ideas etc on where to/not to go, operators that are worth talking to etc.
I'll be looking at heading over in august/september, making myself available for next summer.
I've got about 400 hours at present and have converted my CPL + MEIR to Auz but not my instructor rating yet.

Fire Away....any input much appreciated

[dudduddud]

The cheapest way would probably be to head up north. There is quite an informative thread running here:

http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-a...g-top-end.html

Umongst the discussion there is mentioned the operators and towns and places that offer the greatest chances. The basics are to get a NVFR (even if you have a MEIR or CIR) once you get here and arrive up north around January / February. A NZ night VFR to Aus NVFR is a night cross-country and a night cross-country flight test. Ask if the school can do it in-house and you might save the A$400 examiner fee.

Alternatively, alot of kiwis end up converting their instructor rating and instruct at schools. I am not sure of the process involved in converting but their training system seems pretty different so I can assume it would be more complicated (read: costly) than the simple paperwork exercise converting the CPL/MEIR.

Plenty of instructing work to be had, it seems, judging by the steady stream of instructing job adverts on the AFAP website.

Australian Federation of Air Pilots - test page - 2

Good luck.

[The Green Goblin]

You'll find most of the work in Tasmania.

I suggest you head to a place called Hobart and wait it out

You'd almost swear you're back home!!! Plenty of sheep too

[dabz]

Cheap shot green goblin.. At least kiwis aren't like auzzles and sperm, they come by the millions and only a couple work

On a serious note I'm a kiwi in auz right now looking for work and if you're seriously wanting to get something here you need to do a full move over.

If you think about it, if you found work you'd need to move over anyways..

[dudduddud]

Don't listen to GG.

I visited Australia's Tasmania and was told the sheep had wizards sleeves.

Wonder why

[Adrian0110]

Thanks for the input so far. I'm definitely going to make the move over permanently, just thinking summer is my best chance of finding work so i'll wait it out here in NZ until september-ish and then give it a go.

[BoundaryLayer]

Ah The Green Goblin, pprune's resident Kiwi basher

How many ab-initio instructing hours do you have? If you have more than 100 you would be a senior Grade 3 on conversion and more employable. Better still if you can get your B Cat before you come over you would convert to a Grade 2.

I recall from my own experience of converting under the TTMRA, my Instrument Rating was not current when I went through the process so I had to do the IREX (theory) and a flight test here. You may have the same issue with your instructor rating - but having said that I did mine over 10 years ago and I haven't kept up with the process of conversion.

Also the dry season up North is approaching - might be some work up there but you won't be the only one looking for work.

[Adrian0110]

Haha it was to be expected.

I don't have alot at the moment but i'm hoping to get above the 100 hour mark before i head over. I converted my CPL and MEIR a year or so ago using the TTMRA but then stalled those plans and did my C Cat. So i have an Auz CPL and MECIR but havn't converted the C Cat yet. I'm pretty certain it's the same sort of deal (do the paperwork and pay the money)

I'd like to get into the charter/scenic side of things i think, so i'll probably head up Broom/Kununurra ways.

I'm not going to make it there for the dry season this year. I guess what i'll end up doing is heading over late this year and trying for the dry next year.
I'm one of those 'do a ****load of planning and then go for it' kind of people. So at this stage i'm just figuring out the who where when how of it all then i'll go.

Cheers for your help

[beaf]

Give these guys a call if you want to Instruct; Moorabbin Flight Training Academy. they are about 15 mins south of Melbourne City. Also Apply for you AVSIC card ASAP, no one will emply you with out one and they can take up to 6 weeks to arrive!!

[Biggles78]

Plus the Working With Children card if instructing in Victoria. I believe the other states have a similar card.

[Jack Ranga]

Don't fly for free bro

And don't stab others in the back by undercutting

[The Green Goblin]

Thanks for the input so far. I'm definitely going to make the move over permanently, just thinking summer is my best chance of finding work so i'll wait it out here in NZ until september-ish and then give it a go.

I'll give you some advice, you need to get here before the winter, i.e NOW!

We call this the dry season up north, and it is when the work begins for junior Pilots.

Don't bother with flight instructing unless you can't do

(or you're really passionate about it)

By the time my flight instructing mates where grade 1s and allowed to teach 'stalling' I had 500 multi and was flying a turboprop. Progression is much quicker in the charter world, and it beats the dick waving competition you find at most flying schools!

[Adrian0110]

Thanks GG for your help

unfortunately i've got to save some money before i can head over.
Looks like i'll have to make do with instructing for now and save.
I'll definately be up north for the dry next year, it's just a pity i didn't get on to this 6 months ago

[NGsim]

Moorabbin Flight Training Academy. they are about 15 mins south of Melbourne City

Christ I know it's Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne because stealing an F1 car is they only way you could ever get from the city to Moorabbin in 15 mins!!!!

[bushpig]

Have a look at the Northern Territory as well ie Kakadu, also anything in the North Queensland area (Cairns as a stepping off point) including the Torres Strait. I have known of people employed in the Torres Strait VFR only. An instrument rating though is good to have there of course. It would help if you had a bit of multi time, especially BN2, for Torres Strait most likely.

At least one operator in the NT (Darwin) has remoter bases in places like Borroloola in aircraft like the C210 and VFR.

Cessna 210 time would be of value if you have it for "any" flying in the North. Most people I've seen, over a lot of years, who give it a solid go and stick it out have reaped benefits from it not to mention having a ball and gaining good experience.

I am not up with the latest of who's who and who is doing what to whom in the North but could suggest a couple of initial contact companies just to get the networking started if you want to message me through these pages. There would be others a bit more up to date than me though.

Good Luck.