Power for altitude

Hey guys,
Anyone have any information on who employees pilots for birdscaring activities in the Riverland area? (Loxton/Renmark)
Plus what requirements do these employers have?

any help would be appreciated, thanks

Desert Flower

Just don't park the aircraft in an almond orchard could be one.

DF.

StickWithTheTruth

Do a search on here via the search function - there was a fairly comprehensive thread on it a year or two bad. Try "bird scaring" in the keywords.

Google found me this one:

http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...riverland.html

Paul Alfred

Used to be Central Air Services. Their base is Cootamundra but not sure if the still have the contract. Good ppl to work for. I did the gig for a few months with 500 hours single at the time. We had to pay for own low level endo a month before we started and you got paid per hour of flight time. They gave you accommodation near the orchard you were working at. The season goes for 3-4 months during Dec - March. The heat was intense that time of the year but thankfully the birds wouldn't come back into the Almonds between 12-3pm. You'd fly from sun up till lunch. Then 3ish till sun down. If you see the birds come back in off you'd go again to scare them out. It was hard work but good fun and good for the skills flying above the tree tops. PM if you want anymore info

Pinky the pilot

Did a spot of that M'self at Lindsay Point, flying VH-AMT way back in '90-91*, in between my 'tours' of PNG. Back then, the job was run by O'D and D Aviation.

Logged around 190 hours IIRC. Loved every minute of it and would cheerfully do the gig again if given the chance.

I was not required to do so, and I think it improper for any Operator to require this! And would be quite prepared to say this to any Operators face!!

*Just checked log book#2; Did my first flight (Gen handling and low level training) on Dec 6th 90 and last bird chasing flight on March 2nd 91.

After doing a MEIFR renewal I found myself back in PNG in early July.

Summary; If you get the chance to do the Bird chasing....Do It!! Just refuse to pay for the LL endorsement!

As long as you always remember the rules re low flying, you'll have fun.

I did!!

outnabout

"Good ppl to work for" - that's hilarious!

An operator who -
makes staff pay for their own training.
Doesn't pay award wages ("you got paid per hour of flight time")

Only in aviation would this be considered a good operator to work for. Why not tell it like it is - the wages were ****, the days were long, when I look back now I think I was bloody lucky to walk away without stacking it....but, hell, it was fun! Gives me some great stories for the bar!

PS - I am not sure of flight and duty times, but continuous split shifts in charter are not permitted - I would have thought the fatigue levels at low level would have been higher than in passenger or freight charter?

I did hear of one pilot doing birdscaring in the Riverland (I don't know the operator) who worked for 67 days straight.

Power for altitude

Was just in contact with Central Air Services, apparently they're have basically finished up all flying operations to concentrate on the maintenance side of things.

Anyone have any information on any other company around going to pick up the work??

Thanks heaps.

Paul Alfred

Hi outnabout.

the wages were ****, the days were long, when I look back now I think I was bloody lucky to walk away without stacking it....but, hell, it was fun! Gives me some great stories for the bar!

14 years ago the pay was good
the days were as long as I wanted them to be
never got close to stacking it
it was fun
I don't drink

gerry111

Hmm.. I find that rather difficult to believe, Pinky.

Desert Flower

Depends on what variety of bird he was referring to!

DF.

gerry111

I'd be thinking Larks, DF?

Desert Flower

More like shags I reckon!

DF.

StickWithTheTruth

Could be Coots...

outnabout

Paul Alfred, congratulations on your contribution to general aviation's race to be bottom.

Well done.

Pinky the pilot

26 years ago, the pay was bloody good! (Actually in excess of Casual S/E Award rates at the time)

Likewise. But it was part of the job. I easily managed anything up to 2 hours sleep in between some sorties. My quarters were about two minutes walk from the runway threshold!


Likewise. Not even a scare!

S**t yeah!!!!

Ah, but there we must part company. I definitely had a glass or two of red, possibly three but never more than, with my dinner once the sun had disappeared!

outnabout; Somewhat cynical there, are you not?


Oh really?

Yers.....

Paul Alfred

Thanks Pinky

I haven't posted on here for a long time and thought I was just giving the original poster some honest feedback/advice on MY birdscaring experience 14 years ago. Now I'm being congratulated for my contribution to general aviation's race to be bottom.


Take care

Desert Flower

In the words of a well known redheaded politician & former fish & chip shop owner - "please explain?"

DF.

umop apisdn

With an LL endo and a thirst for adventure / hours / whatever, might as well go flying survey and get at least be paid well for your efforts.

Pinky the pilot

DF; I suspect that he was alluding to the reference made by Paul Alfred that the days were as long as he wanted them to be. ie that they possibly did not strictly adhere to Flight/Duty time limitations as laid down by the AIP/CAO/whatever...

If he really wanted to complain he should have worked with me in PNG for (name withheld) or indeed any other third level GA mob there at the time where such limitations were observed........(insert rolling on the floor laughing smilie)

I'm sure everyone gets the idea!

farmer dan

Best and hardest flying I have ever done. Although I worked hard and long hours, I found it safer than most GA outfits.
I miss those days chasing birds
Edit: the guy I worked for payed the award plus some... best first job you could ask for if you were a hard worker!