RFDS feeling effects of global pilot shortage
Thread Starter
RFDS feeling effects of global pilot shortage
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-...ogram/11494640
RFDS requires minimum 4000hrs TT, including 2000hrs as PIC.
How do their T&C (pay, roster, lifestyle) compare to that of the airlines?
RFDS requires minimum 4000hrs TT, including 2000hrs as PIC.
How do their T&C (pay, roster, lifestyle) compare to that of the airlines?
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T
The 'Rufduss' was the best job once upon a time and very hard to get in to, you had to know someone behind the scenes to get a gig. Those days are long gone!
I might have to come out of retirement, to fly the jet of course, I've got enuf Turbo prop time to sink a ship
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-...ogram/11494640
RFDS requires minimum 4000hrs TT, including 2000hrs as PIC.
How do their T&C (pay, roster, lifestyle) compare to that of the airlines?
RFDS requires minimum 4000hrs TT, including 2000hrs as PIC.
How do their T&C (pay, roster, lifestyle) compare to that of the airlines?
The 'Rufduss' was the best job once upon a time and very hard to get in to, you had to know someone behind the scenes to get a gig. Those days are long gone!
I might have to come out of retirement, to fly the jet of course, I've got enuf Turbo prop time to sink a ship
Last edited by machtuk; 17th Sep 2019 at 07:19.
T&Cs aren’t to bad, nor is the lifestyle particularly if you want to live in a regional area. Equipment is second to none and I’m pretty sure all of the people are great. Pretty much the same can be said for Careflight I believe.
It really depends on what you want to do. Aeromed certainly cannot be compared to jet RPT ops, both operationally and in terms of T&Cs.
It really depends on what you want to do. Aeromed certainly cannot be compared to jet RPT ops, both operationally and in terms of T&Cs.
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jeez these people are unreal....." an obligation to give back to the industry".... you must be joking. Where do they find these idiots? By the time someone has the required hours they have spent a fortune and years getting licences and ratings and most likely living in sh@%holes on subsistence rates, and they need to "give back". I'll bet the CEO of the RFDS is on 3 times a pilots salary and is tucked up in bed by 10pm
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sign of the times, the Australian flying landscape has/is changing!
Ok, I was totally wrong. Care to elaborate further? Opposed to making one liner statements? It’s a public forum my friend....
let's face it money is the biggest incentive for most, the Ruffdus simply can't compete with the big shiny jets job, they are exiting in numbers the Ruffdus has never seen before! Sign of the times, the Australian flying landscape has/is changing!
there are a few reasons why they lose drivers and can't get drivers. The numbers just aren't there anymore compared to say 10-20 years ago so the drivers with the req Hrs are not stopping off at their door. IT has steered plenty of people towards a career that doesn't involve shift work and repetitive training and checking. The Airlines have recruited aggressively over the last 10 years or so drying up the pool. GA is all but dead meaning the traditional ladder is very weak. let's face it money is the biggest incentive for most, the Ruffdus simply can't compete with the big shiny jets job, they are exiting in numbers the Ruffdus has never seen before!
Sign of the times, the Australian flying landscape has/is changing!
For 50 years I have been hearing about aviation operators not being able to afford to pay a reasonable/liveable wage. Like everyone else I am a great supporter of the RFDS but they are just going to have to offer what it takes to attract and keep the right pilots for their services. GA might have changed but offer an attractive package and there would be any number of applicants. I would be interested in the RFDS costings and see who is earning what!
... but they are just going to have to offer what it takes to attract and keep the right pilots for their services.
A couple of decades ago, there was in-fighting, poor and micro management, Pilot's expected to be charitable with their time, whilst managers paid at least twice as much as pilot's, for half the work and CEO's a lot more. Plus, as mentioned, in bed by 10pm and weekends off. 
Doctors nurses, refuellers and just everyone else paid more.
I guess it's more important for the RFDS, and many other aviation companies, to have the axillary staff, as Pilots and Engineers are not really important for a flying operation*?!
It's hard to pay Pilots and Engineers more, as it's more important for the ones higher up to hit a bonus, than pay properly
RFDS have a shortage of Pilot's, whom will accept sh!t conditions is my bet
Doctors nurses, refuellers and just everyone else paid more.
I guess it's more important for the RFDS, and many other aviation companies, to have the axillary staff, as Pilots and Engineers are not really important for a flying operation*?!
It's hard to pay Pilots and Engineers more, as it's more important for the ones higher up to hit a bonus, than pay properly
RFDS have a shortage of Pilot's, whom will accept sh!t conditions is my bet
Is it really that bad in relative terms? The pay seems to be inline with most regional captain pay if not better and you're not staring down the barrel of 5 sectors and a min rest over nights week in week out. And you're not baby sitting cadet FOs.
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?
Is it really that bad in relative terms? The pay seems to be inline with most regional captain pay if not better and you're not staring down the barrel of 5 sectors and a min rest over nights week in week out. And you're not baby sitting cadet FOs.
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it really that bad in relative terms? The pay seems to be inline with most regional captain pay if not better and you're not staring down the barrel of 5 sectors and a min rest over nights week in week out. And you're not baby sitting cadet FOs.
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?
Literally every airline, even mainline receives a whole lot of negative sentiments on this website. Can someone please tell me which flying job in this country is the best kept secret?