Katherine Aviation. A sinking ship?
Join Date: Nov 2011
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A Post from Beat Ups are Fun
Maybe a time Beat Ups gets a life, You hate every part of Aviation but flying- Get a job as a doctor they use your cash to pay for your own aircraft and flying!!
Form beat ups- check his crying history, so hard done by little boy!!
"GA pilots need far more representation from AFAP. Allot of us have been there, done that in some two bit GA company who only cares about the bottom line. Underpaid pilots are unhappy pilots and this can lead to all sorts of issues for both the company (revolving door of pilots coming and going, more ICUS, non-revenue flights, etc.) and pilots (stress, how can I afford to pay rent AND eat this week)
Charter and scenic operators need to be publicly exposed for what they are doing and i think AFAP need to lead the way on the issue. The practice of not paying pilots allowances and even worse paying pilots as "Contractors" on an ABN is totally wrong, and I dare say illegal. I still can't believe the amount of companies in the NT that actually boast that they pay the award.
Talking to a few friends further up the food chain AFAP seams to do a good job negotiating EBA's. But union numbers in these type of airlines are a far greater percentage.
I would really like to see current AFAP members and union reps going to flying schools and signing up CPL students before they go looking for work. Before every instructor jumps on my back and says "but that will hurt our enrollments" yes it will BUT I for one am sick to death of flying schools lying to students, teaching them on these wizz bang G1000 C172's so they are "Airline ready". Reality is that this is not how the aviation industry works in Australia unless your enrolled in one of those Cadetships, which is an idea thought up by satin himself.
100% membership is what AFAP needs, everyone from students to A380 captains. With a high percentage of members in the industry AFAP will grow the teeth that it needs to support it's members, but unfortunately many people are waiting for the federation to grow teeth first and that won't be happening anytime soon."
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Form beat ups- check his crying history, so hard done by little boy!!
"GA pilots need far more representation from AFAP. Allot of us have been there, done that in some two bit GA company who only cares about the bottom line. Underpaid pilots are unhappy pilots and this can lead to all sorts of issues for both the company (revolving door of pilots coming and going, more ICUS, non-revenue flights, etc.) and pilots (stress, how can I afford to pay rent AND eat this week)
Charter and scenic operators need to be publicly exposed for what they are doing and i think AFAP need to lead the way on the issue. The practice of not paying pilots allowances and even worse paying pilots as "Contractors" on an ABN is totally wrong, and I dare say illegal. I still can't believe the amount of companies in the NT that actually boast that they pay the award.
Talking to a few friends further up the food chain AFAP seams to do a good job negotiating EBA's. But union numbers in these type of airlines are a far greater percentage.
I would really like to see current AFAP members and union reps going to flying schools and signing up CPL students before they go looking for work. Before every instructor jumps on my back and says "but that will hurt our enrollments" yes it will BUT I for one am sick to death of flying schools lying to students, teaching them on these wizz bang G1000 C172's so they are "Airline ready". Reality is that this is not how the aviation industry works in Australia unless your enrolled in one of those Cadetships, which is an idea thought up by satin himself.
100% membership is what AFAP needs, everyone from students to A380 captains. With a high percentage of members in the industry AFAP will grow the teeth that it needs to support it's members, but unfortunately many people are waiting for the federation to grow teeth first and that won't be happening anytime soon."
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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Rumor is that the gear up was caused by the AUTO extension system not working in that 210,
A KA aircraft involved in an accident due to a maintenance issue? Surely not??
Lets refresh the KA history
VH-ZAC - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-BKD - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-MJD - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-ETV - Landing Gear failure - Wheels up landing
And now VH-PBV - Landing Gear failure - Wheels up landing
Luckily no one has been hurt or killed yet!
Sorry but it seems that KA has some maintenance issues
with its fleet.
I wouldn’t be caught dead flying one of their machines and I feel sorry for the poor underpaid blokes who do!
A KA aircraft involved in an accident due to a maintenance issue? Surely not??
Lets refresh the KA history
VH-ZAC - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-BKD - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-MJD - Engine Failure - crashed
VH-ETV - Landing Gear failure - Wheels up landing
And now VH-PBV - Landing Gear failure - Wheels up landing
Luckily no one has been hurt or killed yet!
Sorry but it seems that KA has some maintenance issues
with its fleet.
I wouldn’t be caught dead flying one of their machines and I feel sorry for the poor underpaid blokes who do!
Join Date: Oct 2011
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To clarify:
VH-ZAC was fuel starvation
VH-MJD was on a private flight when it went down
But don't forget:
VH-SBS - major undercarriage fault- landed safely
VH -TWO - major undercarriage fault- landed safely.
VH-??? C210 runway excursion at YGTE.
You might say that over the years that they have had a few issues in that company. I wouldn't work there.
VH-ZAC was fuel starvation
VH-MJD was on a private flight when it went down
But don't forget:
VH-SBS - major undercarriage fault- landed safely
VH -TWO - major undercarriage fault- landed safely.
VH-??? C210 runway excursion at YGTE.
You might say that over the years that they have had a few issues in that company. I wouldn't work there.
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Having worked there myself, if you wanna get hours, the remote bases of borroloolla and groote will smash your hours. Conditions could be better, although I hear things are improving. I left for a place where I could get better personal development.
Last edited by jsamuel79; 18th Dec 2011 at 11:23.
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Rumor is that AFAP are getting involved with this mob to straighten the joint out. A ex pilot has some docs to go them with.
Last edited by cancel_speed; 6th Jan 2012 at 02:23.
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AFAP is getting involved with this mob to straighten the joint out.
Just ask the owner of the company.
If you don't like it, leave, or stay and change the world on your own but as far as help goes, you would be well advised to hire a pay by the hour solicitor.
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doing some mental maths, if/when they are forced to pay 'backpay'', KA will likely close completely, or cut staff levels substantially.
i think what they've been doing stinks, but what's better?
ex-staff getting what you should have been paid, (BTW more than you'd agreed to work for), thus putting others out of a job. (those where you were 12+ months ago)
personally i think if you agreed to work for less, you're an idiot.
but most pilots will whore themselves for an upgrade/opportunity.
i think what they've been doing stinks, but what's better?
ex-staff getting what you should have been paid, (BTW more than you'd agreed to work for), thus putting others out of a job. (those where you were 12+ months ago)
personally i think if you agreed to work for less, you're an idiot.
but most pilots will whore themselves for an upgrade/opportunity.
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doing some mental maths, if/when they are forced to pay 'backpay'', KA will likely close completely, or cut staff levels substantially.
i think what they've been doing stinks, but what's better?
ex-staff getting what you should have been paid, (BTW more than you'd agreed to work for), thus putting others out of a job. (those where you were 12+ months ago)
i think what they've been doing stinks, but what's better?
ex-staff getting what you should have been paid, (BTW more than you'd agreed to work for), thus putting others out of a job. (those where you were 12+ months ago)
As a side note, the KA pilots on GTE were making some pretty good money compared to the full time guys not that long ago, so if they are forced to compare what they should have earned through at GA award payments vs. what they took home then the pay out might not be as big as imagined. I take it that things have changed in the last 12 months or so.
Regardless, to see another sham contracting scheme or under GA award "agreement" go to the wall is a good thing in my book.
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Or this might be the example that makes another employer think twice before setting things up the wrong way and underpaying its employees from the beginning. Tough one.
The next exciting episode has already begun. ....
Heard from a little birdy the Kingair recently acquired by KA was to be used on the Katherine Airmed contract now that AJ's commitments have finished. But CA have beaten them to the punch with 2 Conquests. I was told that the Kingair is close to a make or break for them.
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Wow, that is good news if you are correct. Good on the pilots who have stuck up for themselves and demanded the award. Hopefully things are on the improve in other areas as well e.g aeroplanes
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I can't see the aircraft quality getting any better while "piston broke engineering" are still doing the maintenance. But you never know, the ugly duckling did turn into a swan if you believe in fairy tails. 
