Cairns and "Up North"
The airfield requirement prior to the industry slowdown, thanks to OBL and AN, was around 400 multi and around 1500TT.
At present with the average GA pilot hours a bit higher, that has probably risen a bit. The industry seems to be moving again slowly, so in another 6 months it will probably fall again.
There has been a fair bit of movement in the past couple of months in CS, so persistence pays.
At present with the average GA pilot hours a bit higher, that has probably risen a bit. The industry seems to be moving again slowly, so in another 6 months it will probably fall again.
There has been a fair bit of movement in the past couple of months in CS, so persistence pays.
661 your chances of success are propably linked to your attitude. You are high houred and well qualified. Are you still prepared to go out bush to some remote community, and fly an old 210 around for sod all $$ for at least a year, then move to Darwin and get a bit of twin work.
If you are prepared to do that, then your chances are good. If not, then stay in BK or MB or wherever.
Should you end up in DN, there is a different mentality up there with respect to flying. If you barge in (and i am not saying you would) as a high houred southern pilot (and an instructor to boot) it will instantly raise heckles and you will never, ever get a job in DN. Instructing time is not really looked upon that favourably. In the past a few instructors have come north and have not been very good at thinking outside the square to get the job done. Sadly those incompetent few have tarnished the reputation for the good all round pilots who have chosen to instruct then move on.
Good luck.
If you are prepared to do that, then your chances are good. If not, then stay in BK or MB or wherever.
Should you end up in DN, there is a different mentality up there with respect to flying. If you barge in (and i am not saying you would) as a high houred southern pilot (and an instructor to boot) it will instantly raise heckles and you will never, ever get a job in DN. Instructing time is not really looked upon that favourably. In the past a few instructors have come north and have not been very good at thinking outside the square to get the job done. Sadly those incompetent few have tarnished the reputation for the good all round pilots who have chosen to instruct then move on.
Good luck.
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hmm... :
again, that's up to whoever is doing the hiring, some CPs seem to have a preference for meatbombers while others say that while they are good at taking off heavy, landing light, climbing and descending, they may not be much good at other work associated with charter ops , ie pax and cargo manifests, cargo nets, basic nav etc. so go figure.
i guess the best prior experience to have to get into charter flying is well... charter flying! and we all know what we have to do to get that kind of experience!
again, that's up to whoever is doing the hiring, some CPs seem to have a preference for meatbombers while others say that while they are good at taking off heavy, landing light, climbing and descending, they may not be much good at other work associated with charter ops , ie pax and cargo manifests, cargo nets, basic nav etc. so go figure.
i guess the best prior experience to have to get into charter flying is well... charter flying! and we all know what we have to do to get that kind of experience!
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they may not be much good at other work associated with charter ops , ie pax and cargo manifests, cargo nets, basic nav etc. so go figure.
Check Attitude
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Turbo & Stormy
Yes, the requirements are a bit higher in Cairns, not quite as high as Turbo thinks, but higher than most places. Why? Well, for a start, Cairns is THE most desirable place for a GA pilot to work in Australia while waiting for the Jet job. Climate and scenery make it one of Australia's top tourist destinations (this also means the southern expats can expect cheap airline flights home). The flying weather is challenging at times and you'll get to do mostly ILS approaches, while flying really well maintained and well equipped aircraft. Living is very affordable and probably nearly as cheap as Perth to rent somewhere. Being a major city means everything you're used to in shopping, movies and recreation is there. And Turbo, here's the good bit. ALL operators except one pay the award or higher. Most Cairns operators also operate out of Horn Island in the Straits, again, all operators pay the award except one (different one up there, ask around, someone will tell you the two who don't). OK, so let's summarise this.
1. You get paid the award,
2. You work for really top operators,
3. You fly excellent equipment,
4. you get to live in paradise.
So the downside is this , EVERYONE wants to work there for all or some of these reasons (getting paid properly is a novelty for most) so therefore there is a big queue, nearly as big as QANTAS's queue, so, like QANTAS, with so many wannabes and the need to have the cream of the crop, the bar gets lifted a bit higher than most places just because it can be. Some of the top operators in Cairns are: Skytrans, Hinterland, Cape York Airlines, AeroTropics, G.A.M. (Stewart Aviation YMEN), Barrier, All of these pay the award, there may be some I've missed and the non award have not been mentioned so no clues. SO, get out to the bush, get exploited, get to Darwin or the Kimberley, get some hours and then if you're very lucky you'll end your GA career in YBCS, get to airlines and maybe you'll be lucky enough to get back there with AA. If anyone knows of a better place (with all the 4 pts above) to work in GA australia, then post it and lead the way.
Yes, the requirements are a bit higher in Cairns, not quite as high as Turbo thinks, but higher than most places. Why? Well, for a start, Cairns is THE most desirable place for a GA pilot to work in Australia while waiting for the Jet job. Climate and scenery make it one of Australia's top tourist destinations (this also means the southern expats can expect cheap airline flights home). The flying weather is challenging at times and you'll get to do mostly ILS approaches, while flying really well maintained and well equipped aircraft. Living is very affordable and probably nearly as cheap as Perth to rent somewhere. Being a major city means everything you're used to in shopping, movies and recreation is there. And Turbo, here's the good bit. ALL operators except one pay the award or higher. Most Cairns operators also operate out of Horn Island in the Straits, again, all operators pay the award except one (different one up there, ask around, someone will tell you the two who don't). OK, so let's summarise this.
1. You get paid the award,
2. You work for really top operators,
3. You fly excellent equipment,
4. you get to live in paradise.
So the downside is this , EVERYONE wants to work there for all or some of these reasons (getting paid properly is a novelty for most) so therefore there is a big queue, nearly as big as QANTAS's queue, so, like QANTAS, with so many wannabes and the need to have the cream of the crop, the bar gets lifted a bit higher than most places just because it can be. Some of the top operators in Cairns are: Skytrans, Hinterland, Cape York Airlines, AeroTropics, G.A.M. (Stewart Aviation YMEN), Barrier, All of these pay the award, there may be some I've missed and the non award have not been mentioned so no clues. SO, get out to the bush, get exploited, get to Darwin or the Kimberley, get some hours and then if you're very lucky you'll end your GA career in YBCS, get to airlines and maybe you'll be lucky enough to get back there with AA. If anyone knows of a better place (with all the 4 pts above) to work in GA australia, then post it and lead the way.
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Hi there Mainframe
Yes Cairns is one of the best plaes to be in Aus. I haven't even be in NT or wanted to, but sad to say in Carins I was paid below award and now am paid appox 4 times more than that job flying the same machine, ( not a TurboOtter by the way)
G.A. needs to wake up and smell the roses, you pay for monkeys you get monkeys, and that's if your lucky.
I would love to go back to Cairns but to work for around 20 G a year,mmmmmmmmmm not sure if I like it that much.
Anyway, I work hard and play harder and good luck to all up the top end!!
Yes Cairns is one of the best plaes to be in Aus. I haven't even be in NT or wanted to, but sad to say in Carins I was paid below award and now am paid appox 4 times more than that job flying the same machine, ( not a TurboOtter by the way)
G.A. needs to wake up and smell the roses, you pay for monkeys you get monkeys, and that's if your lucky.
I would love to go back to Cairns but to work for around 20 G a year,mmmmmmmmmm not sure if I like it that much.
Anyway, I work hard and play harder and good luck to all up the top end!!
Check Attitude
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Bongo
Thanks for the link, couldn't see myself there but here's a couple more of the Cairns operators for the aspiring .
reefwatch.com
capeyorkair.com.au
aerotropics.com.au
hinterlandaviation.com.au
p.s. my inquiries indicate that they do pay the award, sometimes with accommodation deducted, sometimes after a probationary period and on attaining a command. We can't name anyone here so the aspirant will need to establish the facts themselves. Things may have changed since you were, all except one operates Bongo's.
Thanks for the link, couldn't see myself there but here's a couple more of the Cairns operators for the aspiring .
reefwatch.com
capeyorkair.com.au
aerotropics.com.au
hinterlandaviation.com.au
p.s. my inquiries indicate that they do pay the award, sometimes with accommodation deducted, sometimes after a probationary period and on attaining a command. We can't name anyone here so the aspirant will need to establish the facts themselves. Things may have changed since you were, all except one operates Bongo's.
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All the above information is of benefit, to the newbies in the area the following is some additional information and tips to take onboard as you wish...........
Cairns itself has 5 big players in the charter game being -
Aero tropics Ph 07 4035 9138
Owner Ric Lippman
CP ???
Aircraft BN-2A's, Partnavia's, Baron's, PA-31's
All up approx 15 a/c
Bases Cairns. Horn Island
Cape York Air Ph 07 4035 9399
Owner ??
CP ??
Aircraft BN-2A's, C-208, Pa-31's, C-206, C-182
All up approx 8 a/c
Bases Cairns, Horn Island, Badu Island
GAM Ph 07 4035 9250
Owner Steve Nott
Ops Man Gary Trench
Aircraft Ac-500's, AC-680's, AC-690's
All up approx 25 a/c
Bases Cairns, Karumba, Emerald. Brisbane
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
Hinterland Ph 07 4035 9323
Owner ???
CP Sam Sappono
Aircraft C-206, Ac-500's, C-402's, C-404's
C-208's, B-200
All up approx 10 a/c
Bases Cairns
Skytrans Ph 07 4046 2462
Owner Richard Barnard
CP Rob Alexander
Aircraft C-310's, C-402's, C-404's, BN-2A, B200
All up approx 17 a/c
All of these operaters would require >1500 hrs and 500 multi, with maybe a few renewals included. That does not mean to say that you carnt apply or even better stop by with 200hrs ask to meet the CP pass on your resume and ask what sort of experience is required to get a foot in the door. Make sure he/she will remember your name once you leave and continue to update them of your progress, before you know it (prob 1-2 years) you'll be flying with one of these companies. All of these companies are well known by the bigger fish (regionals and majors) so its in your intrest to try and gain a position here. As always knowing somebody to get you an interview helps but even so with the right attitude and determination on your side doing it all your self is TOTALLY possible!!!!!
So now they know you, you know what you have to do, get some experience but where ????, if you want to work for these companies you will have to stay within their geographic location being FNQ.
So the next step try these operators to gain experience
Skydiving operations Cairns Skydive Cairns
Pauls Parachuting
Tully Jump the beach
Small charter operators Cairns Daintree Air Services
C-206's, PA-31
(Cp - Greg nice bloke!!)
Beagle Airways PA-31
Ron ??????
Innisvail Hinchinbrook Air Services
Bob Harris
C-206's (freight - cape )
Cooktown Cape Air Transport
C-182, Partenavia
Based Torres Strait's
Karumba Gulf Line Aviation
Maint base Mareeba
15nm west cairns
bases karumba, kowanyama
Weipa Weipa Air Services
Rob Statton (I think)
C-310's, C-172
Queensland Aerial Services
Mt Isa Air Mount Isa
C-206, C-210, C-402, C-404
Baron, EMB110
Burketown Savannah Aviation
Bonnanza, Baron's, PA-31
Instructors North Queensland Aero Club
07 4035 9438
C-152's, C-172's, C-172rg, PA-28
Barrier Aviation
07 4035 9207
Cape York Air
C-152's, C-172's
Mustering Stanbroke Pastoral
Based - Fort Constantine station
years ago when I was looking
(near mount Isa)
Neil Bates
C-172, C-182 (10 in total)
So I hope that this help out in regard to the situation in north queensland. As I said previously, If you want to work for one of the big 5, stop by meet the CP, make sure he/she knows and will remenber you. Try and meet some of the line pilots while you are in Cairns, find another job with the above operators and allways keep updating, by the time you've get 1500hrs you'll know the CP on a personal basis, always be prepared for the interview it could arise at any time and do NOTHING to earn yourself a reputation, news travels very very fast!!!!!
Best of luck, if you need and further info post and I'll reply........
Cairns itself has 5 big players in the charter game being -
Aero tropics Ph 07 4035 9138
Owner Ric Lippman
CP ???
Aircraft BN-2A's, Partnavia's, Baron's, PA-31's
All up approx 15 a/c
Bases Cairns. Horn Island
Cape York Air Ph 07 4035 9399
Owner ??
CP ??
Aircraft BN-2A's, C-208, Pa-31's, C-206, C-182
All up approx 8 a/c
Bases Cairns, Horn Island, Badu Island
GAM Ph 07 4035 9250
Owner Steve Nott
Ops Man Gary Trench
Aircraft Ac-500's, AC-680's, AC-690's
All up approx 25 a/c
Bases Cairns, Karumba, Emerald. Brisbane
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
Hinterland Ph 07 4035 9323
Owner ???
CP Sam Sappono
Aircraft C-206, Ac-500's, C-402's, C-404's
C-208's, B-200
All up approx 10 a/c
Bases Cairns
Skytrans Ph 07 4046 2462
Owner Richard Barnard
CP Rob Alexander
Aircraft C-310's, C-402's, C-404's, BN-2A, B200
All up approx 17 a/c
All of these operaters would require >1500 hrs and 500 multi, with maybe a few renewals included. That does not mean to say that you carnt apply or even better stop by with 200hrs ask to meet the CP pass on your resume and ask what sort of experience is required to get a foot in the door. Make sure he/she will remember your name once you leave and continue to update them of your progress, before you know it (prob 1-2 years) you'll be flying with one of these companies. All of these companies are well known by the bigger fish (regionals and majors) so its in your intrest to try and gain a position here. As always knowing somebody to get you an interview helps but even so with the right attitude and determination on your side doing it all your self is TOTALLY possible!!!!!
So now they know you, you know what you have to do, get some experience but where ????, if you want to work for these companies you will have to stay within their geographic location being FNQ.
So the next step try these operators to gain experience
Skydiving operations Cairns Skydive Cairns
Pauls Parachuting
Tully Jump the beach
Small charter operators Cairns Daintree Air Services
C-206's, PA-31
(Cp - Greg nice bloke!!)
Beagle Airways PA-31
Ron ??????
Innisvail Hinchinbrook Air Services
Bob Harris
C-206's (freight - cape )
Cooktown Cape Air Transport
C-182, Partenavia
Based Torres Strait's
Karumba Gulf Line Aviation
Maint base Mareeba
15nm west cairns
bases karumba, kowanyama
Weipa Weipa Air Services
Rob Statton (I think)
C-310's, C-172
Queensland Aerial Services
Mt Isa Air Mount Isa
C-206, C-210, C-402, C-404
Baron, EMB110
Burketown Savannah Aviation
Bonnanza, Baron's, PA-31
Instructors North Queensland Aero Club
07 4035 9438
C-152's, C-172's, C-172rg, PA-28
Barrier Aviation
07 4035 9207
Cape York Air
C-152's, C-172's
Mustering Stanbroke Pastoral
Based - Fort Constantine station
years ago when I was looking
(near mount Isa)
Neil Bates
C-172, C-182 (10 in total)
So I hope that this help out in regard to the situation in north queensland. As I said previously, If you want to work for one of the big 5, stop by meet the CP, make sure he/she knows and will remenber you. Try and meet some of the line pilots while you are in Cairns, find another job with the above operators and allways keep updating, by the time you've get 1500hrs you'll know the CP on a personal basis, always be prepared for the interview it could arise at any time and do NOTHING to earn yourself a reputation, news travels very very fast!!!!!
Best of luck, if you need and further info post and I'll reply........
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Beech me Up, u have no idea how helpful that info is!!!!
just a question though, who is GAM?
btw, im a Grade 1, BK, 1600, META and abt 150 multi, mostly IFR.
im leaving instructing and wanna go up to Cairns, move into charter.
Realistically speaking, in you opinion, is it a good idea? or useless?
Any suggestions wud be reallllly appreciated!!
just a question though, who is GAM?
btw, im a Grade 1, BK, 1600, META and abt 150 multi, mostly IFR.
im leaving instructing and wanna go up to Cairns, move into charter.
Realistically speaking, in you opinion, is it a good idea? or useless?
Any suggestions wud be reallllly appreciated!!
Join Date: Nov 1999
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The horses mouth
GAM stands for General Aviation Maintenance
It is based in Essendon Melbourne and conducts primarily freight operations from all bases except Cairns which is mainly charter work conducted through its subsidary Reefwatch Air tours.
I think, and its only my opinion that 1600hrs instructing is enough, and some charter would be of essential use to you at this stage in your career. There are some things you can do before up and leaving however, make the calls to the people your interested in and get a feel for the place. Another thing you have going for you is that you work in bankstown, GAM operates 2-3 aircraft from that port !!!!! So find out where the mayne nickless terminal is wait for the AC-690 to turn up late in the afternoon and when the pilots has a chance introduce yourself to the senior base pilot. Best of luck in your endeavours.............................
GAM stands for General Aviation Maintenance
It is based in Essendon Melbourne and conducts primarily freight operations from all bases except Cairns which is mainly charter work conducted through its subsidary Reefwatch Air tours.
I think, and its only my opinion that 1600hrs instructing is enough, and some charter would be of essential use to you at this stage in your career. There are some things you can do before up and leaving however, make the calls to the people your interested in and get a feel for the place. Another thing you have going for you is that you work in bankstown, GAM operates 2-3 aircraft from that port !!!!! So find out where the mayne nickless terminal is wait for the AC-690 to turn up late in the afternoon and when the pilots has a chance introduce yourself to the senior base pilot. Best of luck in your endeavours.............................