Back in the Saddle?
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Join Date: May 2018
Location: Sydney
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Back in the Saddle?
Question for those with local knowledge:
I have FAA CPL/AMEL/Instrument (multi) and Australian PPL SEL/MEL, 800 hours. I gave up flying commercially (flight instruction/scenic/whatever) years ago perceiving a lack of job opportunities and low wages for the foreseeable future. I wasn't wrong at the time.
Having worked in the non-flying corporate world for the past 25 years and now in my mid 50's, I'm looking at getting back into flying because I loved it and the financial aspect is less of an issue (but not yet a non-issue).
My questions;
I have FAA CPL/AMEL/Instrument (multi) and Australian PPL SEL/MEL, 800 hours. I gave up flying commercially (flight instruction/scenic/whatever) years ago perceiving a lack of job opportunities and low wages for the foreseeable future. I wasn't wrong at the time.
Having worked in the non-flying corporate world for the past 25 years and now in my mid 50's, I'm looking at getting back into flying because I loved it and the financial aspect is less of an issue (but not yet a non-issue).
My questions;
- Am I mad to even get involved in GA again?
- The overseas conversion exam is basically an air law exam on the CARs and CAOs. Would it be sensible to wait until Part 91 becomes effective before taking the test, or will its implementation be delayed into the indefinite future?
- Given my age, would job prospects be limited to instruction?
If you're happy to instruct - go for it - schools are desperate for any instructors and doubly so those with some experience. Unfortunately, it's a long process to multi IFR instructor, which is where it gets interesting. Not much GA around the southern cities - if you want that work, you might have a bit of a search or go north (expect minimal GA money anywhere), though people are moving into airlines so quickly that charter/tourist operators might be interested in a stable & mature person.
Don't worry about Part 91 - likely to be years away, and won't make much difference. And you don't want to be amongst the first round testing out the new exams when Part 91 does come in!
It will be a slow process and you'll be starting at bottom of the pile, but if you can handle that, go for it.
Don't worry about Part 91 - likely to be years away, and won't make much difference. And you don't want to be amongst the first round testing out the new exams when Part 91 does come in!
It will be a slow process and you'll be starting at bottom of the pile, but if you can handle that, go for it.
Hey "CW', If you can enjoy the total experience and handle it like a 'hobby', then go for it - You will definitely live longer - and more 'satisfyingly'...is that a word..?
In all of my 'limited' flying career, I never ever considered flying as 'working for a living'.....and I thoroughly enjoyed it, mostly in the 'GAFA' as a charter piiot, and in more civilised places as an instructor..
ENJOY !!
In all of my 'limited' flying career, I never ever considered flying as 'working for a living'.....and I thoroughly enjoyed it, mostly in the 'GAFA' as a charter piiot, and in more civilised places as an instructor..
ENJOY !!
Go for it, never a better time!
Clipped Wing, you know you want to go flying don't you??? Well just do it and work things out as you go.
My dear old dad often reminded me "son, you've got to die of something, just make sure it isn't boredom" so if you want to fly, go fly.
My dear old dad often reminded me "son, you've got to die of something, just make sure it isn't boredom" so if you want to fly, go fly.
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I am in a very similar position to you, never had 25 years away from flying but have had several very lengthy intervals between flights. It was a while ago now but I had FAA CPL CFI/I and my recollection is I did the CPL Air Law exam and then a couple of weeks of training to do a CASA CPL check ride. Got my CASA CPL and went back to the US and instructed for a while.
With thoughts of working in Australia I decided I needed the MECIR but the expense eventually defeated me.
I decided to do the road trip looking for work up north. At that time, about 8 years ago, there was a lot more talk on these pages about work up north. The prevailing wisdom was apparently to check into the youth hostel in Kununurra, or other town of choice, get employed at the bar or supermarket and wait indefinitely for a possible pilot job. I elected not to follow that course and after 12600km of driving only got close to a job once. I had 100+ hours of night flying but missed out on the job in Katherine as I did not have the Night VFR rating. It seems jobs are more plentiful now but hard to tell.
Anyway, I eventually ended up back in the US. I still think about flying in Australia but I baulk at the costs involved. Adding up the cost of:
* MECIR
* Dangerous goods certificate
* First Aid
* ATPL written
* First class medical
* ASIC card
and whatever else the employer might require I figure 4 to 6 months and $30,000+ versus just keep flying in the US. If I am wrong on those figures and requirements would welcome any comments.
Fud
With thoughts of working in Australia I decided I needed the MECIR but the expense eventually defeated me.
I decided to do the road trip looking for work up north. At that time, about 8 years ago, there was a lot more talk on these pages about work up north. The prevailing wisdom was apparently to check into the youth hostel in Kununurra, or other town of choice, get employed at the bar or supermarket and wait indefinitely for a possible pilot job. I elected not to follow that course and after 12600km of driving only got close to a job once. I had 100+ hours of night flying but missed out on the job in Katherine as I did not have the Night VFR rating. It seems jobs are more plentiful now but hard to tell.
Anyway, I eventually ended up back in the US. I still think about flying in Australia but I baulk at the costs involved. Adding up the cost of:
* MECIR
* Dangerous goods certificate
* First Aid
* ATPL written
* First class medical
* ASIC card
and whatever else the employer might require I figure 4 to 6 months and $30,000+ versus just keep flying in the US. If I am wrong on those figures and requirements would welcome any comments.
Fud
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Hey Fud,
Thank you for your response (as well as everybody else who has contributed their thoughts to this thread).
$30K is a heap of dosh, to be sure, just to obtain regulatory blessing for what one already has. Flying in Australia is shockingly expensive and the regulatory environment as well as the "user pays" concept (i.e. airways/movement/landing fees) for what is/was public infrastructure is only making it worse. I better get a grip lest I digress into a political rant on these matters.
'Tis a shame that you couldn't find employment up north when you were looking. Maybe the shortage of pilots has changed things a bit now, but if it works for you in the US, best that you remain there: no one can say that the aviation scene here has improved. Well, maybe CASA will try to claim that safety (however they choose to define that) has improved. After all, there are fewer pilots engaging in that risky thing called flying. I guess they would call that a successful policy outcome. (Oops - I fell into a rant...)
Firmly domiciled in Sydney, I cannot go up north, so it looks like flying training will be the most likely position.
Flying training wasn't half bad, except that it was $9.00/hr commission-only then. At least now there are real jobs to be had once you hit 1500 hours even though the pay still stinks at all levels below A-scale captains (are there any left?)
Since we're talking costs, in the early 90''s my CFI cost me probably $2,500. Now the figures advertised in Australia are almost ten times that. Nevertheless, flying beats the corporate rat race, hands-down.
Regards,
ClippedWing
Thank you for your response (as well as everybody else who has contributed their thoughts to this thread).
$30K is a heap of dosh, to be sure, just to obtain regulatory blessing for what one already has. Flying in Australia is shockingly expensive and the regulatory environment as well as the "user pays" concept (i.e. airways/movement/landing fees) for what is/was public infrastructure is only making it worse. I better get a grip lest I digress into a political rant on these matters.
'Tis a shame that you couldn't find employment up north when you were looking. Maybe the shortage of pilots has changed things a bit now, but if it works for you in the US, best that you remain there: no one can say that the aviation scene here has improved. Well, maybe CASA will try to claim that safety (however they choose to define that) has improved. After all, there are fewer pilots engaging in that risky thing called flying. I guess they would call that a successful policy outcome. (Oops - I fell into a rant...)
Firmly domiciled in Sydney, I cannot go up north, so it looks like flying training will be the most likely position.
Flying training wasn't half bad, except that it was $9.00/hr commission-only then. At least now there are real jobs to be had once you hit 1500 hours even though the pay still stinks at all levels below A-scale captains (are there any left?)
Since we're talking costs, in the early 90''s my CFI cost me probably $2,500. Now the figures advertised in Australia are almost ten times that. Nevertheless, flying beats the corporate rat race, hands-down.
Regards,
ClippedWing
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Clipped Wings,
Talk to some of the flying schools at BK about the instructor rating, i'm sure you can qualify for a VET/HECS (government sponsored loan),
to do the rating, if you complete the course within 6 months.
(push it so you get this loan, some people got a 400K HECS debt, doing multi university courses then leave the country)
It's virtually free (usual cost 23K), repayments, 5% of your wages per year, when earning 50K and onwards.
Once you get started, it will feel like riding a bike again.
Don't under estimate you're own ability, you'll blitz the course.
You did this work before, so it's nothing new to you.
Talk to some of the flying schools at BK about the instructor rating, i'm sure you can qualify for a VET/HECS (government sponsored loan),
to do the rating, if you complete the course within 6 months.
(push it so you get this loan, some people got a 400K HECS debt, doing multi university courses then leave the country)
It's virtually free (usual cost 23K), repayments, 5% of your wages per year, when earning 50K and onwards.
Once you get started, it will feel like riding a bike again.
Don't under estimate you're own ability, you'll blitz the course.
You did this work before, so it's nothing new to you.
