So GA is becoming a career?
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AviatorDownunder,
Without knowing your full situation, or meaning to be accusatory, you seem to be a fantastic example of why so many in the industry warn against jumping into cadetships or 'accelerated' airline pilot programs, aimed at those blinded by SJS (shiny jet syndrome
)
It does sound from your posts that you are the victim of a change of heart, and a few extra years of wisdom, seeing that certain things may not be all they are cracked up to be.
Ultimately, in this industry, there is nothing like 'owning' your qualifications, and having them backed up with a few years of experience in the school of hard knocks that is G.A.
You should be a shining example to all of those, busting their arses up north, flying burnt out ****eboxes and wondering WHY?!?!?
; that while you may question it now, ultimately, what you are doing will pay off in the long term.
If airline flying is for you, great, scaring the crap out of yourself a few times in GA will help to make you a better addition to any airlines roster. If airlines turn out to not be what you expected, well, then you have the experience to make a choice to go back and find one of those more adventurous careers that are slowly becoming as rewarding financially as they are for the aviation nerd in you!
As it turns out, as frustrating as my time in GA could be sometimes, I wouldn't give back a second of it. You couldn't buy the life I lived up north during those years. They are some of the best years of my life and I'm sure many others feel the same.
If you feel that you wish to return to exciting flying (and if you aren't genetically blessed enough to have the eyesight and body size for the military, then that means GA), I would recommend converting your qualifications, and getting an instructors rating with a school that will attempt to give you the experience to at least get you to a grade 2 rating.
Instructing might not be glamorous, but As someone who's been an Airline pilot you would be an excellent mentor to people coming up through the ranks. Able to give an experienced perspective to a flying schools students (and perhaps fellow instructors
), on the realities of airline life, and provide an alternative opinion on other career options for pilots in this country.
As the subject matter of this thread indicates, the opportunities are out there, but you'll probably have to take a backward step or two to start climbing the ladder again.
Without knowing your full situation, or meaning to be accusatory, you seem to be a fantastic example of why so many in the industry warn against jumping into cadetships or 'accelerated' airline pilot programs, aimed at those blinded by SJS (shiny jet syndrome
) It does sound from your posts that you are the victim of a change of heart, and a few extra years of wisdom, seeing that certain things may not be all they are cracked up to be.
Ultimately, in this industry, there is nothing like 'owning' your qualifications, and having them backed up with a few years of experience in the school of hard knocks that is G.A.
You should be a shining example to all of those, busting their arses up north, flying burnt out ****eboxes and wondering WHY?!?!?
; that while you may question it now, ultimately, what you are doing will pay off in the long term.If airline flying is for you, great, scaring the crap out of yourself a few times in GA will help to make you a better addition to any airlines roster. If airlines turn out to not be what you expected, well, then you have the experience to make a choice to go back and find one of those more adventurous careers that are slowly becoming as rewarding financially as they are for the aviation nerd in you!
As it turns out, as frustrating as my time in GA could be sometimes, I wouldn't give back a second of it. You couldn't buy the life I lived up north during those years. They are some of the best years of my life and I'm sure many others feel the same.
If you feel that you wish to return to exciting flying (and if you aren't genetically blessed enough to have the eyesight and body size for the military, then that means GA), I would recommend converting your qualifications, and getting an instructors rating with a school that will attempt to give you the experience to at least get you to a grade 2 rating.
Instructing might not be glamorous, but As someone who's been an Airline pilot you would be an excellent mentor to people coming up through the ranks. Able to give an experienced perspective to a flying schools students (and perhaps fellow instructors
), on the realities of airline life, and provide an alternative opinion on other career options for pilots in this country.As the subject matter of this thread indicates, the opportunities are out there, but you'll probably have to take a backward step or two to start climbing the ladder again.
Last edited by h.o.t.a.s.; 22nd Mar 2013 at 00:23.
IMHO a career in GA should pay more then the airlines as more often then not it is a much harder job.
I do well in GA and have no intention of ever leaving it for less money and conditions
Many have tried to come back to GA from an airline but I am yet to see any of them work out
I do well in GA and have no intention of ever leaving it for less money and conditions
Many have tried to come back to GA from an airline but I am yet to see any of them work out
Last edited by geeup; 22nd Mar 2013 at 04:56.
On another note, I was wondering what some of the salaries are for the upper end of GA, and what qualifications are needed to get there? I really like the GA lifestyle so far and am not really airline orientated, but I don't know where the upper limit to GA is.
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Many have tried to come back to GA from an airline but I am yet to see any of them work out
Even in the best GA jobs, some airline guys struggle with the fact that it's still GA. Once the excitement of change subdues, they will either sit back and enjoy the flying, becoming completely detached from the typical BS of GA or they become so involved and caught up in it that they go back to what's easy and get into another airline.
Of the guys I've seen who go back to GA from airlines, 100% have this realisation and *60% have the maturity and life experience to realise you are going to find fault with every job and look for the positives in what they do. The other *40% will only find faults (not that they can be blamed, they are usually perfectionist and brilliant operators).
*Not actual percentages.
Typical top end GA requirements are in the order of 500 turbine cmd, 1000 ME cmd, 500night, 2500-3500TT and 5 renewals. This by no means is representative of all companies however it is a good ball park for companies like RFDS, Pel-Air, Pearl, Toll, GAM Do, Surveillance etc. Add 250-500 jet (desirable) as applicable.
Salaries range from $85-155k, depending on what you call "GA" and level. CP's can earn, in some cases, towards $200k.
Bear in mind there are probably less than 1000 top GA jobs in Aus.
Last edited by avconnection; 22nd Mar 2013 at 15:22.
GA pinnacle-probably depends what sort of flying you actually want to do. There is of course RFDS (In B200's not PC-12's ), then there is Coastwatch, or you could get yourself the experience to do tours in/out of PNG. All are financially rewarding, with the former also being personally/professionally rewarding. They are 'lifestyle' choices and will require a non-capital city lifestyle (except Darwin for Coastwatch) until you get seniority. I have done 2 of the 3 and miss both for different reasons.
), then there is Coastwatch, or you could get yourself the experience to do tours in/out of PNG. All are financially rewarding, with the former also being personally/professionally rewarding. They are 'lifestyle' choices and will require a non-capital city lifestyle (except Darwin for Coastwatch) until you get seniority. I have done 2 of the 3 and miss both for different reasons.
AD it is possible to make it in GA after airlines, but those I've met have mostly been at or near the end of their airline career. The notable exception was the airline pilots who found themselves financially distressed in 1989 and drifted back into GA. Some stayed and did OK but most moved on to other pastures. Some moved out of the industry all together.
Which brings me to this hackneyed phrase: flying is the best job in the world, and the worst career. This is especially true of GA which is so very cyclical. The peaks are very high and the troughs very deep. Be prepared to lose your job or be under employed at least once and you will probably be kicked on your way up and on the way down too. Not many GA pilots get to take Long Service Leave. (I know there are exceptions, and you guys prove the rule.) The point is, keep your other skill set sharp. Be prepared to fall back on your other skills to put food on the table when times are lean or things turn ugly.
I don't see any reason why you can not have a successful shot at GA if you really do want to give up airlines. You will just need to start at the bottom, like everyone else and work your way up. Frankly I think a lot of operators would view you quite favourably because you are not likely to be enticed back to airlines and you have some proven experience in persevering with a structured training and checking programme - something that is becoming ever more relevant in GA.
I recon you should enter GA via an instructors rating. Start in one of the pilot factories and stay there until you have an A Grade or Grade One (or whatever they call the things these days) instructors rating with IFR and Multi Engine training approvals. When you have these qualifications you will have opened up a career within GA. You will be looked at twice by potential employers, with a view to having you involved in training and checking and you will be protected a little from the troughs I mentioned earlier. (You will still do plenty of line flying, in GA you always will).
Have you considered a career as a military pilot?
All the best with whatever you choose.
Which brings me to this hackneyed phrase: flying is the best job in the world, and the worst career. This is especially true of GA which is so very cyclical. The peaks are very high and the troughs very deep. Be prepared to lose your job or be under employed at least once and you will probably be kicked on your way up and on the way down too. Not many GA pilots get to take Long Service Leave. (I know there are exceptions, and you guys prove the rule.) The point is, keep your other skill set sharp. Be prepared to fall back on your other skills to put food on the table when times are lean or things turn ugly.
I don't see any reason why you can not have a successful shot at GA if you really do want to give up airlines. You will just need to start at the bottom, like everyone else and work your way up. Frankly I think a lot of operators would view you quite favourably because you are not likely to be enticed back to airlines and you have some proven experience in persevering with a structured training and checking programme - something that is becoming ever more relevant in GA.
I recon you should enter GA via an instructors rating. Start in one of the pilot factories and stay there until you have an A Grade or Grade One (or whatever they call the things these days) instructors rating with IFR and Multi Engine training approvals. When you have these qualifications you will have opened up a career within GA. You will be looked at twice by potential employers, with a view to having you involved in training and checking and you will be protected a little from the troughs I mentioned earlier. (You will still do plenty of line flying, in GA you always will).
Have you considered a career as a military pilot?
All the best with whatever you choose.
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GA is my Career and always has been
GA or perhaps corporate to be more precise...... is a fantastic career, and since I was 18 it has been my life...the most fantastic job one could ever wish for.
OK I started on Single Piper, got my CPL and flew Single Cessna.
Progressed up and now on Gulfstream 550.
From 18 to 65, and never regretted one moment. Never flew an airliner of fighter.
Glf
OK I started on Single Piper, got my CPL and flew Single Cessna.
Progressed up and now on Gulfstream 550.
From 18 to 65, and never regretted one moment. Never flew an airliner of fighter.
Glf
