Geng back into the seat
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Aberdeen
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Geng back into the seat
Hi,
Am a former NZ flying instructor and have been living in the UK for almost 20 years. Looking to get back into aviation due to the down turn in the oil industry I work in and trying to get a realistic picture of things down under.
NZ CPL current, Instructor and Multi IR a formality of re-validation. Almost 1000 hours including almost 200 on twins. NZ ATPL's also a possibility as would be purchasing 500 hours on a turboprop if I had to.
Any help of how the industry would view a 47 year old would be much appreciated. Realistically am I looking at a professional instructor career or would one of the small twin operators also be a possibility.
Any help and advice appreciated
Am a former NZ flying instructor and have been living in the UK for almost 20 years. Looking to get back into aviation due to the down turn in the oil industry I work in and trying to get a realistic picture of things down under.
NZ CPL current, Instructor and Multi IR a formality of re-validation. Almost 1000 hours including almost 200 on twins. NZ ATPL's also a possibility as would be purchasing 500 hours on a turboprop if I had to.
Any help of how the industry would view a 47 year old would be much appreciated. Realistically am I looking at a professional instructor career or would one of the small twin operators also be a possibility.
Any help and advice appreciated
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sydney
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Hi thehaar,
As someone of a similar age and experience, not flying much at the moment and pondering a return to flying, I have also been looking at what I'd need to do to get back into flying of some sort.
As you hold a NZ license (I also did all my training in NZ (NSAC & CAC) but am now in Aus), I'd suggest you firstly get the MEIR and Instructor Ratings re-issued in NZ. Although it may be more than just a formality depending on how long its been since you did any instructing and IF. Not sure about NZ but in Aus the flight test for the MEIR is a full re-issue if you let it lapse for more than 2 years. Also the competency required to pass the flight tests will probably need some re-training.
From what I have seen on PPrune about NZ, jobs may be a bit scarce, so you may want to go to Aus, and with your re-issued qualifications you can then get the Aus equivalent via the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement - TTRMA. This is a one off, so you can't leverage it again if you don't have all your ratings current. Hence get all your stuff done in NZ first.
If you are thinking of doing your ATPLs then wait until you know which side of the Tasman you want to live on, otherwise you'll need to do them again, as they are not transferable (if anyone can correct me on this please do). Recently Australia went to Part 61, so the ATPL now involves a flight test in a high performance aircraft. No more 1500TT++ and here you go anymore
I would guess instructing is a good start, if you had a B-Cat and ME training approval then you would probably be more employable. With more twin time (500+ PIC) you could probably have a crack at charter and maybe even regionals. I don't believe your age would be an issue with most regionals, as you could still contribute 15+ years to them, rather than those who get enough experience in 3-5 years to then move to majors/mainline.
Any Q's feel free to PM me.
Cheers.
As someone of a similar age and experience, not flying much at the moment and pondering a return to flying, I have also been looking at what I'd need to do to get back into flying of some sort.
As you hold a NZ license (I also did all my training in NZ (NSAC & CAC) but am now in Aus), I'd suggest you firstly get the MEIR and Instructor Ratings re-issued in NZ. Although it may be more than just a formality depending on how long its been since you did any instructing and IF. Not sure about NZ but in Aus the flight test for the MEIR is a full re-issue if you let it lapse for more than 2 years. Also the competency required to pass the flight tests will probably need some re-training.
From what I have seen on PPrune about NZ, jobs may be a bit scarce, so you may want to go to Aus, and with your re-issued qualifications you can then get the Aus equivalent via the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement - TTRMA. This is a one off, so you can't leverage it again if you don't have all your ratings current. Hence get all your stuff done in NZ first.
If you are thinking of doing your ATPLs then wait until you know which side of the Tasman you want to live on, otherwise you'll need to do them again, as they are not transferable (if anyone can correct me on this please do). Recently Australia went to Part 61, so the ATPL now involves a flight test in a high performance aircraft. No more 1500TT++ and here you go anymore
I would guess instructing is a good start, if you had a B-Cat and ME training approval then you would probably be more employable. With more twin time (500+ PIC) you could probably have a crack at charter and maybe even regionals. I don't believe your age would be an issue with most regionals, as you could still contribute 15+ years to them, rather than those who get enough experience in 3-5 years to then move to majors/mainline.
Any Q's feel free to PM me.
Cheers.
