The Reality of Seeking a First GA Charter Job

[Clare Prop]

Originally Posted by IO520L

hmmm maybe the CPL you’ve spent 80-100k of your own money on that cost the operator nothing? Maybe that’s what you immediately offer??

in all seriousness do not offer to work for free, it makes the overall conditions in GA worse for everyone, it will actually make a lot of people NOT want to hire you, and lastly if it is an operation that is happy for you to work for free chances are that’s not the only thing there that’s illegal/dangerous.

Working for free and sham contracting both mean that you are not covered by Workers Comp, get no Super etc. In these days of Fair Work legislation, it is a lot more risky for employers to commit wage theft as one report could set them up for years of back pay which would bankrupt them, and serve them right.

But pilots are told "they will never work again" if they stand up for themselves. Unfortunately if you have already accepted sub standard wages you aren't in a position to object later on. So if they don't offer award wages (as a minimum) then just thank them and walk away, and join the Union.

However I still hear reports from people who have said they had no chance of getting a job when the more privileged applicants being supported financially by family could afford to work for nothing or hang around airports being a pest, so that anyone who actually has to work to keep body and soul together and run a car etc has a huge disadvantage compared to the silver spooners even before any job is forthcoming.

[kingRB]

Originally Posted by megan

It's how people are motivated, worked at a job that was highly sort after, good remuneration, life style, no night flying other than for emergency work, and was on a AFAP GA award, troops went to the pub on Friday after work and socialised by way of dinner at each others place and BBQ's. Then the company made us staff, that's when the knives came out as salary was now predicated on a yearly performance report, oh, and no more sessions at the pub, dinners or BBQ's

People are always motivated by self interest. That never changes. Whatever circumstance you're talking about just proves that. How is "highly sort after / good remuneration / life style" congruent with the GA award? All you had was a group of people that were doing what they had to until they had enough experience to leave - not some socialist utopia where no one is trying to compete like you think it was.

[megan]

How is "highly sort after / good remuneration / life style" congruent with the GA award? All you had was a group of people that were doing what they had to until they had enough experience to leave

It was a very unique operation that was highly sort after because it was the pinnacle of the particular GA industry, only two pilots ever left to move into other areas of GA. Todays captain salary in the particular job is $260,000.

[Killer Loop]

Originally Posted by megan

Todays captain salary in the particular job is $260,000.

No wonder the job was so sought after.

[777xpilot]

Whats wrong with the GA ready course? I've heard people talk about it on the forums. Heard its the best way to get 5 hours of 210 time in Darwin because apparently 210s are scarce there for new pilots?

[mikewil]

Originally Posted by 777xpilot

Whats wrong with the GA ready course? I've heard people talk about it on the forums. Heard its the best way to get 5 hours of 210 time in Darwin because apparently 210s are scarce there for new pilots?

You can go and get 10 hours on a C206 for the amount they charge for 5 on a C210 in the GA ready course. I'd probably opt for more hours unless you already have C206/C182 time.

[rudestuff]

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned the obvious route into aviation. Nearly anyone with the cash can go to the US on an F1 visa, train as an instructor and come home with 1500 hours. It should be especially attractive to Australians who can stay indefinitely on an E3 visa and walk straight into a regional jet job. I genuinely don't understand why someone would chose not to go where the jobs are plentiful.

[hazza4257]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned the obvious route into aviation. Nearly anyone with the cash can go to the US on an F1 visa, train as an instructor and come home with 1500 hours. It should be especially attractive to Australians who can stay indefinitely on an E3 visa and walk straight into a regional jet job. I genuinely don't understand why someone would chose not to go where the jobs are plentiful.

Sounds like this comment I received yesterday while asking a question in a GA facebook group:

"We have a CASA to FAA conversion course and high demand for CFIs. Convert your license and complete instructor training in the USA. Instructors fly 80-100hrs a month so you can reach ATP minimums within 18 months of arriving.
We have a pathway program to Skywest who are taking applicants as they reach ATP minimums. They are also offering a $15,000USD tuition reimbursement to put towards your training and conversion.
So from where you are now, to flying Jets in about 18 months.
Email [email protected] for more information."

Thoughts?

[rudestuff]

What is there to think about? There is a pilot shortage in the US and a pilot surplus in Oz. To be a pilot you need 4 things: Licence, experience, the right to work & opportunity. Thanks to the E3 visa anyone with an Australian passport and $100,000 is pretty much guaranteed to be flying a Jet in 3 years.

[hazza4257]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

What is there to think about? There is a pilot shortage in the US and a pilot surplus in Oz. To be a pilot you need 4 things: Licence, experience, the right to work & opportunity. Thanks to the E3 visa anyone with an Australian passport and $100,000 is pretty much guaranteed to be flying a Jet in 3 years.

True. I found 100k under the couch just this morning so I guess I'm good to go. Is that USD or AUD?

In all seriousness it's very attractive but I'm not that hyperfixated on getting a seat in an airliner overnight. Happy to go the GA route, which is "the best times of your life" and pretty challenging flying by all accounts.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by hazza4257

In all seriousness it's very attractive but I'm not that hyperfixated on getting a seat in an airliner overnight. Happy to go the GA route, which is "the best times of your life" and pretty challenging flying by all accounts.

The best, the worst and everything in between.

Here's but one example:

You Tube

[hazza4257]

Originally Posted by PiperCameron

The best, the worst and everything in between.

Here's but one example:
https://youtu.be/pboGo_FEEe4?feature=shared

Many thanks. I can never seem to find much aussie GA content on YouTube

[aussieflyboy]

Shoal Air advertising on the AFAP Jobs Page. A basic first job GA company that should have 10 Pilots living in Kunnerz right now waiting for the tourist season to start. There’s no reason why they should need to advertise. Gorges would be flowing, fish biting and plenty of exploring to be had!

[megan]

There’s no reason why they should need to advertise

Unless things have changed it is a legal requirement to advertise. Applied for one advertised job and another chap got the nod, was told by the company that a further job would be advertised in three months and not to bother about it because I had it.

[rudestuff]

Originally Posted by hazza4257

True. I found 100k under the couch just this morning so I guess I'm good to go. Is that USD or AUD?

USD/AUD Does it matter? Read that as 'however much you need to get a CPL' - which clearly you've already got if you're finishing up your CPL.

The point I was making is that given a suitable amount of money, as an Australian you had the choice to train in Australia and spend years driving around the top end looking for elusive jobs, or train in the US, work as a flight instructor and jump into the RHS at 1500 hours. It's too late for you now but maybe not for someone else considering the industry. I know which option I would have taken.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

The point I was making is that given a suitable amount of money, as an Australian you had the choice to train in Australia and spend years driving around the top end looking for elusive jobs, or train in the US, work as a flight instructor and jump into the RHS at 1500 hours. It's too late for you now but maybe not for someone else considering the industry. I know which option I would have taken.

And although it's a busier, crazier, more competitive place to be, the US also offers flight in genuine high-density altitudes and regular FIKI right down to the ground, neither of which we get much of over here so arguably you'd be a more experienced pilot by the end of your 1500 hours (assuming you made it out alive)..

[Horatio Leafblower]

Originally Posted by megan

Unless things have changed it is a legal requirement to advertise. Applied for one advertised job and another chap got the nod, was told by the company that a further job would be advertised in three months and not to bother about it because I had it.

Mate it's not the public service. There is no obligation to advertise any position in the private sector.

[megan]

Horatio, thinking back it was 1977 when unions had the big, big multi national by the short and curlies, it may have been the unions requirement when the word "legal" was used to me.

[seavenom]

Just out of interest, how much do you weigh?

[tail wheel]

Unless things have changed it is a legal requirement to advertise.

Explain???

Mate it's not the public service.

Under certain circumstances it is not necessary to advertise externally in the public service.