UK Mil Pilot after a job. Any job!

[greygraham]

Hi there,

I've got a couple of questions about the job scene in your neck of the woods. I'm currently a UK mil pilot with 2500hrs, 800 PIC on the C130J glass-cockpit Hercules, JAA ATPL and a visa to live and work permanently in Australia. I'll convert JAA to Oz ATPL as soon as I arrive if required. I'll be moving to Oz at the beginning of Oct next year and will be looking for a flying job, anything from mail runs, charter and the like up to long haul but don't really know how employable I am.

Having spent 13 years in the military I have some "unusual" aviation skills that, whilst not directly applicable, demonstrate a certain level of ability and personal qualities. I understand that in addition to the usual jobs there's the Cobham and Pel-Air options. Anyone have any info on these? Working conditions, quality of locations, promotion prospects etc?

I'm in this for the lifestyle so QLD coastal jobs would be ideal and am happy to work for $60k and work my way up, but should I be expecting more?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[ramble on]

Don't mean to be negative, but you're in for a big shock, and you will wonder why you did it.

I know so many who have been here for a while from Europe and cant wait to leave.

Quality of life will be a real problem on the wage you are talking about.

Good luck. A week ago I would have said try the regionals, but I don't know what to say now.

[rocket66]

I have a completely different view to ramble. you wouldnt have too much trouble finding a gig with your experience. trouble with qantas could stuff your !plans however fingers crossed it doesnt turn out like the 89' dispute. apart from that give it a go

[TSRABECOMING]

I think you will need other types of job before you can start flying here in AUS as licensing is the first problem. So prepare doing sth. else while waiting for the license conversion process. You will be very lucky if you can find the pilot job straight away.

[A37575]

I'll be moving to Oz at the beginning of Oct next year and will be looking for a flying job,

October next year is a long way away. Anything can happen between now and then in terms of employment prospects. Australia is very small in aviation compared to other countries especially Asia and jobs are hard to find. It would be far better to wait until you arrive here rather than judging the situation too far in advance. Historically there has never been a serious shortage of pilots in Australia. You have excellent experience which is a big plus.

Get medicals and licences and an instrument rating out of the way after you get here. That can take take a couple of months. Then having got all the paperwork squared away with a ATPL and current Australian instrument rating you can look around and decide what type ratings are most useful to get into the industry. Type ratings can be expensive.

Summary: Don't sweat the small stuff until you have first arrived here.

[MACH082]

I'd try Toll on the metro freighters. Good way to learn the ways things are done down here and scare yourself silly.

[Capt Under Pants]

Try RAAF lateral transfer onto C130Js or even out at Amberely onto A330s or C17s. Otherwise look at www.afap.org.au every week for jobs. Also try Advanced Flight Theory for your exams. Good Luck

Undies

[greygraham]

Thanks for the replies. Some sound like good news, others not so good but I suppose it depends on people's differing experience.

It does look like there are plenty of jobs out there, afap's a great site and certainly gives me a feel for what's out there, it's just who would offer me a job - the $60k ones or the $100k+ ones! It's good to get a flavour from you all of how I may fair, as it's quite a move from a job of complete security to throwing myself on the mercy of market forces.

As has been mentioned, I've still got plenty of time and have already been in touch with the licensing guys in QLD so will be as prepared as possible by the time I arrive. I've found sweating the small stuff gives you an advantage.

I'll probably try and focus my attention on the more interesting (to me) areas such as medical evac. I've done my military time so will probably steer clear of that unless I have a change of heart. The metro freighters sound like fun and an "education". I'll have a look. I particularly like the idea of QLD RFDS, as I seem to have spent the last 7 years flying on to desert strips in the dark and do rather enjoy the challenge. Anyone have any info/experience outside the usual google searching? Work/life balance? Rosters? Latest pay/perks? Progression?

Although, beggars can't be choosers, so I shall see what positions are available when I begin applying in the New Year.

Many thanks